[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5205 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5205
To modify the boundaries of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 25, 2024
Mr. Padilla introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modify the boundaries of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``San Pablo Bay National Wildlife
Refuge Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. SAN PABLO BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BOUNDARY MODIFICATION,
ACQUISITION, AND ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``San
Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act''
and dated July 24, 2024.
(2) National wildlife refuge.--The term ``National Wildlife
Refuge'' means the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
located in Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties,
California.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Secretary should acquire land, water, or interests therein, including
conservation easements, from willing sellers within or adjoining the
boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge, including by--
(1) including in each annual budget submission of the
President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States
Code, a request for funding for Federal purposes from the Land
and Water Conservation Fund established by section 200302(a) of
title 54, United States Code, for those acquisition purposes;
and
(2) prioritizing using funding made available each fiscal
year for those acquisition purposes.
(c) Boundary Modification.--
(1) In general.--There shall be included within the
boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge the approximately
5,658 acres of land, marshes, tidal flats, salt ponds,
submerged land, and open waters generally depicted on the Map
as ``Proposed Boundary Expansion Area''.
(2) Land protection plan; public participation.--In
developing a Land Protection Plan for the land generally
depicted on the Map as ``Proposed Boundary Expansion Area'',
the Secretary shall provide an opportunity for public
participation, giving special consideration to public and
private entities, individuals, and residential communities
located within Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties,
California.
(d) Map.--
(1) Corrections.--The Secretary may make clerical and
typographical corrections to the Map.
(2) Public availability; effect.--The Map and any
corrections to the Map under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) be publicly available on the website of the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
(B) be on file and available for public inspection
in the appropriate offices of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service, including the office located at
2100 Sears Point Road, Sonoma, California 95476; and
(C) have the same force and effect as if included
in this Act.
(e) Acquisition.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire land, water, or
interests therein, including conservation easements, within the
boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge by donation,
purchase from willing sellers with donated or appropriated
funds, or exchange.
(2) No use of condemnation or eminent domain.--The
Secretary may not acquire any land, water, or interests therein
under this section or for the purposes of this Act by
condemnation or eminent domain.
(f) Administration.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
Secretary shall administer the land, water, and interests therein
acquired under this section--
(1) as part of the National Wildlife Refuge; and
(2) in accordance with--
(A) the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.);
and
(B) this Act.
(g) Cooperative Agreements Regarding Non-Federal Lands.--The
Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with the State of
California, any agency or political subdivision of the State of
California, or any other person for the voluntary co-management of
land--
(1) owned by the State of California, agency or political
subdivision of the State of California, or person; and
(2) located within or adjoining the boundaries of the
National Wildlife Refuge.
(h) Transfer From Other Federal Agencies.--Any Federal property
located within or adjoining the boundaries of the National Wildlife
Refuge that is under the administrative jurisdiction of a department or
agency of the Federal Government other than the Department of the
Interior may, with the mutual concurrence of the head of the
administering department or agency and the Secretary, be transferred
without consideration to the administrative jurisdiction of the
Secretary for the purposes of this Act.
(i) Priority Uses.--In providing opportunities for compatible fish
and wildlife dependent recreation, the Secretary, in accordance with
paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)), shall ensure
that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and
environmental education and interpretation are priority public uses of
the National Wildlife Refuge.
SEC. 3. DON EDWARDS SAN FRANCISCO BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
Section 3 of Public Law 92-330 (86 Stat. 399) is amended--
(1) by striking ``he'' each place it appears and inserting
``the Secretary'';
(2) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by striking
``Secertary'' and inserting ``Secretary''; and
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ``him'' and inserting
``the Secretary''.
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