Volume 117 · 1372
Public Law 108–131
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the property in Cecil County, Maryland, known as Garrett Island for inclusion in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
Approved November 22, 2003
Statutory text
An Act
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the property in Cecil County, Maryland, known as Garrett Island for inclusion in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
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 “Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act”.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
Garrett Island, located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Cecil County, Maryland, is a microcosm of the geology and geography of the region, including hard rock piedmont, coastal plain, and volcanic formations.
Garrett Island is the only rocky island in the tidal waters of the Chesapeake.
Garrett Island and adjacent waters provide high-quality habitat for bird and fish species.
Garrett Island contains significant archaeological sites reflecting human history and prehistory of the region.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR INCLUSION IN THE BLACKWATER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.
Acquisition.—
The Secretary of the Interior may use otherwise available amounts to acquire the area known as Garrett Island, consisting of approximately 198 acres located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Cecil County, Maryland.
Administration.—
Lands and interests acquired by the United States under this section shall be managed by the Secretary as the Garrett Island Unit of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
Purposes.—
The purposes for which the Garrett Island Unit is established and shall be managed are the following:
To support the Delmarva Conservation Corridor Demonstration Program.
To conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary to contribute to the migratory bird populations prevalent in the Atlantic Flyway.
To conserve, restore, and manage the significant aquatic resource values associated with submerged land adjacent to the unit and to achieve the habitat objectives of the agreement known as the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.
To conserve the archaeological resources on the unit.
To provide public access to the unit in a manner that does not adversely impact natural resources on and around the unit.
Approved November 22, 2003.