H.R. 9826

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9826 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9826

To modify the boundaries of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 
and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 25, 2024

Mr. Garamendi (for himself, Mr. Huffman, and Mr. Thompson of 
California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

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 of 2024''.

SEC. 2. BOUNDARY MODIFICATION, ACQUISITION, AND ADMINISTRATION.

(a) In General.--There shall be included within the boundaries of 
the National Wildlife Refuge the approximately 5,658 acres of lands, 
marshes, tidal flats, salt ponds, submerged lands, and open waters 
generally depicted on the Map as ``Proposed Boundary Expansion Area''.
(b) Map.--
(1) Corrections.--The Secretary may make clerical and 
typographical corrections to the Map.
(2) Public availability; effect.--The Map and any 
corrections made 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.
(c) Acquisition.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire land, water, or 
interests therein, including conservation easements, within the 
boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge, as modified by this 
Act, 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 of the land, water, or interests 
therein under this section or for the purposes of this Act by 
condemnation or eminent domain.
(d) Administration.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
Secretary shall administer the lands, waters, 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.
(e) Cooperative Agreements Regarding Non-Federal Lands.--The 
Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the State of 
California or any agency or political subdivision thereof and with any 
other person for the voluntary co-management of lands owned by such 
State, agency, subdivision, or person and located within or adjoining 
the boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge, as modified by this 
Act.
(f) Transfer From Other Federal Agencies.--Any Federal property 
located within or adjoining the boundaries of the National Wildlife 
Refuge, as modified by this Act, 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.
(g) 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.
(h) 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, as modified by this Act, 
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 under section 200302 of 
title 54, United States Code, for such acquisition purposes; 
and
(2) prioritizing using such funding made available each 
fiscal year for such acquisition purposes.
(i) Public Participation.--The Secretary shall provide an 
opportunity for public participation in developing the land protection 
plan for the area generally depicted on the Map as ``Proposed Boundary 
Expansion Area'', giving special consideration to public and private 
entities, individuals, and residential communities located within Napa, 
Marin, Sonoma, and Solano Counties, California.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map titled ``San Pablo 
Bay National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act'' and 
dated July 26, 2024.
(2) National wildlife refuge.--The term ``National Wildlife 
Refuge'' means the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge 
located in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano 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.

SEC. 3. 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), by striking ``Secertary'' and 
inserting ``Secretary''; and
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ``him'' and inserting 
``the Secretary''.
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