Lincoln Chafee: “I introduced this bill last July on behalf of the administration. S. 2317 makes several changes to the National Wildlife…”

“I introduced this bill last July on behalf of the administration. S. 2317 makes several changes to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966. First, it removes three areas from the Refuge System that have lost the habitat value that led to their being incorporated into the Refuge System. Second, it changes the name of the Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon to the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. The current name leads visitors to believe that it is a national forest, causing confusion over what activities are permitted. Mr. President, although no one like to see areas removed from the Refuge System, the three areas in question have truly lost their original wildlife value. Thirty-seven acres within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge has been developed for recreational purposes when it was leased to the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The area in question would be transferred to the Corps, which owns the adjoining lands, and its recreational use would be continued. In 1934 an Executive order established the Killcohook Coordination Area as a migratory bird refuge as long as the Corps could continue to use the area as a dredge disposal site. Sixty years later this area is completely covered with piles of spoil and, not surprisingly, no remaining waterfowl habitat. This bill would eliminate the Fish and Wildlife Service's secondary jurisdiction.”