PUBLIC LAW 102-570—OCT. 29, 1992

106 STAT. 4489

Public Law 102-570
102d Congress

An Act

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct and operate an interpretive
center for the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Clark County, Washington.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. INTERPRETIVE CENTER FOR THE RIDGEFIELD NATIONAL
WILDLIFE REFUGE.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:

(1) The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (in this Act
referred to as the "Refuge"), located on the Columbia River
in southwest Washington, provides unique opportunities for
observing and interpreting the biological richness of the lower
Columbia River wetlands.

(2) The Refuge is also rich in the cultural history of the
Pacific Northwest, including being the site of a large Native
American settlement which was visited by the 1804 Lewis
and Clark Expedition and other early explorers.

(3) The Refuge is located in close proximity to the Portland/
Vancouver metropolitan area and to the Interstate 5 freeway,
which carries millions of visitors past the Refuge to Mount
St. Helens, Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, wilderness
areas, and other natural attractions.

(4) The Refuge is ideally suited to be a regional center
for interpretation, research, and education related to wetland
ecology, wildlife, the environmental sciences, and Northwest
cultural history.

(5) There are unique opportunities for the Federal Govern-
ment to engage in cost-sharing with local, State, and private
partners to construct, operate, and maintain a regional interpre-
tive center at the Refuge.

(b) AUTHORITY To CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE INTERPRETIVE
CENTER.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior may, subject
to the availability of appropriations, construct and operate an
interpretive center at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
in Clark County, Washington, for the following purposes:

(A) Providing public opportunities, facilities, and
resources to study natural history, Native American cul-
ture, and the history of Northwest settlers in the region
of the Refuge.

(B) Offering a variety of environmental educational
programs and interpretive exhibits.

(C) Fostering an awareness and understanding of the
interactions among wildlife, wetland ecosystems, and
human activities.

(D) Providing office space and facilities for Refuge
administration, research, education, and related activities

Oct. 29, 1992
[H.R. 5809]

Conservation.

16 USC 668d
note.