S. 4669Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC

The bill creates the Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge in Riverside County, California. It aims to conserve and restore wildlife habitat, protect threatened and endangered species, and provide opportunities for research, education, recreation, and community involvement. The refuge will be managed as an urban wildlife refuge and involve cooperation with state, local, and tribal partners.

Key Provisions

Establishes the Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge as a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Sets the refuge’s purpose to conserve wildlife habitat and protect species listed under federal and California endangered‑species laws.
Allows compatible uses such as scientific research, environmental education, wildlife‑oriented recreation, and promotes urban partnership programs.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish a notice and map of the refuge within 90 days of its establishment.
Authorizes the Secretary to acquire land, water, or interests (by donation, purchase, or exchange) within the defined acquisition boundary, prioritizing additional reserve lands needed for the Conservation Plan.
Provides for cooperative agreements with state, county, regional conservation authority, and other entities to manage non‑federal lands and encourage public participation.
Protects existing tribal cultural and religious access and maintains public access unless it conflicts with refuge purposes or safety.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3784-3785)

Environment and Public Works Committee

July 28, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 28, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3784-3785)

Environment and Public Works Committee

July 28, 2022

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 4669 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Dianne FeinsteinD-CA · Jul 28, 2022

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of legislation that I introduced today along with Senators Alex Padilla and John Hickenlooper. This is a companion to the bipartisan bill that Representative…

In 2020, the Fire Victim Trust was established after Pacific Gas & Electric, PG&E, was found legally responsible for major California wildfires in 2015, 2017, and 2018. PG&E contributed about $13 billion to this fund to pay victims of these wildfires to cover losses they suffered.

Unfortunately, the specific situations of each of these victims is different, and it is unclear to many whether they will need to pay Federal income tax on the amounts they receive. Moreover, it is unfair that these victims should have to worry about paying taxes on amounts that are simply intended to make them whole.

In addition, about 30 percent of settlement payouts are devoted to attorney fees, for attorneys whom the victims did not hire. It appears that victims will even owe taxes on the full amount of the settlement, including these attorney fees.

This is a problem now for wildfire victims in California. However, as the frequency and severity of wildfires grows across the Western United States due to climate change, it is more likely that this is a problem that California and other States will face again.

Our legislation would do two things. First, it would clarify that such wildfire settlement fees are not taxable. Second, it would create an above-the-line tax deduction for relevant attorney fees. This would provide tax certainty and fairness to wildfire settlement victims now and into the future.

With the incidence of wildfires rising, this is an important issue for Congress to address now to avoid victims having to worry about paying taxes on settlement payments that are meant to make them whole from devastating losses that many of them have suffered.

I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill.

Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Western Riverside County National Wildlife Refuge Act, along with my California colleague, Senator Alex Padilla.

As our country's population grows, so does the need for infrastructure like housing and highways. However, we must find a way to balance the needs of growth with the preservation of our natural resources, including endangered species habitat and green space for the health and safety of our communities.

Senator Padilla and I are proud this legislation would accomplish those goals by creating a Federal wildlife refuge in western Riverside County as part of a collaborative land management plan created by Riverside County.

The newly created wildlife refuge would provide expanded recreation, conservation, and educational opportunities for the local community-- one of the fastest growing in the Nation.

This legislation builds off Riverside County's multiple species habitat conservation plan, allowing land that has already been acquired by the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority to be included in the new Federal wildlife refuge this bill would create.

Our bill would establish a new unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System--the Western Riverside County National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge would be comprised of donated lands from Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority, as well as any additional lands deemed appropriate by the Interior Department acquired from willing sellers or donors, including Federal, State, or local agencies, Tribes, or private land owners.

This refuge would not only create increased recreation, outdoor access, and educational opportunities in Southern California but also work to protect endangered species in the region like the arroyo toad, the southwestern willow flycatcher, and the quino checkerspot butterfly. These protections would in turn help streamline infrastructure projects and support smart growth and land management planning.

As temperatures continue to rise and California experiences another historic drought and wildfire season, it is more important than ever to ensure that we conserve green spaces. As I stated earlier, Riverside County's population is one of the fastest growing in the country, and it is well documented that human development can have damaging effects on the health of endangered and threatened species. Additionally, overdevelopment results in poor community health and well-being.

That is why smart, collaborative land management planning is our best option on how to move forward with a growing population and economy, while safeguarding the resources that keep our communities and wildlife populations healthy.

This bill would support the conservation of habitat for 146 different species in the region, including 33 species that are listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The acquisition boundary for the refuge was created in collaboration with the county, environmental groups and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The boundary area expands on local conservation efforts and increase access to green spaces, especially to underserved communities.

The coronavirus pandemic and recent extreme heat waves in our State have served to underscore the importance of ensuring access and preservation of open spaces, especially as our Nation's population grows and its cities expand.

This bill also meets the Biden administration's call to conserve 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, an initiative known as America the Beautiful. We are proud the creation of this refuge would contribute to that important goal.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Sen. Dianne FeinsteinD-CA · Jul 28, 2022

Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Western Riverside County National Wildlife Refuge Act, along with my California colleague, Senator Alex Padilla. As our country's population grows, so…

Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Western Riverside County National Wildlife Refuge Act, along with my California colleague, Senator Alex Padilla.

The newly created wildlife refuge would provide expanded recreation, conservation, and educational opportunities for the local community-- one of the fastest growing in the Nation.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 28, 2022

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4669

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 28, 2022

Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To establish the Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge Act.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Additional reserve lands

The term additional reserve lands means the conserved habitat totaling approximately 153,000 acres that are needed to meet the goals and objectives of the Conservation Plan, of which—

(A)

56,000 acres are Federal and State acquisition and mitigation for State Permittees; and

(B)

97,000 acres were contributed by local Permittees.

(2)

Conservation Plan

The term Conservation Plan means the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan permitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on June 22, 2004.

(3)

County

The term County means Riverside County, California.

(4)

Indian Tribe

The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

(5)

Map

The term Map means the map entitled Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge Acquisition Boundary as proposed by the Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge Act and dated May 25, 2022.

(6)

Permittee

The term Permittee means an entity identified as a permittee in the incidental take permit issued under section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1539) that is associated with the Conservation Plan.

(7)

Regional Conservation Authority

The term Regional Conservation Authority means the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority.

(8)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(9)

State

The term State means the State of California.

(10)

Urban Partnership

The term Urban Partnership means a place-based partnership, established in accordance with United States Fish and Wildlife Service policy, to be carried out on partner-owned land, including the Urban Bird Treaties Program, Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships, and other partnership programs of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(11)

Urban Wildlife Refuge

The term Urban Wildlife Refuge means a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System that is managed consistent with the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(12)

Wildlife habitat

The term wildlife habitat means the combination of food, water, shelter, or space that meet the needs of wildlife, including wildlife corridors, which are features of the landscape that provide ecological connectivity and allow for native species movement or dispersal as identified—

(A)

by the Secretary; or

(B)

in section 3.2.3 of the Conservation Plan.

(13)

Wildlife Refuge

The term Wildlife Refuge means the Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge established under section 3(a).

Establishment of Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge

(a)

Establishment

On the first acquisition by, or transfer to, the Secretary of any land, water, or any interest in land or water under subsection (h), the Secretary shall establish a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, to be known as the Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge.

(b)

Purposes

The purposes of the Wildlife Refuge are—

(1)

to conserve, manage, and restore fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of individuals in the United States; and

(2)

to support the conservation, recovery, and protection of—

(A)

species listed as threatened species or endangered species under—

(i)

the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or

(ii)

the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 of Division 3 of the California Fish and Game Code); and

(B)

covered species listed under the Conservation Plan.

(c)

Uses

The uses of the Wildlife Refuge shall include—

(1)

providing, to the extent compatible with the purposes described in subsection (b) and pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.)—

(A)

opportunities for scientific research, environmental education, and fish and wildlife-oriented recreation; and

(B)

improved access to nature for communities; and

(2)

engaging communities in fish and wildlife conservation, restoration, education, recreation, and outreach activities through the pursuit of Urban Partnerships.

(d)

Urban Wildlife Refuge

The Wildlife Refuge shall be administered as an Urban Wildlife Refuge.

(e)

Notification of establishment

(1)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Wildlife Refuge is established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register notice of the establishment of the Wildlife Refuge.

(2)

Map

The notice published by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall include the Map.

(f)

Acquisition boundary

(1)

In general

The acquisition boundary of the Wildlife Refuge shall be coterminous with the boundary depicted on the Map.

(2)

Boundary revisions

The Secretary may make such minor revisions to expand the acquisition boundary established under paragraph (1), as may be appropriate—

(A)

to achieve the purposes of the Wildlife Refuge described in subsection (b); or

(B)

to facilitate the acquisition of property for the Wildlife Refuge under subsection (h).

(g)

Administration of Wildlife Refuge

(1)

In general

On the establishment of the Wildlife Refuge under subsection (a), the Secretary shall administer all land, water, and any interest in land or water that have been acquired by, or transferred to, the Secretary under subsection (h) for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge in accordance with—

(A)

the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.); and

(B)

subsection (b).

(2)

Cooperative agreements with respect to non-Federal land

The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements or other instruments, as appropriate, with the State, the County, the Regional Conservation Authority, or any other entity or person—

(A)

for the management, in a manner consistent with this section, of land that is—

(i)

owned by the State, the County, the Regional Conservation Authority, or any other entity or person; and

(ii)

located within the acquisition boundary of the Wildlife Refuge established under subsection (f);

(B)

to promote public awareness of the natural resources of the area governed by the Conservation Plan; or

(C)

to encourage public participation in the conservation of resources in the Wildlife Refuge.

(3)

Easements and rights-of-way

(A)

In general

Any property acquired by, or transferred to, the Secretary for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge under subsection (h) shall be subject to any valid and existing right that existed on the property before the property was acquired by, or transferred to, the Secretary under that subsection.

(B)

Savings clause

Subject to compatibility requirements under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), nothing in this Act precludes the establishment of a new utility facility or right-of-way (including instream sites, routes, and areas) within the Wildlife Refuge if such a facility or right-of-way, as applicable, is necessary for public health and safety, electricity and water supply, or other utility services.

(h)

Acquisition and transfers of land and water for the Wildlife Refuge

(1)

Acquisitions

(A)

In general

The Secretary may acquire, by donation, purchase, or exchange, land, water, or any interest in land or water (including conservation easements) within the acquisition boundary of the Wildlife Refuge established under subsection (f) that will achieve, in the determination of the Secretary, the purposes of the Wildlife Refuge described in subsection (b).

(B)

Land, water, and interests owned by the State

Land, water, and any interests in land or water owned by the State, the County, or the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority may only be acquired by donation.

(C)

Acquisition of additional reserve lands

(i)

In general

In order to support the responsibilities of the Federal Government, as described in the Conservation Plan, the Secretary shall give priority to, when acquiring land, water, or any interest in land or water (including conservation easements) under subparagraph (A), additional reserve lands within the acquisition boundary of the Wildlife Refuge established under subsection (f).

(ii)

Priority

In acquiring additional reserve lands under clause (i), the Secretary shall give priority to additional reserve lands—

(I)

located within criteria cells identified on the Map; and

(II)

that have not been acquired by a Permittee, before the date of enactment of this Act, for the purpose of satisfying the conservation obligations of the Permittee under the Conservation Plan.

(2)

Transfers

(A)

Assessment

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of any Federal department or agency, including any agency within the Department of the Interior, that has jurisdiction of any Federal property located within the acquisition boundary of the Wildlife Refuge established under subsection (f) shall submit to the Secretary an assessment of whether the property would be consistent with the purposes of the Wildlife Refuge described in subsection (b).

(B)

Requirements

Any assessment submitted to the Secretary under subparagraph (A) shall include—

(i)

parcel descriptions and best existing land surveys for the property;

(ii)

a list of existing special reservations designations or purposes of the property;

(iii)

an inventory of—

(I)

all known or suspected hazardous substance contamination of the property;

(II)

any facilities on the property; and

(III)

any surface water or groundwater on the property;

(iv)

the status of withdrawal of the property from—

(I)

the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.); and

(II)

sections 2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (commonly known as the Mining Law of 1872) (30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.); and

(v)

(I)

a recommendation relating to whether the property would be consistent with the purposes of the Wildlife Refuge described in subsection (b); and

(II)

the reasons supporting that recommendation.

(C)

Transfer determination

(i)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an assessment submitted under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall determine whether the property described in that assessment shall be transferred to the Secretary for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge.

(ii)

Property accepted for inclusion

If the Secretary accepts the transfer of a property described in an assessment submitted under subparagraph (A), that property shall be transferred to the Secretary for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge without fee or reimbursement.

(iii)

Property rejected for inclusion

(I)

In general

If the Secretary rejects the transfer of a property described in an assessment submitted under subparagraph (A), that property shall not be transferred to the Secretary for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge.

(II)

Consultation

If the property is not transferred to the Secretary under subclause (I), the Secretary may consult with the head of the department or agency that submitted the assessment under subparagraph (A)—

(aa)

to further deliberate whether that property is consistent with the purposes of the Wildlife Refuge described in subsection (b); and

(bb)

to determine what management activities can be taken for the Secretary to approve the eventual transfer of that property for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge.

(III)

Inclusion

If, on further deliberation between the Secretary and the head of the department or agency under subclause (II), the Secretary accepts the transfer of the applicable property, that property shall be transferred to the Secretary for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge in accordance with clause (ii).

(D)

Additional transfers

The Secretary, on completion of reviewing assessments submitted by the head of any Federal department or agency, including any agency within the Department of the Interior, under subparagraph (A), may commence additional assessments in accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C) if the Secretary determines that—

(i)

any Federal department or agency, including any agency within the Department of the Interior, has, or has acquired, jurisdiction over any Federal property located within the acquisition boundary of the Wildlife Refuge established under subsection (f); or

(ii)

property rejected by the Secretary under subparagraph (C)(iii) has been remediated and may now be suitable for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge.

(E)

Public access

If property transferred to the Secretary under this paragraph allows for public access at the time of transfer, that access shall be maintained, unless that access, as determined by the Secretary—

(i)

would be incompatible with the purposes of the Wildlife Refuge described in subsection (b) or the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.);

(ii)

would jeopardize public health or safety; or

(iii)

must be limited due to emergency circumstances.

(3)

Tribal cultural and religious uses

No acquisition or transfer of property under this subsection shall modify or revoke existing access to, or use by, affected Indian Tribes, unless that use or access, as determined by the Secretary—

(A)

would be incompatible with the purposes of the Wildlife Refuge described in subsection (b) or the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.);

(B)

would jeopardize public health or safety; or

(C)

must be limited due to emergency circumstances.

(4)

Savings clause

Nothing in this subsection exempts or relieves a Permittee from the obligations of the Permittee under the Conservation Plan or any associated permit.