Meeting Authorization Requirements for the Coast Act of 2006 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out specified projects for hurricane and storm damage reduction and flood control in Louisiana.
Amends the Flood Control Act of 1948 to increase the amount that the Secretary may allot for flood control for a small flood control project at any single locality.
Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to: (1) authorize the Secretary to carry out specified projects to transport and place, and to develop plans for regional management of, sediment obtained in conjunction with water management projects associated with flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, aquatic plant control, and environmental protection and restoration; and (2) permit to be carried out at federal expense specified projects to protect, restore, or create aquatic and ecologically-related habitat located in a disadvantaged community or projects located in coastal communities impacted by 2005 hurricanes.
Modifies specified projects and requires or authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified studies, programs, and projects in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress: (1) reports recommending specified modifications to the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, near-term ecosystem restoration measures for the Chenier Plain, Louisiana, and a framework for developing a long-term program to protect, conserve, and restore specified wetlands, estuaries, and barrier islands; and (2) a feasibility study recommending a comprehensive long-term plan for the coastal Louisiana ecosystem.
Establishes the Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Protection and Restoration Task Force to make recommendations to the Secretary to protect, conserve, and restore the coastal Louisiana ecosystem.
Sets forth requirements regarding project costs, monitoring, audits, and justification.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5461 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5461
To authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out water resources
projects and activities for the coastal area of Louisiana, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2006
Mr. Melancon (for himself, Mr. Baker, Mr. McCrery, Mr. Alexander, Mr.
Boustany, Mr. Jindal, and Mr. Jefferson) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out water resources
projects and activities for the coastal area of Louisiana, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Meeting
Authorization Requirements for the Coast Act of 2006''.
(b) Table of Contents.--
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
TITLE I--WATER RESOURCES PROJECTS
Sec. 101. Project authorizations.
Sec. 102. General provisions.
Sec. 103. Project modifications.
Sec. 104. Project-related provisions.
Sec. 105. Studies.
TITLE II--LOUISIANA COASTAL AREA
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. Additional reports.
Sec. 203. Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Protection and Restoration Task
Force.
Sec. 204. Investigations.
Sec. 205. Construction.
Sec. 206. Non-Federal cost share.
Sec. 207. Project justification.
Sec. 208. Statutory construction.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Army.
TITLE I--WATER RESOURCES PROJECTS
SEC. 101. PROJECT AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) Project With Chief's Report.--
(1) Morganza to the gulf of mexico, louisiana.--The
Secretary is authorized to carry out the project for hurricane
and storm damage reduction, Morganza to the Gulf of Mexico,
Louisiana: Reports of the Chief of Engineers, dated August 23,
2002, and July 22, 2003, substantially in accordance with the
plans, and subject to the conditions, described in such
reports, at a total cost of $788,000,000, with an estimated
Federal cost of $512,200,000 and an estimated non-Federal cost
of $275,800,000.
(2) Credit.--The Secretary shall credit toward the non-
Federal share of the cost of the project the cost of design and
construction work carried out by the non-Federal interest
before the date of the partnership agreement for the project if
the Secretary determines that the work is integral to the
project.
(b) Project Authorization Subject to Final Report.--
(1) Donaldsonville, louisiana, to the gulf of mexico.--The
project for flood control, Donaldsonville, Louisiana, to the
Gulf of Mexico, is authorized to be carried out by the
Secretary substantially in accordance with the plans, and
subject to the conditions, recommended in a final report of the
Chief of Engineers if a favorable report of the Chief is
completed, at a total cost of $510,300,000, with an estimated
Federal cost of $331,700,000 and an estimated non-Federal cost
of $178,600,000.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that in
considering possible alignments for the project for flood
control, Donaldsonville, Louisiana, to the Gulf of Mexico, the
Secretary should take in account the preference of the West
Jefferson Levee District for an alignment that would provide
flood protection for all of the communities located in the
Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point areas within Jefferson
Parish.
SEC. 102. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Small Flood Damage Reduction Projects.--Section 205 of the
Flood Control Act of 1948 (33 U.S.C. 701s) is amended by striking
``$7,000,000'' and inserting ``$15,000,000''.
(b) Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material.--Section 204 of the Water
Resources Development Act of 1992 (33 U.S.C. 2326) is amended by
striking subsections (c) through (g) and inserting the following:
``(c) In General.--The Secretary may carry out projects to
transport and place sediment obtained in connection with the
construction, operation, or maintenance of an authorized water
resources project at locations selected by a non-Federal entity for use
in the construction, repair, or rehabilitation of projects determined
by the Secretary to be in the public interest and associated with flood
damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, aquatic plant
control, and environmental protection and restoration.
``(d) Cooperative Agreement.--Any project undertaken pursuant to
this section shall be initiated only after non-Federal interests have
entered into an agreement with the Secretary in which the non-Federal
interests agree to pay the non-Federal share of the cost of
construction of the project and 100 percent of the cost of operation,
maintenance, replacement, and rehabilitation of the project in
accordance with section 103 of the Water Resources Development Act of
1986 (33 U.S.C. 2213).
``(e) Special Rule.--Construction of a project under subsection (a)
may be carried out at Federal expense if--
``(1) the project is for one or more of the purposes of
protection, restoration, or creation of aquatic and
ecologically related habitat, will be carried out at a cost
which does not exceed $750,000 and will be located in a
disadvantaged community as determined by the Secretary; or
``(2) the project will be located in a coastal community
impacted by a hurricane in 2005.
``(f) Determination of Construction Costs.--Costs associated with
construction of a project under this section shall be limited solely to
construction costs that are in excess of those costs necessary to carry
out the dredging for construction, operation, or maintenance of the
authorized water resources project in the most cost- effective way,
consistent with economic, engineering, and environmental criteria.
``(g) Selection of Sediment Disposal Method.--In developing and
carrying out a water resources project involving the disposal of
sediment, the Secretary may select, with the consent of the non-Federal
interest, a disposal method that is not the least cost option if the
Secretary determines that the incremental costs of such disposal method
are reasonable in relation to the environmental benefits, including the
benefits to the aquatic environment to be derived from the creation of
wetlands and control of shoreline erosion. The Federal share of such
incremental costs shall be determined in accordance with subsections
(d) and (f).
``(h) Nonprofit Entities.--Notwithstanding section 221 of the Flood
Control Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 1962d-5b), for any project carried out
under this section, a non-Federal interest may include a nonprofit
entity, with the consent of the affected local government.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $30,000,000 annually for projects under this section of
which not more than $3,000,000 annually may be used for construction of
projects described in subsection (e). Such sums shall remain available
until expended.
``(j) Regional Sediment Management Planning.--In consultation with
appropriate State and Federal agencies, the Secretary may develop, at
Federal expense, plans for regional management of sediment obtained in
conjunction with the construction, operation, or maintenance of water
resources projects, including potential beneficial uses of sediment for
construction, repair, or rehabilitation of public projects for flood
damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, aquatic plant
control, and environmental protection and restoration.
``(k) Use of Funds.--
``(1) Non-federal interest.--The non-Federal interest for a
project described in this section may use, and the Secretary
shall accept, funds provided under any other Federal or State
program, to satisfy, in whole or in part, the non-Federal share
of the cost of such project if such funds are authorized to be
used to carry out such project.
``(2) Other federal agencies.--The non-Federal share of the
cost of construction of a project under this section may be met
through contributions from a Federal agency made directly to
the Secretary, with the consent of the affected local
government, if such funds are authorized to be used to carry
out such project. Before initiating a project to which this
paragraph applies, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement
with a non-Federal interest in which the non-Federal interest
agrees to pay 100 percent of the cost of operation,
maintenance, replacement, and rehabilitation of the project.''.
SEC. 103. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS.
(a) New Orleans to Venice, Louisiana.--The project for hurricane
protection, New Orleans to Venice, Louisiana, authorized by section 203
of the Flood Control Act of 1962 (76 Stat. 1184), is modified to
authorize the Secretary to carry out the work on the St. Jude to City
Price, Upper Reach A back levee. The Federal share of the cost of such
work shall be 70 percent.
(b) Deer Island, Harrison County, Mississippi.--The project for
ecosystem restoration, Deer Island, Harrison County, Mississippi, being
carried out under section 204 of the Water Resources Development Act of
1992 (33 U.S.C. 2326), is modified to authorize the non-Federal
interest to provide any portion of the non-Federal share of the cost of
the project in the form of in-kind services and materials.
SEC. 104. PROJECT-RELATED PROVISIONS.
(a) Larose to Golden Meadow, Louisiana.--
(1) Reimbursement.--The Secretary shall reimburse the non-
Federal interest for 65 percent of the cost of any planning,
design, and construction work performed by the non-Federal
interest between August 16, 1999, and the date of enactment of
this Act in converting the Golden Meadow floodgate, Louisiana,
into a navigational lock if the Secretary determines that the
work conforms to the Leon Theriot Lock Evaluation Report as
approved by the Chief of Engineers.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $16,000,000.
Such sums shall remain available until expended.
(b) Non-Federal Levees in Terrebonne, St. Charles, Lafourche, and
St. Mary Parishes, Louisiana.--The Secretary shall carry out projects
for the restoration of damaged hurricane and flood control facilities,
including non-Federal facilities, in Terrebonne, St. Charles,
Lafourche, and St. Mary Parishes, Louisiana, to pre-storm levels of
protection at full Federal expense under the emergency authority
provided by Public Law 84-99 (33 U.S.C. 701n).
(c) Levees in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.--
(1) Incorporation of east bank non-federal levee.--
(A) Incorporation into federal levee system.--The
Secretary is authorized to incorporate the non-Federal
levee on the east bank of the Mississippi River in
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, into the existing
Federal levee system.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
paragraph $94,000,000. Such sums shall remain available
until expended.
(2) Level of flood protection.--The Secretary is authorized
to undertake such measures as may be necessary to provide a
100-year level of flood protection for Plaquemines Parish,
Louisiana.
(d) Feasibility Studies for Certain Levee Projects, Louisiana.--In
conducting feasability studies for each of the following projects for
flood control, the Secretary shall include, as part of the calculation
of benefits and costs, the benefits of the project to the region
commonly referred to as West Jefferson Parish, Louisiana:
(1) Crown Point Basin, Crown Point, Louisiana.
(2) Lower Barataria Basin, Barataria, Louisiana.
(3) Lower Highway 45 Evacuation Route, Lafitte, Louisiana.
(4) Upper Highway 45 Evacuation Route, Jean Lafitte,
Louisiana.
(5) Jones Point Basin, Crown Point, Louisiana.
(6) Lower Lafitte Basin, Lafitte, Louisiana.
(e) Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson Counties, Mississippi.--In
carrying out projects for the protection, restoration, and creation of
aquatic and ecologically related habitats located in Harrison, Hancock,
and Jackson Counties, Mississippi, under section 204 of the Water
Resources Development Act of 1992 (33 U.S.C. 2326), the Secretary shall
accept any portion of the non-Federal share of the cost of the project
in the form of in-kind services and materials.
SEC. 105. STUDIES.
(a) Comprehensive Study for Southwest Louisiana.--The Secretary
shall conduct a study of the coast of Louisiana in Cameron, Calcasieu,
Vermillion, Iberia, St. Martin, and St. Mary Parishes, with particular
reference to the advisability of providing hurricane protection and
storm damage reduction and related purposes. In conducting the study,
the Secretary shall assess the feasibility of constructing an armored
12-foot levee along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
(b) Mississippi Coastal Area, Mississippi.--The Secretary shall
conduct a study to determine the feasibility of making improvements or
modifications to existing improvements in the coastal area of
Mississippi in the interest of hurricane and storm damage reduction,
prevention of saltwater intrusion, preservation of fish and wildlife,
prevention of erosion, and other related water resource purposes.
TITLE II--LOUISIANA COASTAL AREA
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.
In this title, the following definitions apply:
(1) Coastal louisiana ecosystem.--The term ``coastal
Louisiana ecosystem'' means the coastal area of Louisiana from
the Sabine River on the west and the Pearl River on the east,
including those parts of the Deltaic Plain and the Chenier
Plain included within the study area of the Plan.
(2) Governor.--The term ``Governor'' means the Governor of
the State of Louisiana.
(3) Plan.--The term ``Plan'' means the report of the Chief
of Engineers for ecosystem restoration for the Louisiana
Coastal Area dated January 31, 2005.
(4) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the Coastal
Louisiana Ecosystem Protection and Restoration Task Force
established by section 203.
SEC. 202. ADDITIONAL REPORTS.
(a) Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet.--
(1) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report recommending modifications to the Mississippi River-Gulf
Outlet to address navigation, salt water intrusion, channel
bank erosion, mitigation, and threats to life and property. The
report shall contain recommended strategies for closing the
Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet to navigation.
(2) Dredging activities.--The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet
element of the project for the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge
to the Gulf of Mexico, authorized by Public Law 84-455 (70
Stat. 65), is modified to direct the Secretary to cease channel
dredging activities.
(b) Chenier Plain.--Not later than July 1, 2007, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report recommending near-term ecosystem
restoration measures for the Chenier Plain, Louisiana.
(c) Long-Term Plan.--
(1) Comprehensive framework.--Not later than one year after
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a recommended framework for developing a
long-term program that provides for the comprehensive
protection, conservation, and restoration of the wetlands,
estuaries (including Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary), barrier
islands, and related land and features that protect critical
resources, habitat, and infrastructure in the coastal Louisiana
ecosystem from the impacts of coastal storms, hurricanes,
erosion, and subsidence.
(2) Consideration.--In developing the recommended
framework, the Secretary shall consider integrating other
Federal or State projects or activities within the coastal
Louisiana ecosystem into the long-term restoration program.
(3) Comprehensive plan.--
(A) Deadline.--Not later than 5 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a feasibility study recommending a
comprehensive, long-term, plan for the protection,
conservation, and restoration of the coastal Louisiana
ecosystem.
(B) Integration.--The comprehensive, long-term,
plan shall include recommendations for the integration
of ongoing Federal and State projects, programs, and
activities.
SEC. 203. COASTAL LOUISIANA ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION TASK
FORCE.
(a) Establishment and Membership.--There is established the Coastal
Louisiana Ecosystem Protection and Restoration Task Force, which shall
consist of the following members (or, in the case of the head of a
Federal agency, a designee at the level of Assistant Secretary or an
equivalent level):
(1) The Secretary.
(2) The Secretary of the Interior.
(3) The Secretary of Commerce.
(4) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency.
(5) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(6) The Secretary of Transportation.
(7) The Secretary of Energy.
(8) The Director of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
(9) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(10) The Coastal Advisor to the Governor.
(11) The Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural
Resources.
(12) A representative of the Louisiana Governor's Advisory
Commission on Coastal Restoration and Conservation.
(b) Duties of Task Force.--The Task Force shall--
(1) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding
policies, strategies, plans, programs, projects, and activities
for addressing protection, conservation, and restoration of the
coastal Louisiana ecosystem;
(2) prepare financial plans for each of the agencies
represented on the Task Force for funds proposed for the
protection, conservation, and restoration of the coastal
Louisiana ecosystem under authorities of each agency,
including--
(A) recommendations that identify funds from
current agency missions and budgets; and
(B) recommendations for coordinating individual
agency budget requests; and
(3) submit to Congress a biennial report that summarizes
the activities of the Task Force and progress towards the
purposes set forth in section 202(c)(1).
(c) Procedures and Advice.--The Task Force shall--
(1) implement procedures to facilitate public participation
with regard to Task Force activities, including--
(A) providing advance notice of meetings;
(B) providing adequate opportunity for public input
and comment;
(C) maintaining appropriate records; and
(D) making a record of proceedings available for
public inspection; and
(2) establish such working groups as are necessary to
assist the Task Force in carrying out its duties.
(d) Compensation.--Members of the Task Force or any associated
working group may not receive compensation for their services as
members of the Task Force or working group.
(e) Travel Expenses.--Travel expenses incurred by members of the
Task Force, or members of an associated working group, in the
performance of their service on the Task Force or working group shall
be paid by the agency or entity that the member represents.
(f) Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Task Force
and any working group established by the Task Force shall not be
considered an advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
SEC. 204. INVESTIGATIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct feasibility studies
for future authorization and large-scale studies substantially in
accordance with the Plan at a total cost $130,000,000.
(b) Existing Federally Authorized Water Resources Projects.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall review existing
federally authorized water resources projects in the coastal
Louisiana ecosystem in order to determine their consistency
with the purposes of this section and whether the projects have
the potential to contribute to ecosystem restoration through
revised operations or modified project features.
(2) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated
$10,000,000 to carry out this subsection.
SEC. 205. CONSTRUCTION.
(a) Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a coastal
Louisiana ecosystem program substantially in accordance with
the Plan, at a total cost of $50,000,000.
(2) Objectives.--The objectives of the program shall be
to--
(A) identify uncertainties about the physical,
chemical, geological, biological, and cultural baseline
conditions in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem;
(B) improve the State of knowledge of the physical,
chemical, geological, biological, and cultural baseline
conditions in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem; and
(C) identify and develop technologies, models, and
methods that could be useful in carrying out the
purposes of this title.
(3) Working groups.--The Secretary may establish such
working groups as are necessary to assist in carrying out this
subsection.
(4) Procedures and advice.--In carrying out this
subsection, the Secretary is authorized to enter into contracts
and cooperative agreements with scientific and engineering
experts in the restoration of aquatic and marine ecosystems,
including a consortium of academic institutions in Louisiana
and Mississippi for coastal restoration and enhancement through
science and technology.
(b) Demonstration Projects.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the
Secretary may carry out projects substantially in accordance
with the Plan for the purpose of resolving critical areas of
scientific or technological uncertainty related to the
implementation of the comprehensive plan to be developed under
section 202(c)(3).
(2) Maximum cost.--
(A) Total cost.--The total cost for planning,
design, and construction of all demonstration projects
under this subsection shall not exceed $100,000,000.
(B) Individual project.--The total cost of an
individual demonstration project under this subsection
shall not exceed $25,000,000.
(c) Initial Projects.--The Secretary is authorized to carry out the
following projects substantially in accordance with the Plan:
(1) Mississippi River Gulf Outlet Environmental Restoration
at a total cost of $105,300,000.
(2) Small Diversion at Hope Canal at a total cost of
$68,600,000.
(3) Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration at a
total cost of $242,600,000.
(4) Small Bayou Lafourche Reintroduction at a total cost of
$133,500,000.
(5) Medium Diversion at Myrtle Grove with Dedicated
Dredging at a total cost of $278,300,000.
(d) Beneficial Use of Dredged Material.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, substantially in accordance
with the Plan, shall implement in the coastal Louisiana
ecosystem a program for the beneficial use of material dredged
from federally maintained waterways at a total cost of
$130,000,000.
(2) Sediment delivery system, west pointe a la hache,
plaquemines parish.--Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to
paragraph (1), $30,000,000 shall be used to provide financial
assistance to permit the Louisiana Department of Natural
Resources, in cooperation with Barataria-Terrebonne National
Estuary Program, the Center for Bioenvironmental Research, and
the Plaquemines Parish government, to--
(A) determine the best plan and design for a
sediment delivery system in the region of West Pointe a
la Hache, Plaquemines Parish; and
(B) construct a project based on such plan and
design.
SEC. 206. NON-FEDERAL COST SHARE.
(a) Credit.--The Secretary shall credit toward the non-Federal
share of the cost of a study authorized by section 204 or a project
authorized by section 205 the cost of work carried out in the coastal
Louisiana ecosystem by the non-Federal interest before the date of the
partnership agreement for the study or project, as the case may be, if
the Secretary determines that the work is integral to the study or
project, as the case may be.
(b) Treatment of Credit Between Projects.--Any credit provided
under this section toward the non-Federal share of the cost of a study
authorized by section 204 or a project authorized by section 205 may be
applied toward the non-Federal share of the cost of any other study
authorized by section 204 or any other project authorized by section
205, as the case may be.
(c) Periodic Monitoring.--
(1) In general.--To ensure that the contributions of the
non-Federal interest equal the non-Federal share of the cost of
a study authorized by section 204 or a project authorized by
section 205, during each 5-year period beginning after the date
of commencement of the first study under section 204 or
construction of the first project under section 205, as the
case may be, the Secretary shall--
(A) monitor the non-Federal provision for each
study authorized by section 204 or each project
authorized by section 205, as the case may be, of cash,
in-kind services and materials, and land, easements,
rights-of-way, relocations, and disposal areas; and
(B) manage, to the extent practicable, the
requirement of the non-Federal interest to provide for
each such project cash, in-kind services and materials,
and land, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, and
disposal areas.
(2) Other monitoring.--The Secretary shall conduct
monitoring separately for the study phase, construction phase,
the preconstruction engineering and design phase, and the
planning phase for each project authorized on or after date of
enactment of this Act for all or any portion of the coastal
Louisiana ecosystem.
(d) Audits.--Credit for land, easements, rights-of-way,
relocations, and disposal areas (including land value and incidental
costs) provided under this section, and the cost of work provided under
this section, shall be subject to audit by the Secretary.
SEC. 207. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 209 of the Flood Control
Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 1962-2) or any other provision of law, in
carrying out any project or activity authorized by or under this title
or any other provision of law to protect, conserve, and restore the
coastal Louisiana ecosystem, the Secretary may determine that--
(1) the project or activity is justified by the
environmental benefits derived by the coastal Louisiana
ecosystem; and
(2) no further economic justification for the project or
activity is required if the Secretary determines that the
project or activity is cost effective.
(b) Limitation on Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to
any separable element intended to produce benefits that are
predominantly unrelated to the protection, conservation, and
restoration of the coastal Louisiana ecosystem.
SEC. 208. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.
(a) Existing Authority.--Except as otherwise provided in this
title, nothing in this title affects any authority in effect on the
date of enactment of this Act, or any requirement relating to the
participation in protection, conservation, and restoration projects and
activities in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem, including projects and
activities referred to in subsection (a) of--
(1) the Department of the Army;
(2) the Department of the Interior;
(3) the Department of Commerce;
(4) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(5) the Department of Agriculture;
(6) the Department of Transportation;
(7) the Department of Energy;
(8) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(9) the Coast Guard; and
(10) the State of Louisiana.
(b) New Authority.--Nothing in this title confers any new
regulatory authority on any Federal or non-Federal entity that carries
out any project or activity authorized by or under this title.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
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