19–010 

Calendar No. 303 

112TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 112–137 

FERAL SWINE ERADICATION AND CONTROL PILOT 

PROGRAM ACT OF 2011 

JANUARY 26, 2012.—Ordered to be printed 

Mrs. BOXER, from the Committee on Environment and Public 

Works, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 893] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 

referred a bill (S. 893) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 

provide financial assistance to the State of Louisiana for a pilot 

program to develop measures to eradicate or control feral swine 

and to assess and restore wetlands damaged by feral swine, having 

considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment 

and recommends that the bill do pass. 

GENERAL STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, feral swine are 

present in at least 39 states and cause extensive damage to natural 

habitats, including wetlands, as well as private property and crops. 

While digging for food (rooting), feral swine displace native wildlife 

and destroy vegetation, leading to increased erosion and invasive 

plant infestation. They compete with native species for food resources and prey on young livestock and small animals. Feral 

swine also carry diseases that affect pets, livestock, wildlife, and 

humans. 

In testimony before the Committee, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service highlighted the feral swine population in on Lake Ophelia 

National Wildlife Refuge in central Louisiana, which has reached 

an epidemic level an estimated one swine per four acres of habitat. 

Roughly 30 to 50 percent of grain crops planted on the refuge to 

support waterfowl populations are destroyed by feral swine. An agVerDate Mar 15 2010 08:45 Jan 27, 2012 Jkt 019010 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR137.XXX SR137

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gressive and sustained effort utilizing multiple techniques is needed to control feral swine populations on national wildlife refuges 

and parks in order to protect native wildlife and their habitats. 

The Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 

2011 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial 

assistance to the State of Louisiana to pay up to 75 percent of the 

cost of carrying out a pilot program to eradicate feral swine. The 

bill authorizes such sums as are necessary for fiscal years 2012 

through 2016. 

OBJECTIVES OF THE LEGISLATION

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance to the State of Louisiana for a pilot program to develop 

measures to eradicate or control feral swine and to assess and restore wetlands damaged by feral swine. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 provides that this Act may be cited as the Feral Swine 

Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 2011.’ 

Section 2. Findings and purpose 

Section 2 provides the general purpose of the bill, along with several findings which: recognize the economic and environmental importance of Louisiana wetlands; acknowledge the damaging impacts of increasing nonnative invasive feral swine populations on 

Louisiana wetlands; and, determine that the methodologies under 

the Coastwide Nutria Control Program established under the 

Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act may 

provide the basis for control and restoration of wetlands damaged 

by feral swine. 

Section 3. Feral swine eradication and control pilot program 

Section 3 outlines the eligible activities for assistance under the 

Act, including: study and assess the nature and extent of wetland 

damage caused by feral swine; develop methods to eradicate or control feral swine; and develop methods to restore damaged wetlands. 

Section 3 also establishes coordination and cost share requirements, limits administrative expenses, and authorizes such sums 

as are necessary for fiscal years 2012 through 2016. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 893 was introduced on May 5, 2011 by Senator Mary Landrieu 

(D–LA). The bill was referred to the Committee on Environment 

and Public Works. On September 21, 2011, the full Environment 

and Public Works Committee met to consider the bill. The bill was 

ordered reported favorably without amendment. 

HEARINGS

In the 111th Congress, the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of 

the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a legislative hearing on multiple wildlife and invasive species bills, including the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Act of 2009 (S. 

1965). 


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ROLLCALL VOTES

The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to consider S. 893 on September 21, 2011. The bill was ordered favorably 

reported by voice vote with Senators Inhofe and Johanns recorded 

as ‘‘No’’. 

REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that S. 893 does not create any additional regulatory burdens, nor will it cause any adverse impact on the personal privacy of individuals. 

MANDATES ASSESSMENT

In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 

(Public Law 104–4), the committee noted that the Congressional 

Budget Office has found, ‘‘S. 893 contains no intergovernmental or 

private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.’’ 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011. 

Hon. BARBARA BOXER, Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works 

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MADAM CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has 

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 893, the Feral Swine 

Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 2011. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 

S. 893—Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 

2011 

S. 893 would authorize appropriations over the 2012–2016 period 

for the Department of the Interior (DOI) to study and develop 

methods to control and eradicate feral swine in Louisiana and to 

restore wetlands damaged by such animals. Based on information 

from DOI and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, 

CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $1 

million a year over the 2012–2016 period. Enacting S. 893 would 

not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

S. 893 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates 

as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. Louisiana 

would benefit from the program authorized in the bill. Any costs 

to the state would be incurred voluntarily as a condition of receiving federal assistance. 


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The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeff LaFave. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

Section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate requires the committee to publish changes in existing law made by 

the bill as reported. Passage of this bill will make no changes to 

existing law. 

Æ 


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