89–010 

Calendar No. 368 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 111–183 

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 

MAY 5, 2010.—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. 1965] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 

referred a bill (S. 1965) 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

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. 

The feral swine population in on Lake Ophelia National Wildlife 

Refuge in central Louisiana is at an epidemic level with 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 aggressive 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. 


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The Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 

2009 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 annual appropriations of $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013. 

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 2009.’’ 

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 $1,000,000 

for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 1965 was introduced on October 28, 2009 by Senator Mary 

Landrieu (D–LA) with one cosponsor. The bill was referred to the 

Committee on Environment and Public Works. On December 10, 

2009, the full Environment and Public Works Committee met to 

consider the bill. The bill was ordered reported favorably without 

amendment. 

HEARINGS

On December 3, 2009, 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 S. 1965. 


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ROLLCALL VOTES

The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to consider S. 1965 on December 10, 2009. The bill was ordered favorably 

reported by voice vote. 

REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

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

Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that H.R. 3433 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. 1965 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

DECEMBER 15, 2009. 

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. 1965, the Feral Swine 

Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 2009. 

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

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Daniel Hoople. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 

S. 1965—Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act 

of 2009 

S. 1965 would authorize the appropriation of $1 million in each 

of fiscal years 2011 through 2013 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. The federal government would pay 75 percent of the costs 

related to a pilot study, the development of methods to eradicate 

or control feral swine, and the restoration of damaged wetlands in 

the state. Assuming appropriation of the specified amounts, CBO 

estimates that financial assistance to the state of Louisiana under 

the bill would cost $3 million over the 2011–2014 period. Enacting 

this legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues. 

S. 1965 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 Daniel Hoople. This 

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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