335 
(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 Depart-
ment of Natural Resources. 
(12) A representative of the Louisiana Gov-
ernor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Restoration 
and Conservation. 
(b) DUTIES
OF TASK FORCE.—The Task Force 
shall— 
(1) make recommendations to the Secretary re-
garding 
policies, 
strategies, 
plans, 
programs, 
projects, and activities for addressing protection, 
conservation, and restoration of the coastal Lou-
isiana ecosystem; 
(2) prepare financial plans for each of the agen-
cies represented on the Task Force for funds pro-
posed for the protection, conservation, and restora-
336 
tion of the coastal Louisiana ecosystem under au-
thorities of each agency, including— 
(A) recommendations that identify funds 
from current agency missions and budgets; and 
(B) recommendations for coordinating in-
dividual 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 
7002(d)(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 avail-
able for public inspection; and 
(2) establish such working groups as are nec-
essary to assist the Task Force in carrying out its 
duties.
337 
(d) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Task Force or 
any associated working group may not receive compensa-
tion 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 associ-
ated 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. 
SEC. 7004. INVESTIGATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct feasi-
bility studies for future authorization and large-scale stud-
ies substantially in accordance with the Plan at a total 
cost $130,000,000. 
(b) EXISTING FEDERALLY AUTHORIZED WATER RE-
SOURCES PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall review 
existing federally authorized water resources projects 
in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem in order to deter-
mine their consistency with the purposes of this sec-
tion 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 ap-
propriated $10,000,000 to carry out this subsection.
338 
SEC. 7005. CONSTRUCTION. 
(a) COASTAL LOUISIANA ECOSYSTEM PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a coastal Louisiana ecosystem program substan-
tially in accordance with the Plan, at a total cost of 
$50,000,000. 
(2) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the pro-
gram shall be to— 
(A) identify uncertainties about the phys-
ical, chemical, geological, biological, and cul-
tural baseline conditions in the coastal Lou-
isiana ecosystem; 
(B) improve the State of knowledge of the 
physical, chemical, geological, biological, and 
cultural baseline conditions in the coastal Lou-
isiana ecosystem; and 
(C) identify and develop technologies, mod-
els, and methods that could be useful in car-
rying out the purposes of this title. 
(3) WORKING GROUPS.—The Secretary may es-
tablish such working groups as are necessary to as-
sist 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
339 
of aquatic and marine ecosystems, including a con-
sortium 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 sub-
stantially in accordance with the Plan for the pur-
pose of resolving critical areas of scientific or tech-
nological uncertainty related to the implementation 
of the comprehensive plan to be developed under sec-
tion 7002(d)(3). 
(2) MAXIMUM COST.— 
(A) TOTAL COST.—The total cost for plan-
ning, design, and construction of all demonstra-
tion projects under this subsection shall not ex-
ceed $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 accord-
ance with the Plan: 
(1) Mississippi River Gulf Outlet Environ-
mental Restoration at a total cost of $105,300,000.