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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 
7003. 
SEC. 7002. ADDITIONAL REPORTS. 
(a) MISSISSIPPI RIVER GULF OUTLET.—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 ad-
dress navigation, salt water intrusion, channel bank ero-
sion, mitigation, and threats to life and property. 
(b) CHENIER PLAIN.—Not later than July 1, 2006, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report recom-
mending 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 protec-
tion, conservation, and restoration of the wetlands, 
estuaries (including Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary),
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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 subsid-
ence. 
(2) CONSIDERATION.—In developing the rec-
ommended framework, the Secretary shall consider 
integrating other Federal or State projects or activi-
ties within the coastal Louisiana ecosystem into the 
long-term restoration program. 
(3) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.— 
(A) DEADLINE.—Not later than five years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary 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. 7003. COASTAL LOUISIANA ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION 
AND RESTORATION TASK FORCE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.—There is 
established the Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Protection
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and Restoration Task Force, which shall consist of the fol-
lowing 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 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,
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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-
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(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
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(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. 
(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. 
(f) APPLICATION
OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT.—The Task Force and any working group 
established by the Task Force shall not be considered an 
advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
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.
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(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. 
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
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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 
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(c)(3). 
(2) MAXIMUM COST.—
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(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. 
(2) Small Diversion at Hope Canal at a total 
cost of $68,600,000. 
(3) Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restora-
tion 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.—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 $100,000,000.
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SEC. 7006. NON-FEDERAL COST SHARE. 
(a) CREDIT.—The Secretary shall credit toward the 
non-Federal share of the cost of a study authorized by 
section 7004 or a project authorized by section 7005 the 
cost of work carried out in the coastal Louisiana eco-
system 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 inte-
gral 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 
7004 or a project authorized by section 7005 may be ap-
plied toward the non-Federal share of the cost of any other 
study authorized by section 7004 or any other project au-
thorized by section 7005, as the case may be. 
(c) PERIODIC MONITORING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that the contribu-
tions of the non-Federal interest equal the non-Fed-
eral share of the cost of a study authorized by sec-
tion 7004 or a project authorized by section 7005, 
during each 5-year period beginning after the date 
of commencement of the first study under section 
7004 or construction of the first project under sec-
tion 7005, as the case may be, the Secretary shall—
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(A) monitor the non-Federal provision for 
each study authorized by section 7004 or each 
project authorized by section 7005, 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 pro-
vide 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 Lou-
isiana 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.