358 
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. 
(e) ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to 
carry out a project for ecosystem restoration for the 
Chenier Plain, Louisiana, and the following projects 
referred to in the Plan if the Secretary determines 
such projects are feasible: 
(A) Land Bridge between Caillou Lake and 
the Gulf of Mexico at a total cost of $56,300,000. 
(B) Gulf Shoreline at Point Au Fer Island 
at a total cost of $43,400,000. 
(C) Modification of Caernarvon Diversion 
at a total cost of $20,700,000. 
(D) Modification of Davis Pond Diversion 
at a total cost of $64,200,000. 
(2) REPORTS.—Not later than December 31, 
2009, the Secretary shall submit feasibility reports on 
the projects described in paragraph (1) to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Envi-
ronment and Public Works of the Senate. 
(3) CONSTRUCTION.—No appropriations shall be 
made to construct any project under this subsection if 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:01 Apr 05, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00358
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1495.RH
H1495
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
359 
the report under paragraph (2) has not been approved 
by resolutions adopted by the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate. 
SEC. 7007. NON-FEDERAL COST SHARE. 
(a) CREDIT.—The Secretary shall credit toward the 
non-Federal share of the cost of a study or project under 
this title the cost of work carried out in the coastal Lou-
isiana ecosystem by the non-Federal interest before the date 
of the execution of the partnership agreement for the study 
or project if the Secretary determines that the work is inte-
gral to the study or project. 
(b) SOURCES OF FUNDS.—The non-Federal interest 
may use, and the Secretary shall accept, funds provided 
under any other Federal program to satisfy, in whole or 
in part, the non-Federal share of the construction of any 
project carried out under this section if such funds are au-
thorized to be used to carry out such project. 
(c) TREATMENT OF CREDIT BETWEEN PROJECTS.— 
Any credit provided under this section toward the non-Fed-
eral share of the cost of a study or project under this title 
may be applied toward the non-Federal share of the cost 
of any other study or project under this title. 
(d) PERIODIC MONITORING.— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:01 Apr 05, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00359
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1495.RH
H1495
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
360 
(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 or project under this 
title during each 5-year period beginning after the 
date of commencement of the first study or project 
under this title, the Secretary shall— 
(A) monitor for each study or project under 
this title the non-Federal provision of cash, in- 
kind services and materials, and land, ease-
ments, rights-of-way, relocations, and disposal 
areas; and 
(B) manage the requirement of the non-Fed-
eral interest to provide for each such study or 
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, preconstruction engineering and 
design phase, and planning phase for each project au-
thorized on or after date of enactment of this Act for 
all or any portion of the coastal Louisiana ecosystem. 
(e) AUDITS.—Credit for land, easements, rights-of- 
way, relocations, and disposal areas (including land value 
and incidental costs) provided under this section, and the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:01 Apr 05, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00360
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1495.RH
H1495
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
361 
cost of work provided under this section, shall be subject 
to audit by the Secretary. 
SEC. 7008. 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 
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 envi-
ronmental benefits derived by the coastal Louisiana 
ecosystem; and 
(2) no further economic justification for the 
project or activity is required if the Secretary deter-
mines that the project or activity is cost effective. 
(b) LIMITATION ON APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (a) 
shall not apply to any separable element of a project in-
tended to produce benefits that are predominantly unrelated 
to the protection, preservation, and restoration of the coast-
al Louisiana ecosystem. 
SEC. 7009. INDEPENDENT REVIEW. 
The Secretary shall establish the Louisiana Water Re-
sources Council which shall serve as the exclusive peer re-
view panel for projects under this title as required by sec-
tion 2037 of this Act. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:01 Apr 05, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00361
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1495.RH
H1495
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
362 
SEC. 7010. EXPEDITED REPORTS. 
The Secretary shall expedite completion of the reports 
for the following projects and, if the Secretary determines 
that a project is justified in the completed report, proceed 
directly to project preconstruction engineering and design: 
(1) The projects identified in the study of com-
prehensive hurricane protection authorized by title I 
of the Energy and Water Development Appropria-
tions Act, 2006 (119 Stat. 2447). 
(2) A project for ecosystem restoration for the 
Chenier Plain, Louisiana. 
(3) The project for Multipurpose Operation of 
Houma Navigation Lock. 
(4) The project for Terrebonne Basin Barrier 
Shoreline Restoration. 
(5) The project for Small Diversion at Convent/ 
Blind River. 
(6) The project for Amite River Diversion Canal 
Modification. 
(7) The project for Medium Diversion at White’s 
Ditch. 
(8) The project to convey Atchafalaya River 
Water to Northern Terrebonne Marshes. 
(9) The projects identified in the Southwest 
Coastal Louisiana hurricane and storm damage re-
duction study authorized by the Committee on Trans-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:01 Apr 05, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00362
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1495.RH
H1495
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
363 
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives on December 7, 2005. 
SEC. 7011. REPORTING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Envi-
ronment and Public Works of the Senate a report including 
a description of— 
(1) the projects authorized and undertaken under 
this title; 
(2) the construction status of the projects; 
(3) the cost to date and the expected final cost 
of each project undertaken under this title; and 
(4) the benefits and environmental impacts of the 
projects. 
(b) EXTERNAL REVIEW.—The Secretary shall enter 
into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences 
under which the National Academy of Sciences shall per-
form and submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate an 
external review of the demonstration program authorized 
by subsection 7006(b). 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:01 Apr 05, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00363
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1495.RH
H1495
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
364 
SEC. 7012. NEW ORLEANS AND VICINITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to— 
(1) raise levee heights where necessary and other-
wise enhance the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity 
Project and the West Bank and Vicinity Project to 
provide the levels of protection necessary to achieve 
the certification required for participation in the na-
tional flood insurance program under the National 
Flood Insurance Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.); 
(2) modify the 17th Street, Orleans Avenue, and 
London Avenue drainage canals and install pumps 
and closure structures at or near the lakefront at 
Lake Pontchartrain; 
(3) armor critical elements of the New Orleans 
hurricane and storm damage reduction system; 
(4) modify the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal 
to increase the reliability of the flood protection sys-
tem for the city of New Orleans; 
(5) replace or modify certain non-Federal levees 
in Plaquemines Parish to incorporate the levees into 
the New Orleans to Venice Hurricane Protection 
Project; 
(6) reinforce or replace flood walls in the existing 
Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Project and the ex-
isting West Bank and Vicinity Project to improve 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:01 Apr 05, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00364
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1495.RH
H1495
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
365 
performance of the flood and storm damage reduction 
systems; 
(7) perform one time stormproofing of interior 
pump stations to ensure the operability of the stations 
during hurricanes, storms, and high water events; 
(8) repair, replace, modify and improve non- 
Federal levees and associated protection measures in 
Terrebonne Parish; and 
(9) reduce the risk of storm damage to the great-
er New Orleans metropolitan area by restoring the 
surrounding wetlands through measures to begin to 
reverse wetland losses in areas affected by navigation, 
oil and gas, and other channels and through modi-
fication of the Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion 
structure or its operations. 
(b) FUNDING AUTHORITY.—Activities authorized by 
subsection (a) and section 7013 shall be carried out in a 
manner that is consistent with the cost-sharing require-
ments specified in the Emergency Supplemental Appropria-
tions Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurri-
cane Recovery, 2006 (Public Law 109–234). 
(c) CONDITIONS.—The Secretary shall notify the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate if estimates for the expenditure 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:01 Apr 05, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00365
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1495.RH
H1495
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
366 
of funds on any single project or activity identified in sub-
section (a) exceeds the amount specified for that project or 
activity in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations 
Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane 
Recovery, 2006 (Public Law 109–234). No appropriation 
in excess of 25 percent above the amount specified for a 
project or activity in such Act shall be made until an in-
crease in the level of expenditure has been approved by reso-
lutions adopted by the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate. 
SEC. 7013. MISSISSIPPI RIVER GULF OUTLET. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The project for navigation, Mis-
sissippi River-Gulf outlet, authorized by the Act entitled 
‘‘An Act to authorize construction of the Mississippi River- 
Gulf outlet’’, approved March 29, 1956 (70 Stat. 65), as 
modified by section 844 of the Water Resources Development 
Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 4177), is not authorized. 
(b) PLAN FOR CLOSURE AND RESTORATION.—The Sec-
retary shall carry out a study and implement a project to 
physically modify the Mississippi River-Gulf outlet and to 
restore the areas affected by the Mississippi River-Gulf out-
let in accordance with the plan to be developed under sec-
tion 7002(a), subject to the conditions and recommenda-
tions in a final report of the Chief of Engineers if a favor-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:01 Apr 05, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00366
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1495.RH
H1495
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS