Instructions: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
Input: SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Coastal louisiana ecosystem.--The term ''coastal
Louisiana ecosystem'' means the coastal area of Louisiana from
the Sabine River on the west and the Pearl River on the east,
including those parts of the Deltaic Plain and the Chenier
Plain included within the study area of the Plan.
(2) Governor.--The term ''Governor'' means the Governor of
the State of Louisiana.
(3) Plan.--The term ''Plan'' means the report of the Chief
of Engineers for ecosystem restoration 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 3.

SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL REPORTS.

(a) Mississippi River Gulf Outlet.--Not later than one year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall
submit to Congress a report recommending modifications to the
Mississippi River Gulf Outlet to address navigation, salt water
intrusion, channel bank erosion, mitigation, and threats to life and
property.
(b) Barataria-Terrebone Estuary.--Not later than July 1, 2006, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report recommending a plan to
restore the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary, Louisiana.
(c) Chenier Plain.--Not later than July 1, 2006, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report recommending near-term ecosystem
restoration measures for the Chenier Plain, Louisiana.
(d) 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
protection, conservation, and restoration of the wetlands,
estuaries, 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 subsidence.
(2) Consideration.--In developing the recommended
framework, the Secretary shall consider integrating other
Federal or State projects or activities 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 Secretary 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 and activities,
including projects and activities being carried out
under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and
Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3951 et seq.), the Louisiana
coastal wetlands conservation plan, the Louisiana
coastal zone management plan, and the plan of the State
of Louisiana entitled ''Coast 2050: Toward a
Sustainable Coastal Louisiana''.

SEC. 3. COASTAL LOUISIANA ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION TASK
FORCE.

(a) Establishment and Membership.--There is established the Coastal
Louisiana Ecosystem Protection and Restoration Task Force, which shall
consist of the following 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 of the Army.
(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 Department of Natural
Resources.
(12) A representative of the Louisiana Governor's Advisory
Commission on Coastal Restoration and Conservation.
(b) Duties of Task Force.--The Task Force shall--
(1) make recommendations to the Secretary of the Army
regarding policies, strategies, plans, programs, projects, and
activities for addressing protection, conservation, and
restoration of the coastal Louisiana ecosystem;
(2) prepare financial plans for each of the agencies
represented on the Task Force for funds proposed for the
protection, conservation, and restoration of the coastal
Louisiana ecosystem under authorities of each agency,
including--
(A) recommendations that identify funds from
current agency missions and budgets; and
(B) recommendations for coordinating individual
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 2(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 available for
public inspection; and
(2) establish such working groups as are necessary 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 compensation 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 associated 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. 4. INVESTIGATIONS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Army shall conduct
feasibility studies for future authorization and large-scale studies
substantially in accordance with the Plan at a total cost $130,000,000.
(b) Existing Federally Authorized Water Resources Projects.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall review existing
federally authorized water resources projects in the coastal
Louisiana ecosystem in order to determine their consistency
with the purposes of this section 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 appropriated
$10,000,000 to carry out this subsection.

SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION.

(a) Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Army shall carry out
a coastal Louisiana ecosystem program substantially in
accordance with the Plan, at a total cost of $50,000,000.
(2) Objectives.--The objectives of the program shall be
to--
(A) identify uncertainties about the physical,
chemical, geological, biological, and cultural baseline
conditions in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem;
(B) improve the State of knowledge of the physical,
chemical, geological, biological, and cultural baseline
conditions in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem; and
(C) identify and develop technologies, models, and
methods that could be useful in carrying out the
purposes of this Act.
(3) Working groups.--The Secretary may establish such
working groups as are necessary to assist 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 consortium 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 substantially in accordance
with the Plan for the purpose of resolving critical areas of
scientific or technological uncertainty related to the
implementation of the comprehensive plan to be developed under
section 2(d)(3).
(2) Maximum cost.--
(A) Total cost.--The total cost for planning,
design, and construction of all demonstration projects
under this subsection shall not exceed $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 accordance with the Plan:
(1) Mississippi River Gulf Outlet Environmental 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 Restoration 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 shall
implement in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem substantially in
accordance with the Plan a program for the beneficial use of material
dredged from federally maintained waterways at a total cost of
$100,000,000.

SEC. 6. NON-FEDERAL COST SHARE.

(a) Credit.--The Secretary of the Army shall credit toward the non-
Federal share of the cost of a project authorized by section 5(c) the
cost of work carried out in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem by the non-
Federal interest before the date of the partnership agreement for the
project if the Secretary determines that the work is integral to the
project.
(b) Treatment of Credit Between Projects.--Any credit provided
under this section toward the non-Federal share of the cost of a
project authorized by section 5(c) may be applied toward the non-
Federal share of the cost of any other project authorized by section
5(c).
(c) Periodic Monitoring.--
(1) In general.--To ensure that the contributions of the
non-Federal interest equal the non-Federal share of the cost of
a project authorized by section 5(c), during each 5-year period
beginning after the date of commencement of construction of the
first project under section 5(c), the Secretary shall--
(A) monitor the non-Federal provision for each
project authorized by section 5(c) 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 provide 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 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 Louisiana
ecosystem (including each project authorized by section 5(c)).
(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.

SEC. 7. 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 authorized by or under this Act or
any other provision of law to protect, conserve, and restore the
coastal Louisiana ecosystem, the Secretary of the Army may determine
that--
(1) the project or activity is justified by the
environmental benefits derived by the coastal Louisiana
ecosystem; and
(2) no further economic justification for the project or
activity is required if the Secretary determines that the
project or activity is cost effective.
(b) Limitation on Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to
any separable element intended to produce benefits that are
predominantly unrelated to the protection, conservation, and
restoration of the coastal Louisiana ecosystem.

SEC. 8. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.

(a) Existing Authority.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act,
nothing in this Act affects any authority in effect on the date of
enactment of this Act, or any requirement relating to the participation
in protection, conservation, and restoration projects and activities in
the coastal Louisiana ecosystem, including projects and activities
referred to in subsection (a) of--
(1) the Department of the Army;
(2) the Department of the Interior;
(3) the Department of Commerce;
(4) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(5) the Department of Agriculture;
(6) the Department of Transportation;
(7) the Department of Energy;
(8) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(9) the Coast Guard; and
(10) the State of Louisiana.
(b) New Authority.--Nothing in this Act confers any new regulatory
authority on any Federal or non-Federal entity that carries out any
project or activity authorized by or under this Act.
Output:
Directs the Secretary of the Army to submit to Congress: (1) a report recommending modifications to the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet to address navigation, salt water intrusion, channel bank erosion, mitigation, and threats to life and property; (2) a report recommending a plan to restore the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary, Louisiana; (3) a report recommending near-term ecosystem restoration measures for the Chenier Plain, Louisiana; (4) a recommended framework for developing a long-term program for the protection, conservation, and restoration of the wetlands, estuaries, 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 subsidence; and (5) a feasibility study recommending a comprehensive, long-term plan for the protection, conservation, and restoration of the coastal Louisiana ecosystem.

Establishes the Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Protection and Restoration Task Force.

Directs the Secretary to carry out, in accordance with the Plan of the Chief of Engineers for ecosystem restoration for the Louisiana Coastal Area dated January 31, 2005, a coastal Louisiana ecosystem program to identify uncertainties about, and to improve state knowledge of, the physical, chemical, geological, biological, and cultural baseline conditions in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem.