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1 1 (October 25, 2007)

handle is hein.crs/crsajax0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS22276 Updated October 25, 2007 Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Jeffrey A. Zinn Specialist in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary Prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been seeking congressional approval for a $1.1 billion program both to construct five projects that would help restore specified sites in the coastal wetland ecosystem in Louisiana, and to continue planning several other related projects. The state of Louisiana and several federal agencies participated in the development of this program. This report introduces the program and more extensive restoration options that are being discussed in the wake of the hurricanes. It also discusses whether this program, if completed, might have muted the impacts of the hurricanes. Congressional consideration are being informed by new information about the extent of coastal wetland change that resulted from the hurricanes and further changes since the hurricanes struck. This report will be updated. Introduction The widespread destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita altered the 109th Congress's perspective on coastal Louisiana restoration as it considered provisions in legislation (e.g., S. 728 and H.R. 2864) that would have authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to implement activities to slow the rate of coastal wetlands loss. Both bills, developed before the hurricanes struck, would have authorized funding to implement a program that the Corps had recommended in a November 2004 feasibility report, including $1.1 billion for activities to be initiated immediately, and $0.9 billion for future work. Since the hurricanes, more expansive options, costing up to $14 billion and requiring up to three decades before they are fully implemented, are also being considered. As no restoration legislation was enacted in the 109th Congress, the 1 10th Congress is again addressing this issue in Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation that has passed both chambers (H.R. 1495) and was sent to the White House on October 23, 2007. The Administration has indicated that it intends to veto the bill. Of the initial $1.1 billion in the proposal Congress was considering when the hurricanes struck, $828 million was to complete planning and construct five projects, called near-term features. The remainder of this initial authorization would have been

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