1.
(a)The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of
Engineers (referred to in this Act as the Secretary), shall
conduct, at full Federal expense, a comprehensive assessment of Corps
infrastructureof Engineers projects and
studies in the State of Louisiana affected by
either
Hurricanes Katrina
andor Rita, or both of those hurricanes,
to determine whether opportunities exist for project
modifications or project integration that may—
(1)reduce future
hurricane impacts; or
(2)further other
project purposes.; or
(3)provide efficiencies in
the implementation of hurricane protection, flood control, navigation, or
ecosystem restoration projects by the Corps of Engineers.
(b)The
assessment under subsection (a) shall
not be constrained by any
cost-benefit analysis and shall include, at a minimum—
(1)a description of
means of providing an increased level of hurricane protection using a
combination of structural and nonstructural features;
(2)a review of the
use of a combination of structural means (such as levees and floodgates) and
nonstructural means (such as wetlands and beaches) in providing hurricane
protection;
(3)a prioritization
of actions that should be taken to improve the level of hurricane protection
provided; and
(4)such other
information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(c)Not
later than January 15, 2006, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report describing the
results of the assessment.
(d)Of
the amounts made available by the Energy and Water Development Appropriations
Act, 2006, for investigations by the Corps of Engineers, the Secretary may use
not more than $1,000,000 to carry out this section.
2.Comprehensive
studyanalysis, design, and
development
(a)Using the results of the assessment reported under
section 1(c), the Secretary shall,
at full Federal expense
and in consultation with the State of Louisiana, conduct a
comprehensive, integrated water resources analysis
to design and
develop, design,
and development of a full range of flood control, navigation,
ecosystem restoration, and hurricane protection measures for southern
Louisiana.
(b)Not later than 120 days after the date of submission of
the report under section 1(c), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives an initial report detailing
an integrated approach to category 5
hurricane
protection, flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration
for the Gulf Coast region of the State of Louisiana that includes—
(1)a description of
an overall approach for future Corps of Engineers spending in
that region;
(2)an identification
of specific changes to ongoing projects
and studies, as
well as proposals for future projects, in that region; and
(3)a consideration
of potential future projects, including projects involving—
(A)the
replacementrestoration, protection, or
enhancement of barrier islands;
(B)coastal
restoration;
(C)the closing of
the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet;
(D)the filling in of
canals; and
(E)the relocation
ofand protection of pumping
stations to areas that
are less threatened by rising waterand drainage
infrastructure.
(c)Not later than
2 years after the date
of submission of the report under section 1(c)November 15, 2007, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a final technical report for an integrated approach to category
5 hurricane
protection, flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration
for the Gulf Coast region of the State of Louisiana.
(d)Of
the amounts made available by the Energy and Water Development Appropriations
Act, 2006, for investigations by the Corps of Engineers, the Secretary shall
use not more than $8,000,000 to carry out this section.
November 17, 2005
Reported with amendments