I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1828 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 11, 2011 Mr. Boustany introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance to the State of Louisiana for a pilot program to develop measures to eradicate or control feral swine and to assess and restore wetlands damaged by feral swine.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 2011.

2.

Findings and purpose

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)wetlands in Louisiana provide substantial cultural, economic, and ecological benefits to the United States and is essential to protecting coastal communities from flooding; (2)nonnative invasive feral swine populations in coastal Louisiana are increasing and severely impacting wetlands, especially acreages recovering from the negative impacts of nutria herbivory; (3)Louisiana State University researchers have determined that feral swine damage to coastal wetlands is very similar to nutria damage but is more severe and may exceed the approximately 105,000 acres previously impacted by nutria; and (4)methodologies developed for the State of Louisiana under the Coastwide Nutria Control Program established under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3951 et seq.) may provide the basis for the effective control and restoration of wetlands damage caused by feral swine. (b)

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance to the State of Louisiana for a pilot program to develop measures to eradicate or control feral swine and to assess and restore wetlands damaged by feral swine.

3.

Feral swine eradication and control pilot program

(a)

In general

Subject to the availability of appropriations under subsection (e), the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the Secretary) may provide financial assistance to the State of Louisiana to pay the Federal share of the cost of carrying out a pilot program— (1)to study and assess the nature and extent of damage to wetlands in the State caused by feral swine; (2)to develop methods to eradicate or control feral swine in the State that may also be used in other States; and (3)to develop methods to restore wetlands damaged by feral swine. (b)

Coordination

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the pilot program consider and use, as appropriate, the knowledge and expertise gained through the activities carried out under— (1)the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3951 et seq.); and (2)the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–16; 117 Stat. 621). (c)

Cost sharing

(1)

Federal share

The Federal share of the costs of the pilot program under this section may not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of carrying out the pilot program. (2)

In-kind contributions

The non-Federal share of the costs of the pilot program may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions of materials or services. (d)

Limitation on administrative expenses

Not more than 10 percent of financial assistance provided by the Secretary under this section may be used for administrative expenses. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016.