[Senate Report 111-183]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 368
111th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     111-183

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    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

                                _______
                                

                   May 5, 2010.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Mrs. Boxer, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 1965]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 
referred a bill (S. 1965) 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, having considered the same, reports 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the 
bill do pass.

                    GENERAL STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND

    Feral swine are present in at least 39 states and cause 
extensive damage to natural habitats, including wetlands, as 
well as private property and crops. While digging for food 
(rooting), feral swine displace native wildlife and destroy 
vegetation, leading to increased erosion and invasive plant 
infestation. They compete with native species for food 
resources and prey on young livestock and small animals. Feral 
swine also carry diseases that affect pets, livestock, 
wildlife, and humans.
    The feral swine population in on Lake Ophelia National 
Wildlife Refuge in central Louisiana is at an epidemic level 
with an estimated one swine per four acres of habitat. Roughly 
30 to 50 percent of grain crops planted on the refuge to 
support waterfowl populations are destroyed by feral swine. An 
aggressive and sustained effort utilizing multiple techniques 
is needed to control feral swine populations on national 
wildlife refuges and parks in order to protect native wildlife 
and their habitats.
    The Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act 
of 2009 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide 
financial assistance to the State of Louisiana to pay up to 75 
percent of the cost of carrying out a pilot program to 
eradicate feral swine. The bill authorizes annual 
appropriations of $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 
through 2013.

                     OBJECTIVES OF THE LEGISLATION

    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.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 provides that this Act may be cited as the 
``Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 
2009.''

Section 2. Findings and purpose

    Section 2 provides the general purpose of the bill, along 
with several findings which: Recognize the economic and 
environmental importance of Louisiana wetlands; acknowledge the 
damaging impacts of increasing nonnative invasive feral swine 
populations on Louisiana wetlands; and, determine that the 
methodologies under the Coastwide Nutria Control Program 
established under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, 
and Restoration Act may provide the basis for control and 
restoration of wetlands damaged by feral swine.

Section 3. Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program

    Section 3 outlines the eligible activities for assistance 
under the Act, including: Study and assess the nature and 
extent of wetland damage caused by feral swine; develop methods 
to eradicate or control feral swine; and develop methods to 
restore damaged wetlands. Section 3 also establishes 
coordination and cost share requirements, limits administrative 
expenses, and authorizes $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2011 through 2013.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    S. 1965 was introduced on October 28, 2009 by Senator Mary 
Landrieu (D-LA) with one cosponsor. The bill was referred to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works. On December 10, 
2009, the full Environment and Public Works Committee met to 
consider the bill. The bill was ordered reported favorably 
without amendment.

                                HEARINGS

    On December 3, 2009, the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of 
the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a 
legislative hearing on multiple wildlife and invasive species 
bills, including S. 1965.

                             ROLLCALL VOTES

    The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to 
consider S. 1965 on December 10, 2009. The bill was ordered 
favorably reported by voice vote.

                      REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

    In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that H.R. 
3433 does not create any additional regulatory burdens, nor 
will it cause any adverse impact on the personal privacy of 
individuals.

                          MANDATES ASSESSMENT

    In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(Public Law 104-4), the committee noted that the Congressional 
Budget Office has found, ``S. 1965 contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on 
state, local, or tribal governments.''

               CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

                                                 December 15, 2009.
Hon. Barbara Boxer,
Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1965, the Feral 
Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 2009.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Daniel 
Hoople.
            Sincerely,
                                              Douglas W. Elmendorf.
    Enclosure.

S. 1965--Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 2009

    S. 1965 would authorize the appropriation of $1 million in 
each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013 for the Department of 
the Interior (DOI) to study and develop methods to control and 
eradicate feral swine in Louisiana and to restore wetlands 
damaged by such animals. The federal government would pay 75 
percent of the costs related to a pilot study, the development 
of methods to eradicate or control feral swine, and the 
restoration of damaged wetlands in the state. Assuming 
appropriation of the specified amounts, CBO estimates that 
financial assistance to the state of Louisiana under the bill 
would cost $3 million over the 2011-2014 period. Enacting this 
legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues.
    S. 1965 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 
Louisiana would benefit from the program authorized in the 
bill. Any costs to the state would be incurred voluntarily as a 
condition of receiving federal assistance.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Daniel Hoople. 
This estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    Section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate 
requires the committee to publish changes in existing law made 
by the bill as reported. Passage of this bill will make no 
changes to existing law.

                                  
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