[Senate Report 107-325]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 742
107th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 107-325
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A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE PROJECT FOR HURRICANE AND STORM DAMAGE
REDUCTION, MORGANZA, LOUISIANA TO THE GULF OF MEXICO, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
AND TRIBUTARIES
_______
November 4, 2002.--Ordered to be printed
Filed, under the authority of the order of the Senate of October 17,
2002
_______
Mr. Jeffords, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[to accompany S. 2975]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred a bill (S. 2975) to authorize the project for
hurricane and storm damage reduction, Morganza, Louisiana, to
the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and Tributaries, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
General Statement and Background
Projects and project modifications are ready for
authorization by Congress after they have completed a
reconnaissance and a feasibility study and received a positive
recommendation from the Chief of Engineers in the form of a
completed, signed Chief's Report. The project authorized by S.
2975 has met these requirements. This bill authorizes a project
for hurricane and storm damage reduction, Morganza, Louisiana,
to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and Tributaries.
The project area is located in south Louisiana between the
Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers. This project will authorize
construction of hurricane protection in an area where
hurricanes and tropical storms cause widespread flooding of
residential and commercial property in the study area. It
involves construction of levees, water control structures, and
other features. The Chief's Report was completed in August
2002, and the project received a favorable recommendation.
Objectives of the Legislation
S. 2975 authorizes the project.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Morganza, Louisiana, to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi
River and Tributaries
S. 2975 authorizes the project for hurricane and storm
damage reduction at a total cost of $680,000,000 with an
estimated Federal cost of $442,000,000 and an estimated non-
Federal cost of $238,000,000.
Legislative History
Senators Breaux and Landrieu introduced S. 2975 on
September 19, 2002. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works. No hearing was held on the bill.
The committee considered the bill in a business meeting on
September 26, 2002 and ordered the bill reported to the Senate.
Rollcall Votes
The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to
consider S. 2975 on September 26, 2002. The committee favorably
reported the bill by voice vote. Senators Smith and Voinovich
recorded a ``no'' vote.
Regulatory Impact Statement
The bill 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 finds that S. 2975 would
impose no unfunded mandates on State, local, or tribal
governments.
Cost of Legislation
Section 403 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act requires that a statement of the cost of the
reported bill, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, be
included in the report. That statement follows:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, October 7, 2002.
Hon. James M. Jeffords, Chairman,
Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2975, A bill to
authorize the project for hurricane and storm damage reduction,
Morganza, Louisiana, to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River
and Tributaries..
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Julie
Middleton, who can be reached at 226-2860.
Sincerely,
Dan L. Crippen.
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S. 2975, A bill to authorize the project for hurricane and storm damage
reduction, Morganza, Louisiana, to the Gulf of Mexico,
Mississippi River and Tributaries, as ordered reported by the
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on September
26, 2002
Summary
S. 2975 would authorize the Secretary of the Army through
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a system of
levees, locks and floodgates designed to protect coastal
Louisiana from storm damage. This project also would include
the creation and protection of tidal wetlands. The bill would
authorize a total project cost of $680 million (in 2001
dollars) that could be adjusted for inflation. Under this bill,
the Federal share of the cost would be $442 million and the
nonFederal share of the cost would be $238 million.
Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, including
adjustments for anticipated inflation, CBO estimates that the
Federal costs for implementing S. 2975 would total about $48
million over the 2003-2007 period, and an additional $523
million after that period. Enacting S. 2975 would not affect
direct spending or revenues.
S. 2975 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on State, local, or tribal
governments. The Federal assistance authorized by this bill
would benefit any State and local governments choosing to
participate in this project. Any costs they would incur to
comply with the conditions of this assistance, including
matching requirements, would be voluntary.
Estimated Cost to the Federal Government
The estimated budgetary impact of S. 2975 is shown in the
following table. The costs of this legislation fall within
budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).
By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO
APPROPRIATION\1\
Estimated Authorization Level... 5 12 12 13 13
Estimated Outlays............... 3 8 11 13 13
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Most of the Federal Government's $571 million in costs for this
storm damage project would occur after 2007.
Basis of Estimate
For this estimate, CBO assumes that S. 2975 will be enacted
near the beginning of fiscal year 2003 and that amounts will be
appropriated to meet the anticipated construction schedule for
the project. Based on information from the Army Corps of
Engineers, CBO estimates that constructing this storm damage
reduction project would cost about $48 million over the 2003-
2007 period, including adjustments for anticipated inflation,
and an additional $523 million after that period. (Those
amounts represent the Federal share of the project's cost.)
Intergovernmental and Private-Sector Impact
S. 2975 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on State,
local, or tribal governments. The Federal assistance authorized
by this bill would benefit any State and local governments
choosing to participate in this project. Any costs they would
incur to comply with the conditions of this assistance,
including matching requirements, would be voluntary.
Estimate Prepared By: Federal Costs: Julie Middleton; Impact on
State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie Miller; Impact
on the Private Sector: Lauren Marks.
Estimate Approved By: Peter H. Fontaine, 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.