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This Act establishes a procedure for the preparation of a priority list of coastal wetlands restoration projects in Louisiana to provide for the long-term conservation of wetlands and dependent fish and wildlife populations. This priority list will be submitted annually to Congress. The Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force will prepare a restoration plan to identify coastal wetlands restoration projects. The Act specifies the plan's elements, modification, submission to Congress and evaluation for effectiveness. Navigation, flood control or irrigation projects under other authorities are required to be consistent with the purposes of this restoration plan. The Act specifies federal and state shares of the costs of coastal wetlands restoration projects. In addition to a cash contribution of at least 5 percent of the project's cost, the State's share may take the form of in-kind contributions such as land, easements, or right-of-way. The Act directs the Secretary of the United States Army, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency to enter into an agreement with the Governor of the State of Louisiana to establish a process by which Louisiana develops a coastal wet-lands conservation plan. This plan's goal will be to achieve no net loss of wetlands in the coastal areas of Louisiana. The Act specifies the conservation plan's elements, approval criteria, amendment and oversight by the Federal Government and requires the Federal Government to provide grants and technical assistance to the State of Louisiana to develop this conservation plan.The Act appropriates money for coastal wetlands conservation grants to be provided to coastal states for appropriate projects.
