"The chief of the Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday approved a $2.9 billion plan to restore wetlands destroyed by construction of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet. But the corps continues to demand that

Louisiana pay 35 percent of the construction costs, or $975 million, which the state is loath to do."

"Officials have twice sent letters to senior corps officials saying the state will agree to be the non-federal sponsor for the restoration program and will pay whatever share of the cost is eventually determined to comply with federal law.

But a corps spokesman said the letters were rejected because they did not commit the state to the 35 percent cost sharing that the corps says is required under its reading of a 1986 federal law governing water projects."

Mark Schleifstein reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune October 02, 2012. [2]