Library / Laws / 113th / s / S. 601 / Engrossed in Senate
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 601
AN ACT
To provide for the conservation and
development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the
Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of
the United States, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title; table of contents
(a)
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Water Resources Development Act of
2013.
(b)
Table of contents
The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
TITLE I—Water resource projects
Sec. 1001. Purposes.
Sec. 1002. Project authorizations.
Sec. 1003. Project review.
Sec. 1004. Future project authorizations.
TITLE II—Water resources policy reforms
Sec. 2001. Purposes.
Sec. 2002. Safety assurance review.
Sec. 2003. Continuing authority programs.
Sec. 2004. Continuing authority program
prioritization.
Sec. 2005. Fish and wildlife mitigation.
Sec. 2006. Mitigation status report.
Sec. 2007. Independent peer review.
Sec. 2008. Operation and maintenance of navigation and
hydroelectric facilities.
Sec. 2009. Hydropower at Corps of Engineers
facilities.
Sec. 2010. Clarification of work-in-kind credit
authority.
Sec. 2011. Transfer of excess work-in-kind credit.
Sec. 2012. Credit for in-kind contributions.
Sec. 2013. Credit in lieu of reimbursement.
Sec. 2014. Dam
optimization.
Sec. 2015. Water supply.
Sec. 2016. Report on water storage pricing
formulas.
Sec. 2017. Clarification of previously authorized
work.
Sec. 2018. Consideration of Federal land in feasibility
studies.
Sec. 2019. Planning assistance to States.
Sec. 2020. Vegetation management policy.
Sec. 2021. Levee certifications.
Sec. 2022. Restoration of flood and hurricane storm damage
reduction projects.
Sec. 2023. Operation and maintenance of certain
projects.
Sec. 2024. Dredging study.
Sec. 2025. Non-Federal project implementation pilot
program.
Sec. 2026. Non-Federal implementation of feasibility
studies.
Sec. 2027. Tribal partnership program.
Sec. 2028. Cooperative agreements with Columbia River Basin
Indian tribes.
Sec. 2029. Military munitions response actions at civil works
shoreline protection projects.
Sec. 2030. Beach nourishment.
Sec. 2031. Regional sediment management.
Sec. 2032. Study acceleration.
Sec. 2033. Project acceleration.
Sec. 2034. Feasibility studies.
Sec. 2035. Accounting and administrative expenses.
Sec. 2036. Determination of project completion.
Sec. 2037. Project partnership agreements.
Sec. 2038. Interagency and international support
authority.
Sec. 2039. Acceptance of contributed funds to increase lock
operations.
Sec. 2040. Emergency response to natural disasters.
Sec. 2041. Systemwide improvement frameworks.
Sec. 2042. Funding to process permits.
Sec. 2043. National riverbank stabilization and erosion
prevention study and pilot program.
Sec. 2044. Hurricane and storm damage risk reduction
prioritization.
Sec. 2045. Prioritization of ecosystem restoration
efforts.
Sec. 2046. Special use permits.
Sec. 2047. Operations and maintenance on fuel taxed inland
waterways.
Sec. 2048. Corrosion prevention.
Sec. 2049. Project deauthorizations.
Sec. 2050. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 2051. Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act conforming amendment.
Sec. 2052. Invasive species review.
Sec. 2053. Wetlands conservation study.
Sec. 2054. Dam modification study.
Sec. 2055. Non-Federal plans to provide additional flood risk
reduction.
Sec. 2056. Mississippi River forecasting
improvements.
Sec. 2057. Flexibility in maintaining navigation.
Sec. 2058. Restricted areas at Corps of Engineers
dams.
Sec. 2059. Maximum cost of projects.
Sec. 2060. Donald G. Waldon Lock and Dam.
Sec. 2061. Improving planning and administration of water
supply storage.
Sec. 2062. Crediting authority for Federally authorized
navigation projects.
Sec. 2063. River basin commissions.
Sec. 2064. Restriction on charges for certain surplus
water.
TITLE III—Project modifications
Sec. 3001. Purpose.
Sec. 3002. Chatfield Reservoir, Colorado.
Sec. 3003. Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee
expenses reimbursement.
Sec. 3004. Hurricane and storm damage reduction
study.
Sec. 3005. Lower Yellowstone Project, Montana.
Sec. 3006. Project deauthorizations.
Sec. 3007. Raritan River Basin, Green Brook Sub-basin, New
Jersey.
Sec. 3008. Red River Basin, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas,
Louisiana.
Sec. 3009. Point Judith Harbor of Refuge, Rhode
Island.
Sec. 3010. Land conveyance of Hammond Boat Basin, Warrenton,
Oregon.
Sec. 3011. Metro East Flood Risk Management Program,
Illinois.
Sec. 3012. Florida Keys water quality improvements.
Sec. 3013. Des Moines Recreational River and Greenbelt,
Iowa.
Sec. 3014. Land conveyance, Craney Island Dredged Material
Management Area, Portsmouth, Virginia.
Sec. 3015. Los Angeles County Drainage Area,
California.
Sec. 3016. Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal,
California.
Sec. 3017. Redesignation of Lower Mississippi River Museum and
Riverfront Interpretive Site.
Sec. 3018. Louisiana Coastal Area.
Sec. 3019. Four Mile Run, City of Alexandria and Arlington
County, Virginia.
Sec. 3020. East Fork of Trinity River, Texas.
Sec. 3021. Seward Waterfront, Seward, Alaska.
TITLE IV—Water resource studies
Sec. 4001. Purpose.
Sec. 4002. Initiation of new water resources
studies.
Sec. 4003. Applicability.
TITLE V—Regional and nonproject provisions
Sec. 5001. Purpose.
Sec. 5002. Northeast Coastal Region ecosystem
restoration.
Sec. 5003. Chesapeake Bay Environmental Restoration and
Protection Program.
Sec. 5004. Rio Grande environmental management program,
Colorado, New Mexico, Texas.
Sec. 5005. Lower Columbia River and Tillamook Bay ecosystem
restoration, Oregon and Washington.
Sec. 5006. Arkansas River, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Sec. 5007. Aquatic invasive species prevention and management;
Columbia River Basin.
Sec. 5008. Upper Missouri Basin flood and drought
monitoring.
Sec. 5009. Upper Missouri Basin shoreline erosion
prevention.
Sec. 5010. Northern Rockies headwaters extreme weather
mitigation.
Sec. 5011. Aquatic nuisance species prevention, Great Lakes and
Mississippi River Basin.
Sec. 5012. Middle Mississippi River pilot program.
Sec. 5013. Idaho, Montana, rural Nevada, New Mexico, rural
Utah, and Wyoming.
Sec. 5014. Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration in Virginia and
Maryland.
Sec. 5015. Missouri River between Fort Peck Dam, Montana and
Gavins Point Dam, South Dakota and Nebraska.
Sec. 5016. Operations and maintenance of inland Mississippi
River ports.
Sec. 5017. Remote and subsistence harbors.
Sec. 5018. Multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian carp
in the Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River basins and
tributaries.
Sec. 5019. Release of use restrictions.
Sec. 5020. Rights and responsibilities of Cherokee Nation of
Oklahoma regarding W.D. Mayo Lock and Dam, Oklahoma.
Sec. 5021. Upper Mississippi River protection.
Sec. 5022. Arctic Deep draft port development
partnerships.
Sec. 5023. Greater Mississippi River Basin severe flooding and
drought management study.
Sec. 5024. Cape Arundel Disposal Site, Maine.
TITLE VI—Levee safety
Sec. 6001. Short title.
Sec. 6002. Findings; purposes.
Sec. 6003. Definitions.
Sec. 6004. National levee safety program.
Sec. 6005. National levee safety advisory board.
Sec. 6006. Inventory and inspection of levees.
Sec. 6007. Reports.
Sec. 6008. Effect of title.
Sec. 6009. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE VII—Inland waterways
Sec. 7001. Purposes.
Sec. 7002. Definitions.
Sec. 7003. Project delivery process reforms.
Sec. 7004. Major rehabilitation standards.
Sec. 7005. Inland waterways system revenues.
Sec. 7006. Efficiency of revenue collection.
Sec. 7007. GAO study, Olmsted Locks and Dam, Lower Ohio River,
Illinois and Kentucky.
Sec. 7008. Olmsted Locks and Dam, Lower Ohio River, Illinois
and Kentucky.
TITLE VIII—Harbor maintenance
Sec. 8001. Short title.
Sec. 8002. Purposes.
Sec. 8003. Funding for harbor maintenance programs.
Sec. 8004. Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
prioritization.
Sec. 8005. Harbor maintenance trust fund study.
TITLE IX—Dam safety
Sec. 9001. Short title.
Sec. 9002. Purpose.
Sec. 9003. Administrator.
Sec. 9004. Inspection of dams.
Sec. 9005. National Dam Safety Program.
Sec. 9006. Public awareness and outreach for dam
safety.
Sec. 9007. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE X—Innovative financing pilot projects
Sec. 10001. Short title.
Sec. 10002. Purposes.
Sec. 10003. Definitions.
Sec. 10004. Authority to provide assistance.
Sec. 10005. Applications.
Sec. 10006. Eligible entities.
Sec. 10007. Projects eligible for assistance.
Sec. 10008. Activities eligible for assistance.
Sec. 10009. Determination of eligibility and project
selection.
Sec. 10010. Secured loans.
Sec. 10011. Program administration.
Sec. 10012. State, tribal, and local permits.
Sec. 10013. Regulations.
Sec. 10014. Funding.
Sec. 10015. Report to Congress.
Sec. 10016. Use of American iron, steel, and manufactured
goods.
TITLE XI—Extreme weather
Sec. 11001. Definition of resilient construction
technique.
Sec. 11002. Study on risk reduction.
Sec. 11003. GAO study on management of flood, drought, and
storm damage.
Sec. 11004. Post-disaster watershed assessments.
Sec. 11005. Authority to accept and expend non-Federal
amounts.
TITLE XII—National Endowment for the
Oceans
Sec. 12001. Short title.
Sec. 12002. Purposes.
Sec. 12003. Definitions.
Sec. 12004. National Endowment for the
Oceans.
Sec. 12005. Eligible uses.
Sec. 12006. Grants.
Sec. 12007. Annual report.
Sec. 12008. Tulsa Port of Catoosa, Rogers County, Oklahoma land
exchange.
TITLE XIII—Miscellaneous
Sec. 13001. Applicability of Spill Prevention, Control, and
Countermeasure rule.
Sec. 13002. America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal
Recreational Lands Pass program.
2.
Definition of Secretary
In this Act, the term Secretary
means the Secretary of the Army.
I
Water resource projects
1001.
Purposes
The purposes of this title are—
(1) to authorize projects that—
(A) are the subject of a completed report of
the Chief of Engineers containing a determination that the relevant
project—
(i) is in the Federal interest;
(ii) results in benefits that exceed the costs
of the project;
(iii) is environmentally acceptable; and
(iv) is technically feasible; and
(B) have been recommended to Congress for
authorization by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works;
and
(2) to authorize the Secretary—
(A) to review projects that require increased
authorization; and
(B) to request an increase of those
authorizations after—
(i) certifying that the increases are
necessary; and
(ii) submitting to Congress reports on the
proposed increases.
1002.
Project authorizations
The Secretary is authorized to carry out
projects for water resources development, conservation, and other purposes,
subject to the conditions that—
(1) each project is carried out—
(A) substantially in accordance with the plan
for the project; and
(B) subject to any conditions described in the
report for the project; and
(2)
(A) a Report of the Chief of Engineers has been
completed; and
(B) after November 8, 2007, but prior to the
date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil
Works has submitted to Congress a recommendation to authorize construction of
the project.
1003.
Project review
(a)
In general
For a project that is authorized by Federal
law as of the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary may modify the
authorized project cost set under section 902 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2280)—
(1) by submitting the required certification
and additional information to Congress in accordance with subsection (b);
and
(2) after receiving an appropriation of funds
in accordance with subsection (b)(3)(B).
(b)
Requirements for submission
(1)
Certification
The certification to Congress under
subsection (a) shall include a certification by the Secretary that—
(A) expenditures above the authorized cost of
the project are necessary to protect life and safety or property, maintain
critical navigation routes, or restore ecosystems;
(B) the project continues to provide benefits
identified in the report of the Chief of Engineers for the project; and
(C) for projects under construction—
(i) a temporary stop or delay resulting from a
failure to increase the authorized cost of the project will increase costs to
the Federal Government; and
(ii) the amount requested for the project in the
budget of the President or included in a work plan for the expenditure of funds
for the fiscal year during which the certification is submitted will exceed the
authorized cost of the project.
(2)
Additional information
The information provided to Congress about
the project under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum—
(A) a comprehensive review of the project costs
and reasons for exceeding the authorized limits set under section 902 of the
Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2280);
(B) an expedited analysis of the updated
benefits and costs of the project; and
(C) the revised cost estimate level for
completing the project.
(3)
Approval of Congress
The Secretary may not change the authorized
project costs under subsection (a) unless—
(A) a certification and required information is
submitted to Congress under subsection (b); and
(B) after such submission, amounts are
appropriated to initiate or continue construction of the project in an
appropriations or other Act.
(c)
De minimis amounts
If the cost to complete construction of an
authorized water resources project would exceed the limitations on the maximum
cost of the project under section 902 of the Water Resources Development Act of
1986 (33 U.S.C. 2280), the Secretary may complete construction of the project,
notwithstanding the limitations imposed by that section if—
(1) construction of the project is at least 70
percent complete at the time the cost of the project is projected to exceed the
limitations; and
(2) the Federal cost to complete construction
is less than $5,000,000.
(d)
Termination of effectiveness
The authority of the Secretary under this
section terminates on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act.
1004.
Future
project authorizations
(a)
Policy
The
benefits of water resource projects designed and carried out in an economically
justifiable, environmentally acceptable, and technically sound manner are
important to the economy and environment of the United States and
recommendations to Congress regarding those projects should be expedited for
approval in a timely manner.
(b)
Applicability
The
procedures under this section apply to projects for water resources
development, conservation, and other purposes, subject to the conditions
that—
(1) each project is
carried out—
(A) substantially in
accordance with the plan identified in the report of the Chief of Engineers for
the project; and
(B) subject to any
conditions described in the report for the project; and
(2)
(A) a report of the Chief
of Engineers has been completed; and
(B) after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works has submitted to
Congress a recommendation to authorize construction of the project.
(c)
Expedited
consideration
(1)
In
general
A bill shall be eligible for expedited consideration in
accordance with this subsection if the bill—
(A) authorizes a
project that meets the requirements described in subsection (b); and
(B) is referred to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
(2)
Committee
consideration
(A)
In
general
Not later than January 31st of the second session of each
Congress, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate
shall—
(i) report all bills
that meet the requirements of paragraph (1); or
(ii) introduce and
report a measure to authorize any project that meets the requirements described
in subsection (b).
(B)
Failure to
act
Subject to subparagraph (C), if the Committee fails to act on
a bill that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) by the date specified in
subparagraph (A), the bill shall be discharged from the Committee and placed on
the calendar of the Senate.
(C)
Exceptions
Subparagraph
(B) shall not apply if—
(i) in
the 180-day period immediately preceding the date specified in subparagraph
(A), the full Committee holds a legislative hearing on a bill to authorize all
projects that meet the requirements described in subsection (b);
(ii)
(I) the Committee favorably
reports a bill to authorize all projects that meet the requirements described
in subsection (b); and
(II) the bill described in subclause (I) is
placed on the calendar of the Senate; or
(iii) a
bill that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) is referred to the Committee
not earlier than 30 days before the date specified in subparagraph (A).
(d)
Termination
The
procedures for expedited consideration under this section terminate on December
31, 2018.
II
Water resources policy reforms
2001.
Purposes
The purposes of this title are—
(1) to reform the implementation of water
resources projects by the Corps of Engineers;
(2) to make other technical changes to the
water resources policy of the Corps of Engineers; and
(3) to implement reforms, including—
(A) enhancing the ability of local sponsors to
partner with the Corps of Engineers by ensuring the eligibility of the local
sponsors to receive and apply credit for work carried out by the sponsors and
increasing the role of sponsors in carrying out Corps of Engineers
projects;
(B) ensuring continuing authority programs can
continue to meet important needs;
(C) encouraging the continuation of efforts to
modernize feasibility studies and establish targets for expedited completion of
feasibility studies;
(D) seeking efficiencies in the management of
dams and related infrastructure to reduce environmental impacts while
maximizing other benefits and project purposes, such as flood control,
navigation, water supply, and hydropower;
(E) clarifying mitigation requirements for
Corps of Engineers projects and ensuring transparency in the independent
external review of those projects; and
(F) establishing an efficient and transparent
process for deauthorizing projects that have failed to receive a minimum level
of investment to ensure active projects can move forward while reducing the
backlog of authorized projects.
2002.
Safety assurance review
Section 2035 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2344) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
(g)
Nonapplicability of FACA
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to a safety assurance review conducted under this
section.
.
2003.
Continuing authority programs
(a)
Small river and harbor improvement
projects
Section 107 of the
River and Harbor Act of 1960 (33 U.S.C. 577) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking
$35,000,000 and inserting $50,000,000; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking
$7,000,000 and inserting $10,000,000.
(b)
Shore damage prevention or
mitigation
Section 111(c) of
the River and Harbor Act of 1968 (33 U.S.C. 426i(c)) is amended by striking
$5,000,000 and inserting $10,000,000.
(c)
Regional sediment management
(1)
In general
Section 204 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1992 (33 U.S.C. 2326) is amended—
(A) in subsection (c)(1)(C), by striking
$5,000,000 and inserting $10,000,000; and
(B) in subsection (g), by striking
$30,000,000 and inserting $50,000,000.
(2)
Applicability
Section 2037 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1094) is amended by added at the end the
following:
(c)
Applicability
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
not apply to any project authorized under this Act if a report of the Chief of
Engineers for the project was completed prior to the date of enactment of this
Act.
.
(d)
Small flood control projects
Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of
1948 (33 U.S.C. 701s) is amended in the third sentence by striking
$7,000,000 and inserting $10,000,000.
(e)
Project modifications for improvement of
environment
Section 1135(d)
of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2309a(d)) is
amended—
(1) in the second sentence, by striking
Not more than 80 percent of the non-Federal may be and inserting
The non-Federal share may be provided; and
(2) in the third sentence, by striking
$5,000,000 and inserting $10,000,000.
(f)
Aquatic ecosystem restoration
Section 206(d) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1996 (33 U.S.C. 2330(d)) is amended by striking
$5,000,000 and inserting $10,000,000.
(g)
Floodplain management
services
Section 206(d) of
the Flood Control Act of 1960 (33 U.S.C. 709a) is amended by striking
$15,000,000 and inserting $50,000,000.
2004.
Continuing authority program
prioritization
(a)
Definition of continuing authority program
project
In this section, the
term continuing authority program means 1 of the following
authorities:
(1) Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of
1948 (33 U.S.C. 701s).
(2) Section 111 of the River and Harbor Act of
1968 (33 U.S.C. 426i).
(3) Section 206 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1996 (33 U.S.C. 2330).
(4) Section 1135 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2309a).
(5) Section 107 of the River and Harbor Act of
1960 (33 U.S.C. 577).
(6) Section 3 of the Act of August 13, 1946 (33
U.S.C. 426g).
(b)
Prioritization
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register and
on a publicly available website, the criteria the Secretary uses for
prioritizing annual funding for continuing authority program projects.
(c)
Annual report
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall publish in
the Federal Register and on a publicly available website, a report on the
status of each continuing authority program, which, at a minimum, shall
include—
(1) the name and a short description of each
active continuing authority program project;
(2) the cost estimate to complete each active
project; and
(3) the funding available in that fiscal year
for each continuing authority program.
(d)
Congressional notification
On publication in the Federal Register
under subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a copy of all information
published under those subsections.
2005.
Fish and wildlife mitigation
(a)
In general
Section 906 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2283) is amended—
(1) in subsection (d)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) in the first sentence—
(I) by inserting for damages to
ecological resources, including terrestrial and aquatic resources, and
after mitigate;
(II) by inserting ecological resources
and after impact on; and
(III) by inserting without the
implementation of mitigation measures before the period; and
(ii) by inserting before the last sentence the
following: If the Secretary determines that mitigation to in-kind
conditions is not possible, the Secretary shall identify in the report the
basis for that determination and the mitigation measures that will be
implemented to meet the requirements of this section and the goals of section
307(a)(1) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C.
2317(a)(1)).;
(B) in paragraph (2)—
(i) in the heading, by striking
Design and inserting
Selection and
design;
(ii) by inserting select and
after shall; and
(iii) by inserting using a watershed
approach after projects; and
(C) in paragraph (3)—
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ,
at a minimum, after complies with; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)—
(I) by striking clause (iii);
(II) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as
clauses (v) and (vi), respectively; and
(III) by inserting after clause (ii) the
following:
(iii) for projects where mitigation will be
carried out by the Secretary—
(I) a description of the land and interest in
land to be acquired for the mitigation plan;
(II) the basis for a determination that the land
and interests are available for acquisition; and
(III) a determination that the proposed interest
sought does not exceed the minimum interest in land necessary to meet the
mitigation requirements for the project;
(iv) for projects where mitigation will be
carried out through a third party mitigation arrangement in accordance with
subsection (i)—
(I) a description of the third party mitigation
instrument to be used; and
(II) the basis for a determination that the
mitigation instrument can meet the mitigation requirements for the
project;
; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
(h)
Programmatic mitigation plans
(1)
In general
The Secretary may develop 1 or more
programmatic mitigation plans to address the potential impacts to ecological
resources, fish, and wildlife associated with existing or future water
resources development projects.
(2)
Use of mitigation plans
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, use programmatic mitigation plans developed in accordance with
this subsection to guide the development of a mitigation plan under subsection
(d).
(3)
Non-Federal plans
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable and subject to all conditions of this subsection, use programmatic
environmental plans developed by a State, a body politic of the State, which
derives its powers from a State constitution, a government entity created by
State legislation, or a local government, that meet the requirements of this
subsection to address the potential environmental impacts of existing or future
water resources development projects.
(4)
Scope
A programmatic mitigation plan developed by
the Secretary or an entity described in paragraph (3) to address potential
impacts of existing or future water resources development projects shall, to
the maximum extent practicable—
(A) be developed on a regional, ecosystem,
watershed, or statewide scale;
(B) include specific goals for aquatic resource
and fish and wildlife habitat restoration, establishment, enhancement, or
preservation;
(C) identify priority areas for aquatic
resource and fish and wildlife habitat protection or restoration;
(D) encompass multiple environmental resources
within a defined geographical area or focus on a specific resource, such as
aquatic resources or wildlife habitat; and
(E) address impacts from all projects in a
defined geographical area or focus on a specific type of project.
(5)
Consultation
The scope of the plan shall be determined
by the Secretary or an entity described in paragraph (3), as appropriate, in
consultation with the agency with jurisdiction over the resources being
addressed in the environmental mitigation plan.
(6)
Contents
A programmatic environmental mitigation
plan may include—
(A) an assessment of the condition of
environmental resources in the geographical area covered by the plan, including
an assessment of recent trends and any potential threats to those
resources;
(B) an assessment of potential opportunities to
improve the overall quality of environmental resources in the geographical area
covered by the plan through strategic mitigation for impacts of water resources
development projects;
(C) standard measures for mitigating certain
types of impacts;
(D) parameters for determining appropriate
mitigation for certain types of impacts, such as mitigation ratios or criteria
for determining appropriate mitigation sites;
(E) adaptive management procedures, such as
protocols that involve monitoring predicted impacts over time and adjusting
mitigation measures in response to information gathered through the
monitoring;
(F) acknowledgment of specific statutory or
regulatory requirements that must be satisfied when determining appropriate
mitigation for certain types of resources; and
(G) any offsetting benefits of self-mitigating
projects, such as ecosystem or resource restoration and protection.
(7)
Process
Before adopting a programmatic
environmental mitigation plan for use under this subsection, the Secretary
shall—
(A) for a plan developed by the
Secretary—
(i) make a draft of the plan available for
review and comment by applicable environmental resource agencies and the
public; and
(ii) consider any comments received from those
agencies and the public on the draft plan; and
(B) for a plan developed under paragraph (3),
determine, not later than 180 days after receiving the plan, whether the plan
meets the requirements of paragraphs (4) through (6) and was made available for
public comment.
(8)
Integration with other plans
A programmatic environmental mitigation
plan may be integrated with other plans, including watershed plans, ecosystem
plans, species recovery plans, growth management plans, and land use
plans.
(9)
Consideration in project development and
permitting
If a programmatic
environmental mitigation plan has been developed under this subsection, any
Federal agency responsible for environmental reviews, permits, or approvals for
a water resources development project may use the recommendations in that
programmatic environmental mitigation plan when carrying out the
responsibilities of the agency under the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(10)
Preservation of existing
authorities
Nothing in this
subsection limits the use of programmatic approaches to reviews under the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(i)
Third-party mitigation
arrangements
(1)
Eligible activities
In accordance with all applicable Federal
laws (including regulations), mitigation efforts carried out under this section
may include—
(A) participation in mitigation banking or
other third-party mitigation arrangements, such as—
(i) the purchase of credits from commercial or
State, regional, or local agency-sponsored mitigation banks; and
(ii) the purchase of credits from in-lieu fee
mitigation programs; and
(B) contributions to statewide and regional
efforts to conserve, restore, enhance, and create natural habitats and wetlands
if the Secretary determines that the contributions will ensure that the
mitigation requirements of this section and the goals of section 307(a)(1) of
the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2317(a)(1)) will be
met.
(2)
Inclusion of other activities
The banks, programs, and efforts described
in paragraph (1) include any banks, programs, and efforts developed in
accordance with applicable law (including regulations).
(3)
Terms and conditions
In carrying out natural habitat and
wetlands mitigation efforts under this section, contributions to the mitigation
effort may—
(A) take place concurrent with, or in advance
of, the commitment of funding to a project; and
(B) occur in advance of project construction
only if the efforts are consistent with all applicable requirements of Federal
law (including regulations) and water resources development planning
processes.
(4)
Preference
At the request of the non-Federal project
sponsor, preference may be given, to the maximum extent practicable, to
mitigating an environmental impact through the use of a mitigation bank,
in-lieu fee, or other third-party mitigation arrangement, if the use of credits
from the mitigation bank or in-lieu fee, or the other third-party mitigation
arrangement for the project has been approved by the applicable Federal
agency.
(j)
Use of Funds
The Secretary may use funds made available
for preconstruction engineering and design prior to authorization of project
construction to satisfy mitigation requirements through third party mechanisms
or to acquire interests in land necessary for meeting the mitigation
requirements of this
section.
.
(b)
Application
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
not apply to a project for which a mitigation plan has been completed as of the
date of enactment of this Act.
(c)
Technical assistance
(1)
In general
The Secretary may provide technical
assistance to States and local governments to establish third-party mitigation
instruments, including mitigation banks and in-lieu fee programs, that will
help to target mitigation payments to high-priority ecosystem restoration
actions.
(2)
Requirements
In providing technical assistance under
this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to States and local
governments that have developed State, regional, or watershed-based plans
identifying priority restoration actions.
(3)
Mitigation instruments
The Secretary shall seek to ensure any
technical assistance provided under this subsection will support the
establishment of mitigation instruments that will result in restoration of
high-priority areas identified in the plans under paragraph (2).
2006.
Mitigation status report
Section 2036(b) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2283a) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following:
(3)
Information included
In reporting the status of all projects
included in the report, the Secretary shall—
(A) use a uniform methodology for determining
the status of all projects included in the report;
(B) use a methodology that describes both a
qualitative and quantitative status for all projects in the report; and
(C) provide specific dates for and participants
in the consultations required under section 906(d)(4)(B) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C.
2283(d)(4)(B)).
.
2007.
Independent peer review
(a)
Timing of peer review
Section 2034(b) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2343(b)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following:
(3)
Reasons for timing
If the Chief of Engineers does not initiate
a peer review for a project study at a time described in paragraph (2), the
Chief shall—
(A) not later than 7 days after the date on
which the Chief of Engineers determines not to initiate a peer review—
(i) notify the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives of that decision; and
(ii) make publicly available, including on the
Internet the reasons for not conducting the review; and
(B) include the reasons for not conducting the
review in the decision document for the project
study.
.
(b)
Establishment of panels
Section 2034(c) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2343(c)) is amended by striking paragraph
(4) and inserting the following:
(4)
Congressional and public
notification
Following the
identification of a project study for peer review under this section, but prior
to initiation of the review by the panel of experts, the Chief of Engineers
shall, not later than 7 days after the date on which the Chief of Engineers
determines to conduct a review—
(A) notify the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives of the review; and
(B) make publicly available, including on the
Internet, information on—
(i) the dates scheduled for beginning and
ending the review;
(ii) the entity that has the contract for the
review; and
(iii) the names and qualifications of the panel
of
experts.
.
(c)
Recommendations of panel
Section 2034(f) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2343(f)) is amended by striking paragraph
(2) and inserting the following:
(2)
Public availability and submission to
Congress
After receiving a
report on a project study from a panel of experts under this section, the Chief
of Engineers shall make available to the public, including on the Internet, and
submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives—
(A) a copy of the report not later than 7 days
after the date on which the report is delivered to the Chief of Engineers;
and
(B) a copy of any written response of the Chief
of Engineers on recommendations contained in the report not later than 3 days
after the date on which the response is delivered to the Chief of
Engineers.
(3)
Inclusion in project study
A report on a project study from a panel of
experts under this section and the written response of the Chief of Engineers
shall be included in the final decision document for the project
study.
.
(d)
Applicability
Section 2034(h)(2) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2343(h)(2)) is amended by striking 7
years and inserting 12 years.
2008.
Operation and maintenance of navigation and
hydroelectric facilities
(a)
In general
Section 314 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2321) is amended—
(1) by striking the heading and inserting the
following:
314.
Operation and maintenance of navigation and
hydroelectric
facilities
;
(2) in the first sentence, by striking
Activities currently performed and inserting the
following:
(a)
In general
Activities currently
performed
;
(3) in the second sentence, by striking
This section and inserting the following:
(b)
Major maintenance contracts
allowed
This
section
;
(4) in subsection (a) (as designated by
paragraph (2)), by inserting navigation or before
hydroelectric; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
(c)
Exclusion
This section shall not—
(1) apply to those navigation facilities that
have been or are currently under contract with a non-Federal interest to
perform operations and maintenance as of the date of enactment of the
Water Resources Development Act of
2013; and
(2) prohibit the Secretary from contracting out
future commercial activities at those navigation
facilities.
.
(b)
Clerical amendment
The table of contents contained in section
1(b) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 (104 Stat. 4604) is amended
by striking the item relating to section 314 and inserting the
following:
Sec. 314. Operation and
maintenance of navigation and hydroelectric
facilities.
.
2009.
Hydropower at Corps of Engineers
facilities
(a)
Findings
Congress finds that—
(1) in April 2012, the Oak Ridge National
Laboratory of the Department of Energy (referred to in this section as the
Oak Ridge Lab) released a report finding that adding
hydroelectric power to the non-powered dams of the United States has the
potential to add more than 12 gigawatts of new generating capacity;
(2) the top 10 non-powered dams identified by
the Oak Ridge Lab as having the highest hydroelectric power potential could
alone supply 3 gigawatts of generating capacity;
(3) of the 50 non-powered dams identified by
the Oak Ridge Lab as having the highest hydroelectric power potential, 48 are
Corps of Engineers civil works projects;
(4) promoting non-Federal hydroelectric power
at Corps of Engineers civil works projects increases the taxpayer benefit of
those projects;
(5) the development of non-Federal
hydroelectric power at Corps of Engineers civil works projects—
(A) can be accomplished in a manner that is
consistent with authorized project purposes and the responsibilities of the
Corps of Engineers to protect the environment; and
(B) in many instances, may have additional
environmental benefits; and
(6) the development of non-Federal
hydroelectric power at Corps of Engineers civil works projects could be
promoted through—
(A) clear and consistent lines of
responsibility and authority within and across Corps of Engineers districts and
divisions on hydroelectric power development activities;
(B) consistent and corresponding processes for
reviewing and approving hydroelectric power development; and
(C) developing a means by which non-Federal
hydroelectric power developers and stakeholders can resolve disputes with the
Corps of Engineers concerning hydroelectric power development activities at
Corps of Engineers civil works projects.
(b)
Policy
Congress declares that it is the policy of
the United States that—
(1) the development of non-Federal
hydroelectric power at Corps of Engineers civil works projects, including locks
and dams, shall be given priority;
(2) Corps of Engineers approval of non-Federal
hydroelectric power at Corps of Engineers civil works projects, including
permitting required under section 14 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C.
408), shall be completed by the Corps of Engineers in a timely and consistent
manner; and
(3) approval of hydropower at Corps of
Engineers civil works projects shall in no way diminish the other priorities
and missions of the Corps of Engineers, including authorized project purposes
and habitat and environmental protection.
(c)
Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report
that, at a minimum, shall include—
(1) a description of initiatives carried out by
the Secretary to encourage the development of hydroelectric power by
non-Federal entities at Corps of Engineers civil works projects;
(2) a list of all new hydroelectric power
activities by non-Federal entities approved at Corps of Engineers civil works
projects in that fiscal year, including the length of time the Secretary needed
to approve those activities;
(3) a description of the status of each pending
application from non-Federal entities for approval to develop hydroelectric
power at Corps of Engineers civil works projects;
(4) a description of any benefits or impacts to
the environment, recreation, or other uses associated with Corps of Engineers
civil works projects at which non-Federal entities have developed hydroelectric
power in the previous fiscal year; and
(5) the total annual amount of payments or
other services provided to the Corps of Engineers, the Treasury, and any other
Federal agency as a result of approved non-Federal hydropower projects at Corps
of Engineers civil works projects.
2010.
Clarification of work-in-kind credit
authority
(a)
Non-Federal cost share
Section 7007 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1277) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by inserting , on, or after
after before; and
(B) by inserting , program,
after study each place it appears;
(2) in subsections (b) and (e)(1), by inserting
, program, after study each place it appears;
and
(3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting
the following:
(d)
Treatment of credit between
projects
The value of any
land, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, and dredged material disposal
areas and the costs of planning, design, and construction work provided by the
non-Federal interest that exceed the non-Federal cost share for a study,
program, or project under this title may be applied toward the non-Federal cost
share for any other study, program, or project carried out under this
title.
.
(b)
Implementation
Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with any relevant
agencies of the State of Louisiana, shall establish a process by which to carry
out the amendments made by subsection (a)(3).
(c)
Effective
date
The amendments made by
subsection (a) take effect on November 8, 2007.
2011.
Transfer of excess work-in-kind
credit
(a)
In general
Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary
may apply credit for in-kind contributions provided by a non-Federal interest
that is in excess of the required non-Federal cost-share for a water resources
study or project toward the required non-Federal cost-share for a different
water resources study or project.
(b)
Restrictions
(1)
In general
Except for subsection (a)(4)(D)(i) of that
section, the requirements of section 221 of the Flood Control Act of 1970 (42
U.S.C. 1962d–5b) (as amended by section 2012 of this Act) shall apply to any
credit under this section.
(2)
Conditions
Credit in excess of the non-Federal
cost-share for a study or project may be approved under this section only
if—
(A) the non-Federal interest submits a
comprehensive plan to the Secretary that identifies—
(i) the studies and projects for which the
non-Federal interest intends to provide in-kind contributions for credit that
is in excess of the non-Federal cost share for the study or project; and
(ii) the studies and projects to which that
excess credit would be applied;
(B) the Secretary approves the comprehensive
plan; and
(C) the total amount of credit does not exceed
the total non-Federal cost-share for the studies and projects in the approved
comprehensive plan.
(c)
Additional criteria
In evaluating a request to apply credit in
excess of the non-Federal cost-share for a study or project toward a different
study or project, the Secretary shall consider whether applying that credit
will—
(1) help to expedite the completion of a
project or group of projects;
(2) reduce costs to the Federal Government;
and
(3) aid the completion of a project that
provides significant flood risk reduction or environmental benefits.
(d)
Termination of authority
The authority provided in this section
shall terminate 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(e)
Report
(1)
Deadlines
(A)
In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and once every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives
an interim report on the use of the authority under this section.
(B)
Final report
Not later than 10 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a final report on the use of
the authority under this section.
(2)
Inclusions
The reports described in paragraph (1)
shall include—
(A) a description of the use of the authority
under this section during the reporting period;
(B) an assessment of the impact of the
authority under this section on the time required to complete projects;
and
(C) an assessment of the impact of the
authority under this section on other water resources projects.
2012.
Credit for in-kind contributions
(a)
In general
Section 221(a)(4) of the Flood Control Act
of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 1962d–5b(a)(4)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A), in the matter
preceding clause (i) by inserting or a project under an environmental
infrastructure assistance program after law;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking In
any case and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting the following:
(i)
Construction
(I)
In general
In any case in which the non-Federal
interest is to receive credit under subparagraph (A) for the cost of
construction carried out by the non-Federal interest before execution of a
partnership agreement and that construction has not been carried out as of the
date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary and the non-Federal
interest shall enter into an agreement under which the non-Federal interest
shall carry out such work prior to the non-Federal interest initiating
construction or issuing a written notice to proceed for the
construction.
(II)
Eligibility
Construction that is carried out after the
execution of an agreement to carry out work described in subclause (I) and any
design activities that are required for that construction, even if the design
activity is carried out prior to the execution of the agreement to carry out
work, shall be eligible for credit.
(ii)
Planning
(I)
In general
In any case in which the non-Federal
interest is to receive credit under subparagraph (A) for the cost of planning
carried out by the non-Federal interest before execution of a feasibility cost
sharing agreement, the Secretary and the non-Federal interest shall enter into
an agreement under which the non-Federal interest shall carry out such work
prior to the non-Federal interest initiating that planning.
(II)
Eligibility
Planning that is carried out by the
non-Federal interest after the execution of an agreement to carry out work
described in subclause (I) shall be eligible for
credit.
;
(3) in subparagraph (D)(iii), by striking
sections 101 and 103 and inserting sections 101(a)(2) and
103(a)(1)(A) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C.
2211(a)(2); 33 U.S.C. 2213(a)(1)(A));
(4) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as
subparagraph (H);
(5) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the
following:
(E)
Analysis of costs and
benefits
In the evaluation of
the costs and benefits of a project, the Secretary shall not consider
construction carried out by a non-Federal interest under this subsection as
part of the future without project condition.
(F)
Transfer of Credit between Separable
Elements of a Project
Credit
for in-kind contributions provided by a non-Federal interest that are in excess
of the non-Federal cost share for an authorized separable element of a project
may be applied toward the non-Federal cost share for a different authorized
separable element of the same project.
(G)
Application of Credit
To the extent that credit for in-kind
contributions, as limited by subparagraph (D), and credit for required land,
easements, rights-of-way, dredged material disposal areas, and relocations
provided by the non-Federal interest exceed the non-Federal share of the cost
of construction of a project other than a navigation project, the Secretary
shall reimburse the difference to the non-Federal interest, subject to the
availability of funds.
;
and
(6) in subparagraph (H) (as redesignated by
paragraph (4))—
(A) in clause (i), by inserting , and to
water resources projects authorized prior to the date of enactment of the Water
Resources Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–662), if correction of design
deficiencies is necessary before the period at the end; and
(B) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the
following:
(ii)
Authorization in addition to specific
credit provision
In any case
in which a specific provision of law authorizes credit for in-kind
contributions provided by a non-Federal interest before the date of execution
of a partnership agreement, the Secretary may apply the authority provided in
this paragraph to allow credit for in-kind contributions provided by the
non-Federal interest on or after the date of execution of the partnership
agreement.
.
(b)
Applicability
Section
2003(e) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 1962d–5b) is
amended—
(1) by inserting
, or construction of design deficiency corrections on the
project, after construction on the project; and
(2) by inserting
, or under which construction of the project has not been completed and
the work to be performed by the non-Federal interests has not been carried out
and is creditable only toward any remaining non-Federal cost share,
after has not been initiated.
(c)
Effective
date
The amendments made by
subsections (a) and (b) take effect on November 8, 2007.
(d)
Guidelines
(1)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall update any guidance or regulations
for carrying out section 221(a)(4) of the Flood Control Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C.
1962d–5b(a)(4)) (as amended by subsection (a)) that are in existence on the
date of enactment of this Act or issue new guidelines, as determined to be
appropriate by the Secretary.
(2)
Inclusions
Any guidance, regulations, or guidelines
updated or issued under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum—
(A) the milestone for executing an in-kind
memorandum of understanding for construction by a non-Federal interest;
(B) criteria and procedures for evaluating a
request to execute an in-kind memorandum of understanding for construction by a
non-Federal interest that is earlier than the milestone under subparagraph (A)
for that execution; and
(C) criteria and procedures for determining
whether work carried out by a non-Federal interest is integral to a
project.
(3)
Public and stakeholder
participation
Before issuing
any new or revised guidance, regulations, or guidelines or any subsequent
updates to those documents, the Secretary shall—
(A) consult with affected non-Federal
interests;
(B) publish the proposed guidelines developed
under this subsection in the Federal Register; and
(C) provide the public with an opportunity to
comment on the proposed guidelines.
(e)
Other credit
Nothing in section 221(a)(4) of the Flood
Control Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 1962d–5b(a)(4)) (as amended by subsection (a))
affects any eligibility for credit under section 104 of the Water Resources
Development of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2214) that was approved by the Secretary prior
to the date of enactment of this Act.
2013.
Credit in lieu of
reimbursement
Section
211(e)(2) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (33 U.S.C.
701b–13(e)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(C)
Studies or other projects
On the request of a non-Federal interest,
in lieu of reimbursing a non-Federal interest the amount equal to the estimated
Federal share of the cost of an authorized flood damage reduction project or a
separable element of an authorized flood damage reduction project under this
subsection that has been constructed by the non-Federal interest under this
section as of the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary may provide the
non-Federal interest with a credit in that amount, which the non-Federal
interest may apply to the share of the cost of the non-Federal interest of
carrying out other flood damage reduction projects or
studies.
.
2014.
Dam
optimization
(a)
Definition of
other related project benefits
In this section, the term
other related project benefits includes—
(1) environmental
protection and restoration, including restoration of water quality and water
flows, improving movement of fish and other aquatic species, and restoration of
floodplains, wetlands, and estuaries;
(2) increased water
supply storage (except for any project in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint
River system and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River system);
(3) increased
hydropower generation;
(4) reduced flood
risk;
(5) additional
navigation; and
(6) improved
recreation.
(b)
Program
(1)
In
general
The Secretary may carry out activities—
(A) to improve the
efficiency of the operations and maintenance of dams and related infrastructure
operated by the Corps of Engineers; and
(B) to maximize, to
the extent practicable—
(i) authorized
project purposes; and
(ii) other related
project benefits.
(2)
Eligible
activities
An eligible activity under this section is any
activity that the Secretary would otherwise be authorized to carry out that is
designed to provide other related project benefits in a manner that does not
adversely impact the authorized purposes of the project.
(3)
Impact on
authorized purposes
An activity carried out under this section
shall not adversely impact any of the authorized purposes of the
project.
(4)
Effect
(A)
Existing
agreements
Nothing in this section—
(i) supersedes or
modifies any written agreement between the Federal Government and a non-Federal
interest that is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act; or
(ii) supersedes or
authorizes any amendment to a multistate water-control plan, including the
Missouri River Master Water Control Manual (as in effect on the date of
enactment of this Act).
(B)
Water
rights
Nothing in this section—
(i) affects any water
right in existence on the date of enactment of this Act;
(ii) preempts or
affects any State water law or interstate compact governing water; or
(iii) affects any
authority of a State, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, to
manage water resources within that State.
(5)
Other
laws
(A)
In
general
An activity carried out under this section shall comply
with all other applicable laws (including regulations).
(B)
Water
supply
Any activity carried out under this section that results
in any modification to water supply storage allocations at a reservoir operated
by the Secretary shall comply with section 301 of the Water Supply Act of 1958
(43 U.S.C. 390b).
(c)
Policies,
regulations, and guidance
The Secretary shall carry out a review
of, and as necessary modify, the policies, regulations, and guidance of the
Secretary to carry out the activities described in subsection (b).
(d)
Coordination
(1)
In
general
The Secretary shall—
(A) coordinate all
planning and activities carried out under this section with appropriate
Federal, State, and local agencies and those public and private entities that
the Secretary determines may be affected by those plans or activities;
and
(B) give priority to
planning and activities under this section if the Secretary determines
that—
(i) the
greatest opportunities exist for achieving the objectives of the program, as
specified in subsection (b)(1), and
(ii) the coordination
activities under this subsection indicate that there is support for carrying
out those planning and activities.
(2)
Non-federal
interests
Prior to carrying out an activity under this section,
the Secretary shall consult with any applicable non-Federal interest of the
affected dam or related infrastructure.
(e)
Reports
(1)
In
general
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report describing the actions carried out under this section.
(2)
Inclusions
Each
report under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A) a schedule for
reviewing the operations of individual projects; and
(B) any
recommendations of the Secretary on changes that the Secretary determines to be
necessary—
(i) to
carry out existing project authorizations, including the deauthorization of any
water resource project that the Secretary determines could more effectively be
achieved through other means;
(ii) to
improve the efficiency of water resource project operations; and
(iii) to maximize
authorized project purposes and other related project benefits.
(3)
Updated
report
(A)
In
general
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall update the report entitled Authorized and
Operating Purposes of Corps of Engineers Reservoirs and dated July
1992, which was produced pursuant to section 311 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1990 (104 Stat. 4639).
(B)
Inclusions
The
updated report described in subparagraph (A) shall include—
(i) the
date on which the most recent review of project operations was conducted and
any recommendations of the Secretary relating to that review the Secretary
determines to be significant; and
(ii) the dates on
which the recommendations described in clause (i) were carried out.
(f)
Funding
(1)
In
general
The Secretary may use to carry out this section amounts
made available to the Secretary from—
(A) the general
purposes and expenses account;
(B) the operations
and maintenance account; and
(C) any other amounts
that are appropriated to carry out this section.
(2)
Funding from
other sources
The Secretary may accept and expend amounts from
non-Federal entities and other Federal agencies to carry out this
section.
(g)
Cooperative
agreements
The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements
with other Federal agencies and non-Federal entities to carry out this
section.
2015.
Water supply
Section 301 of the Water Supply Act of 1958
(43 U.S.C. 390b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(e) The Committees of jurisdiction are very
concerned about the operation of projects in the
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa
River System, and further, the Committees of jurisdiction recognize that this
ongoing water resources dispute raises serious concerns related to the
authority of the Secretary of the Army to allocate substantial storage at
projects to provide local water supply pursuant to the Water Supply Act of 1958
absent congressional approval. Interstate water disputes of this nature are
more properly addressed through interstate water agreements that take into
consideration the concerns of all affected States including impacts to other
authorized uses of the projects, water supply for communities and major cities
in the region, water quality, freshwater flows to communities, rivers, lakes,
estuaries, and bays located downstream of projects, agricultural uses, economic
development, and other appropriate concerns. To that end, the Committees of
jurisdiction strongly urge the Governors of the affected States to reach
agreement on an interstate water compact as soon as possible, and we pledge our
commitment to work with the affected States to ensure prompt consideration and
approval of any such agreement. Absent such action, the Committees of
jurisdiction should consider appropriate legislation to address these matters
including any necessary clarifications to the Water Supply Act of 1958 or other
law. This subsection does not alter existing rights or obligations under
law.
.
2016.
Report on water storage pricing
formulas
(a)
Findings
Congress finds that—
(1) due to the ongoing drought in many parts of
the United States, communities are looking for ways to enhance their water
storage on Corps of Engineer reservoirs so as to maintain a reliable supply of
water into the foreseeable future;
(2) water storage pricing formulas should be
equitable and not create disparities between users; and
(3) water pricing formulas should not be
cost-prohibitive for communities.
(b)
Assessment
(1)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
initiate an assessment of the water storage pricing formulas of the Corps of
Engineers, which shall include an assessment of—
(A) existing water storage pricing formulas of
the Corps of Engineers, in particular whether those formulas produce water
storage costs for some beneficiaries that are greatly disparate from the costs
of other beneficiaries; and
(B) whether equitable water storage pricing
formulas could lessen the disparate impact and produce more affordable water
storage for potential beneficiaries.
(2)
Report
The Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to Congress a report on the assessment carried out under
paragraph (1).
2017.
Clarification of previously authorized
work
(a)
In General
The Secretary may carry out measures to
improve fish species habitat within the footprint and downstream of a water
resources project constructed by the Secretary that includes a fish hatchery if
the Secretary—
(1) has been explicitly authorized to
compensate for fish losses associated with the project; and
(2) determines that the measures are—
(A) feasible;
(B) consistent with authorized project purposes
and the fish hatchery; and
(C) in the public interest.
(b)
Cost Sharing
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the non-Federal
interest shall contribute 35 percent of the total cost of carrying out
activities under this section, including the costs relating to the provision or
acquisition of required land, easements, rights-of-way, dredged material
disposal areas, and relocations.
(2)
Operation and maintenance
The non-Federal interest shall contribute
100 percent of the costs of operation, maintenance, replacement, repair, and
rehabilitation of a project constructed under this section.
(c)
Authorization of
appropriations
For each
fiscal year, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$30,000,000.
2018.
Consideration of Federal land in
feasibility studies
At the
request of the non-Federal interest, the Secretary shall include as part of a
regional or watershed study any Federal land that is located within the
geographic scope of that study.
2019.
Planning assistance to States
Section 22 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 1962d–16) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by inserting or other stakeholder
working with a State after cooperate with any State;
and
(ii) by inserting , including plans to
comprehensively address water resources challenges, after of
such State; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ,
at Federal expense,;
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking
subsection (a)(1) each place it appears and inserting
subsection (a);
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the
following:
(2)
Contributed funds
The Secretary may accept and expend funds
in excess of the fees established under paragraph (1) that are provided by a
State or other non-Federal public body for assistance under this
section.
; and
(3) in subsection (c)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking $10,000,000 and
inserting $30,000,000; and
(ii) by striking $2,000,000 and
inserting $5,000,000 in Federal funds; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking
$5,000,000 and inserting $15,000,000.
2020.
Vegetation management policy
(a)
Definition of national
guidelines
In this section,
the term national guidelines means the Corps of Engineers policy
guidelines for management of vegetation on levees, including—
(1) Engineering Technical Letter 1110–2–571
entitled Guidelines for Landscape Planting and Vegetation Management at
Levees, Floodwalls, Embankment Dams, and Appurtenant Structures and
adopted April 10, 2009; and
(2) the draft policy guidance letter entitled
Process for Requesting a Variance from Vegetation Standards for Levees
and Floodwalls (77 Fed. Reg. 9637 (Feb. 17, 2012)).
(b)
Review
Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall carry out a comprehensive review of
the national guidelines in order to determine whether current Federal policy
relating to levee vegetation is appropriate for all regions of the United
States.
(c)
Factors
(1)
In general
In carrying out the review, the Secretary
shall consider—
(A) the varied interests and responsibilities
in managing flood risks, including the need—
(i) to provide for levee safety with limited
resources; and
(ii) to ensure that levee safety investments
minimize environmental impacts and provide corresponding public safety
benefits;
(B) the levee safety benefits that can be
provided by woody vegetation;
(C) the preservation, protection, and
enhancement of natural resources, including—
(i) the benefit of vegetation on levees in
providing habitat for endangered, threatened, and candidate species; and
(ii) the impact of removing levee vegetation on
compliance with other regulatory requirements;
(D) protecting the rights of Indian tribes
pursuant to treaties and statutes;
(E) the available science and the historical
record regarding the link between vegetation on levees and flood risk;
(F) the avoidance of actions requiring
significant economic costs and environmental impacts; and
(G) other factors relating to the factors
described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) identified in public comments that
the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(2)
Variance considerations
(A)
In general
In carrying out the review, the Secretary
shall specifically consider whether the national guidelines can be amended to
promote and allow for consideration of variances from national guidelines on a
Statewide, tribal, regional, or watershed basis, including variances based
on—
(i) soil conditions;
(ii) hydrologic factors;
(iii) vegetation patterns and
characteristics;
(iv) environmental resources, including
endangered, threatened, or candidate species and related regulatory
requirements;
(v) levee performance history, including
historical information on original construction and subsequent operation and
maintenance activities;
(vi) any effects on water supply;
(vii) any scientific evidence on the link between
levee vegetation and levee safety;
(viii) institutional considerations, including
implementation challenges;
(ix) the availability of limited funds for levee
construction and rehabilitation;
(x) the economic and environmental costs of
removing woody vegetation on levees; and
(xi) other relevant factors identified in public
comments that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(B)
Scope
The scope of a variance approved by the
Secretary may include a complete exemption to national guidelines, as the
Secretary determines to be necessary.
(d)
Cooperation and consultation;
recommendations
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall carry out the review
under this section in consultation with other applicable Federal agencies,
representatives of State, regional, local, and tribal governments, appropriate
nongovernmental organizations, and the public.
(2)
Recommendations
The Chief of Engineers and any State,
tribal, regional, or local entity may submit to the Secretary any
recommendations for vegetation management policies for levees that conform with
Federal and State laws, including recommendations relating to the review of
national guidelines under subsection (b) and the consideration of variances
under subsection (c)(2).
(e)
Peer review
(1)
In general
As part of the review, the Secretary shall
solicit and consider the views of the National Academy of Engineering and the
National Academy of Sciences on the engineering, environmental, and
institutional considerations underlying the national guidelines, including the
factors described in subsection (c) and any information obtained by the
Secretary under subsection (d).
(2)
Availability of views
The views of the National Academy of
Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences obtained under paragraph (1)
shall be—
(A) made available to the public; and
(B) included in supporting materials issued in
connection with the revised national guidelines required under subsection
(f).
(f)
Revision of national guidelines
(1)
In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—
(A) revise the national guidelines based on the
results of the review, including—
(i) recommendations received as part of the
consultation described in subsection (d)(1); and
(ii) the results of the peer review conducted
under subsection (e); and
(B) submit to Congress a report that contains a
summary of the activities of the Secretary and a description of the findings of
the Secretary under this section.
(2)
Content; incorporation into
manual
The revised national
guidelines shall—
(A) provide a practical, flexible process for
approving Statewide, tribal, regional, or watershed variances from the national
guidelines that—
(i) reflect due consideration of the factors
described in subsection (c); and
(ii) incorporate State, tribal, and regional
vegetation management guidelines for specific areas that have been adopted
through a formal public process; and
(B) be incorporated into the manual proposed
under section 5(c) of the Act entitled An Act authorizing the
construction of certain public works on rivers and harbors for flood control,
and for other purposes, approved August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C.
701n(c)).
(3)
Failure to meet deadlines
If the Secretary fails to submit a report
by the required deadline under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a detailed
explanation of—
(A) why the deadline was missed;
(B) solutions needed to meet the deadline;
and
(C) a projected date for submission of the
report.
(g)
Continuation of work
Concurrent with the completion of the
requirements of this section, the Secretary shall proceed without interruption
or delay with those ongoing or programmed projects and studies, or elements of
projects or studies, that are not directly related to vegetation variance
policy.
(h)
Interim actions
(1)
In general
Until the date on which revisions to the
national guidelines are adopted in accordance with subsection (f), the
Secretary shall not require the removal of existing vegetation as a condition
or requirement for any approval or funding of a project, or any other action,
unless the specific vegetation has been demonstrated to present an unacceptable
safety risk.
(2)
Revisions
Beginning on the date on which the
revisions to the national guidelines are adopted in accordance with subsection
(f), the Secretary shall consider, on request of an affected entity, any
previous action of the Corps of Engineers in which the outcome was affected by
the former national guidelines.
2021.
Levee certifications
(a)
Implementation of flood protection
structure accreditation task force
In carrying out section 100226 of the
Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4101 note; 126
Stat. 942), the Secretary shall—
(1) ensure that at least 1 program activity
carried out under the inspection of completed works program of the Corps of
Engineers provides adequate information to the Secretary to reach a levee
accreditation decision for each requirement under section 65.10 of title 44,
Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulation); and
(2) to the maximum extent practicable, carry
out activities under the inspection of completed works program of the Corps of
Engineers in alignment with the schedule established for the national flood
insurance program established under chapter 1 of the National Flood Insurance
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.).
(b)
Accelerated levee system evaluations and
certifications
(1)
In general
On receipt of a request from a non-Federal
interest, the Secretary may carry out a levee system evaluation and
certification of a federally authorized levee for purposes of the national
flood insurance program established under chapter 1 of the National Flood
Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.) if the evaluation and
certification will be carried out earlier than such an evaluation and
certification would be carried out under subsection (a).
(2)
Requirements
A levee system evaluation and certification
under paragraph (1) shall—
(A) at a minimum, comply with section 65.10 of
title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of
this Act); and
(B) be carried out in accordance with such
procedures as the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, may establish.
(3)
Cost Sharing
(A)
Non-Federal share
Subject to subparagraph (B), the
non-Federal share of the cost of carrying out a levee system evaluation and
certification under this subsection shall be 35 percent.
(B)
Adjustment
The Secretary shall adjust the non-Federal
share of the cost of carrying out a levee system evaluation and certification
under this subsection in accordance with section 103(m) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2213(m)).
(4)
Application
Nothing in this subsection affects the
requirement under section 100226(b)(2) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance
Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4101 note; 126 Stat. 942).
2022.
Restoration of flood and hurricane storm
damage reduction projects
(a)
In general
The Secretary shall carry out any measures
necessary to repair or restore federally authorized flood and hurricane and
storm damage reduction projects constructed by the Corps of Engineers to
authorized levels (as of the date of enactment of this Act) of protection for
reasons including settlement, subsidence, sea level rise, and new datum, if the
Secretary determines the necessary work is technically feasible,
environmentally acceptable, and economically justified.
(b)
Cost share
The non-Federal share of the cost of
construction of a project carried out under this section shall be determined as
provided in subsections (a) through (d) of section 103 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2213).
(c)
Operations and maintenance
The non-Federal share of the cost of
operations, maintenance, repair, replacement, and rehabilitation for a project
carried out under this section shall be 100 percent.
(d)
Eligibility of projects transferred to
non-Federal interest
The
Secretary may carry out measures described in subsection (a) on a water
resources project, separable element of a project, or functional component of a
project that has been transferred to the non-Federal interest.
(e)
Report to Congress
Not later than 8 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the
implementation of this section, including—
(1) any recommendations relating to the
continued need for the authority provided in this section;
(2) a description of the measures carried out
under this section;
(3) any lessons learned relating to the
measures implemented under this section; and
(4) best practices for carrying out measures to
restore flood and hurricane and storm damage reduction projects.
(f)
Termination of authority
The authority to carry out a measure under
this section terminates on the date that is 10 years after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(g)
Authorization of
appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$250,000,000.
2023.
Operation and maintenance of certain
projects
The Secretary may
assume operation and maintenance activities for a navigation channel that is
deepened by a non-Federal interest prior to December 31, 2012, if—
(1) the Secretary determines that the
requirements under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 204(f) of the Water
Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2232(f)) are met;
(2) the Secretary determines that the
activities carried out by the non-Federal interest in deepening the navigation
channel are economically justified and environmentally acceptable; and
(3) the deepening activities have been carried
out on a Federal navigation channel that—
(A) exists as of the date of enactment of this
Act; and
(B) has been authorized by Congress.
2024.
Dredging study
(a)
In general
The Secretary, in conjunction with other
relevant Federal agencies and applicable non-Federal interests, shall carry out
a study—
(1) to compare domestic and international
dredging markets, including costs, technologies, and management approaches used
in each respective market, and determine the impacts of those markets on
dredging needs and practices in the United States;
(2) to analyze past and existing practices,
technologies, and management approaches used in dredging in the United States;
and
(3) to develop recommendations relating to the
best techniques, practices, and management approaches for dredging in the
United States.
(b)
Purposes
The purposes of the study under this
section are—
(1) the identification of the best techniques,
methods, and technologies for dredging, including the evaluation of the
feasibility, cost, and benefits of—
(A) new dredging technologies; and
(B) improved dredging practices and
techniques;
(2) the appraisal of the needs of the United
States for dredging, including the need to increase the size of private and
Corps of Engineers dredging fleets to meet demands for additional construction
or maintenance dredging needed as of the date of enactment of this Act and in
the subsequent 20 years;
(3) the identification of any impediments to
dredging, including any recommendations of appropriate alternatives for
responding to those impediments;
(4) the assessment, including any
recommendations of appropriate alternatives, of the adequacy and effectiveness
of—
(A) the economic, engineering, and
environmental methods, models, and analyses used by the Chief of Engineers and
private dredging operations for dredging; and
(B) the current cost structure of construction
contracts entered into by the Chief of Engineers;
(5) the evaluation of the efficiency and
effectiveness of past, current, and alternative dredging practices and
alternatives to dredging, including agitation dredging; and
(6) the identification of innovative techniques
and cost-effective methods to expand regional sediment management efforts,
including the placement of dredged sediment within river diversions to
accelerate the creation of wetlands.
(c)
Study team
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall establish a study team
to assist the Secretary in planning, carrying out, and reporting on the results
of the study under this section.
(2)
Study team
The study team established pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall—
(A) be appointed by the Secretary; and
(B) represent a broad spectrum of experts in
the field of dredging and representatives of relevant State agencies and
relevant non-Federal interests.
(d)
Public comment period
The Secretary shall—
(1) make available to the public, including on
the Internet, all draft and final study findings under this section; and
(2) allow for a public comment period of not
less than 30 days on any draft study findings prior to issuing final study
findings.
(e)
Report to congress
Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and subject to available appropriations, the Secretary,
in consultation with the study team established under subsection (c), shall
submit a detailed report on the results of the study to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(f)
Failure To meet deadlines
If the Secretary does not complete the
study under this section and submit a report to Congress under subsection (e)
on or before the deadline described in that subsection, the Secretary shall
notify Congress and describe why the study was not completed.
2025.
Non-Federal project implementation pilot
program
(a)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and implement a pilot
program to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and project delivery efficiency of
allowing non-Federal interests to carry out flood risk management, hurricane
and storm damage reduction, coastal harbor and channel inland navigation, and
aquatic ecosystem restoration projects.
(b)
Purposes
The purposes of the pilot program
are—
(1) to identify project delivery and
cost-saving alternatives that reduce the backlog of authorized Corps of
Engineers projects;
(2) to evaluate the technical, financial, and
organizational efficiencies of a non-Federal interest carrying out the design,
execution, management, and construction of 1 or more projects; and
(3) to evaluate alternatives for the
decentralization of the project management, design, and construction for
authorized Corps of Engineers water resources projects.
(c)
Administration
(1)
In general
In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary shall—
(A) identify a total of not more than 15
projects for flood risk management, hurricane and storm damage reduction
(including levees, floodwalls, flood control channels, and water control
structures), coastal harbor and channels, inland navigation, and aquatic
ecosystem restoration that have been authorized for construction prior to the
date of enactment of this Act, including—
(i) not more than 12 projects that—
(I)
(aa) have received Federal funds prior to the
date of enactment of this Act; or
(bb) for more than 2 consecutive fiscal years,
have an unobligated funding balance for that project in the Corps of Engineers
construction account; and
(II) to the maximum extent practicable, are
located in each of the divisions of the Corps of Engineers; and
(ii) not more than 3 projects that have not
received Federal funds in the period beginning on the date on which the project
was authorized and ending on the date of enactment of this Act;
(B) notify the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on the identification of each
project under the pilot program;
(C) in collaboration with the non-Federal
interest, develop a detailed project management plan for each identified
project that outlines the scope, budget, design, and construction resource
requirements necessary for the non-Federal interest to execute the project, or
a separable element of the project;
(D) on the request of the non-Federal interest,
enter into a project partnership agreement with the non-Federal interest for
the non-Federal interest to provide full project management control for
construction of the project, or a separable element of the project, in
accordance with plans approved by the Secretary;
(E) following execution of the project
partnership agreement, transfer to the non-Federal interest to carry out
construction of the project, or a separable element of the project—
(i) if applicable, the balance of the
unobligated amounts appropriated for the project, except that the Secretary
shall retain sufficient amounts for the Corps of Engineers to carry out any
responsibilities of the Corps of Engineers relating to the project and pilot
program; and
(ii) additional amounts, as determined by the
Secretary, from amounts made available under subsection (h), except that the
total amount transferred to the non-Federal interest shall not exceed the
updated estimate of the Federal share of the cost of construction, including
any required design; and
(F) regularly monitor and audit each project
being constructed by a non-Federal interest under this section to ensure that
the construction activities are carried out in compliance with the plans
approved by the Secretary and that the construction costs are
reasonable.
(2)
Detailed project schedule
Not later than 180 days after entering into
an agreement under paragraph (1)(D), each non-Federal interest, to the maximum
extent practicable, shall submit to the Secretary a detailed project schedule,
based on estimated funding levels, that lists all deadlines for each milestone
in the construction of the project.
(3)
Technical assistance
On the request of a non-Federal interest,
the Secretary may provide technical assistance to the non-Federal interest, if
the non-Federal interest contracts with and compensates the Secretary for the
technical assistance relating to—
(A) any study, engineering activity, and design
activity for construction carried out by the non-Federal interest under this
section; and
(B) expeditiously obtaining any permits
necessary for the project.
(d)
Cost-share
Nothing in this section affects the
cost-sharing requirement applicable on the day before the date of enactment of
this Act to a project carried out under this section.
(e)
Report
(1)
In general
Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report detailing the
results of the pilot program carried out under this section, including—
(A) a description of the progress of
non-Federal interests in meeting milestones in detailed project schedules
developed pursuant to subsection (c)(2); and
(B) any recommendations of the Secretary
concerning whether the program or any component of the program should be
implemented on a national basis.
(2)
Update
Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives an update of the report
described in paragraph (1).
(3)
Failure to meet deadline
If the Secretary fails to submit a report
by the required deadline under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a detailed
explanation of why the deadline was missed and a projected date for submission
of the report.
(f)
Administration
All laws and regulations that would apply
to the Secretary if the Secretary were carrying out the project shall apply to
a non-Federal interest carrying out a project under this section.
(g)
Termination of Authority
The authority to commence a project under
this section terminates on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment
of this Act.
(h)
Authorization of
appropriations
In addition to
any amounts appropriated for a specific project, there is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the pilot program under this
section, including the costs of administration of the Secretary, $25,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
2026.
Non-Federal implementation of feasibility
studies
(a)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and implement a pilot
program to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and project delivery efficiency of
allowing non-Federal interests to carry out feasibility studies for flood risk
management, hurricane and storm damage reduction, aquatic ecosystem
restoration, and coastal harbor and channel and inland navigation.
(b)
Purposes
The purposes of the pilot program
are—
(1) to identify project delivery and
cost-saving alternatives to the existing feasibility study process;
(2) to evaluate the technical, financial, and
organizational efficiencies of a non-Federal interest carrying out a
feasibility study of 1 or more projects; and
(3) to evaluate alternatives for the
decentralization of the project planning, management, and operational
decisionmaking process of the Corps of Engineers.
(c)
Administration
(1)
In general
On the request of a non-Federal interest,
the Secretary may enter into an agreement with the non-Federal interest for the
non-Federal interest to provide full project management control of a
feasibility study for a project for—
(A) flood risk management;
(B) hurricane and storm damage reduction,
including levees, floodwalls, flood control channels, and water control
structures;
(C) coastal harbor and channel and inland
navigation; and
(D) aquatic ecosystem restoration.
(2)
Use of non-Federal-funds
(A)
In general
A non-Federal interest that has entered
into an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1) may use
non-Federal funds to carry out the feasibility study.
(B)
Credit
The Secretary shall credit towards the
non-Federal share of the cost of construction of a project for which a
feasibility study is carried out under this section an amount equal to the
portion of the cost of developing the study that would have been the
responsibility of the Secretary, if the study were carried out by the
Secretary, subject to the conditions that—
(i) non-Federal funds were used to carry out
the activities that would have been the responsibility of the Secretary;
(ii) the Secretary determines that the
feasibility study complies with all applicable Federal laws and regulations;
and
(iii) the project is authorized by any provision
of Federal law enacted after the date on which an agreement is entered into
under paragraph (1).
(3)
Transfer of funds
(A)
In general
After the date on which an agreement is
executed pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary may transfer to the
non-Federal interest to carry out the feasibility study—
(i) if applicable, the balance of any
unobligated amounts appropriated for the study, except that the Secretary shall
retain sufficient amounts for the Corps of Engineers to carry out any
responsibilities of the Corps of Engineers relating to the project and pilot
program; and
(ii) additional amounts, as determined by the
Secretary, from amounts made available under subsection (h), except that the
total amount transferred to the non-Federal interest shall not exceed the
updated estimate of the Federal share of the cost of the feasibility
study.
(B)
Administration
The Secretary shall include such provisions
as the Secretary determines to be necessary in an agreement under paragraph (1)
to ensure that a non-Federal interest receiving Federal funds under this
paragraph—
(i) has the necessary qualifications to
administer those funds; and
(ii) will comply with all applicable Federal
laws (including regulations) relating to the use of those funds.
(4)
Notification
The Secretary shall notify the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on the initiation of each
feasibility study under the pilot program.
(5)
Auditing
The Secretary shall regularly monitor and
audit each feasibility study carried out by a non-Federal interest under this
section to ensure that the use of any funds transferred under paragraph (3) are
used in compliance with the agreement signed under paragraph (1).
(6)
Technical assistance
On the request of a non-Federal interest,
the Secretary may provide technical assistance to the non-Federal interest
relating to any aspect of the feasibility study, if the non-Federal interest
contracts with the Secretary for the technical assistance and compensates the
Secretary for the technical assistance.
(7)
Detailed project schedule
Not later than 180 days after entering into
an agreement under paragraph (1), each non-Federal interest, to the maximum
extent practicable, shall submit to the Secretary a detailed project schedule,
based on full funding capability, that lists all deadlines for milestones
relating to the feasibility study.
(d)
Cost-share
Nothing in this section affects the
cost-sharing requirement applicable on the day before the date of enactment of
this Act to a feasibility study carried out under this section.
(e)
Report
(1)
In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report detailing the
results of the pilot program carried out under this section, including—
(A) a description of the progress of the
non-Federal interests in meeting milestones in detailed project schedules
developed pursuant to subsection (c)(7); and
(B) any recommendations of the Secretary
concerning whether the program or any component of the program should be
implemented on a national basis.
(2)
Update
Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives an update of the report
described in paragraph (1).
(3)
Failure to meet deadline
If the Secretary fails to submit a report
by the required deadline under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a detailed
explanation of why the deadline was missed and a projected date for submission
of the report.
(f)
Administration
All laws and regulations that would apply
to the Secretary if the Secretary were carrying out the feasibility study shall
apply to a non-Federal interest carrying out a feasibility study under this
section.
(g)
Termination of authority
The authority to commence a feasibility
study under this section terminates on the date that is 5 years after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(h)
Authorization of
appropriations
In addition to
any amounts appropriated for a specific project, there is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the pilot program under this
section, including the costs of administration of the Secretary, $25,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
2027.
Tribal partnership program
Section 203 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2000 (33 U.S.C. 2269) is amended—
(1) in subsection (d)(1)(B)—
(A) by striking The ability and
inserting the following:
(i)
In general
The
ability
;
and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
(ii)
Determination
Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Water Resources Development
Act of 2013, the Secretary shall issue guidance on the procedures
described in clause (i).
;
and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking
2012 and inserting 2023.
2028.
Cooperative agreements with Columbia River
Basin Indian tribes
The
Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with 1 or more federally
recognized Indian tribes (or a designated representative of the Indian tribes)
that are located, in whole or in part, within the boundaries of the Columbia
River Basin to carry out authorized activities within the Columbia River Basin
to protect fish, wildlife, water quality, and cultural resources.
2029.
Military munitions response actions at
civil works shoreline protection projects
(a)
In general
The Secretary may implement any response
action the Secretary determines to be necessary at a site where—
(1) the Secretary has carried out a project
under civil works authority of the Secretary that includes placing sand on a
beach;
(2) as a result of the project described in
paragraph (1), military munitions that were originally released as a result of
Department of Defense activities are deposited on the beach, posing a threat to
human health or the environment.
(b)
Response action funding
A response action described in subsection
(a) shall be funded from amounts made available to the agency within the
Department of Defense responsible for the original release of the
munitions.
2030.
Beach nourishment
Section 156 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 1962d–5f) is amended to read as
follows:
156.
Beach nourishment
(a)
In general
Subject to subsection (b)(2)(A), the
Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, may provide
periodic beach nourishment for each water resources development project for
which that nourishment has been authorized for an additional period of time, as
determined by the Secretary, subject to the condition that the additional
period shall not exceed the later of—
(1) 50 years after the date on which the
construction of the project is initiated; or
(2) the date on which the last estimated
periodic nourishment for the project is to be carried out, as recommended in
the applicable report of the Chief of Engineers.
(b)
Extension
(1)
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (3), before
the date on which the 50-year period referred to in subsection (a)(1) expires,
the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers—
(A) may, at the request of the non-Federal
interest and subject to the availability of appropriations, carry out a review
of a nourishment project carried out under subsection (a) to evaluate the
feasibility of continuing Federal participation in the project for a period not
to exceed 15 years; and
(B) shall submit to Congress any
recommendations of the Secretary relating to the review.
(2)
Plan for reducing risk to people and
property
(A)
In general
The non-Federal interest shall submit to
the Secretary a plan for reducing the risk to people and property during the
life of the project.
(B)
Inclusion in report to
Congress
The Secretary shall
submit to Congress the plan described in subparagraph (A) with the
recommendations submitted in paragraph (1)(B).
(3)
Review commenced within 2 years of
expiration of 50-year period
(A)
In general
If the Secretary of the Army commences a
review under paragraph (1) not earlier than the period beginning on the date
that is 2 years before the date on which the 50-year period referred to in
subsection (a)(1) expires and ending on the date on which the 50-year period
expires, the project shall remain authorized after the expiration of the
50-year period until the earlier of—
(i) 3 years after the expiration of the 50-year
period; or
(ii) the date on which a determination is made
as to whether to extend Federal participation in the project in accordance with
paragraph (1).
(B)
Calculation of time period for
extension
Notwithstanding
clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) and after a review under subparagraph
(A) is completed, if a determination is made to extend Federal participation in
the project in accordance with paragraph (1) for a period not to exceed 15
years, that period shall begin on the date on which the determination is
made.
.
2031.
Regional sediment management
Section 204 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1992 (33 U.S.C. 2326) (as amended by section 2003(c)) is
amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting or
used in after obtained through; and
(B) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting
for the purposes of improving environmental conditions in marsh and
littoral systems, stabilizing stream channels, enhancing shorelines, and
supporting State and local risk management adaptation strategies before
the period at the end;
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(B)—
(A) in clause (i), by striking clause
(ii) and inserting clauses (ii) and (iii);
(B) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause
(iii); and
(C) by inserting after clause (i) the
following:
(ii)
Reduction in non-Federal
share
The Secretary may
reduce the non-Federal share of the costs of construction of a project if the
Secretary determines that, through the beneficial use of sediment at another
Federal project, there will be an associated reduction or avoidance of Federal
costs.
;
(3) in subsection (d)—
(A) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and inserting the following:
(d)
Selection of Dredged Material Disposal
Method for Purposes Related to Environmental Restoration or Storm Damage and
Flood Reduction
;
and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking in
relation to and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting “in relation to—
(A) the environmental benefits, including the
benefits to the aquatic environment to be derived from the creation of wetlands
and control of shoreline erosion; or
(B) the flood and storm damage and flood
reduction benefits, including shoreline protection, protection against loss of
life, and damage to improved property.
;
and
(4) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph
(1) and inserting the following:
(1) cooperate with any State or group of States
in the preparation of a comprehensive State or regional sediment management
plan within the boundaries of the State or among
States;
.
2032.
Study acceleration
(a)
Findings
Congress finds that—
(1) delays in the completion of feasibility
studies—
(A) increase costs for the Federal Government
as well as State and local governments; and
(B) delay the implementation of water resources
projects that provide critical benefits, including reducing flood risk,
maintaining commercially important flood risk, and restoring vital ecosystems;
and
(2) the efforts undertaken by the Corps of
Engineers through the establishment of the 3–3–3 planning
process should be continued.
(b)
Acceleration of Studies
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a
feasibility study initiated after the date of enactment of this Act
shall—
(A) be completed not later than 3 years after
the date of initiation of the study; and
(B) have a maximum Federal cost share of
$3,000,000.
(2)
Ability to comply
On initiating a feasibility study under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A) certify that the study will comply with the
requirements of paragraph (1);
(B) for projects the Secretary determines to be
too complex to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1)—
(i) not less than 30 days after making a
determination, notify the non-Federal interest regarding the inability to
comply; and
(ii) provide a new projected timeline and cost;
and
(C) if the study conditions have changed such
that scheduled timelines or study costs will not be met—
(i) not later than 30 days after the study
conditions change, notify the non-Federal interest of those changed conditions;
and
(ii) present the non-Federal interest with a new
timeline for completion and new projected study costs.
(3)
Appropriations
(A)
In general
All timeline and cost conditions under this
section shall be subject to the Secretary receiving adequate appropriations for
meeting study timeline and cost requirements.
(B)
Notification
Not later than 60 days after receiving
appropriations, the Secretary shall notify the non-Federal interest of any
changes to timelines or costs due to inadequate appropriations.
(c)
Report
Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report
that describes—
(1) the status of the implementation of the
3–3–3 planning process, including the number of participating
projects;
(2) the amount of time taken to complete all
studies participating in the 3–3–3 planning process; and
(3) any recommendations for additional
authority necessary to support efforts to expedite the feasibility study
process for water resource projects.
2033.
Project acceleration
Section 2045 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2348) is amended to read as follows:
2045.
Project acceleration
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Environmental impact
statement
The term
environmental impact statement means the detailed statement of
environmental impacts of water resource projects required to be prepared
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.).
(2)
Environmental review process
(A)
In general
The term environmental review
process means the process of preparing an environmental impact
statement, environmental assessment, categorical exclusion, or other document
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)
for a water resource project.
(B)
Inclusions
The term environmental review
process includes the process for and completion of any environmental
permit, approval, review, or study required for a water resource project under
any Federal law other than the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(3)
Federal jurisdictional agency
The term Federal jurisdictional
agency means a Federal agency with jurisdiction delegated by law,
regulation, order, or otherwise over an approval or decision required for a
water resource project under applicable Federal laws (including
regulations).
(4)
Lead agency
The term lead agency means the
Corps of Engineers and, if applicable, any State, local, or tribal governmental
entity serving as a joint lead agency pursuant to section 1506.3 of title 40,
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
(5)
Water resource project
The term water resource
project means a Corps of Engineers water resource project.
(b)
Policy
The benefits of water resource projects
designed and carried out in an economically and environmentally sound manner
are important to the economy and environment of the United States, and
recommendations to Congress regarding those projects should be developed using
coordinated and efficient review and cooperative efforts to prevent or quickly
resolve disputes during the planning of those water resource projects.
(c)
Applicability
(1)
In general
The project planning procedures under this
section apply to proposed projects initiated after the date of enactment of the
Water Resources Development Act of 2013 and for which the Secretary determines
that—
(A) an environmental impact statement is
required; or
(B) at the discretion of the Secretary, other
water resource projects for which an environmental review process document is
required to be prepared.
(2)
Flexibility
Any authorities granted in this section may
be exercised, and any requirements established under this section may be
satisfied, for the planning of a water resource project, a class of those
projects, or a program of those projects.
(3)
List of water resources development
projects
(A)
In general
The Secretary shall annually prepare, and
make publicly available, a separate list of each study that the Secretary has
determined—
(i) meets the standards described in paragraph
(1); and
(ii) does not have adequate funding to make
substantial progress toward the completion of the planning activities for the
water resource project.
(B)
Inclusions
The Secretary shall include for each study
on the list under subparagraph (A) a description of the estimated amounts
necessary to make substantial progress on the study.
(4)
Implementation guidance
The Secretary shall prepare, in
consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality and other Federal
agencies with jurisdiction over actions or resources that may be impacted by a
water resource project, guidance documents that describe the coordinated review
processes that the Secretary will use to implement this section for the
planning of water resource projects, in accordance with the civil works program
of the Corps of Engineers and all applicable law.
(d)
Water resource project review
process
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall develop and implement a
coordinated review process for the development of water resource
projects.
(2)
Coordinated review
The coordinated review process described in
paragraph (1) shall require that any analysis, opinion, permit, license,
statement, and approval issued or made by a Federal, State, or local
governmental agency or an Indian tribe for the planning of a water resource
project described in subsection (b) be conducted, to the maximum extent
practicable, concurrently with any other applicable governmental agency or
Indian tribe.
(3)
Timing
The coordinated review process under this
subsection shall be completed not later than the date on which the Secretary,
in consultation and concurrence with the agencies identified under subsection
(e), establishes with respect to the water resource project.
(e)
Identification of jurisdictional
agencies
With respect to the
development of each water resource project, the Secretary shall identify, as
soon as practicable, all Federal, State, and local government agencies and
Indian tribes that may—
(1) have jurisdiction over the water resource
project;
(2) be required by law to conduct or issue a
review, analysis, or opinion for the water resource project; or
(3) be required to make a determination on
issuing a permit, license, or approval for the water resource project.
(f)
State authority
If the coordinated review process is being
implemented under this section by the Secretary with respect to the planning of
a water resource project described in subsection (c) within the boundaries of a
State, the State, consistent with State law, may choose to participate in the
process and to make subject to the process all State agencies that—
(1) have jurisdiction over the water resource
project;
(2) are required to conduct or issue a review,
analysis, or opinion for the water resource project; or
(3) are required to make a determination on
issuing a permit, license, or approval for the water resource project.
(g)
Lead agencies
(1)
Federal lead agency
Subject to paragraph (2), the Corps of
Engineers shall be the lead Federal agency in the environmental review process
for a water resource project.
(2)
Joint lead agencies
(A)
In general
At the discretion of the Secretary and
subject to any applicable regulations under the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), including the concurrence of the proposed
joint lead agency, an agency other than the Corps of Engineers may serve as the
joint lead agency.
(B)
Non-Federal interest as joint lead
agency
A non-Federal interest
that is a State or local governmental entity—
(i) may, with the concurrence of the Secretary,
serve as a joint lead agency with the Corps of Engineers for purposes of
preparing any environmental document under the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
(ii) may prepare any environmental review
process document under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) required in support of any action or approval by the Secretary
if—
(I) the Secretary provides guidance in the
preparation process and independently evaluates that document
(II) the non-Federal interest complies with all
requirements applicable to the Secretary under—
(aa) the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
(bb) any regulation implementing that Act;
and
(cc) any other applicable Federal law;
and
(III) the Secretary approves and adopts the
document before the Secretary takes any subsequent action or makes any approval
based on that document, regardless of whether the action or approval of the
Secretary results in Federal funding.
(3)
Duties
The Secretary shall ensure that—
(A) the non-Federal interest complies with all
design and mitigation commitments made jointly by the Secretary and the
non-Federal interest in any environmental document prepared by the non-Federal
interest in accordance with this subsection; and
(B) any environmental document prepared by the
non-Federal interest is appropriately supplemented under paragraph (2)(B) to
address any changes to the water resource project the Secretary determines are
necessary.
(4)
Adoption and use of documents
Any environmental document prepared in
accordance with this subsection may be adopted or used by any Federal agency
making any approval to the same extent that the Federal agency could adopt or
use a document prepared by another Federal agency under—
(A) the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
(B) parts 1500 through 1508 of title 40, Code
of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(5)
Roles and responsibility of lead
agency
With respect to the
environmental review process for any water resource project, the lead agency
shall have authority and responsibility—
(A) to take such actions as are necessary and
proper and within the authority and responsibility of the lead agency to
facilitate the expeditious resolution of the environmental review process for
the water resource project; and
(B) to prepare or ensure that any required
environmental impact statement or other environmental review document for a
water resource project required to be completed under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) is completed in
accordance with this section and applicable Federal law.
(h)
Participating and cooperating
agencies
(1)
Invitation
(A)
In general
The lead agency shall identify, as early as
practicable in the environmental review process for a water resource project,
any other Federal or non-Federal agencies that may have an interest in that
project and invite those agencies to become participating or cooperating
agencies, as applicable, in the environmental review process for the water
resource project.
(B)
Procedures
Section 1501.6 of title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of the
Water Resources Development Act of
2013) shall govern the identification and the participation of a
cooperating agency under subparagraph (A).
(C)
Deadline
An invitation to participate issued under
subparagraph (A) shall set a deadline by which a response to the invitation
shall be submitted, which may be extended by the lead agency for good
cause.
(2)
Federal cooperating agencies
Any Federal agency that is invited by the
lead agency to participate in the environmental review process for a water
resource project shall be designated as a cooperating agency by the lead agency
unless the invited agency informs the lead agency, in writing, by the deadline
specified in the invitation that the invited agency—
(A)
(i) has no jurisdiction or authority with
respect to the water resource project;
(ii) has no expertise or information relevant to
the water resource project; or
(iii) does not have adequate funds to participate
in the water resource project; and
(B) does not intend to submit comments on the
water resource project.
(3)
Effect of designation
Designation as a participating or
cooperating agency under this subsection shall not imply that the participating
or cooperating agency—
(A) supports a proposed water resource project;
or
(B) has any jurisdiction over, or special
expertise with respect to evaluation of, the water resource project.
(4)
Concurrent reviews
Each cooperating agency shall—
(A) carry out the obligations of that agency
under other applicable law concurrently and in conjunction with the required
environmental review process, unless doing so would impair the ability of the
Federal agency to conduct needed analysis or otherwise carry out those
obligations; and
(B) formulate and implement administrative,
policy, and procedural mechanisms to enable the agency to ensure completion of
the environmental review process in a timely, coordinated, and environmentally
responsible manner.
(i)
Programmatic compliance
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall issue guidance
regarding the use of programmatic approaches to carry out the environmental
review process that—
(A) eliminates repetitive discussions of the
same issues;
(B) focuses on the actual issues ripe for
analyses at each level of review;
(C) establishes a formal process for
coordinating with cooperating agencies, including the creation of a list of all
data that is needed to carry out an environmental review process; and
(D) complies with—
(i) the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
(ii) all other applicable laws.
(2)
Requirements
In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall—
(A) as the first step in drafting guidance
under that paragraph, consult with relevant Federal and State agencies, Indian
tribes, and the public on the appropriate use and scope of the programmatic
approaches;
(B) emphasize the importance of collaboration
among relevant Federal agencies, State agencies, and Indian tribes in
undertaking programmatic reviews, especially with respect to including reviews
with a broad geographical scope;
(C) ensure that the programmatic
reviews—
(i) promote transparency, including of the
analyses and data used in the environmental review process, the treatment of
any deferred issues raised by Federal, State, or tribal agencies, or the
public, and the temporal and special scales to be used to analyze those
issues;
(ii) use accurate and timely information in the
environmental review process, including—
(I) criteria for determining the general
duration of the usefulness of the review; and
(II) the timeline for updating any out-of-date
review;
(iii) describe—
(I) the relationship between programmatic
analysis and future tiered analysis; and
(II) the role of the public in the creation of
future tiered analysis; and
(iv) are available to other relevant Federal and
State agencies, Indian tribes, and the public;
(D) allow not fewer than 60 days of public
notice and comment on any proposed guidance; and
(E) address any comments received under
subparagraph (D).
(j)
Coordinated reviews
(1)
Coordination plan
(A)
Establishment
(i)
In general
The lead agency shall, after consultation
with and with the concurrence of each cooperating agency for the water resource
project and the non-Federal interest or joint lead agency, as applicable,
establish a plan for coordinating public and agency participation in, and
comment on, the environmental review process for a water resource project or a
category of water resource projects.
(ii)
Incorporation
The plan established under clause (i) shall
be incorporated into the project schedule milestones set under section
905(g)(2) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C.
2282(g)(2)).
(2)
Comment deadlines
The lead agency shall establish the
following deadlines for comment during the environmental review process for a
water resource project:
(A)
Draft environmental impact
statements
For comments by
Federal and States agencies and the public on a draft environmental impact
statement, a period of not more than 60 days after publication in the Federal
Register of notice of the date of public availability of the draft
environmental impact statement, unless—
(i) a different deadline is established by
agreement of the lead agency, the non-Federal interest, as applicable, and all
participating and cooperating agencies; or
(ii) the deadline is extended by the lead agency
for good cause.
(B)
Other environmental review
processes
For all comment
periods established by the lead agency for agency or public comments in the
environmental review process of an action within a program under the authority
of the lead agency other than for a draft environmental impact statement, a
period of not more than 30 days after the date on which the materials on which
comment is requested are made available, unless—
(i) a different deadline is established by
agreement of the lead agency, the non-Federal interest, and all cooperating
agencies; or
(ii) the deadline is extended by the lead agency
for good cause.
(3)
Deadlines for decisions under other
laws
In any case in which a
decision under any Federal law relating to a project, including the issuance or
denial of a permit or license, is required to be made by the date described in
subsection (k)(6)(B)(ii), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives—
(A) as soon as practicable after the 180-day
period described in subsection (k)(6)(B)(ii), an initial notice of the failure
of the Federal agency to make the decision; and
(B) every 60 days thereafter until such date as
all decisions of the Federal agency relating to the project have been made by
the Federal agency, an additional notice that describes the number of decisions
of the Federal agency that remain outstanding as of the date of the additional
notice.
(4)
Involvement of the public
Nothing in this subsection reduces any time
period provided for public comment in the environmental review process under
applicable Federal law (including regulations).
(k)
Issue identification and
resolution
(1)
Cooperation
The lead agency, the cooperating agencies,
and any participating agencies shall work cooperatively in accordance with this
section to identify and resolve issues that could delay completion of the
environmental review process or result in the denial of any approval required
for the water resource project under applicable laws.
(2)
Lead agency responsibilities
(A)
In general
The lead agency shall make information
available to the cooperating agencies and participating agencies as early as
practicable in the environmental review process regarding the environmental and
socioeconomic resources located within the water resource project area and the
general locations of the alternatives under consideration.
(B)
Data sources
The information under subparagraph (A) may
be based on existing data sources, including geographic information systems
mapping.
(3)
Cooperating and participating agency
responsibilities
Based on
information received from the lead agency, cooperating and participating
agencies shall identify, as early as practicable, any issues of concern
regarding the potential environmental or socioeconomic impacts of the water
resource project, including any issues that could substantially delay or
prevent an agency from granting a permit or other approval that is needed for
the water resource project.
(4)
Interim decision on achieving accelerated
decisionmaking
(A)
In general
Not later than 45 days after the close of
the public comment period on a draft environmental impact statement, the
Secretary may convene a meeting with the non-Federal interest or joint lead
agency, as applicable, relevant resource agencies, and relevant Federal and
State agencies to establish a schedule of deadlines to complete decisions
regarding the water resource project.
(B)
Deadlines
(i)
In general
The deadlines referred to in subparagraph
(A) shall be those established by the Secretary, in consultation with and with
the concurrence of the non-Federal interest or joint lead agency, as
applicable, and other relevant Federal and State agencies.
(ii)
Factors for consideration
In establishing a schedule, the Secretary
shall consider factors such as—
(I) the responsibilities of cooperating
agencies under applicable laws;
(II) the resources available to the non-Federal
interest, joint lead agency, and other relevant Federal and State agencies, as
applicable;
(III) the overall size and complexity of the
water resource project;
(IV) the overall schedule for and cost of the
water resource project; and
(V) the sensitivity of the natural and
historical resources that could be affected by the water resource
project.
(iii)
Modifications
The Secretary may—
(I) lengthen a schedule under clause (i) for
good cause; and
(II) shorten a schedule only with concurrence of
the affected non-Federal interest, joint lead agency, or relevant Federal and
State agencies, as applicable.
(C)
Failure to meet deadline
If the agencies described in subparagraph
(A) cannot provide reasonable assurances that the deadlines described in
subparagraph (B) will be met, the Secretary may initiate the issue resolution
and referral process described under paragraph (5) before the completion of the
record of decision.
(5)
Accelerated issue resolution and
elevation
(A)
Agency issue resolution meeting
(i)
In general
A cooperating agency or non-Federal
interest may request an issue resolution meeting to be conducted by the
Secretary.
(ii)
Action by Secretary
The Secretary shall convene an issue
resolution meeting under clause (i) with the relevant cooperating agencies and
the non-Federal interest, as applicable, to resolve issues that could—
(I) delay completion of the environmental
review process; or
(II) conflict with
the ability of a cooperating agency to carry out applicable Federal laws
(including regulations).
(iii)
Date
A meeting requested under this subparagraph
shall be held not later than 21 days after the date on which the Secretary
receives the request for the meeting, unless the Secretary determines that
there is good cause to extend that deadline.
(iv)
Notification
On receipt of a request for a meeting under
this subparagraph, the Secretary shall notify all relevant cooperating agencies
of the request, including the issue to be resolved and the date for the
meeting.
(v)
Disputes
If a relevant cooperating agency with
jurisdiction over an action, including a permit approval, review, or other
statement or opinion required for a water resource project under applicable law
determines that the relevant information necessary to resolve the issue has not
been obtained and could not have been obtained within a reasonable time, but
the Secretary disagrees, the resolution of the dispute shall be forwarded to
the heads of the relevant agencies for resolution.
(vi)
Convention by lead agency
The Secretary may convene an issue
resolution meeting under this subsection at any time, at the discretion of the
Secretary, regardless of whether a meeting is requested under clause
(i).
(vii)
Exception
(I)
In general
The issue resolution and referral process
under this subparagraph shall not be initiated if the applicable agency—
(aa) notifies, with a supporting explanation,
the lead agency, cooperating agencies, and non-Federal interest, as applicable,
that—
(AA) the agency has not received necessary
information or approvals from another entity in a manner that affects the
ability of the agency to meet any requirements under Federal, tribal, State, or
local law;
(BB) significant new information, including from
public comments, or circumstances, including a major modification to an aspect
of the water resource project, requires additional analysis for the agency to
make a decision on the water resource project application; or
(CC) the agency lacks the financial resources to
complete the review under the scheduled time frame, including a description of
the number of full-time employees required to complete the review, the amount
of funding required to complete the review, and a justification as to why there
is not enough funding available to complete the review by the deadline;
and
(bb) establishes a new deadline for completion
of the review.
(II)
Inspector General
If the applicable agency makes a
certification under subclause (I)(aa)(CC), the Inspector General of the
applicable agency shall conduct a financial audit to review that certification
and submit a report on that certification within 90 days to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(B)
Elevation of issue resolution
(i)
In general
If issue resolution is not achieved by not
later than 30 days after the date on which a relevant meeting is held under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall notify the heads of the relevant
cooperating agencies and the non-Federal interest that an issue resolution
meeting will be convened.
(ii)
Requirements
The Secretary shall identify the issues to
be addressed at the meeting and convene the meeting not later than 30 days
after the date on which the notice is issued.
(C)
Submission of issue resolution
(i)
Submission to Council on Environmental
Quality
(I)
In general
If a resolution is not achieved by not
later than 30 days after the date on which an issue resolution meeting is held
under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall submit the matter to the Council on
Environmental Quality.
(II)
Meeting
Not later than 30 days after the date on
which the Council on Environmental Quality receives a submission from the
Secretary under subclause (I), the Council on Environmental Quality shall hold
an issue resolution meeting with the lead agency, the heads of relevant
cooperating agencies and the non-Federal interest.
(III)
Additional hearings
The Council on Environmental Quality may
hold public meetings or hearings to obtain additional views and information
that the Council on Environmental Quality determines are necessary, consistent
with the time frames described in this paragraph.
(ii)
Remedies
Not later than 30 days after the date on
which an issue resolution meeting is convened by the Council on Environmental
Quality under clause (i)(II), the Secretary shall—
(I) publish findings that explain how the issue
was resolved and recommendations (including, where appropriate, a finding that
the submission does not support the position of the submitting agency);
or
(II) if the resolution of the issue was not
achieved, submit to the President for action—
(aa) the submission;
(bb) any views or additional information
developed during any additional hearings under clause (i)(III); and
(cc) the recommendation of the Council on
Environmental Quality.
(6)
Financial penalty provisions
(A)
In general
A Federal jurisdictional agency shall
complete any required approval or decision on an expeditious basis using the
shortest existing applicable process.
(B)
Failure to decide
(i)
In general
If a Federal jurisdictional agency fails to
render a decision under any Federal law relating to a water resource project
that requires the preparation of an environmental impact statement or
environmental assessment, including the issuance or denial of a permit,
license, statement, opinion, or other approval by the date described in clause
(ii), the amount of funds made available to support the office of the head of
the Federal jurisdictional agency shall be reduced by an amount of funding
equal to the amounts specified in subclause (I) or (II) and those funds shall
be made available to the division of the Federal jurisdictional agency charged
with rendering the decision by not later than 1 day after the applicable date
under clause (ii), and once each week thereafter until a final decision is
rendered, subject to subparagraph (C)—
(I) $20,000 for any water resource project
requiring the preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental
impact statement; or
(II) $10,000 for any water resource project
requiring any type of review under the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) other than an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
(ii)
Description of date
The date referred to in clause (i) is the
later of—
(I) the date that is 180 days after the date on
which an application for the permit, license, or approval is complete;
and
(II) the date that is 180 days after the date on
which the Federal lead agency issues a decision on the water resource project
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.).
(C)
Limitations
(i)
In general
No transfer of funds under subparagraph (B)
relating to an individual water resource project shall exceed, in any fiscal
year, an amount equal to 1 percent of the funds made available for the
applicable agency office.
(ii)
Failure to decide
The total amount transferred in a fiscal
year as a result of a failure by an agency to make a decision by an applicable
deadline shall not exceed an amount equal to 5 percent of the funds made
available for the applicable agency office for that fiscal year.
(iii)
Aggregate
Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
for each fiscal year, the aggregate amount of financial penalties assessed
against each applicable agency office under title II of the
Water Resources Development Act of
2013 and any other Federal law as a result of a failure of the
agency to make a decision by an applicable deadline for environmental review,
including the total amount transferred under this paragraph, shall not exceed
an amount equal to 9.5 percent of the funds made available for the agency
office for that fiscal year.
(D)
No fault of agency
(i)
In general
A transfer of funds under this paragraph
shall not be made if the applicable agency described in subparagraph (A)
notifies, with a supporting explanation, the lead agency, cooperating agencies,
and non-Federal interest, as applicable, that—
(I) the agency has not received necessary
information or approvals from another entity in a manner that affects the
ability of the agency to meet any requirements under Federal, State, or local
law;
(II) significant new information, including from
public comments, or circumstances, including a major modification to an aspect
of the water resource project, requires additional analysis for the agency to
make a decision on the water resource project application; or
(III) the agency lacks the financial resources to
complete the review under the scheduled time frame, including a description of
the number of full-time employees required to complete the review, the amount
of funding required to complete the review, and a justification as to why there
is not enough funding available to complete the review by the deadline.
(ii)
Lack of financial resources
If the agency provides notice under clause
(i)(III), the Inspector General of the agency shall—
(I) conduct a financial audit to review the
notice; and
(II) not later than 90 days after the date on
which the review described in subclause (I) is completed, submit to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on
the notice.
(E)
Limitation
The Federal agency from which funds are
transferred pursuant to this paragraph shall not reprogram funds to the office
of the head of the agency, or equivalent office, to reimburse that office for
the loss of the funds.
(F)
Effect of paragraph
Nothing in this paragraph affects or limits
the application of, or obligation to comply with, any Federal, State, local, or
tribal law.
(l)
Performance measurement
The Secretary shall establish a program to
measure and report on progress made toward improving and expediting the
planning and environmental review process.
(m)
Memorandum of Agreements for Early
Coordination
(1)
Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(A) the Secretary and other Federal agencies
with relevant jurisdiction in the environmental review process should cooperate
with each other, State agencies, and Indian tribes on environmental review and
water resource project delivery activities at the earliest practicable time to
avoid delays and duplication of effort later in the process, prevent potential
conflicts, and ensure that planning and water resource project development
decisions reflect environmental values; and
(B) the cooperation referred to in subparagraph
(A) should include the development of policies and the designation of staff
that advise planning agencies and non-Federal interests of studies or other
information foreseeably required for later Federal action and early
consultation with appropriate State and local agencies and Indian
tribes.
(2)
Technical assistance
If requested at any time by a State or
non-Federal interest, the Secretary and other Federal agencies with relevant
jurisdiction in the environmental review process, shall, to the maximum extent
practicable and appropriate, as determined by the agencies, provide technical
assistance to the State or non-Federal interest in carrying out early
coordination activities.
(3)
Memorandum of agency
agreement
If requested at any
time by a State or non-Federal interest, the lead agency, in consultation with
other Federal agencies with relevant jurisdiction in the environmental review
process, may establish memoranda of agreement with the non-Federal interest,
Indian tribe, State and local governments, and other appropriate entities to
carry out the early coordination activities, including providing technical
assistance in identifying potential impacts and mitigation issues in an
integrated fashion.
(n)
Limitations
Nothing in this section preempts,
supersedes, amends, modifies, repeals, or interferes with—
(1) any statutory or regulatory requirement,
including for seeking, considering, or responding to public comment;
(2) any obligation to comply with the
provisions any Federal law, including—
(A) the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
(B) the regulations issued by the Council on
Environmental Quality or any other Federal agency to carry out that Act;
and
(C) any other Federal environmental law;
(3) the reviewability of any final Federal
agency action in a court of the United States or in the court of any
State;
(4) any practice of seeking, considering, or
responding to public comment; or
(5) any power, jurisdiction, responsibility,
duty, or authority that a Federal, State, or local governmental agency, Indian
tribe, or non-Federal interest has with respect to carrying out a water
resource project or any other provision of law applicable to water resource
projects.
(o)
Categorical exclusions
(1)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall—
(A) survey the use by the Corps of Engineers of
categorical exclusions in water resource projects since 2005;
(B) publish a review of the survey that
includes a description of—
(i) the types of actions that were
categorically excluded or could be the basis for developing a new categorical
exclusion; and
(ii) any requests previously received by the
Secretary for new categorical exclusions; and
(C) solicit requests from other Federal
agencies and non-Federal interests for new categorical exclusions.
(2)
New categorical exclusions
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this subsection, if the Secretary has identified a category of
activities that merit establishing a categorical exclusion that did not exist
on the day before the date of enactment of this subsection based on the review
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish a notice of proposed
rulemaking to propose that new categorical exclusion, to the extent that the
categorical exclusion meets the criteria for a categorical exclusion under
section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulation).
(p)
Review of water resource project
acceleration reforms
(1)
In general
The Comptroller General of the United
States shall—
(A) assess the reforms carried out under this
section; and
(B) not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, submit to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment
and Public Works of the Senate a report that describes the results of the
assessment.
(2)
Inspector General report
The Inspector General of the Corps of
Engineers shall—
(A) assess the reforms carried out under this
section; and
(B) submit to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate—
(i) not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, an initial report of the findings of the
Inspector General; and
(ii) not later than 4 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, a final report of the findings.
(q)
Authorization
The
authority provided by this section expires on the date that is 10 years after
the date of enactment of this
Act.
.
2034.
Feasibility studies
Section 905 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2282) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
(g)
Detailed project schedule
(1)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall determine a set of milestones
needed for the completion of a feasibility study under this subsection,
including all major actions, report submissions and responses, reviews, and
comment periods.
(2)
Detailed project schedule
milestones
Each District
Engineer shall, to the maximum extent practicable, establish a detailed project
schedule, based on full funding capability, that lists all deadlines for
milestones relating to feasibility studies in the District developed by the
Secretary under paragraph (1).
(3)
Non-Federal interest
notification
Each District
Engineer shall submit by certified mail the detailed project schedule under
paragraph (2) to each relevant non-Federal interest—
(A) for projects that have received funding
from the General Investigations Account of the Corps of Engineers in the period
beginning on October 1, 2009, and ending on the date of enactment of this
section, not later than 180 days after the establishment of milestones under
paragraph (1); and
(B) for projects for which a feasibility
cost-sharing agreement is executed after the establishment of milestones under
paragraph (1), not later than 90 days after the date on which the agreement is
executed.
(4)
Congressional and public
notification
Beginning in the
first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall—
(A) submit an annual report that lists all
detailed project schedules under paragraph (2) and an explanation of any missed
deadlines to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) make publicly available, including on the
Internet, a copy of the annual report described in subparagraph (A) not later
than 14 days after date on which a report is submitted to Congress.
(5)
Failure
to Act
If a District Engineer
fails to meet any of the deadlines in the project schedule under paragraph (2),
the District Engineer shall—
(A) not later than 30 days after each missed
deadline, submit to the non-Federal interest a report detailing—
(i) why the District Engineer failed to meet
the deadline; and
(ii) a revised project schedule reflecting
amended deadlines for the feasibility study; and
(B) not later than 30 days after each missed
deadline, make publicly available, including on the Internet, a copy of the
amended project schedule described in subparagraph
(A)(ii).
.
2035.
Accounting and administrative
expenses
(a)
In general
On the request of a non-Federal interest,
the Secretary shall provide to the non-Federal interest a detailed accounting
of the Federal expenses associated with a water resources project.
(b)
Study
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall contract with the
National Academy of Public Administration to carry out a study on the
efficiency of the Corps Engineers current staff salaries and administrative
expense procedures as compared to using a separate administrative expense
account.
(2)
Contents
The study under paragraph (1) shall include
any recommendations of the National Academy of Public Administration for
improvements to the budgeting and administrative processes that will increase
the efficiency of the Corps of Engineers project delivery.
2036.
Determination of project
completion
(a)
In general
The Secretary shall notify the non-Federal
interest when construction of a water resources project or a functional portion
of the project is completed so the non-Federal interest may commence
responsibilities, as applicable, for operating and maintaining the
project.
(b)
Non-Federal interest appeal of
determination
(1)
In general
Not later than 7 days after receiving a
notification under subparagraph (a), the non-Federal interest may appeal the
completion determination of the Secretary in writing with a detailed
explanation of the basis for questioning the completeness of the project or
functional portion of the project.
(2)
Independent review
(A)
In general
On notification that a non-Federal interest
has submitted an appeal under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall contract with
1 or more independent, non-Federal experts to evaluate whether the applicable
water resources project or functional portion of the project is
complete.
(B)
Timeline
An independent review carried out under
subparagraph (A) shall be completed not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Secretary receives an appeal from a non-Federal interest under
paragraph (1).
2037.
Project partnership agreements
(a)
In general
The Secretary shall contract with the
National Academy of Public Administration to carry out a comprehensive review
of the process for preparing, negotiating, and approving Project Partnership
Agreements and the Project Partnership Agreement template, which shall
include—
(1) a review of the process for preparing,
negotiating, and approving Project Partnership Agreements, as in effect on the
day before the date of enactment of this Act;
(2) an evaluation of how the concerns of a
non-Federal interest relating to the Project Partnership Agreement and
suggestions for modifications to the Project Partnership Agreement made by a
non-Federal interest are accommodated;
(3) recommendations for how the concerns and
modifications described in paragraph (2) can be better accommodated;
(4) recommendations for how the Project
Partnership Agreement template can be made more efficient; and
(5) recommendations for how to make the process
for preparing, negotiating, and approving Project Partnership Agreements more
efficient.
(b)
Report
The Secretary shall submit a report
describing the findings of the National Academy of Public Administration to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
2038.
Interagency and international support
authority
Section 234 of the
Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (33 U.S.C. 2323a) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking other
Federal agencies, and inserting Federal departments or agencies,
nongovernmental organizations,;
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting or
foreign governments after organizations;
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting and
restoration after protection; and
(4) in subsection (d)—
(A) in the first sentence—
(i) by striking There is and
inserting (1) In
general.—There is; and
(ii) by striking 2008 and
inserting 2014; and
(B) in the second sentence—
(i) by striking The Secretary
and inserting (2) Acceptance of funds.—The Secretary;
and
(ii) by striking other Federal
agencies and inserting Federal departments or agencies,
nongovernmental organizations.
2039.
Acceptance of contributed funds to increase
lock operations
(a)
In general
The Secretary, after providing public
notice, shall establish a pilot program for the acceptance and expenditure of
funds contributed by non-Federal interests to increase the hours of operation
of locks at water resources development projects.
(b)
Applicability
The establishment of the pilot program
under this section shall not affect the periodic review and adjustment of hours
of operation of locks based on increases in commercial traffic carried out by
the Secretary.
(c)
Public
comment
Not later than 180
days before a proposed modification to the operation of a lock at a water
resources development project will be carried out, the Secretary shall—
(1) publish the proposed modification in the
Federal Register; and
(2) accept public comment on the proposed
modification.
(d)
Reports
(1)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report that evaluates
the cost-savings resulting from reduced lock hours and any economic impacts of
modifying lock operations.
(2)
Review of pilot program
Not later than September 30, 2017 and each
year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report that describes the
effectiveness of the pilot program under this section.
(e)
Annual review
The Secretary shall carry out an annual
review of the commercial use of locks and make any necessary adjustments to
lock operations based on that review.
(f)
Termination
The authority to accept funds under this
section shall terminate 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
2040.
Emergency response to natural
disasters
(a)
In general
Section 5(a)(1) of the Act entitled
An Act authorizing the construction of certain public works on rivers
and harbors for flood control, and for other purposes, approved August
18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. 701n(a)(1)), is amended in the first sentence—
(1) by inserting and subject to the
condition that the Chief of Engineers may include modifications to the
structure or project after work for flood control;
and
(2) by striking structure damaged or
destroyed by wind, wave, or water action of other than an ordinary nature when
in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers such repair and restoration is
warranted for the adequate functioning of the structure for hurricane or shore
protection and inserting structure or project damaged or
destroyed by wind, wave, or water action of other than an ordinary nature to
the design level of protection when, in the discretion of the Chief of
Engineers, such repair and restoration is warranted for the adequate
functioning of the structure or project for hurricane or shore protection,
subject to the condition that the Chief of Engineers may include modifications
to the structure or project to address major deficiencies or implement
nonstructural alternatives to the repair or restoration of the structure if
requested by the non-Federal sponsor.
(b)
Report
(1)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives
a report detailing the amounts expended in the previous 5 fiscal years to carry
out Corps of Engineers projects under section 5 of the Act entitled An
Act authorizing the construction of certain public works on rivers and harbors
for flood control, and for other purposes, approved August 18, 1941 (33
U.S.C. 701n).
(2)
Inclusions
A report under paragraph (1) shall, at a
minimum, include a description of—
(A) each structure, feature, or project for
which amounts are expended, including the type of structure, feature, or
project and cost of the work; and
(B) how the Secretary has repaired, restored,
replaced, or modified each structure, feature, or project or intends to restore
the structure, feature, or project to the design level of protection for the
structure, feature, or project.
2041.
Systemwide improvement
frameworks
A levee system
shall remain eligible for rehabilitation assistance under the authority
provided by section 5 of the Act entitled An Act authorizing the
construction of certain public works on rivers and harbors for flood control,
and for other purposes (33 U.S.C. 701n) as long as the levee system
sponsor continues to make satisfactory progress, as determined by the
Secretary, on an approved systemwide improvement framework or letter of
intent.
2042.
Funding to process permits
Section 214 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–541; 33 U.S.C. 2201 note) is amended by
striking subsections (d) and (e) and inserting the following:
(d)
Public availability
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall ensure that all final
permit decisions carried out using funds authorized under this section are made
available to the public in a common format, including on the Internet, and in a
manner that distinguishes final permit decisions under this section from other
final actions of the Secretary.
(2)
Decision document
The Secretary shall—
(A) use a standard decision document for
evaluating all permits using funds accepted under this section; and
(B) make the standard decision document, along
with all final permit decisions, available to the public, including on the
Internet.
(3)
Agreements
The Secretary shall make all active
agreements to accept funds under this section available on a single public
Internet site.
(e)
Reporting
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall prepare an annual
report on the implementation of this section, which, at a minimum, shall
include for each district of the Corps of Engineers that accepts funds under
this section—
(A) a comprehensive list of any funds accepted
under this section during the previous fiscal year;
(B) a comprehensive list of the permits
reviewed and approved using funds accepted under this section during the
previous fiscal year, including a description of the size and type of resources
impacted and the mitigation required for each permit; and
(C) a description of the training offered in
the previous fiscal year for employees that is funded in whole or in part with
funds accepted under this section.
(2)
Submission
Not later than 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year, the Secretary shall—
(A) submit to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives the annual report described in
paragraph (1); and
(B) make each report received under
subparagraph (A) available on a single publicly accessible Internet
site.
.
2043.
National riverbank stabilization and
erosion prevention study and pilot program
(a)
Definition of inland and intracoastal
waterway
In this section, the
term inland and intracoastal waterway means the inland and
intracoastal waterways of the United States described in section 206 of the
Inland Waterways Revenue Act of 1978 (33 U.S.C. 1804).
(b)
Pilot program
The Secretary—
(1) is authorized to study issues relating to
riverbank stabilization and erosion prevention along inland and intracoastal
waterways; and
(2) shall establish and carry out for a period
of 5 fiscal years a national riverbank stabilization and erosion prevention
pilot program to address riverbank erosion along inland and intracoastal
waterways.
(c)
Study
(1)
In general
The Secretary, in consultation with
appropriate Federal, State, local, and nongovernmental entities, shall carry
out a study of the options and technologies available to prevent the erosion
and degradation of riverbanks along inland and intracoastal waterways.
(2)
Contents
The study shall—
(A) evaluate the nature and extent of the
damages resulting from riverbank erosion along inland and intracoastal
waterways throughout the United States;
(B) identify specific inland and intracoastal
waterways and affected wetland areas with the most urgent need for
restoration;
(C) analyze any legal requirements with regard
to maintenance of bank lines of inland and intracoastal waterways, including a
comparison of Federal, State, and private obligations and practices;
(D) assess and compare policies and management
practices to protect surface areas adjacent to inland and intracoastal
waterways applied by various Districts of the Corps of Engineers; and
(E) make any recommendations the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(d)
Riverbank stabilization and erosion
prevention pilot program
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall develop a pilot program
for the construction of riverbank stabilization and erosion prevention projects
on public land along inland and intracoastal waterways if the Secretary
determines that the projects are technically feasible, environmentally
acceptable, economically justified, and lower maintenance costs of those inland
and intracoastal waterways.
(2)
Pilot program goals
A project under the pilot program shall, to
the maximum extent practicable—
(A) develop or demonstrate innovative
technologies;
(B) implement efficient designs to prevent
erosion at a riverbank site, taking into account the lifecycle cost of the
design, including cleanup, maintenance, and amortization;
(C) prioritize natural designs, including the
use of native and naturalized vegetation or temporary structures that minimize
permanent structural alterations to the riverbank;
(D) avoid negative impacts to adjacent
communities;
(E) identify the potential for long-term
protection afforded by the innovative technology; and
(F) provide additional benefits, including
reduction of flood risk.
(3)
Project Selections
The Secretary shall develop criteria for
the selection of projects under the pilot program, including criteria based
on—
(A) the extent of damage and land loss
resulting from riverbank erosion;
(B) the rate of erosion;
(C) the significant threat of future flood risk
to public or private property, public infrastructure, or public safety;
(D) the destruction of natural resources or
habitats; and
(E) the potential cost-savings for maintenance
of the channel.
(4)
Consultation
The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program in consultation with—
(A) Federal, State, and local
governments;
(B) nongovernmental organizations; and
(C) applicable university research
facilities.
(5)
Report
Not later than 1 year after the first
fiscal year for which amounts to carry out this section are appropriated, and
every year thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee
on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report
describing—
(A) the activities carried out and
accomplishments made under the pilot program since the previous report under
this paragraph; and
(B) any recommendations of the Secretary
relating to the program.
(e)
Authorization of
Appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2014 through 2019.
2044.
Hurricane and storm damage risk reduction
prioritization
(a)
Purposes
The purposes of this section are—
(1) to provide adequate levels of protection to
communities impacted by natural disasters, including hurricanes, tropical
storms, and other related extreme weather events; and
(2) to expedite critical water resources
projects in communities that have historically been and continue to remain
susceptible to extreme weather events.
(b)
Priority
For authorized projects and ongoing
feasibility studies with a primary purpose of hurricane and storm damage risk
reduction, the Secretary shall give funding priority to projects and ongoing
studies that—
(1) address an imminent threat to life and
property;
(2) prevent storm surge from inundating
populated areas;
(3) prevent the loss of coastal wetlands that
help reduce the impact of storm surge;
(4) protect emergency hurricane evacuation
routes or shelters;
(5) prevent adverse impacts to publicly owned
or funded infrastructure and assets;
(6) minimize disaster relief costs to the
Federal Government; and
(7) address hurricane and storm damage risk
reduction in an area for which the President declared a major disaster in
accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170).
(c)
Expedited consideration of currently
authorized projects
Not later
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall—
(1) submit to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a list of all—
(A) ongoing hurricane and storm damage
reduction feasibility studies that have signed feasibility cost share
agreements and have received Federal funds since 2009; and
(B) authorized hurricane and storm damage
reduction projects that—
(i) have been authorized for more than 20 years
but are less than 75 percent complete; or
(ii) are undergoing a post-authorization change
report, general reevaluation report, or limited reevaluation report;
(2) identify those projects on the list
required under paragraph (1) that meet the criteria described in subsection
(b); and
(3) provide a plan for expeditiously completing
the projects identified under paragraph (2), subject to available
funding.
(d)
Prioritization of new studies for hurricane
and storm damage risk reduction
In selecting new studies for hurricane and
storm damage reduction to propose to Congress under section 4002, the Secretary
shall give priority to studies—
(1) that—
(A) have been recommended in a comprehensive
hurricane protection study carried out by the Corps of Engineers; or
(B) are included in a State plan or program for
hurricane, storm damage reduction, flood control, coastal protection,
conservation, or restoration, that is created in consultation with the Corps of
Engineers or other relevant Federal agencies; and
(2) for areas for which the President declared
a major disaster in accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170).
2045.
Prioritization of ecosystem restoration
efforts
For authorized
projects with a primary purpose of ecosystem restoration, the Secretary shall
give funding priority to projects—
(1) that—
(A) address an identified threat to public
health, safety, or welfare;
(B) preserve or restore ecosystems of national
significance; or
(C) preserve or restore habitats of importance
for federally protected species, including migratory birds; and
(2) for which the restoration activities will
contribute to other ongoing or planned Federal, State, or local restoration
initiatives.
2046.
Special use permits
(a)
Special use permits
(1)
In general
The Secretary may issue special permits for
uses such as group activities, recreation events, motorized recreation
vehicles, and such other specialized recreation uses as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate, subject to such terms and conditions as the
Secretary determines to be in the best interest of the Federal
Government.
(2)
Fees
(A)
In general
In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary may—
(i) establish and collect fees associated with
the issuance of the permits described in paragraph (1); or
(ii) accept in-kind services in lieu of those
fees.
(B)
Outdoor recreation equipment
The Secretary may establish and collect
fees for the provision of outdoor recreation equipment and services at public
recreation areas located at lakes and reservoirs operated by the Corps of
Engineers.
(C)
Use of fees
Any fees generated pursuant to this
subsection shall be—
(i) retained at the site collected; and
(ii) available for use, without further
appropriation, solely for administering the special permits under this
subsection and carrying out related operation and maintenance activities at the
site at which the fees are collected.
(b)
Cooperative management
(1)
Program
(A)
In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary
may enter into an agreement with a State or local government to provide for the
cooperative management of a public recreation area if—
(i) the public recreation area is
located—
(I) at a lake or reservoir operated by the
Corps of Engineers; and
(II) adjacent to or near a State or local park
or recreation area; and
(ii) the Secretary determines that cooperative
management between the Corps of Engineers and a State or local government
agency of a portion of the Corps of Engineers recreation area or State or local
park or recreation area will allow for more effective and efficient management
of those areas.
(B)
Restriction
The Secretary may not transfer
administration responsibilities for any public recreation area operated by the
Corps of Engineers.
(2)
Acquisition of goods and
services
The Secretary may
acquire from or provide to a State or local government with which the Secretary
has entered into a cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) goods and services
to be used by the Secretary and the State or local government in the
cooperative management of the areas covered by the agreement.
(3)
Administration
The Secretary may enter into 1 or more
cooperative management agreements or such other arrangements as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate, including leases or licenses, with non-Federal
interests to share the costs of operation, maintenance, and management of
recreation facilities and natural resources at recreation areas that are
jointly managed and funded under this subsection.
(c)
Funding transfer authority
(1)
In general
If the Secretary determines that it is in
the public interest for purposes of enhancing recreation opportunities at Corps
of Engineers water resources development projects, the Secretary may transfer
funds appropriated for resource protection, research, interpretation, and
maintenance activities related to resource protection in the areas at which
outdoor recreation is available at those Corps of Engineers water resource
development projects to State, local, and tribal governments and such other
public or private nonprofit entities as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
(2)
Cooperative agreements
Any transfer of funds pursuant to this
subsection shall be carried out through the execution of a cooperative
agreement, which shall contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary
determines to be necessary in the public interest.
(d)
Services of volunteers
Chapter IV of title I of Public Law 98–63
(33 U.S.C. 569c) is amended—
(1) in the first sentence, by inserting
, including expenses relating to uniforms, transportation, lodging, and
the subsistence of those volunteers, without regard to the place of residence
of the volunteers, after incidental expenses; and
(2) by inserting after the first sentence the
following: The Chief of Engineers may also provide awards of up to $100
in value to volunteers in recognition of the services of the
volunteers.
(e)
Training and educational
activities
Section 213(a) of
the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (33 U.S.C. 2339) is amended by
striking at and inserting about.
2047.
Operations and maintenance on fuel taxed
inland waterways
(a)
In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Secretary shall have responsibility for 65 percent of the costs of the
operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of any flood
gate, as well as any pumping station constructed within the channel as a single
unit with that flood gate, that—
(1) was constructed as of the date of enactment
of this Act as a feature of an authorized hurricane and storm damage reduction
project; and
(2) crosses an inland or intracoastal waterway
described in section 206 of the Inland Waterways Revenue Act of 1978 (33 U.S.C.
1804).
(b)
Payment options
For rehabilitation or replacement of any
structure under this section, the Secretary may apply to the full non-Federal
contribution the payment option provisions under section 103(k) of the Water
Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2213(k)).
2048.
Corrosion prevention
(a)
Guidance and procedures
The Secretary shall develop guidance and
procedures for the certification of qualified contractors for—
(1) the application of protective coatings;
and
(2) the removal of hazardous protective
coatings.
(b)
Requirements
Except as provided in subsection (c), the
Secretary shall use certified contractors for—
(1) the application of protective coatings for
complex work involving steel and cementitious structures, including structures
that will be exposed in immersion;
(2) the removal of hazardous coatings or other
hazardous materials that are present in sufficient concentrations to create an
occupational or environmental hazard; and
(3) any other activities the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(c)
Exception
The Secretary may approve exceptions to the
use of certified contractors under subsection (b) only after public notice,
with the opportunity for comment, of any such proposal.
2049.
Project deauthorizations
(a)
In general
Section 1001(b) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 579a(b)) is amended—
(1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
(2)
List of projects
(A)
In general
Notwithstanding section 3003 of Public Law
104–66 (31 U.S.C. 1113 note; 109 Stat. 734), each year, after the submission of
the list under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a list of
projects or separable elements of projects that have been authorized but that
have received no obligations during the 5 full fiscal years preceding the
submission of that list.
(B)
Additional notification
On submission of the list under
subparagraph (A) to Congress, the Secretary shall notify—
(i) each Senator in whose State and each Member
of the House of Representatives in whose district a project (including any part
of a project) on that list would be located; and
(ii) each applicable non-Federal interest
associated with a project (including any part of a project) on that
list.
(C)
Deauthorization
A project or separable element included in
the list under subparagraph (A) is not authorized after the last date of the
fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the list is submitted to
Congress, if funding has not been obligated for the planning, design, or
construction of the project or element of the project during that
period.
;
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
(3)
Minimum funding list
At the end of each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a list of—
(A) projects or separable elements of projects
authorized for construction for which funding has been obligated in the 5
previous fiscal years;
(B) the amount of funding obligated per fiscal
year;
(C) the current phase of each project or
separable element of a project; and
(D) the amount required to complete those
phases.
(4)
Report
(A)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Water Resources Development
Act of 2013, the Secretary shall compile and publish a complete
list of all uncompleted, authorized projects of the Corps of Engineers,
including for each project on that list—
(i) the original budget authority for the
project;
(ii) the status of the project;
(iii) the estimated date of completion of the
project;
(iv) the estimated cost of completion of the
project; and
(v) any amounts for the project that remain
unobligated.
(B)
Publication
(i)
In general
The Secretary shall submit a copy of the
list under subparagraph (A) to—
(I) the appropriate committees of Congress;
and
(II) the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget.
(ii)
Public availability
Not later than 30 days after providing the
report to Congress under clause (i), the Secretary shall make a copy of the
list available on a publicly accessible Internet site, in a manner that is
downloadable, searchable, and
sortable.
.
(b)
Infrastructure Deauthorization
Commission
(1)
Purposes
The purposes of this subsection are—
(A) to establish a process for identifying
authorized Corps of Engineers water resources projects that are no longer in
the Federal interest and no longer feasible;
(B) to create a commission—
(i) to review suggested deauthorizations,
including consideration of recommendations of the States and the Secretary for
the deauthorization of water resources projects; and
(ii) to make recommendations to Congress;
(C) to ensure public participation and comment;
and
(D) to provide oversight on any recommendations
made to Congress by the Commission.
(2)
Infrastructure deauthorization
commission
(A)
Establishment
There is established an independent
commission to be known as the Infrastructure Deauthorization
Commission (referred to in this paragraph as the
Commission).
(B)
Duties
The Commission shall carry out the review
and recommendation duties described in paragraph (5).
(C)
Membership
(i)
In general
The Commission shall be composed of 8
members, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate according to the expedited procedures described in clause
(ii).
(ii)
Expedited nomination procedures
(I)
Privileged nominations; information
requested
On receipt by the
Senate of a nomination under clause (i), the nomination shall—
(aa) be placed on the Executive Calendar under
the heading Privileged Nominations—Information Requested;
and
(bb) remain on the Executive Calendar under that
heading until the Executive Clerk receives a written certification from the
Chairman of the committee of jurisdiction under subclause (II).
(II)
Questionnaires
The Chairman of the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate shall notify the Executive Clerk in
writing when the appropriate biographical and financial questionnaires have
been received from an individual nominated for a position under clause
(i).
(III)
Privileged nominations; information
received
On receipt of the
certification under subclause (II), the nomination shall—
(aa) be placed on the Executive Calendar under
the heading Privileged Nomination—Information Received and
remain on the Executive Calendar under that heading for 10 session days;
and
(bb) after the expiration of the period referred
to in item (aa), be placed on the Nominations section of the
Executive Calendar.
(IV)
Referral to committee of
jurisdiction
During the
period when a nomination under clause (i) is listed under the Privileged
Nomination—Information Requested section of the Executive Calendar
described in subclause (I)(aa) or the Privileged Nomination—Information
Received section of the Executive Calendar described in subclause
(III)(aa)—
(aa) any Senator may request on his or her own
behalf, or on the behalf of any identified Senator that the nomination be
referred to the appropriate committee of jurisdiction; and
(bb) if a Senator makes a request described in
paragraph item (aa), the nomination shall be referred to the appropriate
committee of jurisdiction.
(V)
Executive calendar
The Secretary of the Senate shall create
the appropriate sections on the Executive Calendar to reflect and effectuate
the requirements of this clause.
(VI)
Committee justification for new executive
positions
The report
accompanying each bill or joint resolution of a public character reported by
any committee shall contain an evaluation and justification made by that
committee for the establishment in the measure being reported of any new
position appointed by the President within an existing or new Federal
entity.
(iii)
Qualifications
Members of the Commission shall be
knowledgeable about Corps of Engineers water resources projects.
(iv)
Geographical diversity
To the maximum extent practicable, the
members of the Commission shall be geographically diverse.
(D)
Compensation of members
(i)
In general
Each member of the Commission who is not an
officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate
equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States
Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged
in the performance of the duties of the Commission.
(ii)
Federal employees
All members of the Commission who are
officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in
addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the
United States.
(iii)
Travel expenses
The members of the Commission shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title
5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of
business in the performance of service for the Commission.
(3)
State water resources infrastructure
plan
Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, each State, in consultation with local
interests, may develop and submit to the Commission, the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, a detailed statewide water
resources plan that includes a list of each water resources project that the
State recommends for deauthorization.
(4)
Corps of Engineers infrastructure
plan
Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Commission, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a detailed plan that—
(A) contains a detailed list of each water
resources project that the Corps of Engineers recommends for deauthorization;
and
(B) is based on assessment by the Secretary of
the needs of the United States for water resources infrastructure, taking into
account public safety, the economy, and the environment.
(5)
Review and Recommendation
Commission
(A)
In general
On the appointment and confirmation of all
members of the Commission, the Commission shall solicit public comment on water
resources infrastructure issues and priorities and recommendations for
deauthorization, including by—
(i) holding public hearings throughout the
United States; and
(ii) receiving written comments.
(B)
Recommendations
(i)
In general
Not later than 4 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a list of water
resources projects of the Corps of Engineers for deauthorization.
(ii)
Considerations
In carrying out this paragraph, the
Commission shall establish criteria for evaluating projects for
deauthorization, which shall include consideration of—
(I) the infrastructure plans submitted by the
States and the Secretary under paragraphs (3) and (4);
(II) any public comment received during the
period described in subparagraph (A);
(III) public safety and security;
(IV) the environment; and
(V) the economy.
(C)
Non-eligible projects
The following types of projects shall not
be eligible for review for deauthorization by the Commission:
(i) Any project authorized after the date of
enactment of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–303;
110 Stat. 3658), including any project that has been reauthorized after that
date.
(ii) Any project that, as of the date of
enactment of this Act, is undergoing a review by the Corps of Engineers.
(iii) Any project that has received
appropriations in the 10-year period ending on the date of enactment of this
Act.
(iv) Any project that, on the date of enactment
of this Act, is more than 50 percent complete.
(v) Any project that has a viable non-Federal
sponsor.
(D)
Congressional disapproval
Any water resources project recommended for
deauthorization on the list submitted to Congress under subparagraph (B) shall
be deemed to be deauthorized unless Congress passes a joint resolution
disapproving of the entire list of deauthorized water resources projects prior
to the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Commission submits the
list to Congress.
(6)
Application
For
purposes of this subsection, water resources projects shall include
environmental infrastructure assistance projects and programs of the Corps of
Engineers.
2050.
Reports to Congress
(a)
In general
Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary shall complete and submit to Congress by the
applicable date required the reports that address public safety and enhanced
local participation in project delivery described in subsection (b).
(b)
Reports
The reports referred to in subsection (a)
are the reports required under—
(1) section 2020;
(2) section 2022;
(3) section 2025;
(4) section 2026;
(5) section 2039;
(6) section 2040;
(7) section 6007; and
(8) section 10015.
(c)
Failure To provide a completed
report
(1)
In general
Subject to subsection (d), if the Secretary
fails to provide a report listed under subsection (b) by the date that is 180
days after the applicable date required for that report, $5,000 shall be
reprogrammed from the General Expenses account of the civil works program of
the Army Corps of Engineers into the account of the division of the Army Corps
of Engineers with responsibility for completing that report.
(2)
Subsequent reprogramming
Subject to subsection (d), for each
additional week after the date described in paragraph (1) in which a report
described in that paragraph remains uncompleted and unsubmitted to Congress,
$5,000 shall be reprogrammed from the General Expenses account of the civil
works program of the Army Corps of Engineers into the account of the division
of the Secretary of the Army with responsibility for completing that
report.
(d)
Limitations
(1)
In general
For each report, the total amounts
reprogrammed under subsection (c) shall not exceed, in any fiscal year,
$50,000.
(2)
Aggregate limitation
The total amount reprogrammed under
subsection (c) in a fiscal year shall not exceed $200,000.
(e)
No fault of the secretary
Amounts shall not be reprogrammed under
subsection (c) if the Secretary certifies in a letter to the applicable
committees of Congress that—
(1) a major modification has been made to the
content of the report that requires additional analysis for the Secretary to
make a final decision on the report;
(2) amounts have not been appropriated to the
agency under this Act or any other Act to carry out the report; or
(3) additional information is required from an
entity other than the Corps of Engineers and is not available in a timely
manner to complete the report by the deadline.
(f)
Limitation
The Secretary shall not reprogram funds to
reimburse the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works for
the loss of the funds.
(g)
Authorization of
appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000.
2051.
Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act conforming amendment
Section 106(k) of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450j–1(k)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
(13) Interest payments, the retirement of
principal, the costs of issuance, and the costs of insurance or a similar
credit support for a debt financing instrument, the proceeds of which are used
to support a contracted construction
project.
.
2052.
Invasive species review
The Secretary, in consultation with the
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Chairman of the
Tennessee Valley Authority, and other applicable heads of Federal agencies,
shall—
(1) carry out a review of existing Federal
authorities relating to responding to invasive species, including aquatic
weeds, aquatic snails, and other aquatic invasive species, that have an impact
on water resources; and
(2) based on the review under paragraph (1),
make any recommendations to Congress and applicable State agencies for
improving Federal and State laws to more effectively respond to the threats
posed by those invasive species.
2053.
Wetlands conservation study
(a)
In general
The Comptroller General of the United
States shall carry out a study to identify all Federal programs relating to
wetlands conservation.
(b)
Report
The Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to Congress a report based on the study under subsection
(a) describing options for maximizing wetlands conservation benefits while
reducing redundancy, increasing efficiencies, and reducing costs.
2054.
Dam modification study
(a)
In general
The Comptroller General of the United
States shall, in consultation with the Corps of Engineers, the Southeastern
Power Administration, Federal hydropower customers, downstream communities, and
other stakeholders, carry out a study to evaluate the structural modifications
made at Federal dams in the Cumberland River Basin beginning on January 1,
2000.
(b)
Contents
The study under subsection (a) shall
examine—
(1) whether structural modifications at each
dam have utilized new state-of-the-art design criteria deemed necessary for
safety purposes that have not been used in other circumstances;
(2) whether structural modifications at each
dam for downstream safety were executed in accordance with construction
criteria that had changed from the original construction criteria;
(3) whether structural modifications at each
dam assured safety;
(4) any estimates by the Corps of Engineers of
consequences of total dam failure if state-of-the-art construction criteria
deemed necessary for safety purposes were not employed; and
(5) whether changes in underlying geology at
any of the Federal dams in the Cumberland River Basin required structural
modifications to assure dam safety.
(c)
Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit to Congress a report based on the study under subsection (a) with
findings on whether, with respect to structural modifications at Federal dams
in the Cumberland River Basin, the Corps of Engineers has selected and
implemented design criteria that rely on state-of-the-art design and
construction criteria that will provide for the safety of downstream
communities.
2055.
Non-Federal plans to provide additional
flood risk reduction
(a)
In general
If requested by a non-Federal interest, the
Secretary shall construct a locally preferred plan that provides a higher level
of protection than a flood risk management project authorized under this Act if
the Secretary determines that—
(1) the plan is technically feasible and
environmentally acceptable; and
(2) the benefits of the plan exceed the costs
of the plan.
(b)
Non-Federal cost share
If the Secretary constructs a locally
preferred plan under subsection (a), the Federal share of the cost of the
project shall be not greater than the share as provided by law for elements of
the national economic development plan.
2056.
Mississippi River forecasting
improvements
(a)
In general
The Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the Director
of the United States Geological Survey, the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Director of the National
Weather Service, as applicable, shall improve forecasting on the Mississippi
River by—
(1) updating forecasting technology deployed on
the Mississippi River and its tributaries through—
(A) the construction of additional automated
river gages;
(B) the rehabilitation of existing automated
and manual river gages; and
(C) the replacement of manual river gages with
automated gages, as the Secretary determines to be necessary;
(2) constructing additional sedimentation
ranges on the Mississippi River and its tributaries; and
(3) deploying additional automatic
identification system base stations at river gage sites.
(b)
Prioritization
In carrying out this section, the Secretary
shall prioritize the sections of the Mississippi River on which additional and
more reliable information would have the greatest impact on maintaining
navigation on the Mississippi River.
(c)
Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
activities carried out by the Secretary under this section.
2057.
Flexibility in maintaining
navigation
(a)
In general
If the Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, determines
it to be critical to maintaining safe and reliable navigation within the
authorized Federal navigation channel on the Mississippi River, the Secretary
may carry out only those activities outside the authorized Federal navigation
channel along the Mississippi River, including the construction and operation
of maintenance of fleeting areas, that are necessary for safe and reliable
navigation in the Federal channel.
(b)
Report
Not later than 60 days after initiating an
activity under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that
includes—
(1) a description of the activities undertaken,
including the costs associated with the activities; and
(2) a comprehensive description of how the
activities are necessary for maintaining safe and reliable navigation of the
Federal channel.
2058.
Restricted areas at Corps of Engineers
dams
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Restricted area
The term restricted area means
a restricted area for hazardous waters at dams and other civil works structures
in the Cumberland River basin established pursuant to chapter 10 of the
regulation entitled Project Operations: Navigation and Dredging
Operations and Maintenance Policies, published by the Corps of
Engineers on November 29, 1996, and any related regulations or guidance.
(2)
State
The term State means the
applicable agency of the State (including an official of that agency) in which
the applicable dam is located that is responsible for enforcing boater
safety.
(b)
Restriction on physical
barriers
Subject to
subsection (c), the Secretary, acting through the Chief of Engineers, in the
establishing and enforcing restricted areas, shall not take any action to
establish a permanent physical barrier to prevent public access to waters
downstream of a dam owned by the Corps of Engineers.
(c)
Exclusions
For purposes of this section, the
installation and maintenance of measures for alerting the public of hazardous
water conditions and restricted areas, including sirens, strobe lights, and
signage, shall not be considered to be a permanent physical barrier under
subsection (b).
(d)
Enforcement
(1)
In general
Enforcement of a restricted area shall be
the sole responsibility of a State.
(2)
Existing authorities
The Secretary shall not assess any penalty
for entrance into a restricted area under section 4 of the Act entitled
An Act authorizing the construction of certain public works on rivers
and harbors for flood control, and for other purposes, approved
December 22, 1944 (16 U.S.C. 460d).
(e)
Development or modification of restricted
areas
In establishing a new
restricted area or modifying an existing restricted area, the Secretary
shall—
(1) ensure that any restrictions are based on
operational conditions that create hazardous waters; and
(2) publish a draft describing the restricted
area and seek and consider public comment on that draft prior to establishing
or modifying any restricted area.
(f)
Effective date
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), this section
shall apply to the establishment of a new restricted area or the modification
of an existing restricted area on or after August 1, 2012.
(2)
Existing restrictions
If the Secretary, acting through the Chief
of Engineers, has established a new restricted area or modified an existing
restricted area during the period beginning on August 1, 2012, and ending on
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—
(A) cease implementing the restricted area
until the later of—
(i) such time as the restricted area meets the
requirements of this section; and
(ii) the date that is 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act; and
(B) remove any permanent physical barriers
constructed in connection with the restricted area.
2059.
Maximum cost of projects
Section 902 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2280) is amended—
(1) by striking In order to and
inserting the following:
(a)
In general
In order
to
; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
(b)
Contributed funds
Nothing in this section affects the
authority of the Secretary to complete construction of a water resources
development project using funds contributed under section 5 of the Act of June
22, 1936 (33 U.S.C.
701h).
.
2060.
Donald G.
Waldon Lock and Dam
(a)
Findings
Congress
finds that—
(1) the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority is a 4-State compact
comprised of the States of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and
Tennessee;
(2) the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Authority is the regional non-Federal sponsor of the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway;
(3) the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, completed in 1984, has fueled growth in the
United States economy by reducing transportation costs and encouraging economic
development; and
(4) the selfless
determination and tireless work of Donald G. Waldon, while serving as
administrator of the waterway compact for 21 years, contributed greatly to the
realization and success of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
(b)
Sense of
Congress
It is the sense of Congress that, at an appropriate time
and in accordance with the rules of the House of Representatives and the
Senate, the lock and dam located at mile 357.5 on the Tennessee-Tombigbee
Waterway should be known and designated as the Donald G. Waldon Lock and
Dam.
2061.
Improving
planning and administration of water supply storage
(a)
In
general
The Secretary shall carry out activities to enable
non-Federal interests to anticipate and accurately budget for annual operations
and maintenance costs and, as applicable, repair, rehabilitation, and
replacements costs, including through—
(1) the formulation
by the Secretary of a uniform billing statement format for those storage
agreements relating to operations and maintenance costs, and as applicable,
repair, rehabilitation, and replacement costs, incurred by the Secretary,
which, at a minimum, shall include—
(A) a detailed
description of the activities carried out relating to the water supply aspects
of the project;
(B) a clear
explanation of why and how those activities relate to the water supply aspects
of the project; and
(C) a detailed
accounting of the cost of carrying out those activities; and
(2) a review by the
Secretary of the regulations and guidance of the Corps of Engineers relating to
criteria and methods for the equitable distribution of joint project costs
across project purposes in order to ensure consistency in the calculation of
the appropriate share of joint project costs allocable to the water supply
purpose.
(b)
Report to
Congress
(1)
In
general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the
reviews carried out under subsection (a)(2) and any subsequent actions taken by
the Secretary relating to those reviews.
(2)
Inclusions
The
report under paragraph (1) shall include an analysis of the feasibility and
costs associated with the provision by the Secretary to each non-Federal
interest of not less than 1 statement each year that details for each water
storage agreement with non-Federal interests at Corps of Engineers projects the
estimated amount of the operations and maintenance costs and, as applicable,
the estimated amount of the repair, rehabilitation, and replacement costs, for
which the non-Federal interest will be responsible in that fiscal year.
(3)
Extension
The
Secretary may delay the submission of the report under paragraph (1) for a
period not to exceed 180 days after the deadline described in paragraph (1),
subject to the condition that the Secretary submits a preliminary progress
report to Congress not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act.
2062.
Crediting
authority for Federally authorized navigation projects
A non-Federal interest for a navigation
project may carry out operation and maintenance activities for that project
subject to all applicable requirements that would apply to the Secretary
carrying out such operations and maintenance, and may receive credit for the
costs incurred by the non-Federal interest in carrying out such activities
towards that non-Federal interest's share of construction costs for a federally
authorized element of the same project or another federally authorized
navigation project, except that in no instance may such credit exceed 20
percent of the costs associated with construction of the general navigation
features of the project for which such credit may be received pursuant to this
section.
2063.
River basin
commissions
Section 5019 of
the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1201) is amended by
striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
(b)
Authorization
To allocate
(1)
In
general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall allocate
funds from the General Expenses account of the civil works program of the Army
Corps of Engineers to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Delaware River
Basin Commission, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin to
fulfill the equitable funding requirements of the respective interstate
compacts on an annual basis and in amounts equal to the amount determined by
Commission in accordance with the respective interstate compact.
(2)
Limitation
Not
more than 1.5 percent of funds from the General Expenses account of the civil
works program of the Army Corps of Engineers may be allocated in carrying out
paragraph (1) for any fiscal year.
(3)
Report
For
any fiscal year in which funds are not allocated in accordance with paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives a report that describes—
(A) the reasons why
the Corps of Engineers chose not to allocate funds in accordance with that
paragraph; and
(B) the impact of the
decision not to allocate funds on water supply allocation, water quality
protection, regulatory review and permitting, water conservation, watershed
planning, drought management, flood loss reduction, and recreation in each area
of jurisdiction of the respective
Commission.
.
2064.
Restriction
on charges for certain surplus water
(a)
In
general
No fee for surplus
water shall be charged under a contract for surplus water if the contract is
for surplus water stored on the Missouri River.
(b)
Offset
Of the amounts previously made available
for “Corps of Engineers–Civil, Department of the Army, Operations and
Maintenance” that remain unobligated as of the effective date of this Act,
$5,000,000 is hereby rescinded.
(c) None of the funds under subsection (b) may
be rescinded from amounts that were designated by the Congress as an emergency
requirement pursuant to the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget or the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.
III
Project modifications
3001.
Purpose
The purpose of this title is to modify
existing water resource project authorizations, subject to the condition that
the modifications do not affect authorized costs.
3002.
Chatfield Reservoir, Colorado
Section 116 of the Energy and Water
Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 (123 Stat. 608), is
amended in the matter preceding the proviso by inserting (or a designee
of the Department) after Colorado Department of Natural
Resources.
3003.
Missouri River Recovery Implementation
Committee expenses reimbursement
Section 5018(b)(5) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1200) is amended by striking subparagraph
(B) and inserting the following:
(B)
Travel expenses
Subject to the availability of funds, the
Secretary may reimburse a member of the Committee for travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee
of a Federal agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in
performance of services for the
Committee.
.
3004.
Hurricane and storm damage reduction
study
With respect to the
study for flood and storm damage reduction related to natural disasters to by
carried out by the Secretary and authorized under the heading
Investigations under title II
of division A of Public Law 113–2, the Secretary shall include specific project
recommendations in the report developed for that study.
3005.
Lower Yellowstone Project,
Montana
Section 3109 of the
Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1135) is amended—
(1) by striking The Secretary
may and inserting the following:
(a)
In general
The Secretary
may
;
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
(b)
Local participation
In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretary shall consult with, and consider the activities being carried out
by—
(1) other Federal agencies;
(2) conservation districts;
(3) the Yellowstone River Conservation District
Council; and
(4) the State of
Montana.
.
3006.
Project deauthorizations
(a)
Goose Creek, Somerset County,
Maryland
The project for
navigation, Goose Creek, Somerset County, Maryland, carried out pursuant to
section 107 of the Rivers and Harbor Act of 1960 (33 U.S.C. 577), is realigned
as follows: Beginning at Goose Creek Channel Geometry Centerline of the
60-foot-wide main navigational ship channel, Centerline Station No. 0+00,
coordinates North 157851.80, East 1636954.70, as stated and depicted on the
Condition Survey Goose Creek, Sheet 1 of 1, prepared by the United States Army
Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, July 2003; thence departing the
aforementioned centerline traveling the following courses and distances: S. 64
degrees 49 minutes 06 seconds E., 1583.82 feet to a point, on the outline of
said 60-foot-wide channel thence binding on said out-line the following four
courses and distances: S. 63 degrees 26 minutes 06 seconds E., 1460.05 feet to
a point, thence; N. 50 degrees 38 minutes 26 seconds E., 973.28 feet to a
point, thence; N. 26 degrees 13 minutes 09 seconds W., 240.39 feet to a point
on the Left Toe of the 60-foot-wide main navigational channel at computed
Centerline Station No. 42+57.54, coordinates North 157357.84, East 1640340.23.
Geometry Left Toe of the 60-foot-wide main navigational ship channel, Left Toe
Station No. 0+00, coordinates North 157879.00, East 1636967.40, as stated and
depicted on the Condition Survey Goose Creek, Sheet 1 of 1, prepared by the
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, August 2010; thence
departing the aforementioned centerline traveling the following courses and
distances: S. 64 degrees 49 minutes 12 seconds E., 1583.91 feet to a point, on
the outline of said 60-foot-wide channel thence binding on said out-line the
following eight courses and distances: S. 63 degrees 25 minutes 38 seconds E.,
1366.25 feet to a point, thence; N. 83 degrees 36 minutes 24 seconds E., 125.85
feet to a point, thence; N. 50 degrees 38 minutes 26 seconds E., 805.19 feet to
a point, thence; N. 12 degrees 12 minutes 29 seconds E., 78.33 feet to a point
thence; N. 26 degrees 13 minutes 28 seconds W., 46.66 feet to a point thence;
S. 63 degrees 45 minutes 41 seconds W., 54.96 feet to a point thence; N. 26
degrees 13 minutes 24 seconds W., 119.94 feet to a point on the Left Toe of the
60-foot-wide main navigational channel at computed Centerline Station No.
41+81.10, coordinates North 157320.30, East 1640264.00. Geometry Right Toe of
the 60-foot-wide main navigational ship channel, Right Toe Station No. 0+00,
coordinates North 157824.70, East 1636941.90, as stated and depicted on the
Condition Survey Goose Creek, Sheet 1 of 1, prepared by the United States Army
Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, August 2010; thence departing the
aforementioned centerline traveling the following courses and distances: S. 64
degrees 49 minutes 06 seconds E., 1583.82 feet to a point, on the outline of
said 60-foot-wide channel thence binding on said out-line the following six
courses and distances: S. 63 degrees 25 minutes 47 seconds E., 1478.79 feet to
a point, thence; N. 50 degrees 38 minutes 26 seconds E., 1016.69 feet to a
point, thence; N. 26 degrees 14 minutes 49 seconds W., 144.26 feet to a point,
thence; N. 63 degrees 54 minutes 03 seconds E., 55.01 feet to a point thence;
N. 26 degrees 12 minutes 08 seconds W., 120.03 feet to a point a point on the
Right Toe of the 60-foot-wide main navigational channel at computed Centerline
Station No. 43+98.61, coordinates North 157395.40, East 1640416.50.
(b)
Lower Thoroughfare, Deal Island,
Maryland
Beginning on the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary is no longer authorized to carry
out the portion of the project for navigation, Lower Thoroughfare, Maryland,
authorized by the Act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 630, chapter 382) (commonly
known as the River and Harbor Act of 1910), that begins at Lower
Thoroughfare Channel Geometry Centerline of the 60-foot-wide main navigational
ship channel, Centerline Station No. 44+88, coordinates North 170435.62, East
1614588.93, as stated and depicted on the Condition Survey Lower Thoroughfare,
Deal Island, Sheet 1 of 3, prepared by the United States Army Corps of
Engineers, Baltimore District, August 2010; thence departing the aforementioned
centerline traveling the following courses and distances: S. 42 degrees 20
minutes 44 seconds W., 30.00 feet to a point, on the outline of said
60-foot-wide channel thence binding on said out-line the following four courses
and distances: N. 64 degrees 08 minutes 55 seconds W., 53.85 feet to a point,
thence; N. 42 degrees 20 minutes 43 seconds W., 250.08 feet to a point, thence;
N. 47 degrees 39 minutes 03 seconds E., 20.00 feet to a point, thence; S. 42
degrees 20 minutes 44 seconds E., 300.07 feet to a point binding on the Left
Toe of the 60-foot-wide main navigational channel at computed Centerline
Station No. 43+92.67, coordinates North 170415.41, 1614566.76; thence;
continuing with the aforementioned centerline the following courses and
distances: S. 42 degrees 20 minutes 42 seconds W., 30.00 feet to a point, on
the outline of said 60-foot-wide channel thence binding on said out-line the
following four courses and distances: N. 20 degrees 32 minutes 06 seconds W.,
53.85 feet to a point, thence; N. 42 degrees 20 minutes 49 seconds W., 250.08
feet to a point, thence; S. 47 degrees 39 minutes 03 seconds W., 20.00 feet to
a point, thence; S. 42 degrees 20 minutes 46 seconds E., 300.08 feet to a point
binding on the Left Toe of the 60-foot-wide main navigational channel at
computed Centerline Station No. 43+92.67, coordinates North 170415.41,
1614566.76.
(c)
Thomaston Harbor, Georges River,
Maine
Beginning on the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary is no longer authorized to carry out
the portion of the project for navigation, Georges River, Maine (Thomaston
Harbor), authorized by the first section of the Act of June 3, 1896 (29 Stat.
215, chapter 314), and modified by section 317 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–541; 114 Stat. 2604), that lies
northwesterly of a line commencing at point N87,220.51, E321,065.80 thence
running northeasterly about 125 feet to a point N87,338.71, E321,106.46.
(d)
Warwick Cove, Rhode Island
Beginning on the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary is no longer authorized to carry out the portion of the
project for navigation, Warwick Cove, Rhode Island, authorized by section 107
of the River and Harbor Act of 1960 (33 U.S.C. 577) that is located within the
5 acre anchorage area east of the channel and lying east of the line beginning
at a point with coordinates N220,349.79, E357,664.90 thence running north 9
degrees 10 minutes 21.5 seconds west 170.38 feet to a point N220,517.99,
E357,637.74 thence running north 17 degrees 44 minutes 30.4 seconds west 165.98
feet to a point N220,676.08, E357,587.16 thence running north 0 degrees 46
minutes 0.9 seconds east 138.96 feet to a point N220,815.03, E357,589.02 thence
running north 8 degrees 36 minutes 22.9 seconds east 101.57 feet to a point
N220,915.46, E357,604.22 thence running north 18 degrees 18 minutes 27.3
seconds east 168.20 feet to a point N221,075.14, E357,657.05 thence running
north 34 degrees 42 minutes 7.2 seconds east 106.4 feet to a point N221,162.62,
E357,717.63 thence running south 29 degrees 14 minutes 17.4 seconds east 26.79
feet to a point N221,139.24, E357,730.71 thence running south 30 degrees 45
minutes 30.5 seconds west 230.46 feet to a point N220,941.20, E357,612.85
thence running south 10 degrees 49 minutes 12.0 seconds west 95.46 feet to a
point N220,847.44, E357,594.93 thence running south 9 degrees 13 minutes 44.5
seconds east 491.68 feet to a point N220,362.12, E357,673.79 thence running
south 35 degrees 47 minutes 19.4 seconds west 15.20 feet to the point of
origin.
(e)
Clatsop County Diking District No. 10,
Karlson Island, Oregon
Beginning on the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary is no longer authorized to carry out the Diking District No.
10, Karlson Island portion of the project for raising and improving existing
levees in Clatsop County, Oregon, authorized by section 5 of the Act of June
22, 1936 (33 U.S.C. 701h).
(f)
Numberg Dike No. 34 leveed area, Clatsop
County Diking District No. 13, Clatsop County, Oregon
(Walluski-Youngs)
Beginning
on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary is no longer authorized to
carry out the Numberg Dike No. 34 leveed area, Clatsop County Diking District,
No. 13, Walluski River and Youngs River dikes, portion of the project for
raising and improving existing levees in Clatsop County, Oregon, authorized by
section 5 of the Act of June 22, 1936 (33 U.S.C. 701h).
(g)
Port of Hood River, Oregon
(1)
Extinguishment of portions of existing
flowage easement
With respect
to the properties described in paragraph (2), beginning on the date of
enactment of this Act, the flowage easement identified as Tract 1200E–6 on the
Easement Deed recorded as Instrument No. 740320 is extinguished above elevation
79.39 feet (NGVD 29) the Ordinary High Water Line.
(2)
Affected properties
The properties referred to in paragraph
(1), as recorded in Hood River County, Oregon, are as follows:
(A) Instrument Number 2010–1235
(B) Instrument Number 2010–02366.
(C) Instrument Number 2010–02367.
(D) Parcel 2 of Partition Plat
#2011–12P.
(E) Parcel 1 of Partition Plat 2005–26P.
(3)
Federal liabilities; cultural,
environmental, and other regulatory reviews
(A)
Federal liability
The United States shall not be liable for
any injury caused by the extinguishment of the easement under this
subsection.
(B)
Cultural and environmental regulatory
actions
Nothing in this
subsection establishes any cultural or environmental regulation relating to the
properties described in paragraph (2).
(4)
Effect on other rights
Nothing in this subsection affects any
remaining right or interest of the Corps of Engineers in the properties
described in paragraph (2).
(h)
Eightmile River, Connecticut
(1) The portion of the project for navigation,
Eightmile River, Connecticut, authorized by the first section of the Act of
June 25, 1910 (commonly known as the River and Harbor Act of
1910) (36 Stat. 633, chapter 382), that begins at a point of the
existing 8-foot channel limit with coordinates N701002.39, E1109247.73, thence
running north 2 degrees 19 minutes 57.1 seconds east 265.09 feet to a point
N701267.26, E1109258.52, thence running north 7 degrees 47 minutes 19.3 seconds
east 322.32 feet to a point N701586.60, E1109302.20, thence running north 90
degrees 0 minutes 0 seconds east 65.61 to a point N701586.60, E1109367.80,
thence running south 7 degrees 47 minutes 19.3 seconds west 328.11 feet to a
point N701261.52, E1109323.34, thence running south 2 degrees 19 minutes 57.1
seconds west 305.49 feet to an end at a point N700956.28, E1109310.91 on the
existing 8-foot channel limit, shall be reduced to a width of 65 feet and the
channel realigned to follow the deepest available water.
(2) Beginning on the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary is no longer authorized to carry out the portion of the
project beginning at a point N701296.72, E1109262.55 and running north 45
degrees 4 minutes 2.8 seconds west 78.09 feet to a point N701341.18,
E1109217.98, thence running north 5 degrees 8 minutes 34.6 seconds east 180.14
feet to a point N701520.59, E1109234.13, thence running north 54 degrees 5
minutes 50.1 seconds east 112.57 feet to a point N701568.04, E1109299.66,
thence running south 7 degrees 47 minutes 18.4 seconds west 292.58 feet to the
point of origin; and the remaining area north of the channel realignment
beginning at a point N700956.28, E1109310.91 thence running north 2 degrees 19
minutes 57.1 seconds east 305.49 feet west to a point N701261.52, E1109323.34
north 7 degrees 47 minutes 18.4 seconds east 328.11 feet to a point N701586.60,
E1109367.81 thence running north 90 degrees 0 minutes 0 seconds east 7.81 feet
to a point N701586.60, E1109375.62 thence running south 5 degrees 8 minutes
34.6 seconds west 626.29 feet to a point N700962.83, E1109319.47 thence south
52 degrees 35 minutes 36.5 seconds 10.79 feet to the point of origin.
(i)
Burnham Canal
Beginning on the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary is no longer authorized to carry out the portion of the
project for navigation, Milwaukee Harbor Project, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, known
as the Burnham Canal, beginning at channel point #415a N381768.648,
E2524554.836, a distance of about 170.58 feet, thence running south 53 degrees
43 minutes 41 seconds west to channel point #417 N381667.728, E2524417.311, a
distance of about 35.01 feet, thence running south 34 degrees 10 minutes 40
seconds west to channel point #501 N381638.761, E2524397.639 a distance of
about 139.25 feet, thence running south 34 degrees 10 minutes 48 seconds west
to channel point #503 N381523.557, E2524319.406 a distance of about 235.98
feet, thence running south 32 degrees 59 minutes 13 seconds west to channel
point #505 N381325.615, E2524190.925 a distance of about 431.29 feet, thence
running south 32 degrees 36 minutes 05 seconds west to channel point #509
N380962.276, E2523958.547, a distance of about 614.52 feet, thence running
south 89 degrees 05 minutes 00 seconds west to channel point #511 N380952.445,
E2523344.107, a distance of about 74.68 feet, thence running north 89 degrees
04 minutes 59 seconds west to channel point #512 N381027.13, E2523342.91, a
distance of about 533.84 feet, thence running north 89 degrees 05 minutes 00
seconds east to channel point #510 N381035.67, E2523876.69, a distance of about
47.86 feet, thence running north 61 degrees 02 minutes 07 seconds east to
channel point #508 N381058.84, E2523918.56, a distance of about 308.55 feet,
thence running north 36 degrees 15 minutes 29 seconds east to channel point
#506 N381307.65, E2524101.05, distance of about 199.98 feet, thence running
north 32 degrees 59 minutes 12 seconds east to channel point #504 N381475.40,
E2524209.93, a distance of about 195.14 feet, thence running north 26 degrees
17 minutes 22 seconds east to channel point #502 N381650.36, E2524296.36, a
distance of about 81.82 feet, thence running north 88 degrees 51 minutes 05
seconds west to channel point #419 N381732.17, E2524294.72 a distance of about
262.65 feet, thence running north 82 degrees 01 minutes 02 seconds east to
channel point # 415a the point of origin.
(j)
Walnut Creek, California
Beginning on the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary is no longer authorized to carry out the portion of the
project for flood protection on Walnut Creek, California, constructed in
accordance with the plan authorized by section 203 of the Flood Control Act of
1960 (Public Law 86–645; 74 Stat. 488) that consists of the culvert on the San
Ramon Creek constructed by the Department of the Army in 1971 that extends from
Sta 4+27 to Sta 14+27.
3007.
Raritan River Basin, Green Brook Sub-basin,
New Jersey
Title I of the
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 1998 (Public Law 105–62; 111
Stat. 1327) is amended by striking section 102.
3008.
Red River Basin, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas,
Louisiana
(a)
In general
The Secretary is authorized to reassign
unused irrigation storage within a reservoir on the Red River Basin to
municipal and industrial water supply for use by a non-Federal interest if that
non-Federal interest has already contracted for a share of municipal and
industrial water supply on the same reservoir.
(b)
Non-Federal interest
A reassignment of storage under subsection
(a) shall be contingent upon the execution of an agreement between the
Secretary and the applicable non-Federal interest.
3009.
Point Judith Harbor of Refuge, Rhode
Island
The project for the
Harbor of Refuge at Point Judith, Narragansett, Rhode Island, adopted by the
Act of September 19, 1890 (commonly known as the River and Harbor Act of
1890) (26 Stat. 426, chapter 907), House Document numbered 66, 51st
Congress, 1st Session, and modified to include the west shore arm breakwater
under the first section of the Act of June 25, 1910 (commonly known as the
River and Harbor Act of 1910) (36 Stat. 632, chapter 382), is
further modified to include shore protection and erosion control as project
purposes.
3010.
Land conveyance of Hammond Boat Basin,
Warrenton, Oregon
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
City
The term City means the city
of Warrenton, located in Clatsop County, Oregon.
(2)
Map
The term map means the map
contained in Exhibit A of Department of the Army Lease No. DACW57–1–88–0033 (or
a successor instrument).
(b)
Conveyance authority
Subject to the provisions of this section,
the Secretary shall convey to the City by quitclaim deed, and without
consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
the parcel of land described in subsection (c).
(c)
Description of land
(1)
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
land referred to in subsection (b) is the parcel totaling approximately 59
acres located in the City, together with any improvements thereon, including
the Hammond Marina (as described in the map).
(2)
Exclusion
The land referred to in subsection (b)
shall not include the site provided for the fisheries research support facility
of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
(3)
Availability of map
The map shall be on file in the Portland
District Office of the Corps of Engineers.
(d)
Terms and conditions
(1)
In general
As a condition of the conveyance under
subsection (b), the City shall agree in writing—
(A) that the City and any successor or assign
of the City will release and indemnify the United States from any claims or
liabilities that may arise from or through the operations of the land conveyed
by the United States; and
(B) to pay any cost associated with the
conveyance under subsection (b).
(2)
Additional terms and
conditions
The Secretary may
impose such additional terms, conditions, and requirements on the conveyance
under subsection (b) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the
interest of the United States, including the requirement that the City assume
full responsibility for operating and maintaining the channel and the
breakwater.
(e)
Reversion
If the Secretary determines that the land
conveyed under this section ceases to be owned by the public, all right, title,
and interest in and to the land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary,
revert to the United States.
(f)
Deauthorization
After the land is conveyed under this
section, the land shall no longer be a portion of the project for navigation,
Hammond Small Boat Basin, Oregon, authorized by section 107 of the Rivers and
Harbor Act of 1960 (33 U.S.C. 577).
3011.
Metro East Flood Risk Management Program,
Illinois
(a)
In general
The following projects shall constitute a
program, to be known as the Metro East Flood Risk Management Program,
Illinois:
(1) Prairie du Pont Drainage and Levee District
and Fish Lake Drainage and Levee District, Illinois, authorized by—
(A) section 5 of the Act of June 22, 1936 (33
U.S.C. 701h); and
(B) section 5070 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–114; 121 Stat. 1220).
(2) East St. Louis, Illinois, authorized
by—
(A) section 5 of the Act of June 22, 1936 (33
U.S.C. 701h); and
(B) Energy and Water Development Appropriation
Act, 1988 (Public Law 100–202; 101 Stat. 1329–104).
(3) Wood River Drainage and Levee District,
Illinois, authorized by—
(A) section 4 of the Act entitled An Act
authorizing the construction of certain public works on rivers and harbors for
flood control, and for other purposes, approved June 28, 1938 (52 Stat.
1218); and
(B) section 1001(20) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–114; 121 Stat. 1053).
3012.
Florida Keys water quality
improvements
Section 109 of
title I of division B of the Miscellaneous Appropriations Act, 2001 (114 Stat.
2763A–221, 121 Stat. 1217) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting and
unincorporated communities after municipalities;
and
(2) by redesignating subsection (f) as
subsection (g); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (e) the
following:
(f)
Priority
In providing assistance under this section,
the Secretary shall give priority to projects sponsored by—
(1) the State of Florida;
(2) Monroe County, Florida; and
(3) incorporated communities in Monroe County,
Florida.
.
3013.
Des Moines Recreational River and
Greenbelt, Iowa
The boundaries
for the project referred to as the Des Moines Recreational River and Greenbelt,
Iowa under the heading Corps of Engineers—Civil under
the heading Department of the Army under
the heading Department of Defense—Civil in
chapter IV of title I of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1985 (Public Law
99–88, 99 Stat. 313) are revised to include the entirety of sections 19 and 29,
situated in T89N, R28W.
3014.
Land conveyance, Craney Island Dredged
Material Management Area, Portsmouth, Virginia
(a)
In general
Subject to the conditions described in this
section, the Secretary may convey to the Commonwealth of Virginia, by quitclaim
deed and without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to 2 parcels of land situated within the project for navigation,
Craney Island Eastward Expansion, Norfolk Harbor and Channels, Hampton Roads,
Virginia, authorized by section 1001(45) of the Water Resources Development Act
of 2007 (Pub. L. 110–114; 121 Stat. 1057), together with any improvements
thereon.
(b)
Lands To be conveyed
(1)
In general
The 2 parcels of land to be conveyed under
this section include a parcel consisting of approximately 307.82 acres of land
and a parcel consisting of approximately 13.33 acres of land, both located
along the eastern side of the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area in
Portsmouth, Virginia.
(2)
Use
The 2 parcels of land described in
paragraph (1) may be used by the Commonwealth of Virginia exclusively for the
purpose of port expansion, including the provision of road and rail access and
the construction of a shipping container terminal.
(c)
Terms and conditions
Land conveyed under this section shall be
subject to—
(1) a reversionary interest in the United
States if the land—
(A) ceases to be held in public ownership;
or
(B) is used for any purpose that is
inconsistent with subsection (b); and
(2) such other terms, conditions, reservations,
and restrictions that the Secretary determines to be necessary and appropriate
to protect the interests of the United States.
(d)
Legal description
The exact acreage and legal description of
land to be conveyed under this section shall be determined by a survey that is
satisfactory to the Secretary.
(e)
Conveyance costs
The Commonwealth of Virginia shall be
responsible for all costs associated with the conveyance authorized by this
section, including the cost of the survey required under subsection (d) and
other administrative costs.
3015.
Los Angeles County Drainage Area,
California
The project for
flood control, Los Angeles County Drainage Area, California, authorized by
section 101(b) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101–640;
104 Stat. 4611), as modified, is further modified to authorize the Secretary to
include, as a part of the project, measures for flood risk reduction, ecosystem
restoration, and recreation in the Compton Creek watershed.
3016.
Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal,
California
Section 3182(b)(1)
of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–114; 121 Stat.
1165) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ,
or to a multicounty public entity that is eligible to hold title to real
property after To the city of Oakland; and
(2) by inserting multicounty public
entity or other before public entity.
3017.
Redesignation of Lower Mississippi River
Museum and Riverfront Interpretive Site
(a)
In general
Section 103(c)(1) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 4811) is amended by striking Lower
Mississippi River Museum and Riverfront Interpretive Site and inserting
Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum and Riverfront Interpretive
Site.
(b)
References
Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the museum and
interpretive site referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a
reference to the Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum and
Riverfront Interpretive Site.
3018.
Louisiana Coastal Area
(a)
Interim adoption of comprehensive coastal
master plan
(1)
In general
Section 7002 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–114; 121 Stat. 1270) is amended—
(A) by redesignating subsections (d) through
(f) as subsections (e) through (g), respectively;
(B) by inserting after subsection (c) the
following:
(d)
Interim adoption of comprehensive master
plan
Prior to completion of
the comprehensive plan described under subsection (a), the Secretary shall
adopt the plan of the State of Louisiana entitled Louisiana’s
Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast in effect on the date
of enactment of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2013 (and subsequent plans), authorized and
defined pursuant to Act 8 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana
State Legislature, 2005, for protecting, preserving, and restoring the coastal
Louisiana ecosystem until implementation of the comprehensive plan is
complete.
;
and
(C) in subsection (g)(1) (as so redesignated),
by striking 1 year and inserting 10 years.
(2)
Conforming amendment
Subsection (f) (as so redesignated) is
amended by striking subsection (d)(1) and inserting
subsection (e)(1).
(b) Section 7006 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–114; 121 Stat. 1274) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(2)—
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D)
as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the
following:
(C) to examine a system-wide approach to
coastal sustainability, including—
(i) flood and storm damage protection;
(ii) coastal restoration; and
(iii) the elevation of public and private
infrastructure;
;
and
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(E), by striking
at Myrtle Grove and inserting in the vicinity of Myrtle
Grove.
(c)
Effect
(1)
In
general
Nothing in this section or an amendment made by this
section authorizes the construction of a project or program associated with a
storm surge barrier across the Lake Pontchartrain land bridge (including Chef
Menteur Pass and the Rigolets) that would result in unmitigated induced
flooding in coastal communities within the State of Mississippi.
(2)
Required
consultation
Any study to advance a project described in
paragraph (1) that is conducted using funds from the General Investigations
Account of the Corps of Engineers shall include consultation and approval of
the Governors of the States of Louisiana and Mississippi.
3019.
Four Mile
Run, city of Alexandria and Arlington County, Virginia
Section 84(a)(1) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93–251; 88 Stat. 35) is amended by striking
twenty-seven thousand cubic feet per second and inserting
18,000 cubic feet per second.
3020.
East Fork of
Trinity River, Texas
The
portion of the project for flood protection on the East Fork of the Trinity
River, Texas, authorized by section 203 of the Flood Control Act of 1962 (76
Stat. 1185), that consists of the 2 levees identified as Kaufman County
Levees K5E and K5W shall no longer be authorized as a part of the
Federal project as of the date of enactment of this Act.
3021.
Seward
Waterfront, Seward, Alaska
(a)
In
general
The parcel of land
included in the Seward Harbor, Alaska navigation project identified as Tract H,
Seward Original Townsite, Waterfront Park Replat, Plat No 2012–4, Seward
Recording District, shall not be subject to the navigation servitude (as of the
date of enactment of this Act).
(b)
Entry by
Federal Government
The Federal Government may enter upon any
portion of the land referred to in subsection (a) to carry out any required
operation and maintenance of the general navigation features of the
project.
IV
Water resource studies
4001.
Purpose
The purpose of this title is to authorize
the Secretary to study and recommend solutions for water resource issues
relating to flood risk and storm damage reduction, navigation, and aquatic
ecosystem restoration.
4002.
Initiation of new water resources
studies
(a)
In general
Subject to subsections (b), (c), and (d),
the Secretary may initiate a study—
(1) to determine the feasibility of carrying
out 1 or more projects for flood risk management, storm damage reduction,
aquatic ecosystem restoration, navigation, hydropower, or related purposes;
or
(2) to carry out watershed and river basin
assessments in accordance with section 729 of the Water Resources Development
Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2267a).
(b)
Criteria
The Secretary may only initiate a study
under subsection (a) if—
(1) the study—
(A) has been requested by an eligible
non-Federal interest;
(B) is for an area that is likely to include a
project with a Federal interest; and
(C) addresses a high-priority water resource
issue necessary for the protection of human life and property, the environment,
or the national security interests of the United States; and
(2) the non-Federal interest has
demonstrated—
(A) that local support exists for addressing
the water resource issue; and
(B) the financial ability to provide the
required non-Federal cost-share.
(c)
Congressional approval
(1)
Submission to congress
Prior to initiating a study under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Environment and
Public Works and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on
Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the House—
(A) a description of the study, including the
geographical area addressed by the study;
(B) a description of how the study meets each
of the requirements of subsection (b); and
(C) a certification that the proposed study can
be completed within 3 years and for a Federal cost of not more than
$3,000,000.
(2)
Expenditure of funds
No funds may be spent on a study initiated
under subsection (a) unless—
(A) the required information is submitted to
Congress under paragraph (1); and
(B) after such submission, amounts are
appropriated to initiate the study in an appropriations or other Act.
(3)
Additional notification
The Secretary shall notify each Senator or
Member of Congress with a State or congressional district in the study area
described in paragraph (1)(A).
(d)
Limitations
(1)
In general
Subsection (a) shall not apply to a project
for which a study has been authorized prior to the date of enactment of this
Act.
(2)
New studies
In each fiscal year, the Secretary may
initiate not more than—
(A) 3 new studies in each of the primary
mission areas of the Corps of Engineers; and
(B) 3 new studies from any 1 division of the
Corps of Engineers.
(e)
Termination
The authority under subsection (a) expires
on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(f)
Authorization of
Appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2017.
4003.
Applicability
(a)
In general
Nothing in this title authorizes the
construction of a water resources project.
(b)
New authorization required
New authorization from Congress is required
before any project evaluated in a study under this title is constructed.
V
Regional and nonproject provisions
5001.
Purpose
The purpose of this title is to authorize
regional, multistate authorities to address water resource needs and other
non-project provisions.
5002.
Northeast Coastal Region ecosystem
restoration
(a)
In general
The Secretary shall plan, design, and
construct projects for aquatic ecosystem restoration within the coastal waters
of the Northeastern United States from the State of Virginia to the State of
Maine, including associated bays, estuaries, and critical riverine
areas.
(b)
General coastal management plan
(1)
Assessment
The Secretary, in coordination with the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the heads of other
appropriate Federal agencies, the Governors of the coastal States from Virginia
to Maine, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties, shall assess
the needs regarding, and opportunities for, aquatic ecosystem restoration
within the coastal waters of the Northeastern United States.
(2)
Plan
The Secretary shall develop a general
coastal management plan based on the assessment carried out under paragraph
(1), maximizing the use of existing plans and investigation, which plan shall
include—
(A) an inventory and evaluation of coastal
habitats;
(B) identification of aquatic resources in need
of improvement;
(C) identification and prioritization of
potential aquatic habitat restoration projects; and
(D) identification of geographical and
ecological areas of concern, including—
(i) finfish habitats;
(ii) diadromous fisheries migratory
corridors;
(iii) shellfish habitats;
(iv) submerged aquatic vegetation;
(v) wetland; and
(vi) beach dune complexes and other similar
habitats.
(c)
Eligible projects
The Secretary may carry out an aquatic
ecosystem restoration project under this section if the project—
(1) is consistent with the management plan
developed under subsection (b); and
(2) provides for—
(A) the restoration of degraded aquatic habitat
(including coastal, saltmarsh, benthic, and riverine habitat);
(B) the restoration of geographical or
ecological areas of concern, including the restoration of natural river and
stream characteristics;
(C) the improvement of water quality; or
(D) other projects or activities determined to
be appropriate by the Secretary.
(d)
Cost sharing
(1)
Management plan
The management plan developed under
subsection (b) shall be completed at Federal expense.
(2)
Restoration projects
The non-Federal share of the cost of a
project carried out under this section shall be 35 percent.
(e)
Cost limitation
Not more than $10,000,000 in Federal funds
may be allocated under this section for an eligible project.
(f)
Authorization of
appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section (including funds for
the completion of the management plan) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2014 through 2023.
5003.
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Restoration
and Protection Program
Section
510 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–303; 110
Stat. 3759; 121 Stat. 1202) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking pilot program
and inserting program; and
(ii) by inserting in the basin States
described in subsection (f) and the District of Columbia after
interests; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
(2)
Form
The assistance under paragraph (1) shall be
in the form of design and construction assistance for water-related resource
protection and restoration projects affecting the Chesapeake Bay estuary, based
on the comprehensive plan under subsection (b), including projects for—
(A) sediment and erosion control;
(B) protection of eroding shorelines;
(C) ecosystem restoration, including
restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation;
(D) protection of essential public
works;
(E) beneficial uses of dredged material;
and
(F) other related projects that may enhance the
living resources of the
estuary.
;
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting
the following:
(b)
Comprehensive plan
(1)
In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Water Resources Development
Act of 2013, the Secretary, in cooperation with State and local
governmental officials and affected stakeholders, shall develop a comprehensive
Chesapeake Bay restoration plan to guide the implementation of projects under
subsection (a)(2).
(2)
Coordination
The restoration plan described in paragraph
(1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, consider and avoid duplication of
any ongoing or planned actions of other Federal, State, and local agencies and
nongovernmental organizations.
(3)
Prioritization
The restoration plan described in paragraph
(1) shall give priority to projects eligible under subsection (a)(2) that will
also improve water quality or quantity or use natural hydrological features and
systems.
(4)
Administration
The Federal share of the costs of carrying
out paragraph (1) shall be 75
percent.
;
(3) in subsection (c)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking to
provide and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting for the design and construction of a project carried out
pursuant to the comprehensive Chesapeake Bay restoration plan described in
subsection (b).;
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking
facilities or resource protection and development plan and
inserting resource protection and restoration plan; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
(3)
Projects on Federal land
A project carried out pursuant to the
comprehensive Chesapeake Bay restoration plan described in subsection (b) that
is located on Federal land shall be carried out at the expense of the Federal
agency that owns the land on which the project will be a carried out.
(4)
Non-Federal contributions
A Federal agency carrying out a project
described in paragraph (3) may accept contributions of funds from non-Federal
entities to carry out that
project.
;
(4) by striking subsection (e) and inserting
the following:
(e)
Cooperation
In carrying out this section, the Secretary
shall cooperate with—
(1) the heads of appropriate Federal agencies,
including—
(A) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency;
(B) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through
the Administrator of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(C) the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
(D) the heads of such other Federal agencies as
the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
(2) agencies of a State or political
subdivision of a State, including the Chesapeake Bay
Commission.
;
(5) by striking subsection (f) and inserting
the following:
(f)
Projects
The Secretary shall establish, to the
maximum extent practicable, at least 1 project under this section in—
(1) regions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed
of each of the basin States of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, and West Virginia; and
(2) the District of
Columbia.
;
(6) by striking subsection (h); and
(7) by redesignating subsection (i) as
subsection (h).
5004.
Rio Grande environmental management
program, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas
Section 5056 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1213) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(2)—
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A),
by striking 2008 and inserting 2014; and
(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting
and an assessment of needs for other related purposes in the Rio Grande
Basin, including flood damage reduction after
assessment;
(2) in subsection (c)(2)—
(A) by striking an interagency agreement
with and inserting 1 or more interagency agreements with the
Secretary of State and; and
(B) by inserting or the U.S. Section of
the International Boundary and Water Commission after the
Department of the Interior; and
(3) in subsection (f), by striking
2011 and inserting 2024.
5005.
Lower Columbia River and Tillamook Bay
ecosystem restoration, Oregon and Washington
Section 536(g) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2661) is amended by striking
$30,000,000 and inserting $75,000,000.
5006.
Arkansas River, Arkansas and
Oklahoma
(a)
Project Goal
The goal for operation of the
McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation system, Arkansas and Oklahoma, shall
be to maximize the use of the system in a balanced approach that incorporates
advice from representatives from all project purposes to ensure that the full
value of the system is realized by the United States.
(b)
McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation
system advisory committee
(1)
In general
In accordance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Secretary shall establish an advisory
committee for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation system, Arkansas and
Oklahoma, project authorized by the Act of July 24, 1946 (60 Stat. 635, chapter
595).
(2)
Duties
The advisory committee shall—
(A) serve in an advisory capacity only;
and
(B) provide information and recommendations to
the Corps of Engineers relating to the efficiency, reliability, and
availability of the operations of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation
system.
(3)
Selection and composition
The advisory committee shall be—
(A) selected jointly by the Little Rock
district engineer and the Tulsa district engineer; and
(B) composed of members that equally represent
the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation system project purposes.
(4)
Agency resources
The Little Rock district and the Tulsa
district of the Corps of Engineers, under the supervision of the southwestern
division, shall jointly provide the advisory committee with adequate staff
assistance, facilities, and resources.
(5)
Termination
(A)
In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the advisory
committee shall terminate on the date on which the Secretary submits a report
to Congress demonstrating increases in the efficiency, reliability, and
availability of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation system.
(B)
Restriction
The advisory committee shall terminate not
less than 2 calendar years after the date on which the advisory committee is
established.
5007.
Aquatic invasive species prevention and
management; Columbia River Basin
(a)
In general
The Secretary may establish a program to
prevent and manage aquatic invasive species in the Columbia River Basin in the
States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
(b)
Watercraft inspection stations
(1)
In general
In carrying out this section, the Secretary
shall establish watercraft inspection stations in the Columbia River Basin to
be located in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington at
locations, as determined by the Secretary, with the highest likelihood of
preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species into reservoirs operated and
maintained by the Secretary.
(2)
Inclusions
Locations identified under paragraph (1)
may include—
(A) State border crossings;
(B) international border crossings; and
(C) highway entry points that are used by
owners of watercraft to access boat launch facilities owned or managed by the
Secretary.
(3)
Cost-share
The non-Federal share of the cost of
operating and maintaining watercraft inspection stations described in paragraph
(1) (including personnel costs) shall be 50 percent.
(4)
Other inspection sites
The Secretary may establish watercraft
inspection stations using amounts made available to carry out this section in
States other than those described in paragraph (1) at or near boat launch
facilities that the Secretary determines are regularly used by watercraft to
enter the States described in paragraph (1).
(c)
Monitoring and contingency
planning
The Secretary
shall—
(1) carry out risk assessments of each major
public and private water resources facility in the Columbia River Basin;
(2) establish an aquatic invasive species
monitoring program in the Columbia River Basin;
(3) establish a Columbia River Basin
watershed-wide plan for expedited response to an infestation of aquatic
invasive species; and
(4) monitor water quality, including sediment
cores and fish tissue samples, at facilities owned or managed by the Secretary
in the Columbia River Basin.
(d)
Coordination
In carrying out this section, the Secretary
shall consult and coordinate with—
(1) the States described in subsection
(a);
(2) Indian tribes; and
(3) other Federal agencies, including—
(A) the Department of Agriculture;
(B) the Department of Energy;
(C) the Department of Homeland Security;
(D) the Department of Commerce; and
(E) the Department of the Interior.
(e)
Authorization of
appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$30,000,000, of which $5,000,000 may be used to carry out subsection
(c).
5008.
Upper Missouri Basin flood and drought
monitoring
(a)
In general
The Secretary, in coordination with the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Chief
of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Director of the United
States Geological Survey, and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation,
shall establish a program to provide for—
(1) soil moisture and snowpack monitoring in
the Upper Missouri River Basin to reduce flood risk and improve river and water
resource management in the Upper Missouri River Basin, as outlined in the
February 2013 report entitled Upper Missouri Basin Monitoring
Committee—Snow Sampling and Instrumentation Recommendations;
(2) restoring and maintaining existing mid- and
high-elevation snowpack monitoring sites operated under the SNOTEL program of
the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and
(3) operating streamflow gages and related
interpretive studies in the Upper Missouri River Basin under the cooperative
water program and the national streamflow information program of the United
States Geological Service.
(b)
Authorization of
appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$11,250,000.
(c)
Use of Funds
Amounts made available to the Secretary
under this section shall be used to complement other related activities of
Federal agencies that are carried out within the Missouri River Basin.
(d)
Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States, in
consultation with the Secretary, shall submit to the Committee on Environment
and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that—
(1) identifies progress made by the Secretary
and other Federal agencies to implement the recommendations contained in the
report described in subsection (a)(1) with respect to enhancing soil moisture
and snowpack monitoring in the Upper Missouri Basin; and
(2) includes recommendations to enhance soil
moisture and snowpack monitoring in the Upper Missouri Basin.
5009.
Upper
Missouri Basin shoreline erosion prevention
(a)
In
general
(1)
Authorization
of assistance
The Secretary
may provide planning, design, and construction assistance to not more than 3
federally-recognized Indian tribes in the Upper Missouri River Basin to
undertake measures to address shoreline erosion that is jeopardizing existing
infrastructure resulting from operation of a reservoir constructed under the
Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program (authorized by section 9 of the Act of
December 22, 1944 (commonly known as the Flood Control Act of
1944) (58 Stat. 891, chapter 665)).
(2)
Limitation
The
projects described in paragraph (1) shall be economically justified,
technically feasible, and environmentally acceptable.
(b)
Federal and
non-Federal cost share
(1)
In
general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Federal share of the costs
of carrying out this section shall be not less than 75 percent.
(2)
Ability to
pay
The Secretary may adjust the Federal and non-Federal shares
of the costs of carrying out this section in accordance with the terms and
conditions of section 103(m) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33
U.S.C. 2213(m)).
(c)
Conditions
The
Secretary may provide the assistance described in subsection (a) only
after—
(1) consultation with
the Department of the Interior; and
(2) execution by the
Indian tribe of a memorandum of agreement with the Secretary that specifies
that the tribe shall—
(A) be responsible
for—
(i) all
operation and maintenance activities required to ensure the integrity of the
measures taken; and
(ii) providing any
required real estate interests in and to the property on which such measures
are to be taken; and
(B) hold and save the
United States free from damages arising from planning, design, or construction
assistance provided under this section, except for damages due to the fault or
negligence of the United States or its contractors.
(d)
Authorization
of appropriations
For each Indian tribe eligible under this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not
more than $30,000,000.
5010.
Northern Rockies headwaters extreme weather
mitigation
(a)
In general
Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary
shall establish a program to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events,
such as floods and droughts, on communities, water users, and fish and wildlife
located in and along the headwaters of the Columbia, Missouri, and Yellowstone
Rivers (including the tributaries of those rivers) in the States of Idaho and
Montana by carrying out river, stream, and floodplain protection and
restoration projects, including—
(1) floodplain restoration and
reconnection;
(2) floodplain and riparian area protection
through the use of conservation easements;
(3) instream flow restoration projects;
(4) fish passage improvements;
(5) channel migration zone mapping; and
(6) invasive weed management.
(b)
Restriction
All projects carried out using amounts made
available to carry out this section shall emphasize the protection and
enhancement of natural riverine processes.
(c)
Non-federal cost share
The non-Federal share of the costs of
carrying out a project under this section shall not exceed 35 percent of the
total cost of the project.
(d)
Coordination
In carrying out this section, the
Secretary—
(1) shall consult and coordinate with the
appropriate State natural resource agency in each State; and
(2) may—
(A) delegate any authority or responsibility of
the Secretary under this section to those State natural resource agencies;
and
(B) provide amounts made available to the
Secretary to carry out this section to those State natural resource
agencies.
(e)
Limitations
Nothing in this section invalidates,
preempts, or creates any exception to State water law, State water rights, or
Federal or State permitted activities or agreements in the States of Idaho and
Montana or any State containing tributaries to rivers in those States.
(f)
Effect of
section
(1)
In
general
Nothing in this section replaces or provides a substitute
for the authority to carry out projects under section 3110 of the Water
Resources Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1135).
(2)
Funding
The
amounts made available to carry out this section shall be used to carry out
projects that are not otherwise carried out under section 3110 of the Water
Resources Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1135).
(g)
Authorization
of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this section $30,000,000.
5011.
Aquatic nuisance species prevention, Great
Lakes and Mississippi River Basin
(a)
In general
The Secretary is authorized to implement
measures recommended in the efficacy study authorized under section 3061 of the
Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1121) or in interim reports,
with any modifications or any emergency measures that the Secretary determines
to be appropriate to prevent aquatic nuisance species from dispersing into the
Great Lakes by way of any hydrologic connection between the Great Lakes and the
Mississippi River Basin.
(b)
Reports
The Secretary shall report to the
Committees on Environment and Public Works and Appropriations of the Senate and
the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the
House of Representatives any emergency actions taken pursuant to this
section.
5012.
Middle Mississippi River pilot
program
(a)
In general
In accordance with the project for
navigation, Mississippi River between the Ohio and Missouri Rivers (Regulating
Works), Missouri and Illinois, authorized by the Act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat.
631, chapter 382) (commonly known as the River and Harbor Act of
1910), the Act of January 1, 1927 (44 Stat. 1010, chapter 47) (commonly
known as the River and Harbor Act of 1927), and the Act of July
3, 1930 (46 Stat. 918, chapter 847), the Secretary shall carry out a pilot
program to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat in the middle
Mississippi River.
(b)
Authorized activities
As part of the pilot program carried out
under subsection (a), the Secretary may carry out any activity along the Middle
Mississippi River that is necessary to improve navigation through the project
while restoring and protecting fish and wildlife habitat in the middle
Mississippi River if the Secretary determines that the activity is
feasible.
(c)
Cost-Sharing requirement
(1)
In general
The maximum Federal share of the cost of
carrying out a project under this section shall be 65 percent.
(2)
Amount expended per project
The Federal share described in paragraph
(1) shall not exceed $10,000,000 for each project.
(d)
Authorization of
appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2014 through 2023.
5013.
Idaho, Montana, rural Nevada, New Mexico,
rural Utah, and Wyoming
Section 595 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1999 (Public Law 106–53; 113 Stat. 383) is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (c) and inserting
the following:
(c)
Form of assistance
Assistance under this section may be in the
form of—
(1) design and construction assistance for
water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and
development in Idaho, Montana, rural Nevada, New Mexico, rural Utah, and
Wyoming, including projects for—
(A) wastewater treatment and related
facilities;
(B) water supply and related facilities;
(C) environmental restoration; and
(D) surface water resource protection and
development; and
(2) technical assistance to small and rural
communities for water planning and issues relating to access to water
resources.
;
and
(2) by striking subsection (h) and inserting
the following:
(h)
Authorization of
appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section for the period
beginning with fiscal year 2001 $450,000,000, which shall—
(1) be made available
to the States and locales described in subsection (b) consistent with program
priorities determined by the Secretary in accordance with criteria developed by
the Secretary to establish the program priorities; and
(2) remain available
until expended.”.
5014.
Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration in
Virginia and Maryland
Section
704(b) of Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2263(b)) is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking
$50,000,000 and inserting $70,000,000; and
(2) by striking subparagraph (B) of paragraph
(4) and inserting the following:
(B)
Form
The non-Federal share may be provided
through in-kind services, including—
(i) the provision by the non-Federal interest
of shell stock material that is determined by the Secretary to be suitable for
use in carrying out the project; and
(ii) in the case of a project carried out under
paragraph (2)(D) after the date of enactment of this clause, land conservation
or restoration efforts undertaken by the non-Federal interest that the
Secretary determines provide water quality benefits that—
(I) enhance the viability of oyster restoration
efforts; and
(II) are integral to the
project.
.
5015.
Missouri River between Fort Peck Dam,
Montana and Gavins Point Dam, South Dakota and Nebraska
Section 9(f) of the Act of December 22, 1944
(commonly known as the Flood Control Act of 1944) (58 Stat. 891,
chapter 665; 102 Stat. 4031) is amended by striking $3,000,000
and inserting $5,000,000.
5016.
Operations and maintenance of inland
Mississippi River ports
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Shallow draft
The term shallow draft means a
project that has a depth less than 14 feet.
(2)
Inland mississippi river
The term inland Mississippi
River means the portion of the Mississippi River that begins at the
confluence of the Minnesota River and ends at the confluence of the Red
River.
(b)
In general
The Secretary, acting through the Chief of
Engineers, shall carry out dredging activities on shallow draft ports located
on the Inland Mississippi River to the respective authorized widths and depths
of those inland ports, as authorized on the date of enactment of this
Act.
(c)
Authorization of
appropriations
For each
fiscal year, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry
out this section $25,000,000.
5017.
Remote and subsistence
harbors
Section 2006 of the
Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2242) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting or
Alaska after Hawaii; and
(B) in paragraph (2)—
(i) by striking community and
inserting region; and
(ii) by inserting , as determined by the
Secretary based on information provided by the non-Federal interest
after improvement; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
(c)
Prioritization
Projects recommended by the Secretary under
subsection (a) shall be given equivalent budget consideration and priority as
projects recommended solely by national economic development benefits.
(d)
Construction
(1)
In general
The Secretary may plan, design, or
construct projects for navigation in the noncontiguous States and territories
of the United States if the Secretary finds that the project is—
(A) technically feasible;
(B) environmentally sound; and
(C) economically justified.
(2)
Special rule
In evaluating and implementing a project
under this section, the Secretary shall allow the non-Federal interest to
participate in the financing of the project in accordance with the criteria
established for flood control projects in section 903(c) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–662; 100 Stat. 4184) if the detailed
project report evaluation indicates that applying that section is necessary to
implement the project.
(3)
Cost
The Federal share of the cost of carrying
out a project under this section shall not exceed $10,000,000.
(4)
Authorization of
appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out projects initiated by the Secretary
under this subsection $100,000,000 for fiscal years 2014 through
2023.
.
5018.
Multiagency
effort to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi River and Ohio
River basins and tributaries
(a)
Multiagency
effort To slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River
basins and tributaries
(1)
In
general
The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, in coordination with the Chief of Engineers, the Director of the
National Park Service, and the Director of the United States Geological Survey,
shall lead a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper
Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries by providing high-level
technical assistance, coordination, best practices, and support to State and
local governments in carrying out activities designed to slow, and eventually
eliminate, the threat posed by Asian carp.
(2)
Best
practices
To the maximum extent practicable, the multiagency
effort shall apply lessons learned and best practices such as those described
in the document prepared by the Asian Carp Working Group entitled
Management and Control Plan for Bighead, Black, Grass, and Silver Carps
in the United States, and dated November 2007, and the document
prepared by the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee entitled FY
2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework and dated February
2012.
(b)
Report to
Congress
(1)
In
general
Not later than December 31 of each year, the Director of
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in coordination with the Chief of
Engineers, shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Appropriations and the Committee on Environmental and Public Works of the
Senate a report describing the coordinated strategies established and progress
made toward goals to control and eliminate Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi
and Ohio River basins and tributaries.
(2)
Contents
Each
report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A) any observed
changes in the range of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River
basins and tributaries during the 2-year period preceding submission of the
report;
(B) a summary of
Federal agency efforts, including cooperative efforts with non-Federal
partners, to control the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio
River basins and tributaries;
(C) any research that
the Director determines could improve the ability to control the spread of
Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and
tributaries;
(D) any quantitative
measures that Director intends to use to document progress in controlling the
spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and
tributaries; and
(E) a cross-cut
accounting of Federal and non-Federal expenditures to control the spread of
Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and
tributaries.
5019.
Release of
use restrictions
Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Tennessee Valley Authority shall, without monetary consideration, grant
releases from real estate restrictions established pursuant to section 4(k)(b)
of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 (16 U.S.C. 831c(k)(b)) with
respect to tracts of land identified in section 4(k)(b) of that Act; provided
that such releases shall be granted in a manner consistent with applicable TVA
policies.
5020.
Rights and
responsibilities of Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma regarding W.D. Mayo Lock and
Dam, Oklahoma
Section 1117 of
the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–662; 100 Stat. 4236)
is amended to read as follows:
1117.
W.D. Mayo Lock
and Dam, Oklahoma
(a)
In
general
Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma has
authorization—
(1) to design and
construct 1 or more hydroelectric generating facilities at the W.D. Mayo Lock
and Dam on the Arkansas River in the State of Oklahoma, subject to the
requirements of subsection (b) and in accordance with the conditions specified
in this section; and
(2) to market the
electricity generated from any such hydroelectric generating facility.
(b)
Preconstruction
requirements
(1)
In
general
The Cherokee Nation
shall obtain any permit required by Federal or State law before the date on
which construction begins on any hydroelectric generating facility under
subsection (a).
(2)
Review by
Secretary
The Cherokee Nation
may initiate the design or construction of a hydroelectric generating facility
under subsection (a) only after the Secretary reviews and approves the plans
and specifications for the design and construction.
(c)
Payment of
design and construction costs
(1)
In
general
The Cherokee Nation
shall—
(A) bear all costs
associated with the design and construction of any hydroelectric generating
facility under subsection (a); and
(B) provide any funds
necessary for the design and construction to the Secretary prior to the
Secretary initiating any activities relating to the design and construction of
the hydroelectric generating facility.
(2)
Use by
Secretary
The Secretary
may—
(A) accept funds offered by the Cherokee Nation
under paragraph (1); and
(B) use the funds to carry out the design and
construction of any hydroelectric generating facility under subsection
(a).
(d)
Assumption of
liability
The Cherokee
Nation—
(1) shall hold all title to any hydroelectric
generating facility constructed under this section;
(2) may, subject to the approval of the
Secretary, assign that title to a third party;
(3) shall be solely
responsible for—
(A) the operation,
maintenance, repair, replacement, and rehabilitation of any such facility;
and
(B) the marketing of
the electricity generated by any such facility; and
(4) shall release and
indemnify the United States from any claims, causes of action, or liabilities
that may arise out of any activity undertaken to carry out this section.
(e)
Assistance
available
Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, the Secretary may provide any technical and
construction management assistance requested by the Cherokee Nation relating to
the design and construction of any hydroelectric generating facility under
subsection (a).
(f)
Third party
agreements
The Cherokee
Nation may enter into agreements with the Secretary or a third party that the
Cherokee Nation or the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this
section.
.
5021.
Upper
Mississippi River protection
(a)
Definition of
Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam
In this section, the term
Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam means the lock and dam
located on Mississippi River mile 853.9 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(b)
Economic impact
study
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding the impact of
closing the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam on the economic and
environmental well-being of the State of Minnesota.
(c)
Mandatory
closure
Notwithstanding subsection (b) and not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall close the Upper
St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam if the Secretary determines that the annual
average tonnage moving through the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam for the
preceding 5 years is not more than 1,500,000 tons.
(d)
Emergency
operations
Nothing in this section prevents the Secretary from
carrying out emergency lock operations necessary to mitigate flood
damage.
5022.
Arctic Deep
draft port development partnerships
(a)
In
general
The Secretary may
provide technical assistance, including planning, design, and construction
assistance, to non-Federal public entities, including Indian tribes (as defined
in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), for the development,
construction, operation, and maintenance of channels, harbors, and related
infrastructure associated with deep draft ports for purposes of dealing with
Arctic development and security needs.
(b)
Acceptance of
funds
The Secretary is
authorized to accept and expend funds provided by non-Federal public entities,
including Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), to carry out the activities
described in subsection (a).
(c)
Limitation
No assistance may be provided under this
section until after the date on which the entity to which that assistance is to
be provided enters into a written agreement with the Secretary that includes
such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate and in
the public interest.
(d)
Prioritization
The
Secretary shall prioritize Arctic deep draft ports identified by the Army
Corps, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of
Defense.
5023.
Greater
Mississippi River Basin severe flooding and drought management study
(a)
Definitions
In
this section:
(1)
Greater
mississippi river basin
The term greater Mississippi River
Basin means the area covered by hydrologic units 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11,
as identified by the United States Geological Survey as of the date of
enactment of this Act.
(2)
Lower
mississippi river
The term lower Mississippi River
means the portion of the Mississippi River that begins at the confluence of the
Ohio River and flows to the Gulf of Mexico.
(3)
Middle
mississippi river
The term middle Mississippi River
means the portion of the Mississippi River that begins at the confluence of the
Missouri River and flows to the lower Mississippi River.
(4)
Severe flooding
and drought
The term severe flooding and drought
means severe weather events that threaten personal safety, property, and
navigation on the inland waterways of the United States.
(b)
In
general
The Secretary shall carry out a study of the greater
Mississippi River Basin—
(1) to improve the
coordinated and comprehensive management of water resource projects in the
greater Mississippi River Basin relating to severe flooding and drought
conditions; and
(2) to evaluate the
feasibility of any modifications to those water resource projects, consistent
with the authorized purposes of those projects, and develop new water resource
projects to improve the reliability of navigation and more effectively reduce
flood risk.
(c)
Contents
The
study shall—
(1) identify any
Federal actions that are likely to prevent and mitigate the impacts of severe
flooding and drought, including changes to authorized channel dimensions,
operational procedures of locks and dams, and reservoir management within the
greater Mississippi River Basin, consistent with the authorized purposes of the
water resource projects;
(2) identify and make
recommendations to remedy challenges to the Corps of Engineers presented by
severe flooding and drought, including river access, in carrying out its
mission to maintain safe, reliable navigation, consistent with the authorized
purposes of the water resource projects in the greater Mississippi River Basin;
and
(3) identify and
locate natural or other physical impediments along the middle and lower
Mississippi River to maintaining navigation on the middle and lower Mississippi
River during periods of low water.
(d)
Consultation
and use of existing data
In carrying out the study, the Secretary
shall—
(1) consult with
appropriate committees of Congress, Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies,
environmental interests, agricultural interests, recreational interests, river
navigation industry representatives, other shipping and business interests,
organized labor, and nongovernmental organizations;
(2) to the maximum
extent practicable, use data in existence as of the date of enactment of this
Act; and
(3) incorporate
lessons learned and best practices developed as a result of past severe
flooding and drought events, including major floods and the successful effort
to maintain navigation during the near historic low water levels on the
Mississippi River during the winter of 2012–2013.
(e)
Cost-sharing
The
Federal share of the cost of carrying out the study under this section shall be
100 percent.
(f)
Report
Not
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report on the study carried out under this section.
(g)
Savings
clause
Nothing in this section impacts the operations and
maintenance of the Missouri River Mainstem System, as authorized by the Act of
December 22, 1944 (58 Stat. 897, chapter 665).
5024.
Cape Arundel
Disposal Site, Maine
(a)
In
general
The Secretary, in
concurrence with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is
authorized to reopen the Cape Arundel Disposal Site selected by the Department
of the Army as an alternative dredged material disposal site under section
103(b) of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33
U.S.C. 1413(b)) (referred to in this section as the
Site).
(b)
Deadline
The Site may remain open under subsection
(a) until the earlier of—
(1) the date on which the Site does not have
any remaining disposal capacity;
(2) the date on which an environmental impact
statement designating an alternative dredged material disposal site for
southern Maine has been completed; or
(3) the date that is
5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(c)
Limitations
The use of the Site as a dredged material
disposal site under subsection (a) shall be subject to the conditions
that—
(1) conditions at the Site remain suitable for
the continued use of the Site as a dredged material disposal site; and
(2) the Site not be used for the disposal of
more than 80,000 cubic yards from any single dredging project.
VI
Levee safety
6001.
Short title
This title may be cited as the
National Levee Safety Program Act.
6002.
Findings; purposes
(a)
Findings
Congress finds that—
(1) there is a need to establish a national
levee safety program to provide national leadership and encourage the
establishment of State and tribal levee safety programs;
(2) according to the National Committee on
Levee Safety, the level of protection and robustness of design and
construction of levees vary considerably across the country;
(3) knowing the location, condition, and
ownership of levees, as well as understanding the population and infrastructure
at risk in leveed areas, is necessary for identification and prioritization of
activities associated with levees;
(4) levees are an important tool for reducing
flood risk and should be considered in the context of broader flood risk
management efforts;
(5) States and Indian tribes—
(A) are uniquely positioned to oversee,
coordinate, and regulate local and regional levee systems; and
(B) should be encouraged to participate in a
national levee safety program by establishing individual levee safety programs;
and
(6) States, Indian tribes, and local
governments that do not invest in protecting the individuals and property
located behind levees place those individuals and property at risk.
(b)
Purposes
The purposes of this title are—
(1) to promote sound technical practices in
levee design, construction, operation, inspection, assessment, security, and
maintenance;
(2) to ensure effective public education and
awareness of risks involving levees;
(3) to establish and maintain a national levee
safety program that emphasizes the protection of human life and property;
and
(4) to implement solutions and incentives that
encourage the establishment of effective State and tribal levee safety
programs.
6003.
Definitions
In this title:
(1)
Board
The term Board means the
National Levee Safety Advisory Board established under section 6005.
(2)
Canal structure
(A)
In general
The term canal structure means
an embankment, wall, or structure along a canal or manmade watercourse
that—
(i) constrains water flows;
(ii) is subject to frequent water loading;
and
(iii) is an integral part of a flood risk
reduction system that protects the leveed area from flood waters associated
with hurricanes, precipitation events, seasonal high water, and other
weather-related events.
(B)
Exclusion
The term canal structure does
not include a barrier across a watercourse.
(3)
Federal
agency
The term Federal
agency means a Federal agency that designs, finances, constructs, owns,
operates, maintains, or regulates the construction, operation, or maintenance
of a levee.
(4)
Flood damage reduction system
The term flood damage reduction
system means a system designed and constructed to have appreciable and
dependable effects in reducing damage by floodwaters.
(5)
Flood mitigation
The term flood mitigation
means any structural or nonstructural measure that reduces risks of flood
damage by reducing the probability of flooding, the consequences of flooding,
or both.
(6)
Floodplain management
The term floodplain management
means the operation of a community program of corrective and preventative
measures for reducing flood damage.
(7)
Indian tribe
The term Indian tribe has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
(8)
Levee
(A)
In general
The term levee means a manmade
barrier (such as an embankment, floodwall, or other structure)—
(i) the primary purpose of which is to provide
hurricane, storm, or flood protection relating to seasonal high water, storm
surges, precipitation, or other weather events; and
(ii) that is normally subject to water loading
for only a few days or weeks during a calendar year.
(B)
Inclusions
The term levee includes a
levee system, including—
(i) levees and canal structures that—
(I) constrain water flows;
(II) are subject to more frequent water loading;
and
(III) do not constitute a barrier across a
watercourse; and
(ii) roadway and railroad embankments, but only
to the extent that the embankments are integral to the performance of a flood
damage reduction system.
(C)
Exclusions
The term levee does not
include—
(i) a roadway or railroad embankment that is
not integral to the performance of a flood damage reduction system;
(ii) a canal constructed completely within
natural ground without any manmade structure (such as an embankment or
retaining wall to retain water or a case in which water is retained only by
natural ground);
(iii) a canal regulated by a Federal or State
agency in a manner that ensures that applicable Federal safety criteria are
met;
(iv) a levee or canal structure—
(I) that is not a part of a Federal flood
damage reduction system;
(II) that is not recognized under the National
Flood Insurance Program as providing protection from the
1-percent-annual-chance or greater flood;
(III) that is not greater than 3 feet
high;
(IV) the population in the leveed area of which
is less than 50 individuals; and
(V) the leveed area of which is less than 1,000
acres; or
(v) any shoreline protection or river bank
protection system (such as revetments or barrier islands).
(9)
Levee feature
The term levee feature means a
structure that is critical to the functioning of a levee, including—
(A) an embankment section;
(B) a floodwall section;
(C) a closure structure;
(D) a pumping station;
(E) an interior drainage work; and
(F) a flood damage reduction channel.
(10)
Levee safety guidelines
The term levee safety
guidelines means the guidelines established by the Secretary under
section 6004(c)(1).
(11)
Levee segment
The term levee segment means a
discrete portion of a levee system that is owned, operated, and maintained by a
single entity or discrete set of entities.
(12)
Levee system
The term levee system means 1
or more levee segments, including all levee features that are interconnected
and necessary to ensure protection of the associated leveed areas—
(A) that collectively provide flood damage
reduction to a defined area; and
(B) the failure of 1 of which may result in the
failure of the entire system.
(13)
Leveed area
The term leveed area means the
land from which flood water in the adjacent watercourse is excluded by the
levee system.
(14)
National levee database
The term national levee
database means the levee database established under section 9004 of the
Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 3303).
(15)
Participating program
The term participating program
means a levee safety program developed by a State or Indian tribe that includes
the minimum components necessary for recognition by the Secretary.
(16)
Rehabilitation
The term rehabilitation means
the repair, replacement, reconstruction, removal of a levee, or reconfiguration
of a levee system, including a setback levee, that is carried out to reduce
flood risk or meet national levee safety guidelines.
(17)
Risk
The term risk means a measure
of the probability and severity of undesirable consequences.
(18)
Secretary
The term Secretary means the
Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers.
(19)
State
The term State means—
(A) each of the several States of the United
States;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(D) Guam;
(E) American Samoa;
(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands;
(G) the Federated States of Micronesia;
(H) the Republic of the Marshall
Islands;
(I) the Republic of Palau; and
(J) the United States Virgin Islands.
6004.
National levee safety program
(a)
Establishment
The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall establish a
national levee safety program to provide national leadership and consistent
approaches to levee safety, including—
(1) a national levee database;
(2) an inventory and inspection of Federal and
non-Federal levees;
(3) national levee safety guidelines;
(4) a hazard potential classification system
for Federal and non-Federal levees;
(5) research and development;
(6) a national public education and awareness
program, with an emphasis on communication regarding the residual risk to
communities protected by levees and levee systems;
(7) coordination of levee safety, floodplain
management, and environmental protection activities;
(8) development of State and tribal levee
safety programs; and
(9) the provision of technical assistance and
materials to States and Indian tribes relating to—
(A) developing levee safety programs;
(B) identifying and reducing flood risks
associated with residual risk to communities protected by levees and levee
systems;
(C) identifying local actions that may be
carried out to reduce flood risks in leveed areas; and
(D) rehabilitating, improving, replacing,
reconfiguring, modifying, and removing levees and levee systems.
(b)
Management
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall appoint—
(A) an administrator of the national levee
safety program; and
(B) such staff as is necessary to implement the
program.
(2)
Administrator
The sole duty of the administrator
appointed under paragraph (1)(A) shall be the management of the national levee
safety program.
(c)
Levee safety guidelines
(1)
Establishment
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency and in coordination with State and
local governments and organizations with expertise in levee safety, shall
establish a set of voluntary, comprehensive, national levee safety guidelines
that—
(A) are available for common, uniform use by
all Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies;
(B) incorporate policies, procedures,
standards, and criteria for a range of levee types, canal structures, and
related facilities and features; and
(C) provide for adaptation to local, regional,
or watershed conditions.
(2)
Requirement
The policies, procedures, standards, and
criteria under paragraph (1)(B) shall be developed taking into consideration
the levee hazard potential classification system established under subsection
(d).
(3)
Adoption by federal agencies
All Federal agencies shall consider the
levee safety guidelines in activities relating to the management of
levees.
(4)
Public
comment
Prior to finalizing
the guidelines under this subsection, the Secretary shall—
(A) issue draft guidelines for public comment;
and
(B) consider any comments received in the
development of final guidelines.
(d)
Hazard potential classification
system
(1)
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish a hazard
potential classification system for use under the national levee safety program
and participating programs.
(2)
Revision
The Secretary shall review and, as
necessary, revise the hazard potential classification system not less
frequently than once every 5 years.
(3)
Consistency
The hazard potential classification system
established pursuant to this subsection shall be consistent with and
incorporated into the levee safety action classification tool developed by the
Corps of Engineers.
(e)
Technical assistance and materials
(1)
Establishment
The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and in coordination
with the Board, shall establish a national levee safety technical assistance
and training program to develop and deliver technical support and technical
assistance materials, curricula, and training in order to promote levee safety
and assist States, communities, and levee owners in—
(A) developing levee safety programs;
(B) identifying and reducing flood risks
associated with levees;
(C) identifying local actions that may be
carried out to reduce flood risks in leveed areas; and
(D) rehabilitating, improving, replacing,
reconfiguring, modifying, and removing levees and levee systems.
(2)
Use of services
In establishing the national levee safety
training program under paragraph (1), the Secretary may use the services
of—
(A) the Corps of Engineers;
(B) the Federal Emergency Management
Agency;
(C) the Bureau of Reclamation; and
(D) other appropriate Federal agencies, as
determined by the Secretary.
(f)
Comprehensive national public education and
awareness campaign
(1)
Establishment
The Secretary, in coordination with the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Board, shall
establish a national public education and awareness campaign relating to the
national levee safety program.
(2)
Purposes
The purposes of the campaign under
paragraph (1) are—
(A) to educate individuals living in leveed
areas regarding the risks of living in those areas;
(B) to promote consistency in the transmission
of information regarding levees among government agencies; and
(C) to provide national leadership regarding
risk communication for implementation at the State and local levels.
(g)
Coordination of levee safety, floodplain
management, and environmental concerns
The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and in coordination
with the Board, shall evaluate opportunities to coordinate—
(1) public safety, floodplain management, and
environmental protection activities relating to levees; and
(2) environmental permitting processes for
operation and maintenance activities at existing levee projects in compliance
with all applicable laws.
(h)
Levee Inspection
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall carry out a one-time
inventory and inspection of all levees identified in the national levee
database.
(2)
No Federal interest
The inventory and inspection under
paragraph (1) does not create a Federal interest in the construction,
operation, or maintenance any levee that is included in the inventory or
inspected under this subsection.
(3)
Inspection criteria
In carrying out the inventory and
inspection, the Secretary shall use the levee safety action classification
criteria to determine whether a levee should be classified in the inventory as
requiring a more comprehensive inspection.
(4)
State and tribal
participation
At the request
of a State or Indian tribe with respect to any levee subject to inspection
under this subsection, the Secretary shall—
(A) allow an official of the State or Indian
tribe to participate in the inspection of the levee; and
(B) provide information to the State or Indian
tribe relating to the location, construction, operation, or maintenance of the
levee.
(5)
Exceptions
In carrying out the inventory and
inspection under this subsection, the Secretary shall not be required to
inspect any levee that has been inspected by a State or Indian tribe using the
same methodology described in paragraph (3) during the 1-year period
immediately preceding the date of enactment of this Act if the Governor of the
State or tribal government, as applicable, requests an exemption from the
inspection.
(i)
State and tribal levee safety
program
(1)
Guidelines
(A)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency and in coordination with the Board, the Secretary
shall issue guidelines that establish the minimum components necessary for
recognition of a State or tribal levee safety program as a participating
program.
(B)
Guideline contents
The guidelines under subparagraph (A) shall
include provisions and procedures requiring each participating State and Indian
tribe to certify to the Secretary that the State or Indian tribe, as
applicable—
(i) has the authority to participate in the
national levee safety program;
(ii) can receive funds under this title;
(iii) has adopted any national levee safety
guidelines developed under this title;
(iv) will carry out levee inspections;
(v) will carry out, consistent with applicable
requirements, flood risk management and any emergency action planning
procedures the Secretary determines to be necessary relating to levees;
(vi) will carry out public education and
awareness activities consistent with the national public education and
awareness campaign established under subsection (f); and
(vii) will collect and share information
regarding the location and condition of levees.
(C)
Public
comment
Prior to finalizing
the guidelines under this paragraph, the Secretary shall—
(i) issue draft guidelines for public comment;
and
(ii) consider any comments received in the
development of final guidelines.
(2)
Grant program
(A)
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish a program
under which the Secretary shall provide grants to assist States and Indian
tribes in establishing participating programs, conducting levee inventories,
and carrying out this title.
(B)
Requirements
To be eligible to receive grants under this
section, a State or Indian tribe shall—
(i) meet the requirements of a participating
program established by the guidelines issued under paragraph (1);
(ii) use not less than 25 percent of any amounts
received to identify and assess non-Federal levees within the State or on land
of the Indian tribe;
(iii) submit to the Secretary any information
collected by the State or Indian tribe in carrying out this subsection for
inclusion in the national levee safety database; and
(iv) identify actions to address hazard
mitigation activities associated with levees and leveed areas identified in the
hazard mitigation plan of the State approved by the Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
(C)
Measures to
assess effectiveness
Not later than 1 year after the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall implement quantifiable performance measures and
metrics to assess the effectiveness of the grant program established in
accordance with subparagraph (A).
(j)
Levee rehabilitation assistance
program
(1)
Establishment
The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall establish a
program under which the Secretary shall provide assistance to States, Indian
tribes, and local governments in addressing flood mitigation activities that
result in an overall reduction in flood risk.
(2)
Requirements
To be eligible to receive assistance under
this subsection, a State, Indian tribe, or local government shall—
(A) participate in, and comply with, all
applicable Federal floodplain management and flood insurance programs;
(B) have in place a hazard mitigation plan
that—
(i) includes all levee risks; and
(ii) complies with the Disaster Mitigation Act
of 2000 (Public Law 106–390; 114 Stat. 1552);
(C) submit to the Secretary an application at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require; and
(D) comply with such minimum eligibility
requirements as the Secretary, in consultation with the Board, may establish to
ensure that each owner and operator of a levee under a participating State or
tribal levee safety program—
(i) acts in accordance with the guidelines
developed in subsection (c); and
(ii) carries out activities relating to the
public in the leveed area in accordance with the hazard mitigation plan
described in subparagraph (B).
(3)
Floodplain management plans
(A)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of
execution of a project agreement for assistance under this subsection, a State,
Indian tribe, or local government shall prepare a floodplain management plan in
accordance with the guidelines under subparagraph (D) to reduce the impacts of
future flood events in each applicable leveed area.
(B)
Inclusions
A plan under subparagraph (A) shall address
potential measures, practices, and policies to reduce loss of life, injuries,
damage to property and facilities, public expenditures, and other adverse
impacts of flooding in each applicable leveed area.
(C)
Implementation
Not later than 1 year after the date of
completion of construction of the applicable project, a floodplain management
plan prepared under subparagraph (A) shall be implemented.
(D)
Guidelines
Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall develop such guidelines for the
preparation of floodplain management plans prepared under this paragraph as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(E)
Technical support
The Secretary may provide technical support
for the development and implementation of floodplain management plans prepared
under this paragraph.
(4)
Use of funds
(A)
In general
Assistance provided under this subsection
may be used—
(i) for any rehabilitation activity to maximize
overall risk reduction associated with a levee under a participating State or
tribal levee safety program; and
(ii) only for a levee that is not federally
operated and maintained.
(B)
Prohibition
Assistance provided under this subsection
shall not be used—
(i) to perform routine operation or maintenance
for a levee; or
(ii) to make any modification to a levee that
does not result in an improvement to public safety.
(5)
No proprietary interest
A contract for assistance provided under
this subsection shall not be considered to confer any proprietary interest on
the United States.
(6)
Cost-share
The maximum Federal share of the cost of
any assistance provided under this subsection shall be 65 percent.
(7)
Project limit
The maximum amount of Federal assistance
for a project under this subsection shall be $10,000,000.
(8)
Other laws
Assistance provided under this subsection
shall be subject to all applicable laws (including regulations) that apply to
the construction of a civil works project of the Corps of Engineers.
(k)
Effect of section
Nothing in this section—
(1) affects the requirement under section
100226(b)(2) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42
U.S.C. 4101 note; 126 Stat. 942); or
(2) confers any regulatory authority on—
(A) the Secretary; or
(B) the Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, including for the purpose of setting premium rates under the
national flood insurance program established under chapter 1 of the National
Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.).
6005.
National levee safety advisory
board
(a)
Establishment
The Secretary, in coordination with the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall establish a
board, to be known as the National Levee Safety Advisory
Board—
(1) to advise the Secretary and Congress
regarding consistent approaches to levee safety;
(2) to monitor the safety of levees in the
United States;
(3) to assess the effectiveness of the national
levee safety program; and
(4) to ensure that the national levee safety
program is carried out in a manner that is consistent with other Federal flood
risk management efforts.
(b)
Membership
(1)
Voting
members
The Board shall be
composed of the following 14 voting members, each of whom shall be appointed by
the Secretary, with priority consideration given to representatives from those
States that have the most Corps of Engineers levees in the State, based on
mileage:
(A) 8 representatives of State levee safety
programs, 1 from each of the civil works divisions of the Corps of
Engineers.
(B) 2 representatives of the private sector who
have expertise in levee safety.
(C) 2 representatives of local and regional
governmental agencies who have expertise in levee safety.
(D) 2 representatives of Indian tribes who have
expertise in levee safety.
(2)
Nonvoting members
The Secretary (or a designee of the
Secretary), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or a
designee of the Administrator), and the administrator of the national levee
safety program appointed under section 6004(b)(1)(A) shall serve as nonvoting
members of the Board.
(3)
Chairperson
The voting members of the Board shall
appoint a chairperson from among the voting members of the Board, to serve a
term of not more than 2 years.
(c)
Qualifications
(1)
Individuals
Each voting member of the Board shall be
knowledgeable in the field of levee safety, including water resources and flood
risk management.
(2)
As a whole
The membership of the Board, considered as
a whole, shall represent the diversity of skills required to advise the
Secretary regarding levee issues relating to—
(A) engineering;
(B) public communications;
(C) program development and oversight;
(D) with respect to levees, flood risk
management and hazard mitigation; and
(E) public safety and the environment.
(d)
Terms of service
(1)
In general
A voting member of the Board shall be
appointed for a term of 3 years, except that, of the members first
appointed—
(A) 5 shall be appointed for a term of 1
year;
(B) 5 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years;
and
(C) 4 shall be appointed for a term of 3
years.
(2)
Reappointment
A voting member of the Board may be
reappointed to the Board, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(3)
Vacancies
A vacancy on the Board shall be filled in
the same manner as the original appointment was made.
(e)
Standing committees
(1)
In general
The Board shall be supported by Standing
Committees, which shall be comprised of volunteers from all levels of
government and the private sector, to advise the Board regarding the national
levee safety program.
(2)
Establishment
The Standing Committees of the Board shall
include—
(A) the Standing Committee on Participating
Programs, which shall advise the Board regarding—
(i) the development and implementation of State
and tribal levee safety programs; and
(ii) appropriate incentives (including financial
assistance) to be provided to States, Indian tribes, and local and regional
entities;
(B) the Standing Committee on Technical Issues,
which shall advise the Board regarding—
(i) the management of the national levee
database;
(ii) the development and maintenance of levee
safety guidelines;
(iii) processes and materials for developing
levee-related technical assistance and training; and
(iv) research and development activities
relating to levee safety;
(C) the Standing Committee on Public Education
and Awareness, which shall advise the Board regarding the development,
implementation, and evaluation of targeted public outreach programs—
(i) to gather public input;
(ii) to educate and raise awareness in leveed
areas of levee risks;
(iii) to communicate information regarding
participating programs; and
(iv) to track the effectiveness of public
education efforts relating to levee risks;
(D) the Standing Committee on Safety and
Environment, which shall advise the Board regarding—
(i) operation and maintenance activities for
existing levee projects;
(ii) opportunities to coordinate public safety,
floodplain management, and environmental protection activities relating to
levees;
(iii) opportunities to coordinate environmental
permitting processes for operation and maintenance activities at existing levee
projects in compliance with all applicable laws; and
(iv) opportunities for collaboration by
environmental protection and public safety interests in leveed areas and
adjacent areas; and
(E) such other standing committees as the
Secretary, in consultation with the Board, determines to be necessary.
(3)
Membership
(A)
In general
The Board shall recommend to the Secretary
for approval individuals for membership on the Standing Committees.
(B)
Qualifications
(i)
Individuals
Each member of a Standing Committee shall
be knowledgeable in the issue areas for which the Committee is charged with
advising the Board.
(ii)
As a whole
The membership of each Standing Committee,
considered as a whole, shall represent, to the maximum extent practicable,
broad geographical diversity.
(C)
Limitation
Each Standing Committee shall be comprised
of not more than 10 members.
(f)
Duties and powers
The Board—
(1) shall submit to the Secretary and Congress
an annual report regarding the effectiveness of the national levee safety
program in accordance with section 6007; and
(2) may secure from other Federal agencies such
services, and enter into such contracts, as the Board determines to be
necessary to carry out this subsection.
(g)
Task force coordination
The Board shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, coordinate the activities of the Board with the Federal
Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force.
(h)
Compensation
(1)
Federal employees
Each member of the Board who is an officer
or employee of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition
to compensation received for the services of the member as an officer or
employee of the United States, but shall be allowed a per diem allowance for
travel expenses, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the
home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the
duties of the Board.
(2)
Non-federal employees
To the extent amounts are made available to
carry out this section in appropriations Acts, the Secretary shall provide to
each member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the United States
a stipend and a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates authorized for
an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the
member in performance of services for the Board.
(3)
Standing committee members
Each member of a Standing Committee
shall—
(A) serve in a voluntary capacity; but
(B) receive a per diem allowance for travel
expenses, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or
regular place of business of the member in performance of services for the
Board.
(i)
Nonapplicability of FACA
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Board or the Standing Committees.
6006.
Inventory and inspection of
levees
Section 9004(a)(2)(A)
of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 3303(a)(2)(A)) is
amended by striking and, for non-Federal levees, such information on
levee location as is provided to the Secretary by State and local governmental
agencies and inserting and updated levee information provided by
States, Indian tribes, Federal agencies, and other entities.
6007.
Reports
(a)
State of levees
(1)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary in coordination
with the Board, shall submit to Congress a report describing the state of
levees in the United States and the effectiveness of the national levee safety
program, including—
(A) progress achieved in implementing the
national levee safety program;
(B) State and tribal participation in the
national levee safety program;
(C) recommendations to improve coordination of
levee safety, floodplain management, and environmental protection concerns,
including—
(i) identifying and evaluating opportunities to
coordinate public safety, floodplain management, and environmental protection
activities relating to levees; and
(ii) evaluating opportunities to coordinate
environmental permitting processes for operation and maintenance activities at
existing levee projects in compliance with all applicable laws; and
(D) any recommendations for legislation and
other congressional actions necessary to ensure national levee safety.
(2)
Inclusion
Each report under paragraph (1) shall
include a report of the Board that describes the independent recommendations of
the Board for the implementation of the national levee safety program.
(b)
National dam and levee safety
program
Not later than 3
years after the date of enactment of this Act, to the maximum extent
practicable, the Secretary, in coordination with the Board, shall submit to
Congress a report that includes recommendations regarding the advisability and
feasibility of, and potential approaches for, establishing a joint national dam
and levee safety program.
(c)
Alignment of Federal programs relating to
levees
Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit
to Congress a report on opportunities for alignment of Federal programs to
provide incentives to State, tribal, and local governments and individuals and
entities—
(1) to promote shared responsibility for levee
safety;
(2) to encourage the development of strong
State and tribal levee safety programs;
(3) to better align the national levee safety
program with other Federal flood risk management programs; and
(4) to promote increased levee safety through
other Federal programs providing assistance to State and local
governments.
(d)
Liability for certain levee engineering
projects
Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report that includes recommendations that identify and address any
legal liability associated with levee engineering projects that prevent—
(1) levee owners from obtaining needed levee
engineering services; or
(2) development and implementation of a State
or tribal levee safety program.
6008.
Effect of title
Nothing in this title—
(1) establishes any liability of the United
States or any officer or employee of the United States (including the Board and
the Standing Committees of the Board) for any damages caused by any action or
failure to act; or
(2) relieves an owner or operator of a levee of
any legal duty, obligation, or liability incident to the ownership or operation
of the levee.
6009.
Authorization of
appropriations
There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title—
(1) for funding the administration and staff of
the national levee safety program, the Board, the Standing Committees of the
Board, and participating programs, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014
through 2023;
(2) for technical programs, including the
development of levee safety guidelines, publications, training, and technical
assistance—
(A) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014
through 2018;
(B) $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2019
and 2020; and
(C) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021
through 2023;
(3) for public involvement and education
programs, $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023;
(4) to carry out the levee inventory and
inspections under section 9004 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007
(33 U.S.C. 3303), $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through
2018;
(5) for grants to State and tribal levee safety
programs, $300,000,000 for fiscal years 2014 through 2023; and
(6) for levee rehabilitation assistance grants,
$300,000,000 for fiscal years 2014 through 2023.
VII
Inland waterways
7001.
Purposes
The purposes of this title are—
(1) to improve program and project management
relating to the construction and major rehabilitation of navigation projects on
inland waterways;
(2) to optimize inland waterways navigation
system reliability;
(3) to minimize the size and scope of inland
waterways navigation project completion schedules;
(4) to eliminate preventable delays in inland
waterways navigation project completion schedules; and
(5) to make inland waterways navigation capital
investments through the use of prioritization criteria that seek to maximize
systemwide benefits and minimize overall system risk.
7002.
Definitions
In this title:
(1)
Inland Waterways Trust Fund
The term Inland Waterways Trust
Fund means the Inland Waterways Trust Fund established by section
9506(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(2)
Qualifying project
The term qualifying project
means any construction or major rehabilitation project for navigation
infrastructure of the inland and intracoastal waterways that is—
(A) authorized before, on, or after the date of
enactment of this Act;
(B) not completed on the date of enactment of
this Act; and
(C) funded at least in part from the Inland
Waterways Trust Fund.
(3)
Secretary
The term Secretary means the
Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers.
7003.
Project delivery process reforms
(a)
Requirements for qualifying
projects
With respect to each
qualifying project, the Secretary shall require—
(1) formal project management training and
certification for each project manager;
(2) assignment as project manager only of
personnel fully certified by the Chief of Engineers; and
(3) for an applicable cost estimation,
that—
(A) the estimation—
(i) is risk-based; and
(ii) has a confidence level of at least 80
percent; and
(B) a risk-based cost estimate shall be
implemented—
(i) for a qualified project that requires an
increase in the authorized amount in accordance with section 902 of the Water
Resources Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–662; 100 Stat. 4183), during
the preparation of a post-authorization change report or other similar decision
document;
(ii) for a qualified project for which the first
construction contract has not been awarded, prior to the award of the first
construction contract;
(iii) for a qualified project without a completed
Chief of Engineers report, prior to the completion of such a report; and
(iv) for a qualified project with a completed
Chief of Engineers report that has not yet been authorized, during design for
the qualified project.
(b)
Additional project delivery process
reforms
Not later than 18
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—
(1) establish a system to identify and apply on
a continuing basis lessons learned from prior or ongoing qualifying projects to
improve the likelihood of on-time and on-budget completion of qualifying
projects;
(2) evaluate early contractor involvement
acquisition procedures to improve on-time and on-budget project delivery
performance; and
(3) implement any additional measures that the
Secretary determines will achieve the purposes of this title and the amendments
made by this title, including, as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate—
(A) the implementation of applicable practices
and procedures developed pursuant to management by the Secretary of an
applicable military construction program;
(B) the establishment of 1 or more centers of
expertise for the design and review of qualifying projects;
(C) the development and use of a portfolio of
standard designs for inland navigation locks;
(D) the use of full-funding contracts or
formulation of a revised continuing contracts clause; and
(E) the establishment of procedures for
recommending new project construction starts using a capital projects business
model.
(c)
Pilot projects
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may
carry out 1 or more pilot projects to evaluate processes or procedures for the
study, design, or construction of qualifying projects.
(2)
Inclusions
At a minimum, the Secretary shall carry out
pilot projects under this subsection to evaluate—
(A) early contractor involvement in the
development of features and components;
(B) an appropriate use of continuing contracts
for the construction of features and components; and
(C) applicable principles, procedures, and
processes used for military construction projects.
(d)
Inland Waterways User Board
Section 302 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2251) is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting
the following:
(b)
Duties of Users Board
(1)
In general
The Users Board shall meet not less
frequently than semiannually to develop and make recommendations to the
Secretary and Congress regarding the inland waterways and inland harbors of the
United States.
(2)
Advice and recommendations
For commercial navigation features and
components of the inland waterways and inland harbors of the United States, the
Users Board shall provide—
(A) prior to the development of the budget
proposal of the President for a given fiscal year, advice and recommendations
to the Secretary regarding construction and rehabilitation priorities and
spending levels;
(B) advice and recommendations to Congress
regarding any report of the Chief of Engineers relating to those features and
components;
(C) advice and recommendations to Congress
regarding an increase in the authorized cost of those features and
components;
(D) not later than 60 days after the date of
the submission of the budget proposal of the President to Congress, advice and
recommendations to Congress regarding construction and rehabilitation
priorities and spending levels; and
(E) a long-term capital investment program in
accordance with subsection (d).
(3)
Project development teams
The chairperson of the Users Board shall
appoint a representative of the Users Board to serve on the project development
team for a qualifying project or the study or design of a commercial navigation
feature or component of the inland waterways and inland harbors of the United
States.
(4)
Independent judgment
Any advice or recommendation made by the
Users Board to the Secretary shall reflect the independent judgment of the
Users
Board.
;
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as
subsection (f); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the
following:
(c)
Duties of Secretary
The Secretary shall—
(1) communicate not less than once each quarter
to the Users Board the status of the study, design, or construction of all
commercial navigation features or components of the inland waterways or inland
harbors of the United States; and
(2) submit to the Users Board a courtesy copy
of all reports of the Chief of Engineers relating to a commercial navigation
feature or component of the inland waterways or inland harbors of the United
States.
(d)
Capital investment program
(1)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary, in coordination with the Users
Board, shall develop, and submit to Congress a report describing, a 20-year
program for making capital investments on the inland and intracoastal
waterways, based on the application of objective, national project selection
prioritization criteria.
(2)
Consideration
In developing the program under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall take into consideration the 20-year capital investment
strategy contained in the Inland Marine Transportation System (IMTS) Capital
Projects Business Model, Final Report published on April 13, 2010, as approved
by the Users Board.
(3)
Criteria
In developing the plan and prioritization
criteria under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent
practicable, that investments made under the 20-year program described in
paragraph (1)—
(A) are made in all geographical areas of the
inland waterways system; and
(B) ensure efficient funding of inland
waterways projects.
(4)
Strategic review and update
Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than once every 5 years
thereafter, the Secretary, in conjunction with the Users Board, shall—
(A) submit to Congress a strategic review of
the 20-year program in effect under this subsection, which shall identify and
explain any changes to the project-specific recommendations contained in the
previous 20-year program (including any changes to the prioritization criteria
used to develop the updated recommendations); and
(B) make such revisions to the program as the
Secretary and Users Board jointly consider to be appropriate.
(e)
Project management plans
The chairperson of the Users Board and the
project development team member appointed by the chairperson under subsection
(b)(3) shall sign the project management plan for the qualifying project or the
study or design of a commercial navigation feature or component of the inland
waterways and inland harbors of the United
States.
.
7004.
Major rehabilitation
standards
Section
205(1)(E)(ii) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (33 U.S.C.
2327(1)(E)(ii)) is amended by striking $8,000,000 and inserting
$20,000,000.
7005.
Inland waterways system revenues
(a)
Findings
Congress finds that—
(1) there are approximately 12,000 miles of
Federal waterways, known as the inland waterways system, that are supported by
user fees and managed by the Corps of Engineers;
(2) the inland waterways system spans 38 States
and handles approximately one-half of all inland waterway freight;
(3) according to the final report of the Inland
Marine Transportation System Capital Projects Business Model, freight traffic
on the Federal fuel-taxed inland waterways system accounts for 546,000,000 tons
of freight each year;
(4) expenditures for construction and major
rehabilitation projects on the inland waterways system are equally cost-shared
between the Federal Government and the Inland Waterways Trust Fund;
(5) the Inland Waterways Trust Fund is financed
through a fee of $0.20 per gallon on fuel used by commercial barges;
(6) the balance of the Inland Waterways Trust
Fund has declined significantly in recent years;
(7) according to the final report of the Inland
Marine Transportation System Capital Projects Business Model, the estimated
financial need for construction and major rehabilitation projects on the inland
waterways system for fiscal years 2011 through 2030 is approximately
$18,000,000,000; and
(8) users of the inland waterways system are
supportive of an increase in the existing revenue sources for inland waterways
system construction and major rehabilitation activities to expedite the most
critical of those construction and major rehabilitation projects.
(b)
Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the existing revenue sources for inland
waterways system construction and rehabilitation activities are insufficient to
cover the costs of non-Federal interests of construction and major
rehabilitation projects on the inland waterways system; and
(2) the issue described in paragraph (1) should
be addressed.
7006.
Efficiency of revenue
collection
Not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
prepare a report on the efficiency of collecting the fuel tax for the Inland
Waterways Trust Fund, which shall include—
(1) an evaluation of whether current methods of
collection of the fuel tax result in full compliance with requirements of the
law;
(2) whether alternative methods of collection
would result in increased revenues into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund;
and
(3) an evaluation of alternative collection
options.
7007.
GAO study, Olmsted Locks and Dam, Lower
Ohio River, Illinois and Kentucky
As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct, and submit to Congress a report describing the results of, a study to
determine why, and to what extent, the project for navigation, Lower Ohio
River, Locks and Dams 52 and 53, Illinois and Kentucky (commonly known as the
Olmsted Locks and Dam project), authorized by section 3(a)(6) of
the Water Resources Development Act of 1988 (102 Stat. 4013), has exceeded the
budget for the project and the reasons why the project failed to be completed
as scheduled, including an assessment of—
(1) engineering methods used for the
project;
(2) the management of the project;
(3) contracting for the project;
(4) the cost to the United States of benefits
foregone due to project delays; and
(5) such other contributory factors as the
Comptroller General determines to be appropriate.
7008.
Olmsted Locks and Dam, Lower Ohio River,
Illinois and Kentucky
Section
3(a)(6) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1988 (102 Stat. 4013) is
amended by striking and with the costs of construction and all
that follows through the period at the end and inserting which amounts
remaining after the date of enactment of this Act shall be appropriated from
the general fund of the Treasury..
VIII
Harbor maintenance
8001.
Short title
This title may be cited as the
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Act of
2013.
8002.
Purposes
The purposes of this title are—
(1) to ensure that revenues collected into the
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used for the intended purposes of those
revenues;
(2) to increase investment in the operation and
maintenance of United States ports, which are critical for the economic
competitiveness of the United States;
(3) to promote equity among ports
nationwide;
(4) to ensure United States ports are prepared
to meet modern shipping needs, including the capability to receive large ships
that require deeper drafts; and
(5) to prevent cargo diversion from United
States ports.
8003.
Funding for harbor maintenance
programs
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Total budget resources
The term total budget
resources means the total amount made available by appropriations Acts
from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for a fiscal year for making
expenditures under section 9505(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(2)
Level of receipts plus
interest
The term level
of receipts plus interest means the level of taxes and interest credited
to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund under section 9505 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 for a fiscal year as set forth in the President’s budget baseline
projection, as determined under section 257 of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 907) for that fiscal year
submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code.
(b)
Minimum resources
(1)
Minimum Resources
(A)
In general
The total budget resources made available
to the Secretary from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund shall be not less than
the lesser of—
(i)
(I) for fiscal year 2014,
$1,000,000,000;
(II) for fiscal year 2015,
$1,100,000,000;
(III) for fiscal year 2016,
$1,200,000,000;
(IV) for fiscal year 2017,
$1,300,000,000;
(V) for fiscal year 2018, $1,400,000,000;
and
(VI) for fiscal year 2019, $1,500,000,000;
and
(ii) the level of receipts plus interest
credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for that fiscal year.
(B)
Fiscal year 2020 and subsequent fiscal
years
For fiscal year 2020
and each fiscal year thereafter, the total budget resources made available to
the Secretary from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund shall be not less than the
level of receipts plus interest credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
for that fiscal year.
(2)
Use
of amounts
The amounts
described in paragraph (1) may be used only for harbor maintenance programs
described in section 9505(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(c)
Impact on other funds
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (3), subsection (b)(1)
shall not apply if providing the minimum resources required under that
subsection would result in making the amounts made available for the applicable
fiscal year to carry out all programs, projects, and activities of the civil
works program of the Corps of Engineers, other than the harbor maintenance
programs, to be less than the amounts made available for those purposes in the
previous fiscal year.
(2)
Calculation of amounts
For each fiscal year, the amounts made
available to carry out all programs, projects, and activities of the civil
works program of the Corps of Engineers shall not include any amounts that are
designated by Congress—
(A) as being for emergency requirements
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i)); or
(B) as being for disaster relief pursuant to
section 251(b)(2)(D) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act
of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(D)).
(3)
Exceptions
Paragraph (1) shall not apply if—
(A) amounts made available for the civil works
program of the Corps of Engineers for a fiscal year are less than the amounts
made available for the civil works program in the previous fiscal year;
and
(B) the reduction in amounts made
available—
(i) applies to all discretionary funds and
programs of the Federal Government; and
(ii) is applied to the civil works program in
the same percentage and manner as other discretionary funds and
programs.
8004.
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
prioritization
(a)
Policy
It
is the policy of the United States that the primary use of the Harbor
Maintenance Trust Fund is for maintaining the constructed widths and depths of
the commercial ports and harbors of the United States, and those functions
should be given first consideration in the budgeting of Harbor Maintenance
Trust Fund allocations.
(b)
In general
Section 210 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2238) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
(c)
Prioritization
(1)
Definitions
In this subsection:
(A)
Constructed width and depth
The term constructed width and
depth means the depth to which a project has been constructed, which
shall not exceed the authorized width and depth of the project.
(B)
Great Lakes Navigation System
The term Great Lakes Navigation
System includes—
(i)
(I) Lake Superior;
(II) Lake Huron;
(III) Lake Michigan;
(IV) Lake Erie; and
(V) Lake Ontario;
(ii) all connecting waters between the lakes
referred to in clause (i) used for commercial navigation;
(iii) any navigation features in the lakes
referred to in clause (i) or waters described in clause (ii) that are a Federal
operation or maintenance responsibility; and
(iv) areas of the Saint Lawrence River that are
operated or maintained by the Federal Government for commercial
navigation.
(C)
High-use deep draft
(i)
In general
The term high-use deep draft
means a project that has a depth of greater than 14 feet with not less than
10,000,000 tons of cargo annually.
(ii)
Exclusion
The term high-use deep draft
does not include a project located in the Great Lakes Navigation System.
(D)
Low-use
port
The term low-use port means a port at which not
more than 1,000,000 tons of cargo are transported each calendar year.
(E)
Moderate-use
port
The term moderate-use port means a port at
which more than 1,000,000, but fewer than 10,000,000, tons of cargo are
transported each calendar year.
(2)
Priority
Of
the amounts made available under this section to carry out projects described
in subsection (a)(2) that are in excess of the amounts made available to carry
out those projects in fiscal year 2012, the Secretary of the Army, acting
through the Chief of Engineers, shall give priority to those projects in the
following order:
(A)
(i) In any fiscal year in
which all projects subject to the harbor maintenance fee under section 24.24 of
title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation) are not
maintained to their constructed width and depth, the Secretary shall prioritize
amounts made available under this section for those projects that are high-use
deep draft and are a priority for navigation in the Great Lakes Navigation
System.
(ii) Of the amounts made available
under clause (i)—
(I) 80 percent shall be used for projects
that are high-use deep draft; and
(II) 20 percent shall be used for projects
that are a priority for navigation in the Great Lakes Navigation System.
(B) In any fiscal
year in which all projects identified as high-use deep draft are maintained to
their constructed width and depth, the Secretary shall—
(i) equally divide
among each of the districts of the Corps of Engineers in which eligible
projects are located 10 percent of remaining amounts made available under this
section for moderate-use and low-use port projects—
(I) that have
been maintained at less than their constructed width and depth due to
insufficient federal funding during the preceding 6 fiscal years; and
(II) for which
significant State and local investments in infrastructure have been made at
those projects during the preceding 6 fiscal years; and
(ii) prioritize any
remaining amounts made available under this section for those projects that are
not maintained to the minimum width and depth necessary to provide sufficient
clearance for fully loaded commercial vessels using those projects to maneuver
safely.
(3)
Administration
For
purposes of this subsection, State and local investments in infrastructure
shall include infrastructure investments made using amounts made available for
activities under section 105(a)(9) of the Housing and Community Development Act
of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(9)).
(4)
Exceptions
The
Secretary may prioritize a project not identified in paragraph (2) if the
Secretary determines that funding for the project is necessary to
address—
(A) hazardous
navigation conditions; or
(B) impacts of
natural disasters, including storms and droughts.
(5)
Reports to
Congress
Not later than September 30, 2013, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes,
with respect to the preceding fiscal year—
(A) the amount of
funds used to maintain high-use deep draft projects and projects at
moderate-use ports and low-use ports to the constructed depth and width of the
projects;
(B) the respective
percentage of total funds provided under this section used for high use deep
draft projects and projects at moderate-use ports and low-use ports;
(C) the remaining
amount of funds made available to carry out this section, if any; and
(D) any additional
amounts needed to maintain the high-use deep draft projects and projects at
moderate-use ports and low-use ports to the constructed depth and width of the
projects.
.
(c)
Operation and maintenance
Section 101(b) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2211(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking 45
feet and inserting 50 feet; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
(3)
Operation and maintenance activities
defined
(A)
Scope of operation and maintenance
activities
Notwithstanding
any other provision of law (including regulations and guidelines) and subject
to subparagraph (B), for purposes of this subsection, operation and maintenance
activities that are eligible for the Federal cost share under paragraph (1)
shall include—
(i) the dredging of berths in a harbor that is
accessible to a Federal channel, if the Federal channel has been constructed to
a depth equal to the authorized depth of the channel; and
(ii) the dredging and disposal of
legacy-contaminated sediments and sediments unsuitable for ocean disposal
that—
(I) are located in or affect the maintenance of
Federal navigation channels; or
(II) are located in berths that are accessible
to Federal channels.
(B)
Limitations
(i)
In general
For each fiscal year, subject to section
210(c)(2), subparagraph (A) shall only apply—
(I) to the amounts made available under section
210 to carry out projects described in subsection (a)(2) of that section that
are in excess of the amounts made available to carry out those projects in
fiscal year 2012; and
(II) if, in that fiscal year, all projects
identified as high-use deep draft (as defined in section 210(c)) are maintained
to their constructed width and depth.
(ii)
State limitation
For each fiscal year, the operation and
maintenance activities described in subparagraph (A) may only be carried out in
a State—
(I) in which the total amounts collected
pursuant to section 4461 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 comprise not less
than 2.5 percent annually of the total funding of the Harbor Maintenance Trust
Fund established under section 9505 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
and
(II) that received less than 50 percent of the
total amounts collected in that State pursuant to section 4461 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 in the previous 3 fiscal years.
(iii)
Prioritization
In allocating amounts made available under
this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that have
received the lowest amount of funding from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund in
comparison to the amount of funding contributed to the Harbor Maintenance Trust
Fund in the previous 3 fiscal years.
(iv)
Maximum
amount
The total amount made
available in each fiscal year to carry out this paragraph shall not exceed the
lesser of—
(I) amount that is equal to 40 percent of the
amounts made available under section 210 to carry out projects described in
subsection (a)(2) of that section that are in excess of the amounts made
available to carry out those projects in fiscal year 2012; and
(II) the amount that is equal to 20 percent of
the amounts made available under section 210 to carry out projects described in
subsection (a)(2) of that section.
(4)
Donor ports and ports contributing to
energy production
(A)
Definitions
In this paragraph:
(i)
Cargo
container
The term ‘cargo container’ means a cargo container that
is 1 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit.
(ii)
Eligible donor port
The term, eligible donor port
means a port—
(I) that is subject to the harbor maintenance
fee under section 24.24 of title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (or a
successor regulation);
(II)
(aa) at which the total amounts collected
pursuant to section 4461 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 comprise not less
than $15,000,000 annually of the total funding of the Harbor Maintenance Trust
Fund established under section 9505 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
and
(bb) that received less than 25 percent of the
total amounts collected at that port pursuant to section 4461 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 in the previous 5 fiscal years; and
(III) that is located in a State in which more
than 2,000,000 cargo containers were unloaded from or loaded on to vessels in
calendar year 2011.
(iii)
Eligible energy transfer port
The term eligible energy transfer
port means a port—
(I) that is subject to the harbor maintenance
fee under section 24.24 of title 19, Code of Federal Regulation (or successor
regulation); and
(II)
(aa) at which energy commodities comprised
greater than 25 percent of all commercial activity by tonnage in calendar year
2011; and
(bb) through which more than 40 million tons of
cargo were transported in calendar year 2011.
(iv)
Energy commodity
The term energy commodity
includes—
(I) petroleum products;
(II) natural gas;
(III) coal;
(IV) wind and solar energy components;
and
(V) biofuels.
(B)
Additional uses
(i)
In general
Subject to appropriations, the Secretary
may provide to eligible donor ports and eligible energy transfer ports amounts
in accordance with clause (ii).
(ii)
Limitations
The amounts described in clause (i)—
(I) made available for eligible energy transfer
ports shall be divided equally among all States with an eligible energy
transfer port; and
(II) shall be made available only to a port as
either an eligible donor port or an eligible energy transfer port.
(C)
Uses
Amounts provided to an eligible port under
this paragraph may only be used by that port—
(i) to provide payments to importers entering
cargo or shippers transporting cargo through an eligible donor port or eligible
energy transfer port, as calculated by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection;
(ii) to dredge berths in a harbor that is
accessible to a Federal channel;
(iii) to dredge and dispose of
legacy-contaminated sediments and sediments unsuitable for ocean disposal
that—
(I) are located in or affect the maintenance of
Federal navigation channels; or
(II) are located in berths that are accessible
to Federal channels; or
(iv) for environmental remediation related to
dredging berths and Federal navigation channels.
(D)
Administration of payments
If an eligible donor port or eligible
energy transfer port elects to provide payments to importers or shippers in
accordance with subparagraph (C)(i), the Secretary shall transfer the amounts
that would be provided to the port under this paragraph to the Commissioner of
U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide the payments to the importers or
shippers.
(E)
Authorization of appropriations
(i)
In general
For fiscal years 2014 through 2024, if the
total amounts made available from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund exceed the
total amounts made available from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund in fiscal
year 2012, there is authorized to be appropriated from the Harbor Maintenance
Trust Fund to carry out this paragraph the sum obtained by adding—
(I) $50,000,000; and
(II) the amount that is equal to 10 percent of
the amounts made available under section 210 to carry out projects described in
subsection (a)(2) of that section that are in excess of the amounts made
available to carry out those projects in fiscal year 2012.
(ii)
Division between eligible donor ports and
eligible energy transfer ports
For each fiscal year, amounts made
available shall be divided equally between eligible donor ports and eligible
energy transfer
ports.
.
(d)
Conforming amendment
Section 9505(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 is amended by striking as in effect on the date of the
enactment of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 and inserting
as in effect on the date of the enactment of the
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Act of
2013.
8005.
Harbor
maintenance trust fund study
(a)
Definitions
In
this section:
(1)
Low-use
port
The term low-use port means a port at which
not more than 1,000,000 tons of cargo are transported each calendar
year.
(2)
Moderate-use
port
The term moderate-use port means a port at
which more than 1,000,000, but fewer than 10,000,000, tons of cargo are
transported each calendar year.
(b)
Study
Not
later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall carry out a study and submit to Congress a
report that—
(1) evaluates the
effectiveness of activities funded by the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund in
maximizing economic growth and job creation in the communities surrounding low-
and moderate-use ports; and
(2) includes
recommendations relating to the use of amounts in the Harbor Maintenance Trust
Fund to increase the competitiveness of United States ports relative to
Canadian and Mexican ports.
IX
Dam safety
9001.
Short title
This title may be cited as the
Dam Safety Act of
2013.
9002.
Purpose
The purpose of this title and the amendments
made by this title is to reduce the risks to life and property from dam failure
in the United States through the reauthorization of an effective national dam
safety program that brings together the expertise and resources of the Federal
Government and non-Federal interests in achieving national dam safety hazard
reduction.
9003.
Administrator
(a)
In general
The National Dam Safety Program Act (33
U.S.C. 467 et seq.) is amended by striking Director each place
it appears and inserting Administrator.
(b)
Conforming amendment
Section 2 of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467) is amended—
(1) by striking paragraph (3);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
(3) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as
redesignated by paragraph (2)) the following:
(1)
Administrator
The term Administrator means
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
.
9004.
Inspection of dams
Section 3(b)(1) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467a(b)(1)) is amended by striking or
maintenance and inserting maintenance, condition, or provisions
for emergency operations.
9005.
National Dam Safety Program
(a)
Objectives
Section 8(c) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467f(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and
inserting the following:
(4) develop and implement a comprehensive dam
safety hazard education and public awareness program to assist the public in
preparing for, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from dam
incidents;
.
(b)
Board
Section 8(f)(4) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467f(f)(4)) is amended by inserting ,
representatives from nongovernmental organizations, after State
agencies.
9006.
Public awareness and outreach for dam
safety
The National Dam Safety
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467 et seq.) is amended—
(1) by redesignating sections 11, 12, and 13 as
sections 12, 13, and 14, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 10 (33 U.S.C.
467g–1) the following:
11.
Public awareness and outreach for dam
safety
The Administrator, in
consultation with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, dam
owners, the emergency management community, the private sector, nongovernmental
organizations and associations, institutions of higher education, and any other
appropriate entities shall carry out a nationwide public awareness and outreach
program to assist the public in preparing for, mitigating, responding to, and
recovering from dam
incidents.
.
9007.
Authorization of appropriations
(a)
National Dam Safety Program
(1)
Annual
amounts
Section 14(a)(1) of
the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j(a)(1)) (as so redesignated)
is amended by striking $6,500,000 and all that follows through
2011 and inserting $9,200,000 for each of fiscal years
2014 through 2018.
(2)
Maximum amount of allocation
Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the National Dam
Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j(a)(2)(B)) (as so redesignated) is
amended—
(A) by striking The amount and
inserting the following:
(i)
In general
The
amount
;
and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
(ii)
Fiscal year 2014 and subsequent fiscal
years
For fiscal year 2014
and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount of funds allocated to a State under
this paragraph may not exceed the amount of funds committed by the State to
implement dam safety
activities.
.
(b)
National dam inventory
Section 14(b) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j(b)) (as so redesignated) is amended by striking
$650,000 and all that follows through 2011 and
inserting $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through
2018.
(c)
Public awareness
Section 14 of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467j) (as so redesignated) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) through
(f) as subsections (d) through (g), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the
following:
(c)
Public awareness
There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out section 11 $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through
2018.
.
(d)
Research
Section 14(d) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (as so redesignated) is amended by striking
$1,600,000 and all that follows through 2011 and
inserting $1,450,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through
2018.
(e)
Dam safety training
Section 14(e) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (as so redesignated) is amended by striking $550,000
and all that follows through 2011 and inserting $750,000
for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
(f)
Staff
Section 14(f) of the National Dam Safety
Program Act (as so redesignated) is amended by striking $700,000
and all that follows through 2011 and inserting
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
X
Innovative financing pilot
projects
10001.
Short title
This title may be cited as the
Water Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation Act of 2013.
10002.
Purposes
The purpose of this title is to establish a
pilot program to assess the ability of innovative financing tools to—
(1) promote increased development of critical
water resources infrastructure by establishing additional opportunities for
financing water resources projects that complement but do not replace or reduce
existing Federal infrastructure financing tools such as the State water
pollution control revolving loan funds established under title VI of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(33 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.) and the State drinking water treatment revolving loan
funds established under section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C.
300j–12);
(2) attract new investment capital to
infrastructure projects that are capable of generating revenue streams through
user fees or other dedicated funding sources;
(3) complement existing Federal funding sources
and address budgetary constraints on the Corps of Engineers civil works program
and existing wastewater and drinking water infrastructure financing
programs;
(4) leverage private investment in water
resources infrastructure;
(5) align investments in water resources
infrastructure to achieve multiple benefits; and
(6) assist communities facing significant water
quality, drinking water, or flood risk challenges with the development of water
infrastructure projects.
10003.
Definitions
In this title:
(1)
Administrator
The term Administrator means
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2)
Community water system
The term community water
system has the meaning given the term in section 1401 of the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f).
(3)
Federal credit instrument
The term Federal credit
instrument means a secured loan or loan guarantee authorized to be made
available under this title with respect to a project.
(4)
Investment-grade rating
The term investment-grade
rating means a rating of BBB minus, Baa3, bbb minus, BBB (low), or
higher assigned by a rating agency to project obligations.
(5)
Lender
(A)
In general
The term lender means any
non-Federal qualified institutional buyer (as defined in section 230.144A(a) of
title 17, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), known as
Rule 144A(a) of the Securities and Exchange Commission and issued under the
Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.)).
(B)
Inclusions
The term lender
includes—
(i) a qualified retirement plan (as defined in
section 4974(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) that is a qualified
institutional buyer; and
(ii) a governmental plan (as defined in section
414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) that is a qualified institutional
buyer.
(6)
Loan
guarantee
The term loan
guarantee means any guarantee or other pledge by the Secretary or the
Administrator to pay all or part of the principal of, and interest on, a loan
or other debt obligation issued by an obligor and funded by a lender.
(7)
Obligor
The term obligor means an
eligible entity that is primarily liable for payment of the principal of, or
interest on, a Federal credit instrument.
(8)
Project obligation
(A)
In general
The term project obligation
means any note, bond, debenture, or other debt obligation issued by an obligor
in connection with the financing of a project.
(B)
Exclusion
The term project obligation
does not include a Federal credit instrument.
(9)
Rating agency
The term rating agency means a
credit rating agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in section
3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a))).
(10)
Rural water infrastructure
project
The term “rural water infrastructure project” means a
project that—
(A) is described in
section 10007; and
(B) is located in a
water system that serves not more than 25,000 individuals.
(11)
Secured loan
The term secured loan means a
direct loan or other debt obligation issued by an obligor and funded by the
Secretary in connection with the financing of a project under section
10010.
(12)
State
The term State means—
(A) a State;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(D) any other territory or possession of the
United States.
(13)
State infrastructure financing
authority
The term
State infrastructure financing authority means the State entity
established or designated by the Governor of a State to receive a
capitalization grant provided by, or otherwise carry out the requirements of,
title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1381 et. seq.)
or section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12).
(14)
Subsidy
amount
The term subsidy
amount means the amount of budget authority sufficient to cover the
estimated long-term cost to the Federal Government of a Federal credit
instrument, as calculated on a net present value basis, excluding
administrative costs and any incidental effects on governmental receipts or
outlays in accordance with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661
et seq.).
(15)
Substantial completion
The term substantial
completion, with respect to a project, means the earliest date on which
a project is considered to perform the functions for which the project is
designed.
(16)
Treatment works
The term treatment works has
the meaning given the term in section 212 of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292).
10004.
Authority to provide assistance
(a)
In general
The Secretary and the Administrator may
provide financial assistance under this title to carry out pilot projects,
which shall be selected to ensure a diversity of project types and geographical
locations.
(b)
Responsibility
(1)
Secretary
The Secretary shall carry out all pilot
projects under this title that are eligible projects under section
10007(1).
(2)
Administrator
The Administrator shall carry out all pilot
projects under this title that are eligible projects under paragraphs (2), (3),
(4), (5), (6), and (8) of section 10007.
(3)
Other
projects
The Secretary or the
Administrator, as applicable, may carry out eligible projects under paragraph
(7) or (9) of section 10007.
10005.
Applications
(a)
In general
To receive assistance under this title, an
eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary or the Administrator may require.
(b)
Combined projects
In the case of an eligible project
described in paragraph (8) or (9) of section 10007, the Secretary or the
Administrator, as applicable, shall require the eligible entity to submit a
single application for the combined group of projects.
10006.
Eligible entities
The following entities are eligible to
receive assistance under this title:
(1) A corporation.
(2) A partnership.
(3) A joint venture.
(4) A trust.
(5) A Federal, State, or local governmental
entity, agency, or instrumentality.
(6) A tribal government or consortium of tribal
governments.
(7) A State infrastructure financing
authority.
10007.
Projects eligible for
assistance
The following
projects may be carried out with amounts made available under this
title:
(1) A project for flood control or hurricane
and storm damage reduction that the Secretary has determined is technically
sound, economically justified, and environmentally acceptable,
including—
(A) a structural or nonstructural measure to
reduce flood risk, enhance stream flow, or protect natural resources;
and
(B) a levee, dam, tunnel, aqueduct, reservoir,
or other related water infrastructure.
(2) 1 or more activities that are eligible for
assistance under section 603(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33
U.S.C. 1383(c)), notwithstanding the public ownership requirement under
paragraph (1) of that subsection.
(3) 1 or more activities described in section
1452(a)(2) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12(a)(2)).
(4) A project for enhanced energy efficiency in
the operation of a public water system or a publicly owned treatment
works.
(5) A project for repair, rehabilitation, or
replacement of a treatment works, community water system, or aging water
distribution or waste collection facility (including a facility that serves a
population or community of an Indian reservation).
(6) A brackish or sea water desalination
project, a managed aquifer recharge project, or a water recycling
project.
(7) Acquisition of real property or an interest
in real property—
(A) if the acquisition is integral to a project
described in paragraphs (1) through (6); or
(B) pursuant to an existing plan that, in the
judgment of the Administrator or the Secretary, as applicable, would mitigate
the environmental impacts of water resources infrastructure projects otherwise
eligible for assistance under this section.
(8) A combination of projects, each of which is
eligible under paragraph (2) or (3), for which a State infrastructure financing
authority submits to the Administrator a single application.
(9) A combination of projects secured by a
common security pledge, each of which is eligible under paragraph (1), (2),
(3), (4), (5), (6), or (7), for which an eligible entity, or a combination of
eligible entities, submits a single application.
10008.
Activities eligible for
assistance
For purposes of
this title, an eligible activity with respect to an eligible project includes
the cost of—
(1) development-phase activities, including
planning, feasibility analysis (including any related analysis necessary to
carry out an eligible project), revenue forecasting, environmental review,
permitting, preliminary engineering and design work, and other preconstruction
activities;
(2) construction, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, and replacement activities;
(3) the acquisition of real property or an
interest in real property (including water rights, land relating to the
project, and improvements to land), environmental mitigation (including
acquisitions pursuant to section 10007(7)), construction contingencies, and
acquisition of equipment;
(4) capitalized interest necessary to meet
market requirements, reasonably required reserve funds, capital issuance
expenses, and other carrying costs during construction; and
(5) refinancing interim construction funding,
long-term project obligations, or a secured loan or loan guarantee made under
this title.
10009.
Determination of eligibility and project
selection
(a)
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible to receive financial
assistance under this title, a project shall meet the following criteria, as
determined by the Secretary or Administrator, as applicable:
(1)
Creditworthiness
(A)
In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the project
shall be creditworthy, which shall be determined by the Secretary or the
Administrator, as applicable, who shall ensure that any financing for the
project has appropriate security features, such as a rate covenant, to ensure
repayment.
(B)
Preliminary rating opinion
letter
The Secretary or the
Administrator, as applicable, shall require each project applicant to provide a
preliminary rating opinion letter from at least 1 rating agency indicating that
the senior obligations of the project (which may be the Federal credit
instrument) have the potential to achieve an investment-grade rating.
(C)
Special rule for certain combined
projects
The Administrator
shall develop a credit evaluation process for a Federal credit instrument
provided to a State infrastructure financing authority for a project under
section 10007(8) or an entity for a project under section 10007(9), which may
include requiring the provision of a preliminary rating opinion letter from at
least 1 rating agency.
(2)
Eligible
project costs
(A)
In
general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the eligible project costs
of a project shall be reasonably anticipated to be not less than
$20,000,000.
(B)
Rural water
infrastructure projects
For rural water infrastructure projects,
the eligible project costs of a project shall be reasonably anticipated to be
not less than $5,000,000.
(3)
Dedicated revenue sources
The Federal credit instrument for the
project shall be repayable, in whole or in part, from dedicated revenue sources
that also secure the project obligations.
(4)
Public sponsorship of private
entities
In the case of a
project carried out by an entity that is not a State or local government or an
agency or instrumentality of a State or local government or a tribal government
or consortium of tribal governments, the project shall be publicly
sponsored.
(5)
Limitation
No project receiving Federal credit
assistance under this title may be financed or refinanced (directly or
indirectly), in whole or in part, with proceeds of any obligation—
(A) the interest on which is exempt from the
tax imposed under chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
(B) with respect to which credit is allowable
under subpart I or J of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such
Code.
(b)
Selection criteria
(1)
Establishment
The Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, shall establish criteria for the selection of projects that meet
the eligibility requirements of subsection (a), in accordance with paragraph
(2).
(2)
Criteria
The selection criteria shall include the
following:
(A) The extent to which the project is
nationally or regionally significant, with respect to the generation of
economic and public benefits, such as—
(i) the reduction of flood risk;
(ii) the improvement of water quality and
quantity, including aquifer recharge;
(iii) the protection of drinking water;
and
(iv) the support of international
commerce.
(B) The extent to which the project financing
plan includes public or private financing in addition to assistance under this
title.
(C) The likelihood that assistance under this
title would enable the project to proceed at an earlier date than the project
would otherwise be able to proceed.
(D) The extent to which the project uses new or
innovative approaches.
(E) The amount of budget authority required to
fund the Federal credit instrument made available under this title.
(F) The extent to which the project—
(i) protects against extreme weather events,
such as floods or hurricanes; or
(ii) helps maintain or protect the
environment.
(G) The extent to which a project serves
regions with significant energy exploration, development, or production
areas.
(H) The extent to which a project serves
regions with significant water resource challenges, including the need to
address—
(i) water quality concerns in areas of
regional, national, or international significance;
(ii) water quantity concerns related to
groundwater, surface water, or other water sources;
(iii) significant flood risk;
(iv) water resource challenges identified in
existing regional, State, or multistate agreements; or
(v) water resources with exceptional
recreational value or ecological importance.
(I) The extent to which assistance under this
title reduces the contribution of Federal assistance to the project.
(3)
Special rule for certain combined
projects
For a project
described in section 10007(8), the Administrator shall only consider the
criteria described in subparagraphs (B) through (I) of paragraph (2).
(c)
Federal requirements
Nothing in this section supersedes the
applicability of other requirements of Federal law (including
regulations).
10010.
Secured loans
(a)
Agreements
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraphs (2) through (4), the
Secretary or the Administrator, as applicable, may enter into agreements with 1
or more obligors to make secured loans, the proceeds of which shall be
used—
(A) to finance eligible project costs of any
project selected under section 10009;
(B) to refinance interim construction financing
of eligible project costs of any project selected under section 10009;
or
(C) to refinance long-term project obligations
or Federal credit instruments, if that refinancing provides additional funding
capacity for the completion, enhancement, or expansion of any project
that—
(i) is selected under section 10009; or
(ii) otherwise meets the requirements of section
10009.
(2)
Limitation on refinancing of interim
construction financing
A
secured loan under paragraph (1) shall not be used to refinance interim
construction financing under paragraph (1)(B) later than 1 year after the date
of substantial completion of the applicable project.
(3)
Financial risk assessment
Before entering into an agreement under
this subsection for a secured loan, the Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget and each rating agency providing a preliminary rating opinion letter
under section 10009(a)(1)(B), shall determine an appropriate capital reserve
subsidy amount for the secured loan, taking into account each such preliminary
rating opinion letter.
(4)
Investment-grade rating
requirement
The execution of
a secured loan under this section shall be contingent on receipt by the senior
obligations of the project of an investment-grade rating.
(b)
Terms and limitations
(1)
In general
A secured loan provided for a project under
this section shall be subject to such terms and conditions, and contain such
covenants, representations, warranties, and requirements (including
requirements for audits), as the Secretary or the Administrator, as applicable,
determines to be appropriate.
(2)
Maximum
amount
The amount of a
secured loan under this section shall not exceed the lesser of—
(A) an amount equal to 49 percent of the
reasonably anticipated eligible project costs; and
(B) if the secured loan does not receive an
investment-grade rating, the amount of the senior project obligations of the
project.
(3)
Payment
A secured loan under this section—
(A) shall be payable, in whole or in part, from
State or local taxes, user fees, or other dedicated revenue sources that also
secure the senior project obligations of the relevant project;
(B) shall include a rate covenant, coverage
requirement, or similar security feature supporting the project obligations;
and
(C) may have a lien on revenues described in
subparagraph (A), subject to any lien securing project obligations.
(4)
Interest rate
The interest rate on a secured loan under
this section shall be not less than the yield on United States Treasury
securities of a similar maturity to the maturity of the secured loan on the
date of execution of the loan agreement.
(5)
Maturity date
(A)
In general
The final maturity date of a secured loan
under this section shall be not later than 35 years after the date of
substantial completion of the relevant project.
(B)
Special rule for State infrastructure
financing authorities
The
final maturity date of a secured loan to a State infrastructure financing
authority under this section shall be not later than 35 years after the date on
which amounts are first disbursed.
(6)
Nonsubordination
A secured loan under this section shall not
be subordinated to the claims of any holder of project obligations in the event
of bankruptcy, insolvency, or liquidation of the obligor of the project.
(7)
Fees
The Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, may establish fees at a level sufficient to cover all or a portion
of the costs to the Federal Government of making a secured loan under this
section.
(8)
Non-Federal share
The proceeds of a secured loan under this
section may be used to pay any non-Federal share of project costs required if
the loan is repayable from non-Federal funds.
(9)
Maximum federal involvement
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), for
each project for which assistance is provided under this title, the total
amount of Federal assistance shall not exceed 80 percent of the total project
cost.
(B)
Exception
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any
rural water project—
(i) that is authorized to be carried out by the
Secretary of the Interior;
(ii) that includes among its beneficiaries a
federally recognized Indian tribe; and
(iii) for which the authorized Federal share of
the total project costs is greater than the amount described in subparagraph
(A).
(c)
Repayment
(1)
Schedule
The Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, shall establish a repayment schedule for each secured loan provided
under this section, based on the projected cash flow from project revenues and
other repayment sources.
(2)
Commencement
(A)
In general
Scheduled loan repayments of principal or
interest on a secured loan under this section shall commence not later than 5
years after the date of substantial completion of the project.
(B)
Special rule for State infrastructure
financing authorities
Scheduled loan repayments of principal or
interest on a secured loan to a State infrastructure financing authority under
this title shall commence not later than 5 years after the date on which
amounts are first disbursed.
(3)
Deferred payments
(A)
Authorization
If, at any time after the date of
substantial completion of a project for which a secured loan is provided under
this section, the project is unable to generate sufficient revenues to pay the
scheduled loan repayments of principal and interest on the secured loan, the
Secretary or the Administrator, as applicable, subject to subparagraph (C), may
allow the obligor to add unpaid principal and interest to the outstanding
balance of the secured loan.
(B)
Interest
Any payment deferred under subparagraph (A)
shall—
(i) continue to accrue interest in accordance
with subsection (b)(4) until fully repaid; and
(ii) be scheduled to be amortized over the
remaining term of the secured loan.
(C)
Criteria
(i)
In general
Any payment deferral under subparagraph (A)
shall be contingent on the project meeting such criteria as the Secretary or
the Administrator, as applicable, may establish.
(ii)
Repayment standards
The criteria established under clause (i)
shall include standards for reasonable assurance of repayment.
(4)
Prepayment
(A)
Use of excess revenues
Any excess revenues that remain after
satisfying scheduled debt service requirements on the project obligations and
secured loan and all deposit requirements under the terms of any trust
agreement, bond resolution, or similar agreement securing project obligations
may be applied annually to prepay a secured loan under this section without
penalty.
(B)
Use of proceeds of
refinancing
A secured loan
under this section may be prepaid at any time without penalty from the proceeds
of refinancing from non-Federal funding sources.
(d)
Sale of secured loans
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), as soon as
practicable after the date of substantial completion of a project and after
providing a notice to the obligor, the Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, may sell to another entity or reoffer into the capital markets a
secured loan for a project under this section, if the Secretary or the
Administrator, as applicable, determines that the sale or reoffering can be
made on favorable terms.
(2)
Consent of obligor
In making a sale or reoffering under
paragraph (1), the Secretary or the Administrator, as applicable, may not
change the original terms and conditions of the secured loan without the
written consent of the obligor.
(e)
Loan guarantees
(1)
In general
The Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, may provide a loan guarantee to a lender in lieu of making a
secured loan under this section, if the Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, determines that the budgetary cost of the loan guarantee is
substantially the same as that of a secured loan.
(2)
Terms
The terms of a loan guarantee provided
under this subsection shall be consistent with the terms established in this
section for a secured loan, except that the rate on the guaranteed loan and any
prepayment features shall be negotiated between the obligor and the lender,
with the consent of the Secretary or the Administrator, as applicable.
10011.
Program administration
(a)
Requirement
The Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, shall establish a uniform system to service the Federal credit
instruments made available under this title.
(b)
Fees
(1)
In general
The Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, may collect and spend fees, contingent on authority being provided
in appropriations Acts, at a level that is sufficient to cover—
(A) the costs of services of expert firms
retained pursuant to subsection (d); and
(B) all or a portion of the costs to the
Federal Government of servicing the Federal credit instruments provided under
this title.
(c)
Servicer
(1)
In general
The Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, may appoint a financial entity to assist the Secretary or the
Administrator in servicing the Federal credit instruments provided under this
title.
(2)
Duties
A servicer appointed under paragraph (1)
shall act as the agent for the Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable.
(3)
Fee
A servicer appointed under paragraph (1)
shall receive a servicing fee, subject to approval by the Secretary or the
Administrator, as applicable.
(d)
Assistance from experts
The Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, may retain the services, including counsel, of organizations and
entities with expertise in the field of municipal and project finance to assist
in the underwriting and servicing of Federal credit instruments provided under
this title.
(e)
Applicability of other laws
Section 513 of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1372) applies to the construction of a project carried
out, in whole or in part, with assistance made available through a Federal
credit instrument under this title in the same manner that section applies to a
treatment works for which a grant is made available under that Act.
10012.
State, tribal, and local
permits
The provision of
financial assistance for project under this title shall not—
(1) relieve any recipient of the assistance of
any obligation to obtain any required State, local, or tribal permit or
approval with respect to the project;
(2) limit the right of any unit of State,
local, or tribal government to approve or regulate any rate of return on
private equity invested in the project; or
(3) otherwise supersede any State, local, or
tribal law (including any regulation) applicable to the construction or
operation of the project.
10013.
Regulations
The Secretary or the Administrator, as
applicable, may promulgate such regulations as the Secretary or Administrator
determines to be appropriate to carry out this title.
10014.
Funding
(a)
In general
There is authorized to be appropriated to
each of the Secretary and the Administrator to carry out this title $50,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018, to remain available until
expended.
(b)
Administrative costs
Of the funds made available to carry out
this title, the Secretary or the Administrator, as applicable, may use for the
administration of this title, including for the provision of technical
assistance to aid project sponsors in obtaining the necessary approvals for the
project, not more than $2,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through
2018.
10015.
Report to Congress
Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary or the
Administrator, as applicable, shall submit to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report summarizing for the
projects that are receiving, or have received, assistance under this
title—
(1) the financial performance of those
projects, including a recommendation as to whether the objectives of this title
are being met; and
(2) the public benefit provided by those
projects, including, as applicable, water quality and water quantity
improvement, the protection of drinking water, and the reduction of flood
risk.
10016.
Use of
American iron, steel, and manufactured goods
(a)
In
general
Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the amounts
made available under this Act may be used for the construction, alteration,
maintenance, or repair of a project eligible for assistance under this title
unless all of the iron, steel, and manufactured goods used in the project are
produced in the United States.
(b)
Exception
Subsection
(a) shall not apply in any case or category of cases in which the Secretary
finds that—
(1) applying
subsection (a) would be inconsistent with the public interest;
(2) iron, steel, and
the relevant manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in
sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality;
or
(3) inclusion of
iron, steel, and manufactured goods produced in the United States will increase
the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent.
(c)
Public
notice
If the Secretary determines that it is necessary to waive
the application of subsection (a) based on a finding under subsection (b), the
Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a detailed written
justification as to why the provision is being waived.
(d)
International
agreements
This section shall be applied in a manner consistent
with United States obligations under international agreements.
XI
Extreme weather
11001.
Definition
of resilient construction technique
In this title, the term resilient
construction technique means a construction method that—
(1) allows a property—
(A) to resist hazards brought on by a major
disaster; and
(B) to continue to provide the primary
functions of the property after a major disaster;
(2) reduces the magnitude or duration of a
disruptive event to a property; and
(3) has the absorptive capacity, adaptive
capacity, and recoverability to withstand a potentially disruptive
event.
11002.
Study on risk reduction
(a)
In general
Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, shall enter into an arrangement with
the National Academy of Sciences to carry out a study and make recommendations
relating to infrastructure and coastal restoration options for reducing risk to
human life and property from extreme weather events, such as hurricanes,
coastal storms, and inland flooding.
(b)
Considerations
The study under subsection (a) shall
include—
(1) an analysis of strategies and water
resources projects, including authorized water resources projects that have not
yet been constructed, and other projects implemented in the United States and
worldwide to respond to risk associated with extreme weather events;
(2) an analysis
of—
(A) historical
extreme weather events;
(B) the ability of
existing infrastructure to mitigate risks associated with extreme weather
events; and
(C) the reduction in
long-term costs and vulnerability to infrastructure through the use of
resilient construction techniques.
(3) identification of proven, science-based
approaches and mechanisms for ecosystem protection and identification of
natural resources likely to have the greatest need for protection, restoration,
and conservation so that the infrastructure and restoration projects can
continue safeguarding the communities in, and sustaining the economy of, the
United States;
(4) an estimation of the funding necessary to
improve infrastructure in the United States to reduce risk associated with
extreme weather events;
(5) an analysis of the adequacy of current
funding sources and the identification of potential new funding sources to
finance the necessary infrastructure improvements referred to in paragraph (3);
and
(6) an analysis of the Federal, State, and
local costs of natural disasters and the potential cost-savings associated with
implementing mitigation measures.
(c)
Coordination
The National Academy of Sciences may
cooperate with the National Academy of Public Administration to carry out 1 or
more aspects of the study under subsection (a).
(d)
Publication
Not later than 30 days after completion of
the study under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall—
(1) submit a copy of the study to the Committee
on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
(2) make a copy of the study available on a
publicly accessible Internet site.
11003.
GAO study on management of flood, drought,
and storm damage
(a)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a study of the strategies
used by the Corps of Engineers for the comprehensive management of water
resources in response to floods, storms, and droughts, including an historical
review of the ability of the Corps of Engineers to manage and respond to
historical drought, storm, and flood events.
(b)
Considerations
The study under subsection (a) shall
address—
(1) the extent to which existing water
management activities of the Corps of Engineers can better meet the goal of
addressing future flooding, drought, and storm damage risks, which shall
include analysis of all historical extreme weather events that have been
recorded during the previous 5 centuries as well as in the geological
record;
(2) whether existing water resources projects
built or maintained by the Corps of Engineers, including dams, levees,
floodwalls, flood gates, and other appurtenant infrastructure were designed to
adequately address flood, storm, and drought impacts and the extent to which
the water resources projects have been successful at addressing those
impacts;
(3) any recommendations for approaches for
repairing, rebuilding, or restoring infrastructure, land, and natural resources
that consider the risks and vulnerabilities associated with past and future
extreme weather events;
(4) whether a reevaluation of existing
management approaches of the Corps of Engineers could result in greater
efficiencies in water management and project delivery that would enable the
Corps of Engineers to better prepare for, contain, and respond to flood, storm,
and drought conditions;
(5) any recommendations for improving the
planning processes of the Corps of Engineers to provide opportunities for
comprehensive management of water resources that increases efficiency and
improves response to flood, storm, and drought conditions;
(6) any
recommendations on the use of resilient construction techniques to reduce
future vulnerability from flood, storm, and drought conditions; and
(7) any recommendations for improving
approaches to rebuilding or restoring infrastructure and natural resources that
contribute to risk reduction, such as coastal wetlands, to prepare for flood
and drought.
11004.
Post-disaster watershed
assessments
(a)
Watershed assessments
(1)
In general
In an area that the President has declared
a major disaster in accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), the Secretary
may carry out a watershed assessment to identify, to the maximum extent
practicable, specific flood risk reduction, hurricane and storm damage
reduction, ecosystem restoration, or navigation project recommendations that
will help to rehabilitate and improve the resiliency of damaged infrastructure
and natural resources to reduce risks to human life and property from future
natural disasters.
(2)
Existing projects
A watershed assessment carried out
paragraph (1) may identify existing projects being carried out under 1 or more
of the authorities referred to in subsection (b) (1).
(3)
Duplicate watershed
assessments
In carrying out a
watershed assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use all existing
watershed assessments and related information developed by the Secretary or
other Federal, State, or local entities.
(b)
Projects
(1)
In general
The Secretary may carry out 1 or more small
projects identified in a watershed assessment under subsection (a) that the
Secretary would otherwise be authorized to carry out under—
(A) section 205 of the Flood Control Act of
1948 (33 U.S.C. 701s);
(B) section 111 of the River and Harbor Act of
1968 (33 U.S.C. 426i);
(C) section 206 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1996 (33 U.S.C. 2330);
(D) section 1135 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2309a);
(E) section 107 of the River and Harbor Act of
1960 (33 U.S.C. 577); or
(F) section 3 of the Act of August 13, 1946 (33
U.S.C. 426g).
(2)
Existing projects
In carrying out a project under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall—
(A) to the maximum extent practicable, use all
existing information and studies available for the project; and
(B) not require any element of a study
completed for the project prior to the disaster to be repeated.
(c)
Requirements
All requirements applicable to a project
under the Acts described in subsection (b) shall apply to the project.
(d)
Limitations on assessments
(1)
In general
A watershed assessment under subsection (a)
shall be initiated not later than 2 years after the date on which the major
disaster declaration is issued.
(2)
Federal share
The Federal share of the cost of carrying
out a watershed assessment under subsection (a) shall not exceed
$1,000,000.
(e)
Authorization of
appropriations
There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
11005.
Authority to
accept and expend non-Federal amounts
The Secretary is authorized to accept and
expend amounts provided by non-Federal interests for the purpose of repairing,
restoring, or replacing water resources projects that have been damaged or
destroyed as a result of a major disaster or other emergency if the Secretary
determines that the acceptance and expenditure of those amounts is in the
public interest.
XII
National
Endowment for the Oceans
12001.
Short title
This title may be cited as the
National Endowment for the Oceans
Act.
12002.
Purposes
The purposes of this title are to protect,
conserve, restore, and understand the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes of the
United States, ensuring present and future generations will benefit from the
full range of ecological, economic, educational, social, cultural, nutritional,
and recreational opportunities and services these resources are capable of
providing.
12003.
Definitions
In this title:
(1)
Coastal shoreline county
The
term coastal shoreline county has the meaning given the term by
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for purposes of
administering the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et
seq.).
(2)
Coastal State
The term coastal State has the
meaning given the term coastal state in section 304 of the
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453).
(3)
Corpus
The
term corpus, with respect to the Endowment fund, means an amount
equal to the Federal payments to such fund, amounts contributed to the fund
from non-Federal sources, and appreciation from capital gains and reinvestment
of income.
(4)
Endowment
The term Endowment means the
endowment established under subsection (a).
(5)
Endowment
fund
The term Endowment fund means a fund, or a
tax-exempt foundation, established and maintained pursuant to this title by the
Foundation for the purposes described in section 12004(a).
(6)
Foundation
The
term Foundation means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
established by section 2(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701(a)).
(7)
Income
The
term income, with respect to the Endowment fund, means an amount
equal to the dividends and interest accruing from investments of the corpus of
such fund.
(8)
Indian tribe
The term Indian tribe has the
meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
(9)
Secretary
The term Secretary means the
Secretary of Commerce.
(10)
Tidal shoreline
The term tidal shoreline has
the meaning given that term pursuant to section 923.110(c)(2)(i) of title 15,
Code of Federal Regulations, or a similar successor regulation.
12004.
National
Endowment for the Oceans
(a)
Establishment
The
Secretary and the Foundation are authorized to establish the National Endowment
for the Oceans as a permanent Endowment fund, in accordance with this section,
to further the purposes of this title and to support the programs established
under this title.
(b)
Agreements
The
Secretary and the Foundation may enter into such agreements as may be necessary
to carry out the purposes of this title.
(c)
Deposits
There
shall be deposited in the Fund, which shall constitute the assets of the Fund,
amounts as follows:
(1) Amounts
appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this title.
(2) Amounts earned
through investment under subsection (d).
(d)
Investments
The
Foundation shall invest the Endowment fund corpus and income for the benefit of
the Endowment.
(e)
Requirements
Any
amounts received by the Foundation pursuant to this title shall be subject to
the provisions of the National Fish and Wildlife Establishment Act (16 U.S.C.
3701 et seq.), except the provisions of section 10(a) of that Act (16 U.S.C.
3709(a)).
(f)
Withdrawals and
expenditures
(1)
Allocation of
funds
Each fiscal year, the Foundation shall, in consultation
with the Secretary, allocate an amount equal to not less than 3 percent and not
more than 7 percent of the corpus of the Endowment fund and the income
generated from the Endowment fund from the current fiscal year.
(2)
Expenditure
Except as provided in paragraph (3), of the
amounts allocated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year—
(A) at least 59
percent shall be used by the Foundation to award grants to coastal States under
section 12006(b);
(B) at least 39
percent shall be allocated by the Foundation to award grants under section
12006(c); and
(C) no more than 2
percent may be used by the Secretary and the Foundation for administrative
expenses to carry out this title, which amount shall be divided between the
Secretary and the Foundation pursuant to an agreement reached and documented by
both the Secretary and the Foundation.
(3)
Program
adjustments
(A)
In
general
In any fiscal year in which the amount described in
subparagraph (B) is less than $100,000,000, the Foundation, in consultation
with the Secretary, may elect not to use any of the amounts allocated under
paragraph (1) for that fiscal year to award grants under section
12006(b).
(B)
Determination
amount
The amount described in this subparagraph for a fiscal
year is the amount that is equal to the sum of—
(i) the amount that
is 5 percent of the corpus of the Endowment fund; and
(ii) the aggregate
amount of income the Foundation expects to be generated from the Endowment fund
in that fiscal year.
(g)
Recovery of
payments
After notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the
Secretary is authorized to recover any Federal payments under this section if
the Foundation—
(1) makes a
withdrawal or expenditure of the corpus of the Endowment fund or the income of
the Endowment fund that is not consistent with the requirements of section
12005; or
(2) fails to comply
with a procedure, measure, method, or standard established under section
12006(a)(1).
12005.
Eligible uses
(a)
In general
Amounts in the Endowment may be allocated
by the Foundation to support programs and activities intended to restore,
protect, maintain, or understand living marine resources and their habitats and
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, including baseline scientific
research, ocean observing, and other programs and activities carried out in
coordination with Federal and State departments or agencies, that are
consistent with Federal environmental laws and that avoid environmental
degradation, including the following:
(1) Ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes restoration
and protection, including the protection of the environmental integrity of such
areas, and their related watersheds, including efforts to mitigate potential
impacts of sea level change, changes in ocean chemistry, and changes in ocean
temperature.
(2) Restoration, protection, or maintenance of
living ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and their habitats, including
marine protected areas and riparian migratory habitat of coastal and marine
species.
(3) Planning for and
managing coastal development to enhance ecosystem integrity or minimize impacts
from sea level change and coastal erosion.
(4) Analyses of
current and anticipated impacts of ocean acidification and assessment of
potential actions to minimize harm to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
ecosystems.
(5) Analyses of, and
planning for, current and anticipated uses of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
areas.
(6) Regional,
subregional, or site-specific management efforts designed to manage, protect,
or restore ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and ecosystems.
(7) Research, assessment, monitoring,
observation, modeling, and sharing of scientific information that contribute to
the understanding of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and support the
purposes of this title.
(8) Efforts to understand better the processes
that govern the fate and transport of petroleum hydrocarbons released into the
marine environment from natural and anthropogenic sources, including
spills.
(9) Efforts to improve spill response and
preparedness technologies.
(10) Acquiring property or interests in property
in coastal and estuarine areas, if such property or interest is acquired in a
manner that will ensure such property or interest will be administered to
support the purposes of this title.
(11) Protection and relocation of critical
coastal public infrastructure affected by erosion or sea level change.
(b)
Matching
requirement
An amount from the Endowment may not be allocated to
fund a project or activity described in paragraph (10) or (11) of subsection
(a) unless non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to 30 percent or more
of the cost of such project or activity is made available to carry out such
project or activity.
(c)
Considerations for Great Lakes
States
Programs and
activities funded in Great Lakes States shall also seek to attain the goals
embodied in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Plan, the Great Lakes
Regional Collaboration Strategy, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, or
other collaborative planning efforts of the Great Lakes Region.
(d)
Prohibition on
use of funds for litigation
No funds made available under this
title may be used to fund litigation over any matter.
12006.
Grants
(a)
Administration
of grants
(1)
In
general
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Foundation shall establish the following:
(A) Application and review procedures for the
awarding of grants under this section, including requirements ensuring that any
amounts awarded under such subsections may only be used for an eligible use
described under section 12005.
(B) Approval
procedures for the awarding of grants under this section that require
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the
Interior.
(C) Eligibility
criteria for awarding grants—
(i) under subsection
(b) to coastal States; and
(ii) under subsection
(c) to entities including States, Indian tribes, regional bodies, associations,
non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions.
(D) Performance accountability and monitoring
measures for programs and activities funded by a grant awarded under subsection
(b) or (c).
(E) Procedures and methods to ensure accurate
accounting and appropriate administration grants awarded under this section,
including standards of record keeping.
(F) Procedures to carry out audits of the
Endowment as necessary, but not less frequently than once every 5 years.
(G) Procedures to carry out audits of the
recipients of grants under this section.
(2)
Approval
procedures
(A)
Submittal
The Foundation shall submit to the
Secretary each procedure, measure, method, and standard established under
paragraph (1).
(B)
Determination
and notice
Not later than 90 days after receiving the procedures,
measures, methods, and standards under subparagraph (A), the Secretary
shall—
(i) determine whether
to approve or disapprove of such procedures, measures, methods, and standards;
and
(ii) notify the
Foundation of such determination.
(C)
Justification
of disapproval
If the Secretary disapproves of the procedures,
measures, methods, and standards under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall
include in notice submitted under clause (ii) of such subparagraph the
rationale for such disapproval.
(D)
Resubmittal
Not
later than 30 days after the Foundation receives notification under
subparagraph (B)(ii) that the Secretary has disapproved the procedures,
measures, methods, and standards, the Foundation shall revise such procedures,
measures, methods, and standards and submit such revised procedures, measures,
methods, and standards to the Secretary.
(E)
Review of
resubmittal
Not later than 30 days after receiving revised
procedures, measures, methods, and standards resubmitted under subparagraph
(D), the Secretary shall—
(i) determine whether
to approve or disapprove the revised procedures, measures, methods, and
standards; and
(ii) notify the
Foundation of such determination.
(b)
Grants to coastal States
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the
Foundation shall award grants of amounts allocated under section 12004(e)(2)(A)
to eligible coastal States, based on the following formula:
(A) Fifty percent of the funds are allocated
equally among eligible coastal States.
(B) Twenty-five percent of the funds are
allocated on the basis of the ratio of tidal shoreline miles in a coastal State
to the tidal shoreline miles of all coastal States.
(C) Twenty-five percent of the funds are
allocated on the basis of the ratio of population density of the coastal
shoreline counties of a coastal State to the population density of all coastal
shoreline counties.
(2)
Eligible
coastal States
For purposes of paragraph (1), an eligible coastal
State includes—
(A) a coastal State
that has a coastal management program approved under the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.); and
(B) during the period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31,
2018, a coastal State that had, during the period beginning January 1, 2008,
and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, a coastal management
program approved as described in subparagraph (A).
(3)
Maximum allocation to States
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), not more
than 10 percent of the total funds distributed under this subsection may be
allocated to any single State. Any amount exceeding this limit shall be
redistributed among the remaining States according to the formula established
under paragraph (1).
(4)
Maximum allocation to certain geographic
areas
(A)
In general
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), each
geographic area described in subparagraph (B) may not receive more than 1
percent of the total funds distributed under this subsection. Any amount
exceeding this limit shall be redistributed among the remaining States
according to the formula established under paragraph (1).
(B)
Geographic areas described
The geographic areas described in this
subparagraph are the following:
(i) American Samoa.
(ii) The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
(iii) Guam.
(iv) Puerto Rico.
(v) The Virgin Islands.
(5)
Requirement to submit plans
(A)
In
general
To be eligible to
receive a grant under this subsection, a coastal State shall submit to the
Secretary, and the Secretary shall review, a 5-year plan, which shall include
the following:
(i) A prioritized list of goals the coastal
State intends to achieve during the time period covered by the 5-year
plan.
(ii) Identification and general descriptions of
existing State projects or activities that contribute to realization of such
goals, including a description of the entities conducting those projects or
activities.
(iii) General descriptions of projects or
activities, consistent with the eligible uses described in section 12005,
applicable provisions of law relating to the environment, and existing Federal
ocean policy, that could contribute to realization of such goals.
(iv) Criteria to determine eligibility for
entities which may receive grants under this subsection.
(v) A description of the competitive process
the coastal State will use in allocating funds received from the Endowment,
except in the case of allocating funds under paragraph (7), which shall
include—
(I) a description of the relative roles in the
State competitive process of the State coastal zone management program approved
under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) and any
State Sea Grant Program; and
(II) a demonstration that such competitive
process is consistent with the application and review procedures established by
the Foundation under subsection (a)(1).
(B)
Updates
As
a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, a coastal State shall
submit to the Secretary, not less frequently than once every 5 years, an update
to the plan submitted by the coastal State under subparagraph (A) for the
5-year period immediately following the most recent submittal under this
paragraph.
(6)
Opportunity for public
comment
In determining
whether to approve a plan or an update to a plan described in subparagraph (A)
or (B) of paragraph (5), the Secretary shall provide the opportunity for, and
take into consideration, public input and comment on the plan.
(7)
Approval procedure
(A)
In general
Not later than 30 days after the
opportunity for public comment on a plan or an update to a plan of a coastal
State under paragraph (6), the Secretary shall notify such coastal State that
the Secretary—
(i) approves the plan as submitted; or
(ii) disapproves the plan as submitted.
(B)
Disapproval
If the Secretary disapproves a proposed
plan or an update of a plan submitted under subparagraph (A) or (B) of
paragraph (5), the Secretary shall provide notice of such disapproval to the
submitting coastal State in writing, and include in such notice the rationale
for the Secretary’s decision.
(C)
Resubmittal
If the Secretary disapproves a plan of a
coastal State under subparagraph (A), the coastal State shall resubmit the plan
to the Secretary not later than 30 days after receiving the notice of
disapproval under subparagraph (B).
(D)
Review of
resubmittal
Not later than 60
days after receiving a plan resubmitted under subparagraph (C), the Secretary
shall review the plan.
(8)
Indian
tribes
As a condition on receipt of a grant under this
subsection, a State that receives a grant under this subsection shall ensure
that Indian tribes in the State are eligible to participate in the competitive
process described in the State's plan under paragraph (5)(A)(v).
(c)
National grants for oceans, coasts, and
Great Lakes
(1)
In general
The Foundation may use amounts allocated
under section 12004(e)(2)(B) to award grants according to the procedures
established in subsection (a) to support activities consistent with section
12005.
(2)
Advisory
panel
(A)
In
general
The Foundation shall
establish an advisory panel to conduct reviews of applications for grants under
paragraph (1) and the Foundation shall consider the recommendations of the
Advisory Panel with respect to such applications.
(B)
Membership
The
advisory panel established under subparagraph (A) shall include persons
representing a balanced and diverse range, as determined by the Foundation,
of—
(i) ocean, coastal,
and Great Lakes dependent industries;
(ii) geographic
regions;
(iii) nonprofit
conservation organizations with a mission that includes the conservation and
protection of living marine resources and their habitats; and
(iv) academic
institutions with strong scientific or technical credentials and experience in
marine science or policy.
12007.
Annual report
(a)
Requirement for annual report
Beginning with fiscal year 2014, not later
than 60 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Foundation shall submit to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the
operation of the Endowment during the fiscal year.
(b)
Content
Each annual report submitted under
subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall include—
(1) a statement of the amounts deposited in the
Endowment and the balance remaining in the Endowment at the end of the fiscal
year; and
(2) a description of the expenditures made from
the Endowment for the fiscal year, including the purpose of the
expenditures.
12008.
Tulsa Port
of Catoosa, Rogers County, Oklahoma land exchange
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Federal
land
The term Federal land means the approximately
87 acres of land situated in Rogers County, Oklahoma, contained within United
States Tracts 413 and 427, and acquired for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas
Navigation System.
(2)
Non-Federal
land
The term non-Federal land means the
approximately 34 acres of land situated in Rogers County, Oklahoma and owned by
the Tulsa Port of Catoosa that lie immediately south and east of the Federal
land.
(b)
Land
exchange
Subject to
subsection (c), on conveyance by the Tulsa Port of Catoosa to the United States
of all right, title, and interest in and to the non-Federal land, the Secretary
shall convey to the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, all right, title, and interest of
the United States in and to the Federal land.
(c)
Conditions
(1)
Deeds
(A)
Deed to
non-Federal land
The Secretary may only accept conveyance of the
non-Federal land by warranty deed, as determined acceptable by the
Secretary.
(B)
Deed to Federal
land
The Secretary shall convey the Federal land to the Tulsa
Port of Catoosa by quitclaim deed and subject to any reservations, terms, and
conditions that the Secretary determines necessary to—
(i) allow the United
States to operate and maintain the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation
System; and
(ii) protect the
interests of the United States.
(2)
Legal
descriptions
The exact acreage and legal descriptions of the
Federal land and the non-Federal land shall be determined by surveys acceptable
to the Secretary.
(3)
Payment of
costs
The Tulsa Port of Catoosa shall be responsible for all
costs associated with the land exchange authorized by this section, including
any costs that the Secretary determines necessary and reasonable in the
interest of the United States, including surveys, appraisals, real estate
transaction fees, administrative costs, and environmental documentation.
(4)
Cash
payment
If the appraised fair market value of the Federal land,
as determined by the Secretary, exceeds the appraised fair market value of the
non-Federal land, as determined by the Secretary, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa
shall make a cash payment to the United States reflecting the difference in the
appraised fair market values.
(5)
Liability
The
Tulsa Port of Catoosa shall hold and save the United States free from damages
arising from activities carried out under this section, except for damages due
to the fault or negligence of the United States or a contractor of the United
States.
XIII
Miscellaneous
13001.
Applicability of
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule
(a)
Definitions
In this title:
(1)
Administrator
The term Administrator means
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2)
Farm
The
term farm has the meaning given the term in
section
112.2 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations).
(3)
Gallon
The
term gallon means a United States liquid gallon.
(4)
Oil
The
term oil has the meaning given the term in section 112.2 of title
40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(5)
Oil
discharge
The term oil discharge has the meaning
given the term discharge in section 112.2 of title 40, Code of
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(6)
Reportable oil
discharge history
The term reportable oil discharge
history has the meaning used to describe the legal requirement to report
a discharge of oil under applicable law.
(7)
Spill
Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule
The term Spill
Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule means the regulation,
including amendments, promulgated by the Administrator under part 112 of title
40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(b)
Certification
In
implementing the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule with
respect to any farm, the Administrator shall—
(1) require
certification of compliance with the rule by—
(A) a professional
engineer for a farm with—
(i) an
individual tank with an aboveground storage capacity greater than 10,000
gallons;
(ii) an
aggregate aboveground storage capacity greater than or equal to 20,000 gallons;
or
(iii) a
reportable oil discharge history; or
(B) the owner or
operator of the farm (via self-certification) for a farm with—
(i) an aggregate aboveground storage capacity
not more than 20,000 gallons and not less than the lesser of—
(I) 6,000 gallons; or
(II) the adjustment described in subsection
(d)(2); and
(ii) no reportable oil discharge history of oil;
and
(2) not require a
certification of a statement of compliance with the rule—
(A) subject to subsection (d), with an
aggregate aboveground storage capacity of not less than 2,500 gallons and not
more than 6,000 gallons; and
(B) no reportable oil discharge history;
and
(3) not require a
certification of a statement of compliance with the rule for an aggregate
aboveground storage capacity of not more than 2,500 gallons.
(c)
Calculation of
aggregate aboveground storage capacity
For purposes of subsection (b), the
aggregate aboveground storage capacity of a farm excludes—
(1) all containers on separate parcels that
have a capacity that is 1,000 gallons or less; and
(2) all containers
holding animal feed ingredients approved for use in livestock feed by the
Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
(d)
Study
(1)
In
general
Not later than 12 months of the date of enactment of this
Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture,
shall conduct a study to determine the appropriate exemption under subsection
(b)(2)(A) and (b)(1)(B) to not more than 6,000 gallons and not less than 2,500
gallons, based on a significant risk of discharge to water.
(2)
Adjustment
Not
later than 18 months after the date on which the study described in paragraph
(1) is complete, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture, shall promulgate a rule to adjust the exemption levels described
in subsection (b)(2)(A) and (b)(1)(B) in accordance with the study.
13002.
America the
Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
program
The Secretary may
participate in the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal
Recreational Lands Pass program in the same manner as the National Park
Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation, including the
provision of free annual passes to active duty military personnel and
dependents.
Passed the Senate
May 15, 2013.
Secretary