,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cih ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #ae1 #bjag,mr4 ,nelson introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,army to provide for modification of certain ,federal water resources development projects on the ,apalachicola1 ,chattahoochee1 and ,flint ,rivers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,apalachicola1 ,chattahoochee1 and ,flint ,river projects 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint projects ,the term ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint projects means the ,federal water resources projects for the ,apalachicola1 ,chattahoochee1 and ,flint ,rivers in the ,states of ,alabama1 ,florida1 and ,georgia authorized by section #b of the ,act of ,march #b1 #aide 7#ei ,stat4 #ag1 chapter #ai71 the first section of the ,act of ,july #bd1 #aidf 7#fj ,stat4 #fce1 chapter #eie71 and section #bjc of the ,flood ,control ,act of #aifb 7,public ,law #hg-hgd2 #gf ,stat4 #aahb71 including-- 7,a7 ,buford ,dam and ,reservoir2 7,b7 ,west ,point ,dam and ,reservoir2 7,c7 ,george ,w4 ,andrews ,dam and ,reservoir2 7,d7 ,walter ,f4 ,george ,dam and ,reservoir2 and 7,e7 ,jim ,woodruff ,dam and ,reservoir4 7#b7 ,freshwater flows ,the term freshwater flows means the quality1 quantity1 timing1 and variability of freshwater flows required-- 7,a7 to support and reestablish-- 7i7 the physical1 chemical1 biological1 and overall ecological integrity of the components1 functions1 and natural processes required for a thriving and resilient ,chattahoochee ,river1 ,apalachicola ,river1 ,apalachicola ,river floodplain1 and ,apalachicola ,bay2 7ii7 commercial and recreational fisheries dependent on freshwater flows into ,apalachicola ,bay and adjacent waters1 including the ,gulf of ,mexico2 and 7iii7 thriving and diverse fish1 wildlife1 and plant populations with species composition1 diversity1 adaptability1 and functional organization similar to those found in the ,chattahoochee ,river and ,apalachicola ,river ecosystems prior to the construction of the ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint projects2 7,b7 to restore and recover species that are-- 7i7 endangered2 7ii7 threatened2 or 7iii7 at risk2 and 7,c7 to prevent significantly harmful adverse impacts to the ,chattahoochee ,river and ,apalachicola ,river ecosystems4 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,army4 7b7 ,project modification ,notwithstanding any authorized purpose of the ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint projects1 the ,secretary shall operate the ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint projects in a manner that ensures the maintenance of freshwater flows4 7c7 ,freshwater flows study 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration under which the ,administrator shall conduct a study that-- 7,a7 evaluates existing studies1 assessments1 and data related to freshwater flows2 and 7,b7 provides recommendations on how to maintain freshwater flows4 7#b7 ,completion date ,the study referred to in paragraph 7#a7 shall be completed by not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7d7 ,revision of water control manuals 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary-- 7,a7 shall not issue a final water control manual based on the final environmental impact statement of the ,secretary entitled ,update of the ,water ,control ,manual for the ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint ,river ,basin in ,alabama1 ,florida1 and ,georgia and a ,water ,supply ,storage ,assessment and dated ,december #bjaf2 and 7,b7 not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 shall issue revised water control manuals for ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint projects that ensure the maintenance of freshwater flows1 considering the findings of the study under subsection 7c77#a71 as appropriate4 7#b7 ,operational modifications ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall ensure that operational modifications needed to maintain freshwater flows are achieved1 to the maximum extent practicable1 while providing system-wide balance in conservation storage through the maintenance of water levels in the same action zone for each of the ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint project reservoirs4 7#c7 ,independent peer review of water control manuals 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the ,national ,academy of ,sciences under which the ,academy shall carry out an independent peer review of each revised water control manual1 as required under section #bjcd of the ,water ,resources ,development ,act of #bjjg 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdc74 7,b7 ,compliance ,each independent peer review carried out under this paragraph shall comply with section #bjcd of the ,water ,resources ,development ,act of #bjjg 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdc74 7#d7 ,final approval ,before a final water control manual may be issued1 the ,secretary shall obtain written approval of each water control manual developed under this subsection from-- 7,a7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7,b7 the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service2 7,c7 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 and 7,d7 the ,director of the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey4 7e7 ,applicability of other ,federal and ,state laws ,except as provided in subsection 7b71 nothing in this section waives1 limits1 or otherwise affects the applicability of any provision of ,federal or ,state law that would otherwise apply to the ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint projects4 7f7 ,project clarification ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the project purpose of fish and wildlife conservation for the ,apalachicola-,chattahoochee-,flint projects means protecting and restoring thriving and diverse populations of the full range of native fish and wildlife species that use the ,apalachicola ,river and floodplain and the ,chattahoochee ,river and floodplain1 including through actions such as restoring the functions of natural systems and mimicking the timing1 amount1 and variability of natural flows4