,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ccaf  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,decemb] #c1 #bjbe,mr4 
,hu/$ 7= himself & ,mr4 ,ricketts7      
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,environm5t & ,public ,works  ,a ,,bill 
,to e/abli% ! ,wat]way ,p]mit ,section  
#djd ,assignm5t program1 & = o!r        
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,wat] ,au?ority & ,timely  
,environm5tal ,review ,act ( #bjbe or ! 
,,wat] ,act ( #bjbe4  #b4 ,wat]way      
,p]mit ,section #djd ,assignm5t program 
7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7    
,adm9i/rator ,! t]m ,adm9i/rator means !
 ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal         
,protection ,ag5cy4  7#b7 ,cov]$ project
 ,! t]m cov]$ project means a highway1  
railroad1 or public transportation      
project4  7#c7 ,,fwpca t]ms ,! t]ms     
navigable wat]s & ,/ate h ! mean+s giv5 
^? t]ms 9 section #ejb ( ! ,f$]al ,wat] 
,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 
#acfb74  7#d7 ,program ,! t]m program   

means ! ,wat]way ,p]mit ,section #djd   
,assignm5t program e/abli%$ "u          
subsection 7b77#a74  7#e7 ,secret>y ,!  
t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( !     
,army1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,*ief ( ,eng9e]s4   
7b7 ,e/abli%m5t  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat]  
?an #fj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t (   
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator  
%all jo9tly e/abli% & c>ry out a        
program1 to be kn[n z ! ,wat]way ,p]mit 
,section #djd ,assignm5t program4  7#b7 
,assumption ( responsibility  7,a7 ,9   
g5]al ,subject to ! requirem5ts ( ?is   
section & not)/&+ subsections 7g7 ?r\gh 
7m7 ( section #djd ( ! ,f$]al ,wat]     
,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 
#acdd71 ) ! writt5 agreem5t ( !         
,secret>y1 ! ,adm9i/rator1 & a ,/ate1   
:i* may be 9 ! =m ( a memor&um (        
und]/&+1 ! ,secret>y may assign1 & !    
,/ate may assume1 ! responsibilities ( !
 ,secret>y "u t section ) respect to !  
p]mitt+ ( #a or m cov]$ projects 9 !    
,/ate4  7,b7 ,additional responsibility 
,if a ,/ate assumes responsibility "u   

subp>agraph 7,a7-- 7i7 ! ,secret>y may  
assign to ! ,/ate1 & ! ,/ate may assume1
 all or "p ( ! responsibilities ( !     
,secret>y = ! p]mitt+ ( dis*>ge ( dr$g$ 
or fill mat]ial into ! navigable wat]s1 
includ+ environm5tal reviews "u !       
,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act (  
#aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq471    
consultation requirem5ts "u ! ,endang]$ 
,species ,act ( #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4    
#aeca et seq471 requirem5ts "u division 
,a ( subtitle ,,iii ( title #ed1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code1 or any o!r action requir$ 
"u any ,f$]al environm5tal law relat+ to
 review "u section #djd ( ! ,f$]al ,wat]
 ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4
 #acdd7 or approval ( a cov]$ project2 &
  7ii7 subject to subp>agraph 7,c71 !   
,secret>y may assign to ! ,/ate1 & !    
,/ate may assume1 all or "p ( !         
responsibilities ( ! ,secret>y "u       
section #aj ( ! ,act ( ,m>* #c1 #ahii   
7commonly kn[n z ! ,riv]s & ,h>bors ,act
 ( #ahii7 7#cj ,/at4 #aaea1 *apt] #dbe2 
#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #djc71 = ! p]mitt+ ( !    

con/ruction ( any /ructure 9 or ov] any 
navigable wat] ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 !     
excavat+ f or deposit+ ( mat]ial 9 su*  
wat]s1 or ! accompli%m5t ( any o!r "w   
affect+ ! c\rse1 location1 condition1 or
 capacity ( su* wat]s4  7,c7            
,limitations ) respect to riv]s & h>bors
 act ( #ahii ,! assignm5t (             
responsibilities "u subp>agraph 7,b77ii7
 %all be limit$ to ! program & is       
effective only z x is necess>y to all[ =
 ! p]mitt+ ( a cov]$ project4  7,d7     
,proc$ural & sub/antive requirem5ts  7i7
 ,9 g5]al ,except z o!rwise provid$ 9   
?is section-- 7,i7 a ,/ate %all assume  
responsibility "u ?is section subject to
 ! same proc$ural & sub/antive          
requirem5ts z w\ld apply if t           
responsibility 7 c>ri$ out by !         
,secret>y2 &  7,,ii7 ! ,/ate %all ensure
 compliance ) ^? requirem5ts4  7ii7 ,no 
regulations requir$ ,no?+ 9 ?is section 
requires a ,/ate p>ticipat+ 9 ! program 
to promulgate regulations to c>ry out ! 
program4  7,e7 ,f$]al responsibility    

7i7 ,9 g5]al ,any responsibility ( !    
,secret>y "u section #djd ( ! ,f$]al    
,wat] ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc     
,u4,s4,c4 #acdd7 or section #aj ( ! ,act
 ( ,m>* #c1 #ahii 7commonly kn[n z !    
,riv]s & ,h>bors ,act ( #ahii7 7#cj     
,/at4 #aaea1 *apt] #dbe2 #cc ,u4,s4,c4  
#djc71 n explicitly assum$ by a ,/ate by
 writt5 agreem5t "u ?is section %all    
rema9 ! responsibility ( ! ,secret>y4   
7ii7 ,sav+s provision ,no?+ 9 ?is       
section requires ! ,secret>y to assign  
to a ,/ate1 or t ,/ate to accept1 any ( 
! en=cem5t au?ority ( ! ,secret>y "u    
section #djd7s7 ( ! ,f$]al ,wat]        
,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 
#acdd7s774  7,f7 ,no effect on au?ority 
,no?+ 9 ?is section preempts or int]f]es
 ) any p[]1 jurisdiction1               
responsibility1 or au?ority ( a ,f$]al  
ag5cy1 o!r ?an ! ,environm5tal          
,protection ,ag5cy & ! ,corps (         
,eng9e]s1 "u applicable law 7includ+    
regulations7 ) respect to a cov]$       
project4  7,g7 ,pres]vation (           

flexibility ,! ,secret>y may n require a
 ,/ate1 z a condition ( p>ticipation 9 !
 program1 to =ego project deliv]y me?ods
 t are o!rwise p]missible = cov]$       
projects4  7,h7 ,legal fees ,a ,/ate    
assum+ ! responsibilities ( ! ,secret>y 
"u ! program = a specific cov]$ project 
may use funds apportion$ to ! ,/ate "u  
section #ajd7;b77#b7 ( title #bc1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code1 = attorneys' fees        
directly attributable to eligible       
activities associat$ ) ! cov]$ project1 
includ+ ! paym5t ( fees aw>d$ "u section
 #bdab ( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4
  7c7 ,/ate ,p>ticipation  7#a7         
,p>ticipat+ ,/ates ,all ,/ates are      
eligible to p>ticipate 9 ! program4     
7#b7 ,application ,n lat] ?an #bgj days 
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !    
,secret>y may promulgate or am5d1 z     
appropriate1 regulations or issue       
guidance t e/abli%es requirem5ts relat+ 
to in=mation requir$ to be conta9$ 9 any
 application ( a ,/ate to p>ticipate 9 !
 program1 includ+1 at a m9imum-- 7,a7 ! 

cov]$ projects or classes ( cov]$       
projects = :i* ! ,/ate anticipates      
ex]cis+ ! au?ority t may be grant$ "u ! 
program2  7,b7 a demon/ration ( !       
ability ( ! ,/ate to assure consi/5cy ) 
guidel9es e/abli%$ "u section           
#djd7;b77#a7 ( ! ,f$]al ,wat] ,pollution
 ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4           
#acdd7;b77#a772  7,c7 v]ification ( !   
f9ancial res\rces necess>y to c>ry out !
 au?ority t may be grant$ "u ! program2 
&  7,d7 evid5ce ( ! notice &            
solicitation ( public comm5t by ! ,/ate 
relat+ to p>ticipation ( ! ,/ate 9 !    
program1 includ+ copies ( comm5ts       
receiv$ f t solicitation4  7#c7 ,public 
notice  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #cj   
days be=e ! date on :i* a ,/ate submits 
an application "u ?is subsection1 !     
,/ate %all give notice ( ! int5t ( !    
,/ate to p>ticipate 9 ! program1 9      
accordance ) subp>agraph 7,b74  7,b7    
,me?od ( notice & solicitation ,! ,/ate 
%all provide notice & solicit public    
comm5t "u subp>agraph 7,a7 by publi%+ ! 

complete application ( ! ,/ate 9        
accordance ) ! appropriate public notice
 law ( ! ,/ate4  7#d7 ,selection crit]ia
 ,! ,secret>y may approve ! application 
( a ,/ate "u ?is subsection only if--   
7,a7 ! requirem5ts "u p>agraph 7#b7 h   
be5 met2  7,b7 ! ,secret>y det]m9es t ! 
,/ate has ! capability1 includ+ f9ancial
 & p]sonnel1 to assume responsibility "u
 ! program2 &  7,c7 ! head ( ! ,/ate    
ag5cy hav+ prim>y jurisdiction ov]      
highway matt]s ent]s into a writt5      
agreem5t describ$ 9 subsection 7d7 ) !  
,secret>y4  7#e7 ,o!r ,f$]al ag5cy views
 ,if a ,/ate applies to assume a        
responsibility ( ! ,secret>y t w\ld h   
requir$ ! ,secret>y to consult ) ano!r  
,f$]al ag5cy1 ! ,secret>y %all solicit !
 views ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy be=e approv+ !  
application4  7d7 ,writt5 ,agreem5t     
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a writt5 agreem5t "u ?is 
section %all-- 7,a7 be execut$ by !     
,gov]nor or ! top-rank+ transportation  
(ficial 9 ! ,/ate :o is *>g$ )          
responsibility = transportation         

infra/ructure op]ation1 ma9t5ance1 &    
con/ruction2  7,b7 be 9 su* =m z !      
,secret>y may prescribe2  7,c7 provide t
 ! ,/ate-- 7i7 agrees to assume all or  
"p ( ! responsibilities ( ! ,secret>y   
describ$ 9 subsection 7b77#b72  7ii7    
expressly cons5ts1 on behalf ( ! ,/ate1 
to accept ! jurisdiction ( ! ,f$]al     
c\rts = ! compliance1 dis*>ge1 &        
en=cem5t ( any responsibility ( !       
,secret>y assum$ by ! ,/ate2  7iii7     
c]tifies t ,/ate laws are 9 effect t--  
7,i7 au?orize ! ,/ate to take ! actions 
necess>y to c>ry out ! responsibilities 
be+ assum$2 &  7,,ii7 are comp>able to  
section #eeb ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates  
,code1 includ+ provid+ t any decision   
relat+ to ! public availability ( a     
docum5t "u ^? ,/ate laws is reviewable  
by a c\rt ( compet5t jurisdiction2 &    
7iv7 agrees to ma9ta9 ! f9ancial        
res\rces necess>y to c>ry out !         
responsibilities be+ assum$2  7,d7      
require ! ,/ate to provide to !         
,secret>y any in=mation ! ,secret>y     

reasonably consid]s necess>y to ensure t
 ! ,/ate is adequately c>ry+ out !      
responsibilities assign$ to ! ,/ate2    
7,e7 7i7 h a t]m ( n m ?an #e ye>s2 or  
7ii7 9 ! case ( a ,/ate t has p>ticipat$
 9 a program "u section #cbf or #cbg (  
title #bc1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 = a     
p]iod ( n less ?an #aj ye>s1 h a t]m (  
#aj ye>s2 &  7,f7 be r5ewable4  7#b7 ,no
 additional requirem5ts ,! ,secret>y may
 n include any additional requirem5ts 9 
a writt5 agreem5t "u ?is section o!r ?an
 ! requirem5ts describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a74
  7e7 ,jurisdiction  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
di/rict c\rts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all h  
exclusive jurisdiction ov] any civil    
action aga9/ a ,/ate = failure to c>ry  
out any responsibility ( ! ,/ate "u !   
program4  7#b7 ,legal /&>ds &           
requirem5ts ,a civil action describ$ 9  
p>agraph 7#a7 %all be gov]n$ by ! legal 
/&>ds & requirem5ts t w\ld apply 9 su* a
 civil action aga9/ ! ,secret>y _h !    
,secret>y tak5 ! actions 9 "q4  7#c7    
,int]v5tion ,! ,secret>y %all h ! "r to 

int]v5e 9 any civil action describ$ 9   
p>agraph 7#a74  7f7 ,effect (           
,assumption ( ,responsibility ,a ,/ate t
 assumes responsibility "u subsection   
7b77#b7 %all be solely responsible &    
solely liable = c>ry+ out1 9 lieu ( &   
)\t fur!r approval ( ! ,secret>y1 !     
responsibilities assum$ "u t subsection1
 until ! program is t]m9at$ "u          
subsection 7k74  7g7 ,limitations on    
,agreem5ts ,no?+ 9 ?is section p]mits a 
,/ate to assume any rulemak+ au?ority ( 
! ,secret>y "u any ,f$]al law4  7h7     
,audits  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,to ensure       
compliance by a ,/ate ) any agreem5t ( !
 ,/ate "u subsection 7d7 7includ+       
compliance by ! ,/ate ) all ,f$]al laws 
= :i* responsibility is assum$ "u       
subsection 7b77#b771 = ea* ,/ate        
p>ticipat+ 9 ! program "u ?is section1 !
 ,secret>y %all-- 7,a7 n lat] ?an #ahj  
days aft] ! date ( execution ( !        
agreem5t1 meet ) ! ,/ate to review      
implem5tation ( ! agreem5t & discuss    
plans = ! fir/ annual audit2  7,b7      

conduct n m ?an #b audits dur+ ! fir/ #d
 ye>s t ! ,/ate is p>ticipat+ 9 !       
program2  7,c7 9 ! case ( an agreem5t   
p]iod ( great] ?an #e ye>s pursuant to  
subsection 7d77#a77;,e77ii71 conduct an 
audit cov]+ ! fir/ #e ye>s ( ! agreem5t 
p]iod & a second audit cov]+ ! f9al #e  
ye>s ( ! agreem5t2 &  7,d7 ensure t ! "t
 p]iod = complet+ an audit1 f initiation
 to completion 7includ+ public comm5t & 
responses to ^? comm5ts71 does n exce$  
#ahj days4  7#b7 ,public availability & 
comm5t  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,an audit conduct$
 "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all be provid$ to !  
public = comm5t4  7,b7 ,response ,n lat]
 ?an #fj days aft] ! date on :i* ! p]iod
 = public comm5t describ$ 9 subp>agraph 
7,a7 ends1 ! ,secret>y %all respond to  
public comm5ts receiv$ "u t subp>agraph4
  7#c7 ,audit team  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,an   
audit conduct$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all be 
c>ri$ out by an audit team det]m9$ by ! 
,secret>y1 9 consultation ) ! ,/ate1 9  
accordance ) subp>agraph 7,b74  7,b7    
,consultation ,consultation ) ! ,/ate "u

 subp>agraph 7,a7 %all include a        
reasonable opportunity = ! ,/ate to     
review & provide comm5ts on ! propos$   
memb]s ( ! audit team4  7i7 ,monitor+   
,aft] ! f\r? ye> ( ! p>ticipation ( a   
,/ate 9 ! program1 ! ,secret>y %all     
monitor compliance by ! ,/ate ) ! writt5
 agreem5t1 includ+ ! provision by !     
,/ate ( f9ancial res\rces to c>ry out ! 
writt5 agreem5t4  7j7 ,reports to       
,congress ,! ,secret>y %all submit to   
,congress an annual report t describes !
 adm9i/ration ( ! program4  7k7         
,t]m9ation  7#a7 ,t]m9ation by ,secret>y
 ,! ,secret>y may t]m9ate ! p>ticipation
 ( any ,/ate 9 ! program if-- 7,a7 !    
,secret>y det]m9es t ! ,/ate is n       
adequately c>ry+ out ! responsibilities 
assign$ to ! ,/ate2  7,b7 ! ,secret>y   
provides to ! ,/ate-- 7i7 a notification
 ( ! det]m9ation ( noncompliance2  7ii7 
a p]iod ( n less ?an #abj days to take  
su* corrective action z ! ,secret>y     
det]m9es to be necess>y to comply ) !   
applicable agreem5t2 &  7iii7 on reque/ 

( ! ,gov]nor ( ! ,/ate1 a detail$       
description ( ea* responsibility 9 ne$ (
 corrective action reg>d+ an inadequacy 
id5tifi$ "u subp>agraph 7,a72 &  7,c7 ! 
,/ate1 aft] ! notification & p]iod      
provid$ "u subp>agraph 7,b71 fails to   
take satisfactory corrective action1 z  
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  7#b7 ,t]m9ation
 by ! ,/ate ,! ,/ate may t]m9ate !      
p>ticipation ( ! ,/ate 9 ! program at   
any "t by provid+ to ! ,secret>y a      
notice by n lat] ?an ! date t is #ij    
days be=e ! date ( t]m9ation1 subject to
 su* t]ms & conditions z ! ,secret>y may
 provide4  7l7 ,capacity ,build+ ,!     
,secret>y1 9 coop]ation ) repres5tatives
 ( ,/ate (ficials1 may c>ry out         
education1 tra9+1 pe]-ex*ange1 & o!r    
initiatives1 z appropriate-- 7#a7 to    
assi/ ,/ates 9 develop+ ! capacity to   
p>ticipate 9 ! program2 &  7#b7 to      
promote in=mation %>+ & collaboration   
among ,/ates t are p>ticipat+ 9 !       
program4  7m7 ,relation%ip to ,locally  
,adm9i/]$ ,projects ,a ,/ate grant$     

au?ority "u ?is section may1 9 its sole 
discretion on ! reque/ ( a unit ( local 
gov]nm5t 9 ! ,/ate-- 7#a7 ex]cise su*   
au?ority on behalf ( ! unit ( local     
gov]nm5t = a locally adm9i/]$ project2  
or  7#b7 provide guidance & tra9+ on    
consolidat+ & m9imiz+ ! docum5tation &  
environm5tal analyses necess>y =        
sponsors ( a locally adm9i/]$ project to
 comply ) ! ,national ,environm5tal     
,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#dcba et seq47 & any comp>able          
requirem5ts "u ,/ate law4  7n7 ,ag5cy   
,deem$ ,to ,be ,f$]al ,ag5cy ,a ,/ate   
ag5cy t is assign$ a responsibility "u  
an agreem5t "u ?is section %all be deem$
 to be an ag5cy = ! purposes ( section  
#bdab ( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4