Annual report to Congress
In general
Not later than February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall develop 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 an annual report, to be entitled “Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development”, that identifies the following:
Feasibility reports
Proposed feasibility studies
Proposed modifications
Any proposed modification to an authorized water resources development project or feasibility study that meets the criteria established in subsection (c)(1)(A) that—
is submitted to the Secretary by a non-Federal interest pursuant to subsection (b); or
is identified by the Secretary for authorization.
Programmatic modifications
Requests for proposals
Publication
Deadline for requests
Notification
On the date of publication of each notice required by this subsection, the Secretary shall—
make the notice publicly available, including on the Internet; and
provide written notification of the publication to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
Contents
Feasibility reports, proposed feasibility studies, and proposed modifications
Criteria for inclusion in report
The Secretary shall include in the annual report only those feasibility reports, proposed feasibility studies, and proposed modifications to authorized water resources development projects and feasibility studies that—
are related to the missions and authorities of the Corps of Engineers;
require specific congressional authorization, including by an Act of Congress;
have not been congressionally authorized;
have not been included in any previous annual report; and
if authorized, could be carried out by the Corps of Engineers.
Description of benefits
Description
Benefits
The benefits (or expected benefits, in the case of a proposed feasibility study) described in this clause are benefits to—
the protection of human life and property;
improvement to transportation;
the national, regional, or local economy;
the environment; or
the national security interests of the United States.
Identification of other factors
The Secretary shall identify in the annual report, to the extent practicable—
for each proposed feasibility study included in the annual report, the non-Federal interest that submitted the proposed feasibility study pursuant to subsection (b); and
for each proposed feasibility study and proposed modification to an authorized water resources development project or feasibility study included in the annual report, whether the non-Federal interest has demonstrated—
that local support exists for the proposed feasibility study or proposed modification to an authorized water resources development project or feasibility study (including the water resources development project that is the subject of the proposed feasibility study or the proposed modification to an authorized feasibility study); and
the financial ability to provide the required non-Federal cost share.
Modifications of projects carried out pursuant to continuing authority programs
In general
Inclusion
For each proposed modification included in an annual report under clause (i), the Secretary shall include in the annual report—
a justification of why the modification is necessary;
an estimate of the total cost and timeline required to complete construction of the project; and
an indication of continued support by the non-Federal interest and the financial ability of the non-Federal interest to provide the required cost-share.
Definition
For the purposes of this subparagraph, the term “continuing authority program” means any of—
Transparency
The Secretary shall include in the annual report, for each feasibility report, proposed feasibility study, and proposed modification to an authorized water resources development project or feasibility study included under paragraph (1)(A)—
the name of the associated non-Federal interest, including the name of any non-Federal interest that has contributed, or is expected to contribute, a non-Federal share of the cost of—
the feasibility report;
the proposed feasibility study;
the authorized feasibility study for which the modification is proposed; or
construction of—
the water resources development project that is the subject of—
the feasibility report;
the proposed feasibility study; or
the authorized feasibility study for which a modification is proposed; or
the proposed modification to an authorized water resources development project;
a letter or statement of support for the feasibility report, proposed feasibility study, or proposed modification to an authorized water resources development project or feasibility study from each associated non-Federal interest;
the purpose of the feasibility report, proposed feasibility study, or proposed modification to an authorized water resources development project or feasibility study;
an estimate, to the extent practicable, of the Federal, non-Federal, and total costs of—
the proposed modification to an authorized feasibility study; and
construction of—
the water resources development project that is the subject of—
the feasibility report; or
the authorized feasibility study for which a modification is proposed, with respect to the change in costs resulting from such modification; or
the proposed modification to an authorized water resources development project; and
an estimate, to the extent practicable, of the monetary and nonmonetary benefits of—
the water resources development project that is the subject of—
the feasibility report; or
the authorized feasibility study for which a modification is proposed, with respect to the benefits of such modification; or
the proposed modification to an authorized water resources development project.
Certification
Appendix
In general
Limitation
In carrying out the activities described in this section—
the Secretary shall not include proposals in the appendix of the annual report that otherwise meet the criteria for inclusion in the annual report solely on the basis of the Secretary’s determination that the proposal requires legislative changes to an authorized water resources development project, feasibility study, or environmental infrastructure program;
the Secretary shall not include proposals in the appendix of the annual report that otherwise meet the criteria for inclusion in the annual report solely on the basis that the proposals are for the purposes of navigation, flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, or municipal or agricultural water supply; and
the Secretary shall not include proposals in the appendix of the annual report that otherwise meet the criteria for inclusion in the annual report solely on the basis of a policy of the Secretary.
Programmatic modifications in annual report
Special rule for initial annual report
Notwithstanding any other deadlines required by this section, the Secretary shall—
not later than 60 days after
include in such notice a requirement that non-Federal interests submit to the Secretary any proposals described in subsection (b)(1) by not later than 120 days after the date of publication of such notice in the Federal Register in order for such proposals to be considered for inclusion in the first annual report developed by the Secretary under this section.
Publication
Non-Federal interest notification
Congressional notification
Definitions
In this section:
Annual report
Feasibility report
In general
Inclusions
The term “feasibility report” includes—
a report described in section 2215(d)(2) of this title; and
where applicable, any associated report of the Chief of Engineers.
Feasibility study
Non-Federal interest
Water resources development project
Source
(Pub. L. 113–121, title VII, § 7001,Notes
Editorial Notes
Codification
Amendments
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Over-Budget Cap Programs
Annual Report on Status of Feasibility Studies
Dissemination of Information
Findings.—
Congress finds the following:
Congress plays a central role in identifying, prioritizing, and authorizing vital water resources infrastructure activities throughout the United States.
The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–121) established a new and transparent process to review and prioritize the water resources development activities of the Corps of Engineers with strong congressional oversight.
Section 7001 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 2282d) requires the Secretary [of the Army] to develop and submit to Congress each year a Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development and, as part of the annual report process, to—
publish a notice in the Federal Register that requests from non-Federal interests proposed feasibility studies and proposed modifications to authorized water resources development projects and feasibility studies for inclusion in the report; and
review the proposals submitted and include in the report those proposed feasibility studies and proposed modifications that meet the criteria for inclusion established under such section 7001.
Congress will use the information provided in the annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development to determine authorization needs and priorities for purposes of water resources development legislation.
To ensure that Congress can gain a thorough understanding of the water resources development needs and priorities of the United States, it is important that the Secretary take sufficient steps to ensure that non-Federal interests are made aware of the new annual report process, including the need for non-Federal interests to submit proposals during the Secretary’s annual request for proposals in order for such proposals to be eligible for consideration by Congress.
Dissemination of Process Information.—
In general.—
The Secretary shall develop, support, and implement education and awareness efforts for non-Federal interests with respect to the annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development required under section 7001 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 2282d), including efforts to—
develop and disseminate technical assistance materials, seminars, and guidance on the annual process as it relates to non-Federal interests;
provide written notice to local elected officials and previous and potential non-Federal interests on the annual process and on opportunities to address local water resources challenges through the missions and authorities of the Corps of Engineers;
issue guidance for non-Federal interests to assist such interests in developing proposals for water resources development projects that satisfy the requirements of such section 7001; and
provide, at the request of a non-Federal interest, assistance with researching and identifying existing project authorizations and Corps of Engineers decision documents.
Annual reporting.—
Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a written update on the progress of the implementation of paragraph (1), including a description of each education and outreach action the Secretary is taking to implement that paragraph.
Guidance; compliance.—
The Secretary shall—
issue guidance on the uniform implementation by each district of the Corps of Engineers of the process for submitting proposals under section 7001 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 2282d); and
each year, ensure compliance with the guidance issued under subparagraph (A).”