§2267b Post-disaster watershed assessments

Summary

The Secretary may carry out a watershed assessment in an area where the President has declared a major disaster under 42 U.S.C. 5170. The assessment must try to find specific project ideas to reduce flood, hurricane, and storm damage, restore ecosystems, or improve navigation so damaged infrastructure and natural resources are stronger and risks to people and property are lower. The Secretary must use all existing watershed studies and other information from federal, state, or local sources. The assessment can point out projects already being done under other authorities, and the Secretary may carry out projects using the rules for one of these authorities (33 U.S.C. 701s, 426i, 2330, 2309a, 577, 426g). Projects that don’t fit those rules must be sent as recommendations in the Secretary’s annual report to Congress (section 2282d). When moving forward with a project, the Secretary must use available studies and not make people redo work finished before the disaster. All rules that apply under the listed Acts also apply to these projects. A watershed assessment must start no later than 2 years after the major disaster declaration. For disasters in a U.S. territory declared before October 23, 2018, activities under this authority are paid fully by the federal government unless the President decides the territory can pay its cost share without using loans. "Territory of the United States" means an insular area named in section 2310(a)(1).