§579a Corps budgeting; project deauthorizations; comprehensive backlog report

Summary

Requires the Corps to remove authorization for projects that sit idle. Any project authorized after November 17, 1986 loses its authorization if no construction money (including planning and design) was obligated during the five-year period starting November 17, 1986. Within one year after November 17, 1986 the Secretary must give Congress a list of authorized projects or parts of projects that had no obligations in the ten full fiscal years before that list. Any project on that list is no longer authorized after December 31, 1989 unless money was obligated for it between November 17, 1986 and December 31, 1989. Every two years the Secretary must make and publish four lists: (1) all authorized but unfinished projects and separable parts, (2) all authorized feasibility studies without a Chief of Engineers report, (3) all environmental infrastructure projects authorized under section 219 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992, and (4) major federal operation and maintenance needs for Corps projects and properties. For each study or project the lists must give 12 items of information (date authorized; original budget authority; a short description; estimated completion date if fully funded; estimated total cost to finish; funds already spent; estimated annual appropriations needed to finish; location; a statement from the non‑Federal partner about their ability to provide required local cooperation each year; the benefit‑cost ratio using the OMB discount rate; the benefit‑cost ratio using the Corps’ discount rate; and the last fiscal year the project had obligations). For each operation and maintenance need the list must give the authorization or acquisition authority, a short description, an estimate of Federal costs to meet major needs, and an estimate of unmet or deferred needs. Starting with fiscal year 2020 and every two years after, the Secretary must send these lists with the President’s budget to the named Senate and House committees and to the Director of OMB, and must post the lists on a public website so they are downloadable, searchable, and sortable.