§701n–3 Permanent measures to reduce emergency flood fighting needs for communities subject to repetitive flooding

Summary

Lets the Secretary study, design, and build water projects to lower flood and coastal storm risk for communities that have had repeated flooding. Projects can change or strengthen existing flood works, build new ones, and use natural or nonstructural approaches. When practical, the Secretary must try to use natural or nature-based features, or mix them with nonstructural options, so that at least one studied plan cuts flood or storm damage by 50% or more. The Secretary may start a project without asking Congress if the project is judged wise, has benefits greater than its costs, and the federal share of construction costs is $17,500,000 or less. If the federal share is more than $17,500,000, the Secretary must send the plan to Congress and include it in the next annual report. If a study shows benefits do not exceed costs, the community may pay the extra amount needed to make the remaining design and construction costs equal the project's estimated benefits; those payments are in addition to other required local payments. Cost-sharing deals must account for a community’s ability to pay, which the Secretary will decide by set procedures, and any lowering of the local share for inability to pay cannot be counted as part of the federal share when checking the $17,500,000 limit. Definitions: affected community — a public body that has had flooding at least twice in 10 years and got emergency flood help; natural feature / nature-based feature — technical terms defined elsewhere in the law for types of natural or nature-based flood-control measures.