§1962–3 Water resources principles and guidelines

Summary

Requires that federal water projects support national goals, boost the economy, and protect nature. Projects must aim for long-term economic growth, avoid or limit use of flood-prone areas and reduce harm if such areas are used, and protect or restore natural systems while reducing any unavoidable damage. Defines the “principles and guidelines” as the Water Resources Council document dated March 10, 1983. Not later than 2 years after November 8, 2007, the Secretary must update those guidelines. The updates must use modern economic and risk analysis, include public safety, value benefits to low-income communities and nonstructural solutions, consider how a project interacts with other regional projects, use current water-management ideas like integrated and adaptive management, and make sure projects are justified by public benefits. The Secretary must consult many federal agencies and experts and seek public comment. The Secretary must send the revisions and an explanation of each change and its likely effects to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and post the revisions for the public, including online. The new guidelines replace the prior ones for the Secretary’s projects, apply to all projects except feasibility studies already started (unless a non-Federal partner asks), and apply to reevaluations or changes unless those were already started. The revisions do not invalidate completed studies. After finishing the revisions, the Secretary must advise Congress about repealing two parts of another law (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1962d–17).