§509a Project beneficiaries

Summary

When the Secretary picks a Bureau of Reclamation facility to be changed, the Secretary must send the project beneficiaries a written notice that explains why the change is needed, how the change will be chosen and done, and what administrative and legal rules apply. The Secretary must give beneficiaries a chance to consult about the planning, design, and construction and must work with them to set a schedule for that consultation. Before filing the reports required under section 509, the Secretary must consider any written alternatives submitted on time by a beneficiary who chose to consult, give a timely written reply saying what will be done about the suggestion, and include that reply in the section 509 reports. The Secretary may waive one or more of these steps if doing them would hurt dam safety or security.