§2282d–1 Report to Congress on Authorized Studies and Projects

Summary

By February 1 each year, the Secretary must send Congress a report called the Report to Congress on Authorized Water Resources Development Projects and Studies. The report must list: feasibility studies from the past 20 years that still need a Chief of Engineers report, authorized studies in the preconstruction, engineering, and design phase, projects authorized for construction in the past 20 years, and authorized or built projects the Secretary must operate or maintain. The report must only include projects and studies already authorized by Congress that the Secretary can carry out if money is provided under Corps of Engineers accounts (including Investigations, Construction, Operation and Maintenance, or Mississippi River and Tributaries). Each listed study or project must have a non‑Federal partner with a cost‑share or partnership agreement, or that partner must say it can sign one within 1 year and show it can meet local legal and financial requirements. The report must describe expected benefits (such as protecting life and property, improving transportation, helping the economy, aiding the environment, or supporting national security), name the non‑Federal partner, state the purpose, give estimated Federal, non‑Federal, and total costs and the Corps’ funded plan for the next 3 years (for studies) or 5 years (for projects), and estimate monetary and nonmonetary benefits. The Secretary must certify that each item meets these rules, cannot omit items just because of a Secretary policy (and if an item is left out, must list it and explain why in an appendix), and must make the report public, including on the internet. One‑line definitions: “Non‑Federal interest” is defined in another law, and “water resources development project” covers separable project parts, environmental infrastructure help, and projects that include water supply.