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

Summary

By February 1 each year, the Secretary must prepare and send Congress a report called the Report to Congress on Authorized Water Resources Development Projects and Studies. The report must list: feasibility studies authorized in the last 20 years that do not yet have a Chief of Engineers report; authorized feasibility studies in the preconstruction, engineering, and design phase; projects authorized for construction in the last 20 years; and authorized projects the Secretary must operate or maintain. The report can include only studies or projects that Congress already authorized and that need no further congressional approval, that the Secretary could carry out if money is provided from the “Investigations”, “Construction”, “Operation and Maintenance”, or “Mississippi River and Tributaries” appropriations accounts for the Corps of Engineers, and for which a non-Federal interest has a cost-sharing, design, or partnership agreement (or says it can sign one within 1 year) and shows legal and financial ability to cooperate. The Secretary should, as much as possible, describe each item’s benefits to life and property, transportation, the economy, the environment, or national security. Each entry must name the non-Federal partner, state the purpose, give Federal, non-Federal, and total cost estimates (including the Corps’ fully funded needs for the next 3 fiscal years for studies and 5 fiscal years for projects), estimate monetary and nonmonetary benefits, and include a certification that it meets the rules. The Secretary must not drop eligible items just because of a policy choice; any omitted eligible item must be listed in an appendix with a reason. The report may be sent with the annual report under section 2282d and must be made public, including online. Definitions: non-Federal interest — the term as defined in section 1962d–5b of title 42. water resources development project — includes separable project elements, projects under environmental infrastructure assistance, and projects that include water supply.