§408a Expediting Approval of Modifications and Alterations of Projects by Non-federal Interests

Summary

Requires the Secretary to set up a timely, consistent review process for requests to use, occupy, or change public works under section 14, and to do that not later than 1 year after June 10, 2014, after giving notice and a chance for comment. section 14 application — a request to the Secretary asking permission to temporarily or permanently use, occupy, or alter a public work under section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of March 3, 1899. The process must include target times: decide if an application is complete within 15 days and tell the applicant quickly what is missing; generally approve or deny a finished application within 45 days, or up to 180 days for complex cases, and give written notice with a time estimate if review will take more than 45 days. If the Secretary misses the targets, the Secretary must send the applicant a written explanation of why, what extra steps are needed, and how much more time is required, and also send that notice to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The Secretary must keep a public, online list of all section 14 applications and their status, issue guidance not later than 120 days after December 16, 2016, include these rules in related guidance, and prioritize these duties.