§701n–3 Permanent Measures to Reduce Emergency Flood Fighting Needs for Communities Subject to Repetitive Flooding

Summary

Creates a program for the Secretary to study, plan, and build water projects that cut flood and coastal storm risk for communities that have had repeated floods. Affected community means a public body that had two or more floods in any 10-year period and got emergency flood help (like temporary barriers). Natural feature and nature-based feature are defined elsewhere. Projects can change or add flood-control works, build new works, or use natural or nonstructural approaches. The Secretary must, as much as practical, look at and, when it makes sense, include natural or nature-based features (alone or with nonstructural options) that cut at least 50% of flood or storm damages in one or more final options. The Secretary can approve a project without new Congressional approval if it is advisable, its benefits exceed its costs, and the federal share is at most $17,500,000. If the federal share is more than $17,500,000, the project must be sent to Congress for approval and included in the next annual report. If a project’s benefits do not cover the cost, the community may pay enough to make costs equal the estimated benefits. Any extra community payments must be in addition to other required local payments. Cost shares must consider the community’s ability to pay, using procedures the Secretary sets, and any reduction for inability to pay does not count as federal money for the $17,500,000 limit.