§3202 Water Storage, Groundwater Storage, and Conveyance Projects

Summary

Decides which water projects can get federal money for planning studies and for building work, and sets rules for how much the federal government will pay. The federal government will only pay for a feasibility study if Congress approved it by November 15, 2021, or if Congress approved funding under section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (43 U.S.C. 390b note; Public Law 114–322) by that date, or if the Secretary approves a new study for one of two named projects: the Verde Reservoirs Sediment Mitigation Project (Arizona) or the Tualatin River Basin Project (Oregon). A project can only get construction money if Congress authorized it before November 15, 2021, or Congress approved construction funding under section 4007 before that date (with some exceptions), or if Congress authorized or approved a feasibility study and, after the study, the Secretary finds the project technically and financially workable, that non‑Federal cost sharing is available, that the project is in the public interest, and the Secretary recommends construction (the two Secretary‑approved studies above cannot use this last route). How much the federal government pays depends on the law that authorizes the project or on section 4007. If neither applies, the federal share cannot be more than 50 percent for federally owned projects and 25 percent for non‑Federal projects. Before giving money, the Secretary must check that the federal portion of the benefits matches the federal investment. Rules about repaying federal money follow the Reclamation laws. All projects must follow environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act.