§777 Public Assistance Pilot Program

Summary

The President, through the Administrator and working with State and local governments, must set up and run a pilot program to cut federal costs, give more flexibility, and speed up aid under sections 5170b(a)(3)(A), 5172, and 5173 of title 42. Only States and local governments that choose to join may take part. The Administrator must make new procedures to run the aid. Those procedures can include one or more of these options: an in‑lieu payment equal to 90 percent of the federal share of the federal cost estimate for repairing public facilities; grants based on estimates agreed to by the government and the Administrator with incentives for timeliness and cost control; higher federal shares for debris removal when a preapproved debris plan and prequalified contractors exist; a sliding federal share based on how fast debris is removed; payments to encourage recycling of debris; and reimbursing wages for regular employees and extra hires who do debris work. The Administrator may waive rules needed to run the pilot. The Administrator must start the pilot no later than 90 days after October 4, 2006. No pilot project may be approved after December 31, 2008. By March 31, 2009, the Administrator must report to Congress on the program’s administrative and financial effects, time and cost savings, legal or other barriers to more debris recycling, other findings, and any recommendations to continue or make the pilot permanent.