Directs the Department of the Army to operate the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint federal water resources projects on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia in a manner that ensures the maintenance of freshwater flows.
Defines "freshwater flows" to mean the quality, quantity, timing, and variability of freshwater flows required to: (1) support and reestablish the ecological integrity of the rivers, commercial and recreational fisheries dependent on freshwater flows into Apalachicola Bay and adjacent waters, and thriving and diverse fish, wildlife, and plant populations having species composition, diversity, adaptability, and functional organization similar to those found prior to construction of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint projects; (2) restore and recover species that are endangered, threatened, or at risk; and (3) prevent significantly harmful adverse impacts to the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola River ecosystems.
Requires the Army to: (1) complete the ongoing revision of the water control manuals for such projects and issue revised manuals that ensure the maintenance of freshwater flows; (2) ensure that operational modifications needed to maintain freshwater flows are achieved while providing system-wide balance in conservation storage through the maintenance of water levels within the same action zone for each of the project reservoirs; (3) enter into an arrangement for the National Academy of Sciences to carry out an independent peer review of each revised manual; and (4) obtain written approval from the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Geological Survey of each manual developed before a final manual may be issued.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2492 Introduced in House (IH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2492
To direct the Secretary of the Army to provide for modification of
certain Federal water resources development projects on the
Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 21, 2015
Ms. Graham (for herself, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Murphy of
Florida, Mr. Jolly, Ms. Frankel of Florida, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr.
Diaz-Balart, Mr. Rooney of Florida, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr.
Hastings, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Curbelo of
Florida, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Grayson, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr.
Yoho, Mr. Ross, and Mr. Nugent) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Army to provide for modification of
certain Federal water resources development projects on the
Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. APALACHICOLA, CHATTAHOOCHEE, AND FLINT RIVER PROJECTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint projects.--The term
``Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint projects'' means the Federal
water resources projects on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee,
and Flint Rivers in the States of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia
authorized by section 2 of the Act of March 2, 1945 (59 Stat.
17, chapter 19; 60 Stat. 635, chapter 595) and section 203 of
the Flood Control Act of 1962 (76 Stat. 1182), including--
(A) Buford Dam and Reservoir;
(B) West Point Dam and Reservoir;
(C) George W. Andrews Dam and Reservoir;
(D) Walter F. George Dam and Reservoir; and
(E) Jim Woodruff Dam and Reservoir.
(2) Freshwater flows.--The term ``freshwater flows'' means
the quality, quantity, timing, and variability of freshwater
flows required--
(A) to support and reestablish--
(i) the physical, chemical, biological, and
overall ecological integrity of the components,
functions, and natural processes required for a
thriving and resilient Chattahoochee River,
Apalachicola River, Apalachicola River
floodplain, and Apalachicola Bay;
(ii) commercial and recreational fisheries
dependent on freshwater flows into Apalachicola
Bay and adjacent waters, including the Gulf of
Mexico; and
(iii) thriving and diverse fish, wildlife,
and plant populations having species
composition, diversity, adaptability, and
functional organization similar to those found
in the Chattahoochee River and Apalachicola
River ecosystems prior to construction of the
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint projects;
(B) to restore and recover species that are
endangered, threatened, or at risk; and
(C) to prevent significantly harmful adverse
impacts to the Chattahoochee River and Apalachicola
River ecosystems.
(b) Project Modification.--Notwithstanding any authorized purpose
of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint projects, the Secretary shall
operate the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint projects in a manner that
ensures the maintenance of freshwater flows.
(c) Revision of Water Control Manuals.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the ongoing
revision of the water control manuals for the Apalachicola-
Chattahoochee-Flint projects and issue revised water control
manuals for those projects that ensure the maintenance of
freshwater flows.
(2) Operational modifications.--In carrying out paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall ensure that operational modifications
needed to maintain freshwater flows are achieved, to the
maximum extent practicable, while providing system-wide balance
in conservation storage through the maintenance of water levels
within the same action zone for each of the Apalachicola-
Chattahoochee-Flint project reservoirs.
(3) Independent peer review of water control manuals.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into an
arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under
which the National Academy of Sciences shall carry out
an independent peer review of each revised water
control manual, as required under section 2034 of the
Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C.
2343).
(B) Compliance.--Each independent peer review under
this paragraph shall comply with section 2034 of the
Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C.
2343).
(4) Final approval.--Before a final water control manual
may be issued, the Secretary shall obtain written approval of
each water control manual developed under this subsection
from--
(A) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency;
(B) the Director of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service;
(C) the Director of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration; and
(D) the Director of the United States Geological
Survey.
(d) Applicability of Other Federal and State Laws.--Except as
provided in subsection (b), nothing in this section waives, limits, or
otherwise affects the applicability of any provision of Federal or
State law that would otherwise apply to the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-
Flint projects.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
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