Chattahoochee River Act
This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to provide design and construction assistance for water-related resource protection and restoration projects that affect the Chattahoochee River Basin. The basin is located in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
Specifically, the bill requires USACE to provide assistance to state and local agencies and tribal entities for projects that include (1) sediment and erosion control, (2) ecosystem restoration, (3) protection of essential public works, and (4) the beneficial uses of dredged material.
Further, the bill requires USACE, stakeholders, and state and local agencies to develop a comprehensive Chattahoochee River Basin restoration plan. The plan must give priority to eligible projects that will also improve the quality or quantity of the water or that use natural hydrological features and systems.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7198 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7198
To establish a program to provide environmental assistance in the
Chattahoochee River Basin, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 24, 2022
Ms. Bourdeaux (for herself, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. David Scott of
Georgia, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, and Mrs. McBath) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to provide environmental assistance in the
Chattahoochee River Basin, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Chattahoochee River Act''.
SEC. 2. CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Non-federal interest.--The term ``non-Federal
interest'' has the meaning given the term in section 221(b) of
the Flood Control Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 1962d-5b(b)).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Army.
(b) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
provide environmental assistance to non-Federal interests in
the Chattahoochee River Basin.
(2) Form.--The assistance under paragraph (1) shall be in
the form of design and construction assistance for water-
related resource protection and restoration projects affecting
the Chattahoochee River Basin, based on the comprehensive plan
under subsection (c), including projects for--
(A) sediment and erosion control;
(B) protection of eroding shorelines;
(C) ecosystem restoration, including restoration of
submerged aquatic vegetation;
(D) protection of essential public works;
(E) beneficial uses of dredged material; and
(F) other related projects that may enhance the
living resources of the Chattahoochee River Basin.
(c) Comprehensive Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in cooperation with State
and local governmental officials and affected stakeholders,
shall develop a comprehensive Chattahoochee River Basin
restoration plan to guide the implementation of projects under
subsection (b)(2).
(2) Coordination.--The restoration plan described in
paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable,
consider and avoid duplication of any ongoing or planned
actions of other Federal, State, and local agencies and
nongovernmental organizations.
(3) Prioritization.--The restoration plan described in
paragraph (1) shall give priority to projects eligible under
subsection (b)(2) that will also improve water quality or
quantity or use natural hydrological features and systems.
(d) Agreement.--
(1) In general.--Before providing assistance under this
section, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with a
non-Federal interest for the design and construction of a
project carried out pursuant to the comprehensive Chattahoochee
River Basin restoration plan described in subsection (c).
(2) Requirements.--Each agreement entered into under this
subsection shall provide for--
(A) the development by the Secretary, in
consultation with appropriate Federal, State, and local
officials, of a resource protection and restoration
plan, including appropriate engineering plans and
specifications and an estimate of expected resource
benefits; and
(B) the establishment of such legal and
institutional structures as are necessary to ensure the
effective long-term operation and maintenance of the
project by the non-Federal interest.
(e) Cost Sharing.--
(1) Federal share.--Except as provided in paragraph (2)(B),
the Federal share of the total project costs of each agreement
entered into under this section shall be 80 percent.
(2) Non-federal share.--
(A) Value of land, easements, rights-of-way, and
relocations.--In determining the non-Federal
contribution toward carrying out an agreement entered
into under this section, the Secretary shall provide
credit to a non-Federal interest for the value of land,
easements, rights-of-way, and relocations provided by
the non-Federal interest, except that the amount of
credit provided for a project under this paragraph may
not exceed 20 percent of the total project costs.
(B) Operation and maintenance costs.--The non-
Federal share of the costs of operation and maintenance
of activities carried out under an agreement under this
section shall be 100 percent.
(f) Cooperation.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall
cooperate with--
(1) the heads of appropriate Federal agencies, including--
(A) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency;
(B) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(C) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through
the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service; and
(D) the heads of such other Federal agencies as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
(2) agencies of a State or political subdivision of a
State.
(g) Protection of Resources.--A project established under this
section shall be carried out using such measures as are necessary to
protect environmental, historic, and cultural resources.
(h) Project Cap.--The total cost of a project carried out under
this section may not exceed $15,000,000.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $90,000,000.
<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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