To direct the Secretary of the Army to undertake a comprehensive review of the Corps of Engineers policy guidelines on vegetation management for levees, and for other purposes.

Summary: Levee Vegetation Review Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to undertake a comprehensive review of the Corps of Engineers policy guidelines on vegetation management for levees in order to determine whether current federal policy is appropriate for all regions of the United States. Requires the Secretary to examine the guidelines in view of factors including: (1) the varied interests and responsibilities in managing flood risks; (2) preserving, protecting, and enhancing natural resources; (3) protecting the rights of Native Americans pursuant to treaties and statutes; and (4) factors that promote and allow for consideration of potential variances from national guidelines on a regional or watershed basis.

Directs Corps of Engineers Regional Integration Teams representing districts, divisions, and headquarters, in consultation with state and federal resources agencies and with participation by local agencies, to recommend to the Chief of Engineers vegetation management policies for levees that conform with state and federal laws and other applicable requirements.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) solicit and consider the views of the National Academy of Engineering on the engineering, environmental, and institutional considerations underlying the guidelines; and (2) revise the guidelines based on the results of the review and report to Congress. Requires the revised guidelines to: (1) provide a practical process for approving regional or watershed variances from the national guidelines, and (2) be incorporated into a proposed manual.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Levee Vegetation Review Act of 
2012''.

SEC. 2. FLOOD CONTROL POLICY.

    (a) Review.--In order to determine whether current Federal policy 
relating to levee vegetation is appropriate for all regions of the 
United States, the Secretary of the Army shall undertake a 
comprehensive review of the Corps of Engineers policy guidelines on 
vegetation management for levees (in this section referred to as the 
``guidelines''). The Secretary shall commence the review not later than 
6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Factors.--
            (1) In general.--In conducting the review, the Secretary 
        shall examine the guidelines in view of--
                    (A) the varied interests and responsibilities in 
                managing flood risks, including the need to provide the 
                greatest levee safety benefit with limited resources;
                    (B) preserving, protecting, and enhancing natural 
                resources, including the potential benefit that 
                vegetation on levees can have in providing habitat for 
                species of concern;
                    (C) protecting the rights of Native Americans 
                pursuant to treaties and statutes; and
                    (D) such other factors as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate.
            (2) Regional and watershed considerations.--In conducting 
        the review, the Secretary shall specifically consider factors 
        that promote and allow for consideration of potential variances 
        from national guidelines on a regional or watershed basis. Such 
        factors may include regional or watershed soil conditions, 
        hydrologic factors, vegetation patterns and characteristics, 
        environmental resources, levee performance history, 
        institutional considerations, and other relevant factors. The 
        scope of a variance approved by the Secretary may include an 
        exemption to national guidelines where appropriate.
    (c) Cooperation and Consultation; Recommendations.--
            (1) In general.--The review shall be undertaken in 
        cooperation with interested Federal agencies and in 
        consultation with interested representatives of State and local 
        governments, Native American Indian tribes, appropriate 
        nongovernmental organizations, and the public.
            (2) Recommendations.--Corps of Engineers Regional 
        Integration Teams, representing districts, divisions, and 
        headquarters, in consultation with State and Federal resources 
        agencies, and with participation by local agencies, shall 
        recommend to the Chief of Engineers vegetation management 
        policies for levees that conform with State and Federal laws 
        and other applicable requirements.
    (d) Peer Review.--
            (1) Views of national academy of engineering.--As part of 
        the review, the Secretary shall solicit and consider the views 
        of the National Academy of Engineering on the engineering, 
        environmental, and institutional considerations underlying the 
        guidelines.
            (2) Availability of views.--The views of the National 
        Academy of Engineering obtained under paragraph (1) shall be--
                    (A) made available to the public; and
                    (B) included in supporting materials issued in 
                connection with the revised guidelines required under 
                subsection (e).
    (e) Revision of Guidelines.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) revise the guidelines based on the results of 
                the review, including the results of the peer review 
                conducted under subsection (d); and
                    (B) submit to Congress a report that contains a 
                summary of the activities of the Secretary and a 
                description of the findings of the Secretary under this 
                section.
            (2) Content; incorporation into manual.--The revised 
        guidelines shall--
                    (A) provide a practical process for approving 
                regional or watershed variances from the national 
                guidelines, reflecting due consideration of measures to 
                maximize public safety benefits with limited resources, 
                regional climatic variations, environmental quality, 
                implementation challenges, and allocation of 
                responsibilities; and
                    (B) be incorporated into the manual proposed under 
                section 5(c) of the Act entitled ``An Act authorizing 
                the construction of certain public works on rivers and 
                harbors for flood control, and for other purposes'', 
                approved August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. 701n(c)).
    (f) Continuation of Work.--Concurrent with completion of the 
requirements of this section, the Secretary shall proceed without 
interruption or delay with those ongoing or programmed projects and 
studies, or elements of projects or studies, that are not directly 
related to vegetation variance policy.