A bill to amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to establish a program to provide grant assistance for the rehabilitation and repair of high hazard potential dams, and for other purposes.

To amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to establish a program to provide grant assistance for the rehabilitation and repair of high hazard potential dams, and for other purposes. 1. Rehabilitation and repair of high hazard potential dams (a) Definitions Section 2 of the National Dam Safety Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 467 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11), (13), (14), (15), and (16), respectively; (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) Eligible high hazard potential dam (A) In general The term eligible high hazard potential dam (i) is classified as high hazard potential (ii) has an emergency action plan approved by the relevant State dam safety agency; and (iii) the State in which the dam is located determines— (I) fails to meet minimum dam safety standards of the State; and (II) poses an unacceptable risk to the public. (B) Exclusion The term eligible high hazard potential dam (i) a licensed hydroelectric dam; or (ii) a dam built under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture. ; (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following: (10) Non-Federal sponsor The term non-Federal sponsor (A) a governmental organization; and (B) a nonprofit organization. ; and (4) by inserting after paragraph (11) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following: (12) Rehabilitation The term rehabilitation . (b) Program for rehabilitation and repair of deficient dams The National Dam Safety Program Act is amended by inserting after section 8 ( 33 U.S.C. 467f 8A. Rehabilitation and repair of deficient dams (a) Establishment of program The Administrator shall establish, within FEMA, a program to provide technical, planning, design, and construction assistance in the form of grants to non-Federal sponsors for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams. (b) Eligible activities A grant awarded under this section for a project may be used for— (1) repair; (2) removal; or (3) any other structural or nonstructural measures. (c) Award of grants (1) Application (A) In general A non-Federal sponsor interested in receiving a grant under this section may submit to the Administrator an application for the grant. (B) Requirements An application submitted to the Administrator under this section shall be submitted at such time, be in such form, and contain such information as the Administrator may prescribe by regulation. (2) Grant (A) In general The Administrator may make a grant in accordance with this section for rehabilitation of a high hazard potential dam to a non-Federal sponsor that submits an application for the grant in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Administrator. (B) Project grant agreement The Administrator shall enter into a project grant agreement with the non-Federal sponsor to establish the terms of the grant and the project, including the amount of the grant. (C) Grant assurance As part of a project grant agreement under subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall require the non-Federal sponsor to provide an assurance, with respect to the dam to be rehabilitated under the project, that the owner of the dam has developed and will carry out a plan for maintenance of the dam during the expected life of the dam. (D) Limitation A grant provided under this section shall not exceed the lesser of— (i) 12.5 percent of the total amount of funds made available to carry out this section; or (ii) $7,500,000. (d) Requirements (1) Approval A grant awarded under this section for a project shall be approved by the relevant State dam safety agency. (2) Cost sharing (A) In general Any assistance provided under this section for a project shall be subject to a non-Federal cost-sharing requirement of not less than 35 percent. (B) In-kind contributions The non-Federal share under subparagraph (A) may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions. (3) Allocation of funds The total amount of funds made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year shall be distributed as follows: (A) Equal distribution 1/3 (B) Need-based 2/3 (i) the number of eligible high hazard potential dams in the State; bears to (ii) the number of eligible high hazard potential dams in all States in which projects for which applications are submitted under subsection (c)(1). (e) Use of funds None of the funds provided in the form of a grant or otherwise made available under this section shall be used— (1) to rehabilitate a Federal dam; (2) to perform routine operation or maintenance of a dam; (3) to modify a dam to produce hydroelectric power; (4) to increase water supply storage capacity; or (5) to make any other modification to a dam that does not also improve the safety of the dam. (f) Contractual requirements (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), as a condition on the receipt of a grant under this section, a non-Federal sponsor that receives the grant shall require that each contract and subcontract for program management, construction management, planning studies, feasibility studies, architectural services, preliminary engineering, design, engineering, surveying, mapping, and related services entered into using funds from the grant be awarded in the same manner as a contract for architectural and engineering services is awarded under— (A) chapter 11 (B) an equivalent qualifications-based requirement prescribed by the relevant State. (2) No proprietary interest A contract awarded in accordance with paragraph (1) shall not be considered to confer a proprietary interest upon the United States. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2027, to remain available until expended. . 2. Rulemaking (a) Proposed rulemaking Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the amendments made by section 1 to the National Dam Safety Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 467 et seq. (b) Final rule Not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall promulgate a final rule regarding the amendments described in subsection (a).

Summary: This bill amends the National Dam Safety Program Act to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a program to provide technical, planning, design, and construction assistance grants to non-federal sponsors for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams. The bill defines an "eligible high hazard potential dam" as a non-federal dam that: is classified as high hazard potential by the dam safety agency of the state in which the dam is located; has an emergency action plan approved by such agency; and fails to meet minimum state dam safety standards and poses an unacceptable risk to the public. An eligible high hazard potential dam does not include a licensed hydroelectric dam or a dam built under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture. FEMA shall require a grant recipient to provide an assurance that the owner of the dam has developed and will carry out a plan for maintenance of the dam during its expected life. A grant must be approved by the relevant state dam safety agency. Grant funds shall be allocated to all states from which applications are submitted based on each state's relative number of eligible high hazard potential dams compared to all states. Grant funds may not be used to: rehabilitate a federal dam, perform routine operation or maintenance of a dam, modify a dam to produce hydroelectric power, increase water supply storage capacity, or make any other modification that does not also improve the safety of the dam.