Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2015

To amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to establish a program to provide grant assistance to States for the rehabilitation and repair of deficient dams, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2015 2. Rehabilitation and repair of deficient 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) Deficient dam The term deficient dam (A) fails to meet minimum dam safety standards of the State or an Indian tribe; and (B) poses an unacceptable risk to the public. ; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) (as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection) the following: (10) Publicly-owned dam (A) In general The term publicly-owned dam (B) Inclusions The term publicly-owned dam (i) is established by 1 or more State, local, municipal, or tribal governments; and (ii) provides public benefits, such as— (I) local flood control districts; (II) regional public water utilities; and (III) local irrigation districts. ; and (4) by inserting after paragraph (11) (as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection) 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 grant assistance to States for use in rehabilitation of deficient dams that are publicly-owned dams. (b) Award of grants (1) Application (A) In general A State 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 deficient dam to a State 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 State to establish the terms of the grant and the project, including the amount of the grant. (C) Grant assurance As part of a project agreement entered into under subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall require a State 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. (3) Agreements between States and Indian tribes A State that receives a grant under this section may enter into an agreement with an Indian tribe— (A) to transfer grant funds to the tribe for rehabilitation of a tribally-owned deficient dam consistent with this section; or (B) to authorize the State to use grant funds to rehabilitate a tribally-owned deficient dam consistent with this section. (4) Applicability of requirements The Administrator shall require recipients of grants under this section to assure compliance with the standards set forth in section 611(j)(9) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5196(j)(9) (c) Priority system The Administrator, in consultation with the Board, shall develop a risk-based priority system for use in identifying deficient dams for which grants may be made under this section. (d) Allocation of funds The total amount of funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (h)(1) for a fiscal year shall be allocated for making grants under this section to States applying for the grants for that fiscal year as follows: (1) 1/3 (2) 2/3 (A) the number of non-Federal publicly-owned dams that the Secretary of the Army identifies in the national inventory of dams maintained under section 6 as constituting a danger to human health and that are located within the boundaries of the State; bears to (B) the number of non-Federal publicly-owned dams that are so identified and that are located within the boundaries of all applying States. (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) Cost sharing The Federal share of the cost of rehabilitation of a deficient dam for which a grant is made under this section may not exceed 75 percent of the cost of the rehabilitation. (g) Contractual requirements (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), as a condition on the receipt of a grant under this section, a State 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 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. (h) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (A) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; (B) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; (C) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; (D) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; and (E) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2020. (2) Staff There is authorized to be appropriated to provide for the employment of such additional staff of FEMA as are necessary to carry out this section $400,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. (3) Period of availability Amounts made available under this section shall remain available until expended. . (c) Rulemaking (1) 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 this section to the National Dam Safety Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 467 et seq. (2) Final rule Not later than 120 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 paragraph (1). 3. Buy America The National Dam Safety Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 467 et seq. 15. Buy America (a) Domestic source requirement for steel, iron, and manufactured goods (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available to carry out this Act may not be obligated for a project unless the steel, iron, and manufactured goods used for the project are produced in the United States. (2) Scope The requirements of this section apply to all contracts for a project carried out within the scope of the applicable finding, determination, or decision under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (b) Exceptions (1) Issuance of waivers The Administrator may waive the requirements of subsection (a) only if the Administrator finds that— (A) applying subsection (a) would be inconsistent with the public interest, as determined in accordance with the regulations required under paragraph (2); (B) the steel, iron, or manufactured goods required for a project are not produced in the United States— (i) in sufficient and reasonably available quantities; or (ii) to a satisfactory quality; or (C) the use of steel, iron, and manufactured goods produced in the United States for a project will increase the total cost of the project by more than 25 percent. (2) Regulations Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall issue regulations establishing the criteria that the Administrator shall use to determine whether the application of subsection (a) is inconsistent with the public interest for purposes of paragraph (1)(A). (3) Requests for waivers A recipient of assistance under this Act seeking a waiver under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Administrator a request for the waiver in such form and containing such information as the Administrator may require. (c) Waiver requirements (1) Public notification of and opportunity for comment on request for a waiver (A) In general If the Administrator receives a request for a waiver under subsection (b), the Administrator shall provide notice of and an opportunity for public comment on the request at least 30 days before making a finding based on the request. (B) Notice requirements A notice provided under subparagraph (A) shall— (i) include the information available to the Administrator concerning the request, including whether the request is being made under subsection (b)(1)(A), (b)(1)(B), or (b)(1)(C); and (ii) be provided by electronic means, including on the official public Internet Web site of FEMA. (2) Detailed justification in Federal register If the Administrator issues a waiver under subsection (b), the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a detailed justification for the waiver that— (A) addresses the public comments received under paragraph (1)(A); and (B) is published before the waiver takes effect. (3) Annual report Not later than February 1 of each year beginning after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that— (A) specifies each project with respect to which the Administrator issued a waiver under subsection (b) during the preceding calendar year; (B) identifies the country of origin and product specifications for steel, iron, or manufactured goods acquired pursuant to each waiver under subsection (b) issued by the Administrator during the preceding calendar year; (C) summarizes the monetary value of contracts awarded pursuant to each such waiver; (D) provides the justification for each such waiver, including the specific law, treaty, or international agreement under which the waiver was granted; (E) summarizes the funds expended on— (i) steel, iron, and manufactured goods produced in the United States for projects with respect to which the Buy America requirement under this section applied during the preceding calendar year; and (ii) steel, iron, and manufactured goods produced outside the United States for projects with respect to which the Administrator issued a waiver under subsection (b) during the preceding calendar year; and (F) provides an employment impact analysis of the cumulative effect of all waivers under subsection (b) issued by the Administrator during the preceding calendar year on manufacturing employment in the United States. (d) State requirements The Administrator may not impose a limitation or condition on assistance provided under this Act that restricts— (1) a State from imposing requirements that are more stringent than those imposed under this section with respect to limiting the use of articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in foreign countries for projects carried out with such assistance; or (2) any recipient of such assistance from complying with such State requirements. (e) Intentional violations Pursuant to procedures established under subpart 9.4 of chapter 1 (1) affixed a label bearing a Made in America (A) were used in a project to which this section applies; and (B) were not produced in the United States; or (2) represented that any steel, iron, or manufactured goods were produced in the United States that— (A) were used in a project to which this section applies; and (B) were not produced in the United States. (f) Consistency with international agreements (1) In general This section shall be applied in a manner that is consistent with United States obligations under international agreements. (2) Treatment of foreign countries in violation of international agreements The Administrator shall prohibit the use of steel, iron, and manufactured goods produced in a foreign country in a project funded with amounts made available to carry out this Act, including any project for which the Administrator has issued a waiver under subsection (b), if the Administrator, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, determines that the foreign country is in violation of the terms of an agreement with the United States by discriminating against steel, iron, or manufactured goods that are produced in the United States and covered by the agreement. (g) Emergency waiver Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Administrator may waive the applicability of this section, in whole or in part, in an emergency. .

Summary: Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2015 Amends the National Dam Safety Program Act to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a program to provide grant assistance to states for use in rehabilitating publicly-owned dams that fail to meet minimum safety standards of the state or an Indian tribe and pose an unacceptable risk to the public (deficient dams). Sets forth provisions regarding procedures for grant awards and fund allocation. Requires FEMA to: (1) require a state to provide an assurance that the owner of the dam to be rehabilitated has developed and will carry out a maintenance plan during the expected life of the dam, (2) require a recipient of a grant under this Act to comply with requirements applicable to contributions of federal funds under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and (3) develop a risk-based priority system for identifying deficient dams for which such grants may be made. Limits the federal share of rehabilitation costs to 75%. Prohibits grant funds from being used to: (1) rehabilitate a federal dam, (2) perform routine operation or maintenance, (3) modify a dam to produce hydroelectric power, (4) increase water supply storage capacity, or (5) make any other modification that does not also improve dam safety. Conditions the receipt of grants by a state upon the state following specified requirements applicable to contracts for architectural and engineering services when entering into contracts for services relating to dam rehabilitation. Provides that such contracts shall not be considered to confer a proprietary interest upon the United States. Prohibits funds from being obligated for a project under this Act unless the steel, iron, and manufactured goods used for the project are produced in the United States. Authorizes waivers.