Chattahoochee River Act

To establish a program to provide environmental assistance in the Chattahoochee River Basin, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Chattahoochee River Act 2. Chattahoochee River program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Non-Federal interest The term non-Federal interest (2) Secretary The term Secretary (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.

Summary: 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.