HR 1495 PCS
cision on the project and whether the permit or permits 
have been issued. 
(g) COSTS OF COORDINATION.—The costs incurred 
by the Secretary to establish and carry out a schedule to 
consolidate Federal, State, and local agency and Indian 
tribe environmental assessments, project reviews, and per-
mit issuance for a project under this section shall be paid 
by the non-Federal interest. 
(h) REPORT ON TIMESAVINGS METHODS.—Not later 
than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, 
the Secretary shall prepare and transmit to Congress a 
report estimating the time required for the issuance of all 
Federal, State, local, and tribal permits for the construc-
tion of non-Federal projects for water supply, wastewater 
infrastructure, flood damage reduction, storm damage re-
duction, ecosystem restoration, and navigation. The Sec-
retary shall include in that report recommendations for 
further reducing the amount of time required for the 
issuance of those permits, including any proposed changes 
in existing law. 
SEC. 2028. PROJECT STREAMLINING. 
(a) POLICY.—The benefits of water resources 
projects are important to the Nation’s economy and envi-
ronment, and recommendations to Congress regarding 
such projects should not be delayed due to uncoordinated 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00087
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
or inefficient reviews or the failure to timely resolve dis-
putes during the development of water resources projects. 
(b) SCOPE.—This section shall apply to each study 
initiated after the date of enactment of this Act to develop 
a feasibility report under section 905 of the Water Re-
sources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2282), or 
a reevaluation report, for a water resources project if the 
Secretary determines that such study requires an environ-
mental impact statement under the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
(c) WATER RESOURCES PROJECT REVIEW PROC-
ESS.—The Secretary shall develop and implement a co-
ordinated review process for the development of water re-
sources projects. 
(d) COORDINATED REVIEWS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The coordinated review proc-
ess under this section shall provide that all reviews, 
analyses, opinions, permits, licenses, and approvals 
that must be issued or made by a Federal, State, or 
local government agency or Indian tribe for the de-
velopment of a water resources project described in 
subsection (b) will be conducted, to the maximum 
extent practicable, concurrently and completed with-
in a time period established by the Secretary, in co-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00088
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
operation with the agencies identified under sub-
section (e) with respect to the project. 
(2) AGENCY
PARTICIPATION.—Each Federal 
agency identified under subsection (e) with respect 
to the development of a water resources project shall 
formulate and implement administrative policy and 
procedural mechanisms to enable the agency to en-
sure completion of reviews, analyses, opinions, per-
mits, licenses, and approvals described in paragraph 
(1) for the project in a timely and environmentally 
responsible manner. 
(e) IDENTIFICATION
OF
JURISDICTIONAL
AGEN-
CIES.—With respect to the development of each water re-
sources project, the Secretary shall identify, as soon as 
practicable all Federal, State, and local government agen-
cies and Indian tribes that may— 
(1) have jurisdiction over the project; 
(2) be required by law to conduct or issue a re-
view, analysis, or opinion for the project; or 
(3) be required to make a determination on 
issuing a permit, license, or approval for the project. 
(f) STATE AUTHORITY.—If the coordinated review 
process is being implemented under this section by the 
Secretary with respect to the development of a water re-
sources project described in subsection (b) within the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00089
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
boundaries of a State, the State, consistent with State law, 
may choose to participate in the process and to make sub-
ject to the process all State agencies that— 
(1) have jurisdiction over the project; 
(2) are required to conduct or issue a review, 
analysis, or opinion for the project; or 
(3) are required to make a determination on 
issuing a permit, license, or approval for the project. 
(g) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—The co-
ordinated review process developed under this section may 
be incorporated into a memorandum of understanding for 
a water resources project between the Secretary, the heads 
of Federal, State, and local government agencies, Indian 
tribes identified under subsection (e), and the non-Federal 
interest for the project. 
(h) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO MEET DEADLINE.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION OF CONGRESS AND CEQ.—If 
the Secretary determines that a Federal, State, or 
local government agency, Indian tribe, or non-Fed-
eral interest that is participating in the coordinated 
review process under this section with respect to the 
development of a water resources project has not 
met a deadline established under subsection (d) for 
the project, the Secretary shall notify, within 30 
days of the date of such determination, the Com-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00090
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee on Envi-
ronment and Public Works of the Senate, the Coun-
cil on Environmental Quality, and the agency, In-
dian tribe, or non-Federal interest involved about 
the failure to meet the deadline. 
(2) AGENCY REPORT.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date of receipt of a notice under paragraph 
(1), the Federal, State, or local government agency, 
Indian tribe, or non-Federal interest involved may 
submit a report to the Secretary, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate, and the Council on En-
vironmental Quality explaining why the agency, In-
dian tribe, or non-Federal interest did not meet the 
deadline and what actions it intends to take to com-
plete or issue the required review, analysis, or opin-
ion or determination on issuing a permit, license, or 
approval. 
(i) PURPOSE AND NEED AND DETERMINATION OF 
REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, as the Fed-
eral lead agency responsible for carrying out a study 
for a water resources project and the associated 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00091
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
process for meeting the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, shall— 
(A) define the project’s purpose and need 
for purposes of any document which the Sec-
retary is responsible for preparing for the 
project and shall determine the range of alter-
natives for consideration in any document which 
the Secretary is responsible for preparing for 
the project; and 
(B) determine, in collaboration with par-
ticipating agencies at appropriate times during 
the study process, the methodologies to be used 
and the level of detail required in the analysis 
of each alternative for the project. 
(2) PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.—At the discre-
tion of the Secretary, the preferred alternative for a 
project, after being identified, may be developed to 
a higher level of detail than other alternatives. 
(j) LIMITATIONS.—Nothing in this section shall pre-
empt or interfere with— 
(1) any statutory requirement for seeking pub-
lic comment; 
(2) any power, jurisdiction, or authority that a 
Federal, State, or local government agency, Indian 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00092
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
tribe, or non-Federal interest has with respect to 
carrying out a water resources project; or 
(3) any obligation to comply with the provisions 
of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
and the regulations issued by the Council on Envi-
ronmental Quality to carry out such Act. 
SEC. 2029. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of expediting the 
cost-effective design and construction of wetlands restora-
tion that is part of an authorized water resources project, 
the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements 
under section 6305 of title 31, United States Code, with 
nonprofit organizations with expertise in wetlands restora-
tion to carry out such design and construction on behalf 
of the Secretary. 
(b) LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) PER PROJECT LIMIT.—A cooperative agree-
ment under this section shall not obligate the Sec-
retary to pay the nonprofit organization more than 
$1,000,000 for any single wetlands restoration 
project. 
(2) ANNUAL LIMIT.—The total value of work 
carried out under cooperative agreements under this 
section may not exceed $5,000,000 in any fiscal 
year. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00093
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
SEC. 2030. TRAINING FUNDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may include indi-
viduals not employed by the Department of the Army in 
training classes and courses offered by the Corps of Engi-
neers in any case in which the Secretary determines that 
it is in the best interest of the Federal Government to 
include those individuals as participants. 
(b) EXPENSES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An individual not employed 
by the Department of the Army attending a training 
class or course described in subsection (a) shall pay 
the full cost of the training provided to the indi-
vidual. 
(2) PAYMENTS.—Payments made by an indi-
vidual for training received under paragraph (1), up 
to the actual cost of the training— 
(A) may be retained by the Secretary; 
(B) shall be credited to an appropriations 
account used for paying training costs; and 
(C) shall be available for use by the Sec-
retary, without further appropriation, for train-
ing purposes. 
(3) EXCESS AMOUNTS.—Any payments received 
under paragraph (2) that are in excess of the actual 
cost of training provided shall be credited as mis-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
cellaneous receipts to the Treasury of the United 
States. 
SEC. 2031. ACCESS TO WATER RESOURCE DATA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
program to provide public access to water resources and 
related water quality data in the custody of the Corps of 
Engineers. 
(b) DATA.—Public access under subsection (a) 
shall— 
(1) include, at a minimum, access to data gen-
erated in water resources project development and 
regulation under section 404 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344); and 
(2) appropriately employ geographic informa-
tion system technology and linkages to water re-
source models and analytical techniques. 
(c) PARTNERSHIPS.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, in carrying out activities under this section, the 
Secretary shall develop partnerships, including cooperative 
agreements with State, tribal, and local governments and 
other Federal agencies. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for each fiscal year. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00095
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
SEC. 2032. SHORE PROTECTION PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the Act of 
July 3, 1930 (33 U.S.C. 426), and notwithstanding ad-
ministrative actions, it is the policy of the United States 
to promote beach nourishment for the purposes of flood 
damage reduction and hurricane and storm damage reduc-
tion and related research that encourage the protection, 
restoration, and enhancement of sandy beaches, including 
beach restoration and periodic beach renourishment for a 
period of 50 years, on a comprehensive and coordinated 
basis by the Federal Government, States, localities, and 
private enterprises. 
(b) PREFERENCE.—In carrying out the policy under 
subsection (a), preference shall be given to— 
(1) areas in which there has been a Federal in-
vestment of funds for the purposes described in sub-
section (a); and 
(2) areas with respect to which the need for 
prevention or mitigation of damage to shores and 
beaches is attributable to Federal navigation 
projects or other Federal activities. 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The Secretary shall apply the 
policy under subsection (a) to each shore protection and 
beach renourishment project (including shore protection 
and beach renourishment projects constructed before the 
date of enactment of this Act). 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00096
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
HR 1495 PCS
SEC. 2033. ABILITY TO PAY. 
(a) 
CRITERIA
AND
PROCEDURES.—Section 
103(m)(2) of the Water Resources Development Act of 
1986 (33 U.S.C. 2213(m)(2)) is amended by striking 
‘‘180 days after such date of enactment’’ and inserting 
‘‘September 30, 2007’’. 
(b) PROJECTS.—The Secretary shall apply the cri-
teria and procedures referred to in section 103(m) of the 
Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 
2213(m)) to the following projects: 
(1) ST. JOHNS
BAYOU
AND
NEW
MADRID 
FLOODWAY, MISSOURI.—The project for flood con-
trol, St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway, 
Missouri, authorized by section 401(a) of the Water 
Resources Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 
4118). 
(2) LOWER RIO GRANDE BASIN, TEXAS.—The 
project for flood control, Lower Rio Grande Basin, 
Texas, authorized by section 401(a) of the Water 
Resources Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 
4125). 
(3) 
WEST
VIRGINIA
AND
PENNSYLVANIA 
PROJECTS.—The projects for flood control author-
ized by section 581 of the Water Resources Develop-
ment Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 3790–3791). 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:19 May 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00097
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1495.PCS
H1495
jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with BILLS