I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2492 
To direct the Secretary of the Army to provide for modification of certain 
Federal water resources development projects on the Apalachicola, Chat-
tahoochee, and Flint Rivers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 21, 2015 
Ms. GRAHAM (for herself, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. MURPHY of 
Florida, Mr. JOLLY, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, Ms. WILSON of Florida, 
Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. ROONEY of Florida, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. 
HASTINGS, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. CURBELO 
of Florida, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. GRAYSON, Ms. BROWN of 
Florida, Mr. YOHO, Mr. ROSS, and Mr. NUGENT) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Army to provide for modifica-
tion of certain Federal water resources development 
projects on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint 
Rivers, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. APALACHICOLA, CHATTAHOOCHEE, AND FLINT 
RIVER PROJECTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 May 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2492.IH
H2492
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) 
APALACHICOLA-CHATTAHOOCHEE-FLINT 
PROJECTS.—The term ‘‘Apalachicola-Chattahoochee- 
Flint projects’’ means the Federal water resources 
projects on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and 
Flint Rivers in the States of Alabama, Florida, and 
Georgia authorized by section 2 of the Act of March 
2, 1945 (59 Stat. 17, chapter 19; 60 Stat. 635, 
chapter 595) and section 203 of the Flood Control 
Act of 1962 (76 Stat. 1182), including— 
(A) Buford Dam and Reservoir; 
(B) West Point Dam and Reservoir; 
(C) George W. Andrews Dam and Res-
ervoir; 
(D) Walter F. George Dam and Reservoir; 
and 
(E) Jim Woodruff Dam and Reservoir. 
(2) FRESHWATER
FLOWS.—The term ‘‘fresh-
water flows’’ means the quality, quantity, timing, 
and variability of freshwater flows required— 
(A) to support and reestablish— 
(i) the physical, chemical, biological, 
and overall ecological integrity of the com-
ponents, functions, and natural processes 
required for a thriving and resilient Chat-
tahoochee River, Apalachicola River, Apa-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 May 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2492.IH
H2492
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
lachicola River floodplain, and Apalachicola 
Bay; 
(ii) commercial and recreational fish-
eries dependent on freshwater flows into 
Apalachicola Bay and adjacent waters, in-
cluding the Gulf of Mexico; and 
(iii) thriving and diverse fish, wildlife, 
and plant populations having species com-
position, diversity, adaptability, and func-
tional organization similar to those found 
in the Chattahoochee River and Apalachi-
cola River ecosystems prior to construction 
of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint 
projects; 
(B) to restore and recover species that are 
endangered, threatened, or at risk; and 
(C) to prevent significantly harmful ad-
verse impacts to the Chattahoochee River and 
Apalachicola River ecosystems. 
(b) PROJECT MODIFICATION.—Notwithstanding any 
authorized purpose of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee- 
Flint projects, the Secretary shall operate the Apalachi-
cola-Chattahoochee-Flint projects in a manner that en-
sures the maintenance of freshwater flows. 
(c) REVISION OF WATER CONTROL MANUALS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 May 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2492.IH
H2492
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall complete the ongoing revision of the 
water control manuals for the Apalachicola-Chat-
tahoochee-Flint projects and issue revised water con-
trol manuals for those projects that ensure the 
maintenance of freshwater flows. 
(2) OPERATIONAL
MODIFICATIONS.—In car-
rying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure 
that operational modifications needed to maintain 
freshwater flows are achieved, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable, while providing system-wide balance 
in conservation storage through the maintenance of 
water levels within the same action zone for each of 
the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint project res-
ervoirs. 
(3) INDEPENDENT
PEER
REVIEW
OF
WATER 
CONTROL MANUALS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
enter into an arrangement with the National 
Academy of Sciences under which the National 
Academy of Sciences shall carry out an inde-
pendent peer review of each revised water con-
trol manual, as required under section 2034 of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 May 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2492.IH
H2492
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 
(33 U.S.C. 2343). 
(B) COMPLIANCE.—Each independent peer 
review under this paragraph shall comply with 
section 2034 of the Water Resources Develop-
ment Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2343). 
(4) FINAL
APPROVAL.—Before a final water 
control manual may be issued, the Secretary shall 
obtain written approval of each water control man-
ual developed under this subsection from— 
(A) the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency; 
(B) the Director of the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service; 
(C) the Director of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration; and 
(D) the Director of the United States Geo-
logical Survey. 
(d) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE 
LAWS.—Except as provided in subsection (b), nothing in 
this section waives, limits, or otherwise affects the applica-
bility of any provision of Federal or State law that would 
otherwise apply to the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint 
projects. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 May 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2492.IH
H2492
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS