zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Levee Vegetation Review Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to undertake a comprehensive review of the Corps of Engineers policy guidelines on vegetation management for levees in order to determine whether current federal policy is appropriate for all regions of the United States. Requires the Secretary to examine the guidelines in view of factors including: (1) the varied interests and responsibilities in managing flood risks; (2) preserving, protecting, and enhancing natural resources; (3) protecting the rights of Native Americans pursuant to treaties and statutes; and (4) factors that promote and allow for consideration of potential variances from national guidelines on a regional or watershed basis.

Directs Corps of Engineers Regional Integration Teams representing districts, divisions, and headquarters, in consultation with state and federal resources agencies and with participation by local agencies, to recommend to the Chief of Engineers vegetation management policies for levees that conform with state and federal laws and other applicable requirements.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) solicit and consider the views of the National Academy of Engineering on the engineering, environmental, and institutional considerations underlying the guidelines; and (2) revise the guidelines based on the results of the review and report to Congress. Requires the revised guidelines to: (1) provide a practical process for approving regional or watershed variances from the national guidelines, and (2) be incorporated into a proposed manual.

Date: 2013-01-23
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Amends the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 to: (1) extend authority for the drought program under such Act through FY2018, (2) authorize appropriations for such Act through FY2018, and (3) require cooperative drought contingency plans under such Act to provide for periodic review to address projected long-term climate variability and change.

Date: 2013-02-05
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Putting Our Resources Toward Security (PORTS) Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, between FY2014-FY2018, to increase the number of full-time Customs and Border Protection officers, active-duty agriculture specialists, and active-duty border security support personnel for U.S. ports of entry by not fewer than 5,000, 1,200, and 350, respectively, above the number of such personnel for which funds were made available during FY2012.

Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) for each of FY2014-FY2018 to make improvements to existing U.S. ports of entry to improve border security. Directs the Administrator to give priority to ports determined to be in most need of repair in accordance with required infrastructure assessment studies.

Date: 2013-02-06
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Emergency management
Delaware River Basin Conservation Act of 2013 - Requires the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a Delaware River Basin restoration program, under which the Director shall: (1) draw on management plans for the Basin or portions of the Basin and work in consultation with applicable management entities, including representatives of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the Delaware River Basin Commission, the federal government, other state and local governments, and regional and nonprofit organizations, to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and protection activities within the Basin; and (2) adopt a Basin-wide strategy that supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities, targets cost-effective conservation projects, supports measurable conservation efforts, and maximizes conservation outcomes with no net gain of federal full-time equivalent employees.

Defines "Basin" as the four-state Delaware Basin region, including all of Delaware Bay and portions of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania located in the Delaware River watershed.

Requires the Director to establish the Delaware River Basin restoration grant program to provide competitive matching grants to carry out the restoration program. Requires the Director to develop criteria to ensure that funded activities: (1) restore or protect fish and wildlife and their habitats; (2) improve or protect water quality by reducing pollutants and restoring headwater areas and drinking water basins; (3) improve the management of water volume and mitigation of flood damage to support the ecological needs of fish and wildlife and their habitats; (4) include priority needs or actions identified in the Basin-wide strategy; and/or (5) include restoration and protection activities with multiple benefits in the Basin, including habitat, water quality, and flood damage mitigation. Limits the federal share of the total cost of a funded project to 50%. Authorizes the Director to contract with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or another organization that offers grant management services.

Date: 2013-02-13
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 10, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act - Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Bureau of Reclamation) to contract for the development of small conduit hydropower at Bureau facilities.

Defines: (1) "small conduit hydropower" as five megawatts or less; and (2) "conduit" as a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance.

Requires that power privilege leases be offered first to an irrigation district or water users association operating or receiving water from the applicable transferred or reserved conduit.

Defines: (1) reserved conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been reserved by the Secretary (through the Bureau); and (2) transferred conduit as any conduit included in project works whose care, operation, and maintenance has been transferred to a legally organized water users association or irrigation district.

Requires the Secretary to offer the lease of power privilege to other parties if the irrigation district or water users association elects not to accept a lease of power privilege offer.

Requires the Bureau to apply its categorical exclusion process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to small conduit hydropower, except with respect to siting of associated transmission on federal lands.

Makes the Bureau's Power Resources Office the lead office for such small conduit hydropower policy and procedure-setting activities. (Thus excludes such activities from the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC].)

Declares that nothing in this Act shall: (1) obligate specified power administrations to purchase or market the power produced by such facilities, (2) alter or impede the delivery and management of water for original project purposes, or (3) alter or affect any existing agreements for conduit hydropower development projects or disposition of revenues. Deems water used for conduit hydropower generation to be incidental to use of water for the original project purposes.

Date: 2013-02-13
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Energy
Infrastructure Jobs and Energy Independence Act - Deems the Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2010-2015 issued by the Secretary of the Interior to be approved as a final oil and gas leasing program under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). Deems the Secretary to have issued a final environmental impact statement for the Program under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).

Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a lease sale in each outer Continental Shelf (OCS) planning area for which there is a commercial interest in purchasing federal oil and gas production leases; (2) prepare an inventory of U.S. offshore energy resources; and (3) promulgate regulations concerning the production of oil or gas resources of the OCS, including regulating the installation of surface facilities, mitigating the impact of such facilities on coastal vistas, and allowing onshore facilities to draw upon such resources that are within 10 miles of shore.

Extends from three geographical miles to nine nautical miles a coastal state's allowable seaward boundary.

Repeals the moratorium on oil and gas leasing in: (1) any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico; (2) any area in the Eastern Planning Area that is within 125 miles of the Florida coastline; and (3) specified areas within the Central Planning Area and within 100 miles of the Florida coastline.

Requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue a final leasing plan for the Eastern Gulf of Mexico for all areas where there exists commercial interest in purchasing federal oil and gas leases for production.

Specifies revenue sharing percentages for sums received from leasing offshore pursuant to this Act, including 30% for producing states. Prohibits revenues collected from leases prior to this Act's enactment from being affected by this Act.

Authorizes the President to waive requirements governing approval of oil and natural gas activity deemed important to national interests.

Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to: (1) publish a plan to exchange a specified amount of light grade petroleum from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for heavy grade petroleum plus additional cash bonus bids that reflect the difference in market value between light grade and heavy grade petroleum and the timing of deliveries of heavy grade petroleum, and (2) deposit 90% of the remaining net proceeds from the exchange into the Infrastructure Renewal Reserve.

Date: 2013-02-15
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Energy
Freedom to Fish Act of 2013 - Prohibits the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers from taking any action (after August 1, 2012) to establish a restricted area prohibiting public access to waters downstream of a dam owned by the Corps. Requires the Chief to cease implementing any restricted area resulting from such action taken between August 12, 2012, and the date of enactment of this Act and to remove any barriers constructed in connection with that area.

Date: 2013-02-26
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Northern Virginia Metrorail Extension Act - Authorizes project development for specified Metrorail new fixed guideway capital projects in Virginia.

Date: 2013-02-28
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Everglades for the Next Generation Act - Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to authorize the Secretary of the Army, after completing a project implementation report prepared for a project under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and without any further congressional authorization, to carry out projects for: (1) the Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir; (2) the Biscayne Bay coastal wetland; (3) Broward County water preserve areas; (4) the C-111 Spreader Canal; (5) any other project identified in the Plan for which a project implementation report is completed that is in accordance with an integrated delivery schedule approved by the Chief of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, provided that the report is completed not later than five years after this Act's enactment; and (6) any group of projects under the Plan that the Secretary determines will provide regional or watershed ecosystem or water supply benefits if the group of projects is constructed in accordance with a project implementation report approved by the Chief and the District within that time frame.

Date: 2013-02-28
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Lower Colorado River Protection Act - Establishes: (1) the Lower Colorado River Management Conference to develop a Lower Colorado River Pollution Elimination and Ecosystem Restoration Plan, and (2) the Lower Colorado River Protection Program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 office to provide staff and support services to the Conference.

Directs the Administrator of EPA, acting through the Director of such Program, to establish a multidisciplinary environmental research program for the Lower Colorado River. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to conduct environmental and pollution control projects in the River Basin.

Requires the Conference to publish such Plan within two years. Sets forth provisions regarding Plan contents, public review, and approval. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants for work necessary for Plan development. Requires the Program Director, after Plan approval, to take specified steps to implement it, including providing multiagency oversight and coordination.

Authorizes the Administrator, through the Director, to carry out qualified projects to monitor or evaluate the release or discharge of pollutants in the Lower Colorado River Basin, to prevent, reduce, or eliminate pollution in the River, or to restore or maintain the ecosystem health of the River in accordance with the Plan. Directs the Administrator to develop a list of existing federal programs that are authorized to conduct projects that fit such qualified project requirements and to work with the responsible agencies to avoid committing resources under this Act to projects other programs will implement.

Requires the Secretary, in cooperation with the Colorado River Regional Sewer Coalition or other regional or local entities, to participate in the planning, design, and construction of systems for municipal wastewater treatment.

Date: 2013-03-21
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Directs the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to revise the Missouri Mainstem Reservoir System Master Water Control Manual and any related regulations to delete fish and wildlife as an authorized purpose of the Corps.

Date: 2013-04-10
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Dam Safety Act of 2013 - Amends the National Dam Safety Program Act to authorize appropriations for the national dam safety program for FY2013-FY2016.

Requires the head of a federal agency, at the request of a state dam safety agency with respect to any dam the failure of which would affect the state, to provide information to that agency on the dam's condition and on its provisions for emergency operations.

Includes as a program objective to develop and implement a comprehensive dam safety hazard education and public awareness program to assist the public in mitigating against, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from dam incidents.

Permits the Administrator, in consultation with the National Dam Safety Review Board, to invite representatives from nongovernmental organizations to participate in Board meetings.

Prohibits the amount of funds allocated to a state to carry out the dam safety program from exceeding the amount committed by the state to implement program activities (currently, 50% of the reasonable cost of implementing the state dam safety program).

Date: 2013-04-11
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of, and land acquisition for, a project to reclaim and reuse wastewater in Sacramento County, California.

Requires the project to consist of three phases, the first of which shall include the planning, design, and construction of water conveyance and related infrastructure to provide recycled water to irrigate approximately 4,500 acres of land in southern Sacramento County.

Date: 2013-04-12
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 6, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act - Title I: Amendment to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act - (Sec. 101) Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to implement any agreement for the management of transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs entered into by the President and approved by Congress.

Prescribes procedures for submission of such agreements to Congress.

Authorizes the Secretary to implement the terms of the Agreement between the United States of America and the United Mexican States Concerning Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico, signed at Los Cabos, February 20, 2012 (the Agreement), including: (1) approving unitization agreements and related arrangements for the exploration, development, or production of oil and natural gas from transboundary reservoirs or geological structures; (2) making available, subject to the agreement's confidentiality protections, information pertaining to such activities that may be considered confidential, privileged, or proprietary; and (3) ensuring that only the operator, lessee, or inspection staff at the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement have authority to stop work on such activities on any production site attached to the U.S. seabed.

Exempts from resources extraction reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 any actions taken by a public company in accordance with a transboundary hydrocarbon agreement.

Prohibits this Act from being construed as: (1) authorizing the Secretary to participate in any negotiations, conferences, or consultations with Cuba regarding exploration, development, or production of hydrocarbon resources in the Gulf of Mexico along the U.S. maritime border with Cuba (including the area known as the "Eastern Gap"); or (2) affecting U.S. sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the outer Continental Shelf which appertains to it.

Title II: Approval of Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreement - (Sec. 201) Approves the Agreement.

Date: 2013-04-18
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Energy
Fort Sumner Project Title Conveyance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Fort Sumner Irrigation District, located in De Baca County, New Mexico, all works, land, and facilities of the Fort Sumner reclamation project in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement between the United States and the Fort Sumner Irrigation District Concerning Principles and Elements of Proposed Transfer of Title to Fort Sumner Irrigation District Facilities.

Requires the Secretary, before carrying out such conveyance, to assure compliance with all applicable requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and any other law applicable to the property conveyed. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress if such conveyance isn't completed within two years after such requirements are met.

Terminates, on the date of such conveyance: (1) U.S. interest in and responsibility for the project and liability relating to the conveyed property; (2) a specified repayment contract between the United States and the District dated November 5, 1948; and (3) a specified payment obligation of the United States under the contract between the United States and the District for the forbearance of exercising priority water rights, dated August 21, 2009. Provides that all other terms of such forbearance agreement shall remain in effect for not less than 10 years after this Act's enactment.

Provides that after conveyance of title under this Act: (1) the conveyed property shall not be considered to be a part of a federal reclamation project; and (2) the entity to which the property is conveyed shall not be eligible to receive any benefits, including federal project power, with respect to the conveyed property, except for benefits that would be available to a similarly situated entity with respect to property that is not part of a federal reclamation project.

Date: 2013-04-18
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Army Corps Accountability Act of 2013 - Amends the federal judicial code and the Federal Flood Control Act of 1928 to provide for the liability of the Army Corps of Engineers in the case of a tort claim arising out of damage caused by the gross negligence of an officer or employee of the Corps (thereby removing the Corps from an exception under the Federal Tort Claims Act that protects federal agencies from liability for certain discretionary functions).

Applies such liability to the Corps in the case of damage that occurred on or after August 29, 2005.

Date: 2013-04-19
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to Congress regarding: (1) efforts by Mexico to meet its deliveries of water to the Rio Grande in accordance with the Treaty between the United States and Mexico Respecting Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande; and (2) benefits to the United States of the Interim International Cooperative Measures in the Colorado River Basin through 2017 and Extension of Minute 318 Cooperative Measures to Address the Continued Effects of the April 2010 Earthquake in the Mexicali Valley, Baja, California.

Date: 2013-05-07
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: International affairs
Groundwork USA Trust Act of 2013 - Establishes the Groundwork USA Trust Program.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to: (1) facilitate the inventory of brownfield sites, site assessments, remediation of brownfield sites, community involvement, or site preparation; (2) reclaim vacant and derelict lands; (3) cleanup and care for neglected areas; (4) return brownfields to productive use; (5) integrate environmental education, food security, health and fitness, resource management, and job training; (6) encourage and support business, local government, nonprofit, and community cooperation in sustainable environmental care and enhancement; (7) acquire, rehabilitate, and improve real property and buildings; and (8) develop programs that encourage partnering with other environmental organizations.

Date: 2013-05-23
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Environmental protection
Border Communities Economic Security and Sustainability Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) to coordinate to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to accommodate preexisting and border location-dependent businesses into the design and construction of reconfigured and new ports of entry.

Date: 2013-05-24
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Emergency management
Working to Address Treaty Enforcement Rapidly for Texas Act - Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) report quarterly to Congress describing efforts by Mexico to meet the treaty obligations of Mexico to deliver water to the Rio Grande, in accordance with the 1944 treaty between the United States and Mexico entitled "Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande"; and (2) report annually to Congress describing the benefits to the United States of the 2012 document entitled "Interim International Cooperative Measures in the Colorado River Basin through 2017 and Extension of Minute 318 Cooperative Measures to Address the Continued Effects of the April 2010 Earthquake in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California."

Date: 2013-06-10
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Hudson Valley National Heritage Area Act of 1996 to extend through FY2022 the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to make grants or provide assistance for the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in New York.

Date: 2013-06-18
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
San Gabriel Watershed Restoration Act - Directs the Chief of Engineers, in coordination with Los Angeles County, California, to: (1) prepare a feasibility study for environmental ecosystem restoration, flood control, water quality control, water supply storage, outdoor recreation enhancements, and other aspects of the San Gabriel River Watershed revitalization that is consistent with the goals of the San Gabriel River master plan published by that County; and (2) identify demonstration projects for construction and restoration of the San Gabriel River Watershed.

Authorizes the Chief to construct demonstration projects to provide information to develop the study. Limits to 65% the federal share of the cost of any project under this Act.

Date: 2013-06-19
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop and offer to the Oakdale Irrigation District and the South San Joaquin Irrigation District in California a contract enabling the Districts to collectively impound and store up to 100,000 acre-feet of their superior Stanislaus River water rights in the New Melones Reservoir in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warren Act.

Requires any such contract to be for not less than 10 years and to expressly: (1) permit the Districts to use any water impounded and stored in such Reservoir for any legal purpose under California law, including use within the boundaries of either District, transfer to and reasonable and beneficial use by a person or entity not located within such boundaries, and for in stream use in the Stanislaus River, the San Joaquin River, or the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta; and (2) prohibit any water impounded and stored by either District from being released or withdrawn if the storage level of such Reservoir is below 1 million acre-feet and to require, in such event, that the impounded and stored water be retained for use by the Districts in the following year, subject to the same minimum storage requirement and without additional payment.

Excludes any water impounded and stored in such Reservoir by either District under such contract from water placed in the Districts' conservation account as defined in the August 30, 1988 Stipulation and Agreement entered into between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Districts.

Date: 2013-06-27
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Hudson River Valley Special Resource Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the Hudson River Valley in the state of New York to evaluate: (1) the national significance of the part of the Hudson River that flows from Rodgers Island at Fort Edward to the southernmost boundary of Westchester County, New York (the study area); and (2) the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National Park System.

Date: 2013-07-09
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Declares it to be congressional policy that: (1) a state has authority to manage the waters of rivers located within its boundaries; and (2) a state in which a Missouri River mainstem reservoir of the Corps of Engineers is located maintains authority to allocate the quantity of water in the reservoir attributable to the natural flows of the Missouri River within its boundaries. Requires all policies and procedures for the operations of Missouri River mainstem reservoirs of the Corps to be consistent with such policy.

Defines "natural flows" to mean Missouri River waters that would be flowing in a state in the absence of a dam that forms a Missouri River mainstem reservoir of the Corps. Requires the quantity of natural flows to be determined based on average monthly flows (excluding depletions) and to be calculated for the entire period of record, including before, during, and after construction of any dams or reservoirs.

Requires the Secretary of the Army to determine the quantity of water in each Missouri River mainstem reservoir of the Corps that is attributable to the natural flows of the Missouri River within the state in which the reservoir is located. Authorizes a state to seek judicial review of such determination.

Prohibits the Secretary from charging a fee in connection with water of the Missouri River in a state, without the state's consent, until such quantity of the natural flows of the Missouri River within the state is determined.

Date: 2013-07-18
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Army Corps of Engineers Communications Accountability Act of 2013 - Requires the Chief of Engineers: (1) to notify the public within seven days after determining that runoff conditions in the Missouri River System are likely to reach the upper quartile or upper decile scenarios specified for a year in an annual operating plan for such System; and (2) to meet with a state, local, or tribal government with jurisdiction over an area that will be affected by a flood occurring in the System within seven days after such government requests such a consultation regarding such an upper decile determination. Authorizes the Chief to provide in such consultation information regarding expected water levels, advice regarding preparedness actions, and technical assistance.

Date: 2013-07-18
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Marina Operator Tax Obligation Relief Act of 2013 or the MOTOR Act of 2013 - Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from imposing a fee under a lease entered into with a concessionaire for the use of Army-controlled real property at a water resources development project if: (1) the lease is for the operation of a facility making restaurant, gasoline, or marine engine sales in connection with a marina; and (2) the fee exceeds 1% of the facility's gross revenues.

Requires appropriate modifications to leases entered into before enactment of this Act.

Date: 2013-07-23
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends the Water Supply Act of 1958 to permit an interested state or local interest to submit to the Secretary of the Army by January 1, 2016, a plan for the utilization of future use water storage under such Act.

Requires such plan to include: (1) a 10-year timetable for conversion of future use storage to present use; and (2) a schedule of actions that the state or local interest agrees to carry out over a 10-year period, in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers, to seek new and alternative users of future water storage that is contracted to the state or local interest on the date of this Act's enactment.

Allows a state or local interest that the Secretary determines has carried out its obligations under such plan, for Corps projects for the period from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, to notify the Secretary that it seeks to release to the United States any right of the state or local interest to future water storage that was allocated for future use water supply prior to November 17, 1986, and that has not been allocated or used as of December 31, 2025. Provides that on receipt of such notification by the Secretary: (1) the request of the applicable state or local interest to release future water storage rights shall be considered to be approved, and (2) such interest shall not be responsible for the cost of any water storage rights released under such Act.

Date: 2013-07-24
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Act of 2013 - Directs the President to: (1) establish the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Commission, in cooperation with the governors of the states included in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin (New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut), to coordinate activities being undertaken by the states, advisory committees, local governments, institutions of higher education, and nongovernmental organizations to address environmental, economic, and cultural issues associated with the management and use of resources in the Hudson-Mohawk Watershed; and (2) designate the Secretary of the Interior to serve as a member of the Commission and as coordinator of participation of relevant federal agencies in the Commission's activities.

Requires the Commission to: (1) develop and implement plans, policies, and projects relating to the Basin's water resources; (2) adopt and promote uniform and coordinated policies for management and conservation of such resources; (3) coordinate and direct the development, implementation, operation, and financing of water resources projects consistent with its plans and policies; and (4) develop and adopt a comprehensive plan for the development and use of such resources, which shall address all projects and facilities required for development, conservation, use, management, and control of the Basin's water resources to meet present and future needs.

Directs the Commission to adopt a water resources program on an annual basis, based upon the comprehensive plan, that identifies specific projects and facilities to be undertaken during the immediate five-year period in each of the Basin's five sub-basins.

Date: 2013-08-01
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Amends the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 to extend the authorities and authorization of appropriations under such Act through FY2018.

Date: 2013-09-25
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Sabine National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2013 - Requires a land exchange between the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) and the Sabine River Authority of Texas involving the Sabine National Forest, the Indian Mounds Wilderness Area, and the Toledo Bend Project in Texas.

Requires the costs of the land exchange to be shared equally by the Authority and the Secretary, and the land exchange to be conducted on an equal value basis.

Date: 2013-10-30
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Fundamentally Improving Salmon Habitat Act or the FISH Act - Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to revise requirements for studies and ecosystem restoration projects for the lower Columbia River and Tillamook Bay estuaries, Oregon and Washington. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) conduct studies and ecosystem restoration projects with total costs of $2 million or greater per project (designated as "large projects"); and (2) provide grants to the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board, and the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership to conduct projects with total costs of less than $2 million per project ("small projects"). Revises and adds requirements relating to administration of such projects, including the provision of technical assistance to entities carrying out small projects, the determination of priority for large and small projects, and the allocation of funding for small projects.

Date: 2013-10-30
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Extreme Weather Mitigation Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to give funding priority to authorized projects and studies with a primary purpose of hurricane and storm damage risk reduction that: (1) address an imminent threat to life and property, (2) prevent storm surge from inundating populated areas, (3) prevent the loss of coastal wetlands that help reduce the impact of storm surge, (4) protect emergency hurricane evacuation routes or shelters, (5) prevent adverse impacts to publicly-owned or funded infrastructure and assets, (6) minimize federal disaster relief costs, and (7) address hurricane and storm damage risk reduction in presidentially-declared major disaster areas.

Provides for expedited consideration of previously authorized water resources projects that meet such criteria.

 Sets forth criteria for prioritizing new studies for hurricane and storm damage reduction.

Date: 2013-12-04
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Public Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of the Army to approve or disapprove a covered permit application for a public safety project within two years after the application is submitted. Requires an application upon which the Secretary fails to act within such time to be considered under an expedited process, unless the governor of the state in which the project is to be located issues a declaration of emergency with respect to the project. Defines "covered permit application" as an application for a permit to discharge dredge or fill material submitted by a state or municipality under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act).

Directs the Secretary to establish such an expedited process, under which the Secretary shall: (1) prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement, (2) weigh the public safety aspects of the project as greater than the environmental costs, and (3) complete consultation with other agencies within six months. Provides that the Secretary, in issuing a permit under the expedited process: (1) may not require mitigation costs in an amount that exceeds 20% of the project's total cost, and (2) may relocate from the project any of the members of a threatened or endangered species of plant or animal that the relevant federal agencies determine would be taken in the course of the project.

 Authorizes the state or municipality that submitted a covered permit application for a project, if a governor issues a declaration of emergency with respect to the project, to request that: (1) the application be considered under the expedited process; or (2) the Council on Environmental Quality approve the project or create an alternative, which must be done within 90 days or the application shall be deemed approved and the environmental requirements shall be deemed satisfied.

Date: 2013-12-12
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act - Establishes the Bureau of Reclamation as the lead agency for purposes of coordinating all reviews, analyses, opinions, statements, permits, licenses, or other approvals or decisions (reviews) required under federal law to construct new surface water storage projects on lands administered by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture (USDA), exclusive of any easement, right-of-way, lease, or any private holding (qualifying projects).

Directs the Commissioner of the Bureau: (1) upon receipt of an application for a qualifying project, to identify any federal agency that may have jurisdiction over a required review; and (2) to notify such agency that it has been designated as a cooperating agency unless the agency notifies the Bureau that the agency has no jurisdiction or authority over the project, has no expertise or information relevant to the project or any associated review, or does not intend to submit comments other than in cooperation with the Bureau. Requires each cooperating agency to submit to the Bureau: (1) a timeframe for completing the agency's authorizing responsibilities, (2) all environmental review material produced in the course of carrying out activities required under federal law consistent with the project schedule, and (3) all relevant project data.

Allows a state in which a qualifying project is being considered to choose to: (1) participate as a cooperating agency; and (2) make subject to the processes of this Act all state agencies that have jurisdiction over the project, are required to conduct or issue a review, or are required to make a determination on issuing a permit, license, or approval for the project.

Lists as the principal responsibilities of the Bureau under this Act to: (1) serve as the point of contact for applicants, state agencies, Indian tribes, and others regarding proposed projects; (2) coordinate preparation of unified environmental documentation that will serve as the basis for all federal decisions necessary to authorize the use of federal lands for qualifying projects; and (3) coordinate all federal agency reviews necessary for the development and construction of qualifying projects.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept and expend funds contributed by a non-federal public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit of that entity related to a qualifying project or activity for a public purpose under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior. Directs the Secretary to ensure that all final permit decisions are made available to the public, including on the Internet.

Date: 2014-01-31
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Accelerated Revenue, Repayment, and Surface Water Storage Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convert certain existing water service contracts between the United States and water users' associations to repayment contracts to allow for prepayment of such contracts, upon the request of the contractor. Specifies the manner of conversion and the terms and conditions of prepayment.

Requires the receipts generated from prepayment of contracts under this Act, beyond amounts necessary to cover the amount of receipts forgone from scheduled payments under current law for the 10-year period following the enactment of this Act, to be directed to the Reclamation Surface Water Storage Account. Requires the Secretary to allocate amounts in such Account to fund or provide loans for the construction of surface water storage for:

 increased municipal and industrial water supply; agricultural floodwater, erosion, and sedimentation reduction; agricultural drainage improvements; agricultural irrigation; increased recreation opportunities; reduced adverse impacts to fish and wildlife from water storage or diversion projects within watersheds associated with water storage projects funded under this Act; and other purposes consistent with reclamation laws or other federal law.

Date: 2014-01-31
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Fixing Operations of Reservoirs to Encompass Climatic and Atmospheric Science Trends Act or the FORECAST Act - Requires the Secretary of the Army, not later than one year after a request of a non-federal sponsor of a reservoir, to review operation of such reservoir, including the water control manual and rule curves, using improved weather forecasts and run-off forecasting methods, including the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System of the National Weather Service and the Hydrometeorology Testbed program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Requires the Secretary to determine if a change in operations will improve core functions of the Army Corps of Engineers, including: (1) reducing risks to human life, public safety, property; (2) reducing the need for future disaster relief; (3) improving local water storage capability and reliability in coordination with the non-federal sponsor and other water users; (4) restoring, protecting, or mitigating the impacts of a water resources development project on the environment; or (5) improving fish species habitat or population within the boundaries and downstream of a water resources project.

Requires that if the Secretary determines from results of the review that using improved weather and run-off forecasting methods improves one or more core functions of the Corps at a reservoir, the Secretary shall incorporate such changes in its operation and update the water control manual.

Date: 2014-02-04
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 28, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act of 2014 - Exempts certain water transfers by the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Greater Texoma Utility Authority from prohibitions on the transfer of invasive species across state borders proscribed under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 and related criminal code provisions if: (1) only closed systems from Lake Texoma are used in the transfer, and (2) invasive species are eliminated or removed at treatment facilities.

Date: 2014-02-11
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Local Organization Cooperative Agreement for Land and Facility Maintenance Act of 2014 or the LOCAL Act of 2014 - Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to authorize the Secretary of the Army to permit a non-federal public or private entity that has entered into a cooperative agreement for the operation and management of recreation facilities and natural resources at civil works projects under the Secretary's jurisdiction to collect user fees for the use of developed recreation sites and facilities, whether developed or constructed by such entity or the Department of the Army.

Permits such an entity to retain up to 100% of the fees collected and use them for operation, maintenance, and management at the recreation site where they were collected.

Date: 2014-02-26
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Shasta Dam Expansion Act of 2014 - Amends the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a project for the enlargement of the Shasta Dam, California, if the Secretary determines that such project is feasible.

Date: 2014-02-28
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
San Luis Reservoir Expansion Act of 2014 - Amends the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act to authorize expenditures for the San Luis Reservoir lowpoint improvement project to include funds to increase storage capacity at San Luis Reservoir in California.

Date: 2014-02-28
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Upper San Joaquin River Storage Act of 2014 - Amends the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a project for Upper San Joaquin River storage in Fresno and Madera Counties, California, if the Secretary determines that such project is feasible.

Date: 2014-02-28
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Water resources development
Lake Berryessa Recreation Enhancement Act of 2014 - (Sec. 4) Transfers the administrative jurisdiction over specified land underlying or adjacent to Lake Berryessa in California from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for administration as the Lake Berryessa Recreation Area.

Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from diminishing or altering: (1) day-use, short-term, or annual occupancy levels; (2) motorized boating or water surface zoning restrictions; (3) recreational hiking or equine access; or (4) hunting, fishing, shooting sports, or trapping within the area.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to act in accordance with any existing agreement with any organization for the management of campgrounds, marinas, lodging facilities, food and beverage services, and boating and boat rental facilities located in the Area.

Requires the Secretary to adopt the recreational use plan adopted by the Bureau of Reclamation on June 2, 2006.

(Sec. 6) Declares that nothing in this Act or any subsequent management plan shall impair the ability of the Bureau of Reclamation and its managing partners to operate, maintain, or manage Monticello Dam, Lake Berryessa, and other Solano Project facilities in accordance with that project's authorized purposes. Requires the Commissioner of Reclamation to continue to administer and operate the Dam and any power facility related to it.

Date: 2014-03-06
Topic: Public Lands (Water Resources)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources