bill_id,congress,bill_type,bill_number,title,policy_area,introduced_date,latest_action_date,latest_action_text,origin_chamber,sponsor_name,sponsor_state,sponsor_party,sponsor_bioguide_id,cosponsor_count,summary_text,update_date,url 114-hr-6524,114,hr,6524,Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Act,Water Resources Development,2016-12-08,2016-12-19,Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.,House,"Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]",NY,D,T000469,0,"Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to establish a nonregulatory Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Restoration Program, under which it shall: draw on management plans for the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin and work with applicable management entities, including the federal government, state and local governments, and regional and nonprofit organizations, to identify, prioritize, and implement water resources activities within the basin; adopt a basin-wide strategy that coordinates activities being undertaken by the basin states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont), 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 water resources in the basin and that supports implementation of science-based restoration and protection activities; and establish the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin grant program to provide competitive matching grants and technical assistance to state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities to carry out specified restoration and protection activities. Program purposes are listed, including: addressing the management, development, conservation, and use of water resources throughout the basin; coordinating restoration and protection activities; carrying out coordinated restoration and protection activities and providing technical assistance throughout the basin states; maintaining an inventory of historic and cultural resources of the basin and identifying projects to provide for cultural enrichment, preservation of cultural resources, public education about local heritage and historical significance of properties, canals, and historic sites within the basin; and providing a mechanism to promote communication, coordination, and collaborative working relationships among entities working in the basin. Interior shall develop criteria to ensure that activities funded through the grant program accomplish identified purposes and advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the basin-wide strategy.",2023-01-11T13:33:53Z, 114-hr-6022,114,hr,6022,New WATER Act,Water Resources Development,2016-09-14,2016-09-20,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Denham, Jeff [R-CA-10]",CA,R,D000612,0,"New Water Available To Every Reclamation State Act or the New WATER Act This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior, for 15 years after this bill's enactment, to provide financial assistance, such as secured loans or loan guarantees, to entities that contract under federal reclamation law to carry out water projects within the 17 western states served by the Bureau of Reclamation, other states where the Bureau is authorized to provide project assistance, Alaska, and Hawaii. Projects eligible for assistance include: non-federal water infrastructure projects that would contribute to a safe, adequate water supply for domestic, agricultural, environmental, or municipal and industrial use; projects for enhanced energy efficiency in the operation of a water system; projects for accelerated repair and replacement of aging water distribution facilities; brackish or sea water desalination projects; and the acquisition of real property or an interest therein for water storage, reclaimed or recycled water, or wastewater that is integral to such a project. To be eligible for assistance, a project must be deemed creditworthy. Eligible project costs must be reasonably anticipated to be at least $20 million. Interior shall establish criteria for project selection and may enter into a master credit agreement for projects secured by a common security pledge on terms acceptable to it. Interior may enter into agreements with obligors to make secured loans to finance or refinance eligible project costs or to refinance long-term project obligations or federal credit instruments to provide additional funding capacity for the completion, enhancement, or expansion of a project. The total amount of federal assistance for a project shall not exceed 80% of its total cost. Interior shall establish: (1) a repayment schedule for each secured loan based on the useful life of the project, and (2) a uniform system to service the federal credit instruments made available under this bill. Interior shall report biennially on the financial performance of the projects that receive assistance under this bill.",2023-01-11T13:33:49Z, 114-hr-5979,114,hr,5979,Energy and Water Research Integration Act of 2016,Water Resources Development,2016-09-09,2016-09-30,Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.,House,"Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]",TX,D,J000126,1,"Energy and Water Research Integration Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to integrate water considerations into its energy research, development, and demonstration programs and projects by: (1) advancing energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices that meet the objectives of minimizing freshwater withdrawal and consumption, increasing water use efficiency, and utilizing nontraditional water sources with efforts to improve the quality of the water from those sources; (2) considering the effects climate variability may have on water supplies and quality for energy generation and fuel production; and (3) improving the understanding of the energy required to provide reliable water supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy supplies. DOE shall develop and update every five years a strategic plan to carry out the integration. DOE shall establish an Energy-Water Subcommittee of the Energy Advisory Board to promote and enable improved energy and water resource data collection, reporting, and technological innovation. This bill shall not be construed to require state, tribal, or local governments to take any action that may result in an increased financial burden by restricting their water use.",2023-01-11T13:33:50Z, 114-hr-5966,114,hr,5966,A bill to convey certain locks and dams.,Water Resources Development,2016-09-08,2016-09-09,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]",KY,R,G000558,0,"This bill deauthorizes the project for navigation at the Green River Locks and Dams 3, 4, 5, and 6 and Barren River Lock and Dam 1, Kentucky, and requires the associated lands and improvements to be disposed of as prescribed below. All U.S. rights to: Green River Lock and Dam 3, located in Ohio County and Muhlenberg County, shall be conveyed to the Rochester Dam Regional Water Commission; Green River Lock and Dam 4, located in Butler County, shall be conveyed to Butler County; Green River Lock and Dam 5, located in Butler County and Warren County, shall be conveyed to Kentucky, a political subdivision thereof, or a tax-exempt non-governmental organization; and the portion of the Green River Lock and Dam 6, Edmonson County located on the right descending bank of the Green River, and Barren River Lock and Dam 1, located in Warren County, shall be conveyed to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The Secretary of the Army shall transfer administrative jurisdiction over the portion of the Green River Lock and Dam 6 located on the left descending bank of the Green River to the Department of the Interior for inclusion in the Mammoth Cave National Park. If the Secretary determines that such conveyed land ceases to be owned by the public, all right to the land shall revert to the United States.",2023-01-11T13:33:50Z, 114-hr-5680,114,hr,5680,Increasing Local Autonomy for Shore Protection Act of 2016,Water Resources Development,2016-07-07,2016-07-08,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Salmon, Matt [R-AZ-5]",AZ,R,S000018,0,Increasing Local Autonomy for Shore Protection Act of 2016 This bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to increase the non-federal share of the cost of the periodic nourishment of any water resources development project or any measure for shore protection or beach erosion control for such project to 65% (current law sets such non-federal share at lower levels of up to 50% based on the dates after which the projects are carried out).,2023-01-11T13:33:27Z, 114-hr-5595,114,hr,5595,Reservoir Operations Improvement Act,Water Resources Development,2016-06-28,2016-06-28,Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.,House,"Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]",CA,D,H001068,8,"Reservoir Operations Improvement Act This bill directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to submit a report with respect to each drought state (a state for which the governor has declared a drought or that contains at least one county for which the Department of Agriculture has designated a drought disaster) during water year 2015 or 2016 that includes: a list of flood control projects in such state; the year during which the original water manual (water operations manuals, flood control rule curves, and water control manuals) for each project was approved; the years during which any revisions to a project's water manual occurred or are requested to occur; a list of projects for which operational deviations for drought contingency, and changes to storage allocations, have been requested and the status of such requests; and a description of the means by which water conservation and water quality improvements were addressed in any response to such requests. The Corps of Engineers shall: (1) identify each project included in the report that includes a reservoir and for which a non-federal interest has submitted a written request to revise the project's water manual; (2) revise the water manuals of not more than 15 of such projects; and (3) in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, create a forecast-informed reservoir operations plan for each selected project. The water manual revision shall incorporate such plan, new watershed data, and the effects of any structural improvement completed after the date of the most recent prior revision of the water manual. A revision of a water manual may not reduce the water supply for any authorized purpose, other than flood control, of a flood control project.",2023-01-11T13:32:43Z, 114-hr-5468,114,hr,5468,To direct the Secretary of the Interior to allow for prepayment of repayment obligations under Repayment Contracts between the United States and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District.,Water Resources Development,2016-06-14,2016-09-06,"Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 558.",House,"Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1]",UT,R,B001250,0,"(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) This bill directs the Department of the Interior to permit the prepayment of repayment obligations under Repayment Contract No. 14-06-400-33 between the United States and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, including all related applicable contracts, providing for repayment of Weber Basin Project construction costs allocated to irrigation and municipal and industrial purposes under terms and conditions similar to those used in implementing the provisions in the Central Utah Project Completion Act for prepayment of Central Utah Project, Bonneville Unit repayment obligations. The prepayment: shall result in the United States recovering the net present value of all repayment streams that would have been payable to the United States if this bill was not in effect; may be provided in several installments; may not be adjusted on the basis of the type of prepayment financing used by the District; and shall result in total repayment by September 30, 2026.",2023-01-11T13:32:47Z, 114-hr-5303,114,hr,5303,Water Resources Development Act of 2016,Water Resources Development,2016-05-23,2016-09-29,Received in the Senate.,House,"Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9]",PA,R,S001154,3,"Highlights: This bill revises or authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resources development projects, feasibility studies, and relationships with nonfederal project sponsors. It establishes a process to deauthorize projects with an aggregate estimated federal cost to complete of at least $10 billion. It sets forth requirements concerning:  harbor operations and maintenance, emerging harbors, donor ports, and energy transfer ports; navigation and flood management projects; reservoir operations and storage allocations; dredging alternatives; floating cabins; dam repair; ice jams; aquifer depletion; aquatic invasive species; and permits to occupy, use, or alter certain public works. The bill reauthorizes estuary habitat restoration projects and the Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through FY2021. To assist states, the bill contains provisions for: drought emergencies, regional district flood damage reduction projects, and combined funding in groups of states. Additional funding is authorized for repair or replacement of water infrastructure for authorized communities in states with presidentially declared emergencies based on the presence of chemical, physical, or biological constituents, including lead in an eligible water system. The bill establishes requirements for "no wake" zones in Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway navigation channels, revisions to Table Rock Lake plans, and land in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, to be held in trust for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council must issue regulations for environmental bank preservation projects that provide credits to offset adverse environmental impacts.   The Corps of Engineers' authority to accept funds to expedite permits is expanded to railroad carriers and made permanent for public utilities or natural gas companies. It must designate a principal approving official to coordinate development of unmanned aircraft systems. The Corps may operate a fish hatchery to restore threatened or endangered fish species.  The bill authorizes various navigation, flood risk management, hurricane and storm damage, ecosystem restoration, recreation, or river shoreline projects in Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Full Summary: Water Resources Development Act of 2016 TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS (Sec. 101) This title expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) water resources development projects are critical to maintaining economic prosperity, national security, and environmental protection; (2) Congress has required timely delivery of project and study authorization proposals from nonfederal project sponsors and the Corps of Engineers; and (3) Congress should consider a Water Resources Development Act at least once every Congress. (Sec. 102) The Corps of Engineers must enter cooperative agreements with youth service and conservation corps organizations for services on Corps projects. (Sec. 103) The Corps of Engineers must use its existing channel depths and dimensions authority under the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1915 to carry out navigation safety activities at harbor or inland harbor projects eligible for Corps operation and maintenance under the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (WRDA 1986), including at entrances, bends, sidings, and turning places necessary for the free movement of boats. (Sec. 104) Under WRDA 1986, the Corps of Engineers must use at least 10% (currently, exactly 10%) of the difference between the funds made available for a fiscal year to pay operations and maintenance costs of harbors and inland harbors and the funds that were available for such costs for FY2012 as priority funding for emerging harbor projects that transit less than 1 million tons of cargo annually. Not more than 90% (currently, exactly 90%) of priority funds shall be used for high- and moderate-use harbor projects. These allocations are made permanent. (Sec. 105) The Corps of Engineers must report on its inventory and assessment of the structural condition of federal breakwaters and jetties protecting harbors and inland harbors. (Sec. 106) The bill reduces from $15 million to $5 million the total amount of harbor maintenance taxes for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) that a port must collect annually to be considered a donor port that is eligible to receive amounts from the Corps of Engineers for payments to cargo shippers or importers, maintenance dredging and disposal of legacy-contaminated sediment, or environmental remediation. (Sec. 107) The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA 2007) is amended to require the Corps of Engineers to consider regional (currently, local) communities when it makes recommendations for harbor and navigation improvements that are not justified solely by national economic development benefits. (Sec. 108) The Corps of Engineers must establish a pilot program to carry out 10 cost-sharing projects for the beneficial use of dredged material. Project selections must be based solely on: (1) environmental, economic, and social benefits; and (2) diversity in project types and geographical locations. The projects are exempt from federal standards that require dredged material disposals representing the least costly alternatives. Regional teams that include local agencies and stakeholders must be established to identify and assist in implementation of projects. (Sec. 109) The Corps of Engineers must establish a pilot program to accept services from nonfederal interests or commercial entities for removal of sediment captured behind up to 10 U.S. dams under Corps jurisdiction for the purpose of restoring authorized storage capacity. The nonfederal interests or commercial entities may sell or otherwise dispose of the removed sediment without compensating the Corps for the sediment's value. (Sec. 110) For reservoirs that the Corps of Engineers is authorized to regulate for the use of storage allocated for flood risk management or navigation, the Corps may receive funds from nonfederal interests to formulate or revise operational documents. (Sec. 111) In a state in which a drought emergency has been declared or was in effect during the year before enactment of this bill, the Corps of Engineers may enter agreements with nonfederal interests to carry out approved water supply conservation measures. (Sec. 112) The bill removes provisions of the Water Supply Act of 1958 concerning Congress's recommendation for an interstate water compact for the operation of projects in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River System. (Sec. 113) For emergency repairs or restoration of flood control works or hurricane or shore protective structures, the Corps of Engineers must consult with nonfederal sponsors on the availability of nonstructural alternatives and obtain the sponsor's agreement before implementation. (Sec. 114) Nonfederal interests are released from any obligation to operate and maintain the nonstructural and nonmechanical components of a project for environmental protection and restoration or aquatic ecosystem restoration if the Corps of Engineers determines that the project's: (1) construction has been complete for 50 years, or (2) purpose has been achieved. The Corps must issue guidance for determining when a project has returned to a condition where natural hydrologic and ecological functions are the predominant factors of the location. (Sec. 115) The Estuary Restoration Act of 2000 is amended to: (1) reauthorize estuary habitat restoration projects through FY2021; and (2) allow nongovernmental organizations to enter the required agreements with the Corps under WRDA 1986 for flood control projects to be initiated only after the nonfederal interests agree to pay all operation, maintenance, replacement, and rehabilitation costs and the nonfederal share of construction costs. (Sec. 116) The bill repeals provisions of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 concerning the authorization of appropriations for Great Lakes fishery and ecosystem restoration plans and projects. (Sec. 117) The bill repeals provisions of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 concerning the use of mitigation banks for projects involving wetlands mitigation. (Sec. 118) A Corps of Engineers coordinator and principal approving official must be designated to acquire Federal Aviation Administration authorizations for the Corps to operate small unmanned aircraft systems (drones) to support civil works and emergency response missions. (Sec. 119) The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report on the costs and benefits of expanding, reducing, or maintaining the federally owned hopper dredge fleet. (Sec. 120) The Corps of Engineers must update its inventory of unneeded properties to consider: (1) economic, cultural, historic, or recreational significance; or (2) impacts at the national, state, or local level. (Sec. 121) The Corps of Engineers may accept funds from a railroad carrier to expedite the evaluation of the carrier's permits for a project under the Corps' jurisdiction. The authority for public utilities or natural gas companies to make contributions for expedited permit processing is made permanent. (Sec. 122) The Corps of Engineers' authority to provide nonfederal interests a credit in lieu of a reimbursement for the estimated federal share of a flood damage reduction project under repealed provisions the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 is extended to projects for which a written agreement with the Corps for construction was finalized on or before December 31, 2014. (Currently, the credit in lieu of reimbursement is limited to projects that have been constructed by a nonfederal interest before the provisions were repealed on June 10, 2014.) The credit may be applied to other water resources development projects or studies of the nonfederal interest. (Sec. 123) The Corps of Engineers' authority to accept materials or services from nonfederal entities to repair, restore, or replace a water resources development project that has been damaged or destroyed as a result of an emergency shall include equipment failures caused by a lack of, or deferred, maintenance. (Sec. 124) The Corps of Engineers may provide technical assistance to nonfederal interests for feasibility studies of a proposed water resources development project if the nonfederal interest contracts to pay the costs of such assistance. (Sec. 125) The Corps of Engineers may authorize credits or reimbursements for discrete segments of a flood reduction project under WRDA 1986 before final completion of the project if the nonfederal interest can independently operate and maintain the segment without creating a hazard in advance of project completion. (Sec. 126) The Corps of Engineers may cooperate with groups of states to prepare comprehensive plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of the water and related resources of drainage basins, watersheds, or ecosystems located within their boundaries. States may combine funds that the Corps makes available to them for such purposes. (Sec. 127) State regional districts' flood damage reduction projects are eligible for assistance from: (1) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a levee safety program, and (2) the Corps of Engineers for flood mitigation activities. The national levee database, inventory and review procedures, and safety guidelines must be updated to include regional district participation. (Sec. 128) The categories of ""nonfederal interests"" under the Flood Control Act of 1970 are expanded to include Alaska native villages, regional corporations, and village corporations among the entities that may enter partnership agreements with the Corps for implementation or construction of water resources projects. (Sec. 129) For federally recognized Indian tribes, local cost-sharing requirements for studies and projects are waived up to a specified amount. (Sec. 130) The Corps of Engineers must provide guidance and technical assistance for nonfederal interests to submit proposals for the Corps' annual report to Congress on the future of water resources development. The Corps must notify previous and potential nonfederal interests and local elected officials about opportunities to address local water resources challenges through the Corps. (Sec. 131) The feasibility reports, proposed feasibility reports, and proposed project modifications for such future development reports may include projects under an environmental infrastructure assistance program. (Sec. 132) At a nonfederal interest's request, the Corps of Engineers shall meet with a nonfederal interest prior to initiating a feasibility study for a proposed project to review a preliminary analysis of costs, benefits, and environmental impacts of the project. (Sec. 133) The Corps of Engineers' post-authorization change reports recommending modifications to authorized projects: (1) may not be delayed by policy or priority change considerations, and (2) must be submitted to Congress upon completion. (Sec. 134) The Corps of Engineers must establish a publicly available database on its dredging projects, including information on maintenance dredging carried out by federal and nonfederal vessels. For each project and contract, the database must include the number of private contractor bids received and the bid amounts. (Sec. 135) The Corps of Engineers' system for electronic submission of permit applications must: (1) allow applicants to prepare permit applications, request jurisdictional determinations, and track their status electronically; and (2) address joint applications for state and federal permits. The Corps must maintain records of all permit decisions and jurisdictional determinations for at least five years and then archive those records. (Sec. 136) The Corps of Engineers must publish data on: (1) the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water resources development projects; and (2) water quality and water management of projects owned, operated, or managed by the Corps. But disclosure is not authorized for confidential or privileged information, law enforcement or national security information, infrastructure security information, or personal information. (Sec. 137) The bill deauthorizes water resources development projects authorized for construction by this bill if funds have not been obligated for construction during the seven years after its enactment. The Corps of Engineers must identify for Congress any projects so deauthorized. After 12 years, the Corps must submit to Congress: (1) a list of projects authorized by this bill that have not been completed, (2) the reasons the projects were not completed, (3) a schedule for completions based on expected appropriations, and (4) a 5-year and 10-year projection of the construction backlog with recommendations on how to mitigate such backlog. (Sec. 138) Transmittal letters and attachments printed as House or Senate documents for certain proposed reports and recommendations transmitted to Congress for flood control or navigation improvements must be made publicly available. The Corps of Engineers must provide the Library of Congress a copy of each final post-authorization change report for water resources projects. (Sec. 139) The Corps of Engineers must report biennially on the metrics and project priorities used in developing each business line in the civil works budget. If a revised budget estimate is proposed, the Corps must notify each Member of Congress representing a district affected by the project. (Sec. 140) The Corps of Engineers must report biennially on the use of natural and nature-based features in water resources development projects. (Sec. 141) The Corps of Engineers must report annually on the amount of acquisitions it has made for civil works projects from entities that manufactured the articles, materials, or supplies outside of the United States. The report must indicate dollar values and summarize total procurement funds spent on goods manufactured inside versus outside the United States. (Sec. 142) The Corps of Engineers must: (1) work with communities in watersheds covered by feasibility studies for proposed water resources development projects to avoid adversely affecting any local or regional water management plans for stormwater management, water quality improvement, aquifer recharge, or water reuse; and (2) incorporate the purposes of such plans into the Corps of Engineers' feasibility studies. (Sec. 143) The Corps of Engineers must prioritize and complete its activities under the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA 2014) to: (1) contract with the National Academy of Public Administration to carry out a comprehensive review of the process for preparing, negotiating, and approving project partnership agreements and templates; and (2) report to Congress with its recommendations for improving those procedures. (Sec. 144) The bill amends WRRDA 2014 to extend through FY2020, or through FY2025 if target total budget resources are met, the authorization for funding to donor ports and energy transfer ports for: (1) payments to cargo importers or shipping transporters, (2) maintenance dredging that benefits commercial navigation at harbors, or (3) environmental remediation related to dredging berths and federal navigation channels. (Sec. 145) The Corps of Engineers must consult with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify national security benefits associated with the development of Arctic deep draft ports. (Sec. 146) The Corps of Engineers' international outreach program is expanded to include informing the United States of technological innovations abroad that could improve any water resources development in the United States, including technology transfers or exchanges. (Under current law, the program is limited to informing the maritime industry and port authorities about innovations that could improve waterborne transportation.) (Sec. 147) The Corps of Engineers must study flood risks for vulnerable coastal populations within the boundaries of the Corps' South Atlantic Division. (Sec. 148) The GAO must analyze alternative models for managing the Inland Waterways Trust Fund and examine the costs and benefits of transferring the fund to a not-for-profit or government-owned corporation. (Sec. 149) The Corps of Engineers may enter agreements to assume the operation and maintenance costs of an alternative project to maintenance dredging for a channel if the alternative project would lower the overall channel maintenance costs. (Sec. 150) The Corps of Engineers may operate a fish hatchery to restore a population of threatened or endangered fish species. Nonfederal entities or federal agencies other than DOD shall be responsible for costs associated with managing such a fish hatchery that are not authorized as of the enactment of this bill. (Sec. 151) The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council must issue regulations for environmental banks (projects to restore, create, enhance, or preserve natural resources in a designated site to provide credits to offset adverse environmental impacts) to mitigate adverse environmental impacts sustained by construction or other activities as required by law or regulation. The regulations must provide criteria for: (1) bank certification and performance; (2) priority for banks that enhance coastal resources to inundation and coastal erosion; and (3) transfers of environmental credits, cross-crediting of environmental services, and the purchase of credits to offset adverse impacts or legal liability. (Sec. 152) The Corps of Engineers must carry out an ecosystem restoration and recreation project for the Los Angeles River in California in accordance with the conditions and recommended cost sharing described in the Report of the Chief of Engineers dated December 18, 2015. (Sec. 153) The Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) may approve and allow the construction and use of a floating cabin (a watercraft or other floating structure primarily designed and used for human habitation or occupation and not primarily designed or used for navigation or transportation on water) on TVA waters if: (1) the floating cabin is maintained by the owner to reasonable health, safety, and environmental standards; and (2) the TVA has authorized the use of recreational vessels on such waters. The TVA board may not require removal of such cabins for a specified period after enactment of this bill and must allow continued use of such cabins that meet recreational access requirements. But the TVA may establish regulations to prevent construction of new floating cabins. (Sec. 154) The GAO must report on the remaining federal obligations to Indian people displaced by the construction of the Bonneville Dam, the Dalles Dam, or the John Day Dam on the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington. (Sec. 155) Upon the request of a governor of a state with a drought emergency during the year leading up to the enactment of this bill, the Corps of Engineers may prioritize updates of water control manuals and incorporate seasonal operations for water conservation and water supply for control structures. (Sec. 156) The GAO must submit an analysis of the President's budget requests for the Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program for each of FY2008-FY2017. It must evaluate whether the Corps of Engineers' benefit-cost ratios impact the geographic diversity of projects included in budget requests. (Sec. 157) For purposes of the prohibition against possessing, using, building upon, altering, or obstructing sea walls, bulkheads, jetties, dikes, levees, wharfs, piers, or other works built by the United States for the preservation or improvement of its navigable waters or to prevent floods, the bill defines "work" as engineered structures that serve a particular function, including only structures of like kind to the structures specifically listed. The definition excludes: (1) river channels, regardless of whether dredging is necessary to maintain navigational depths; (2) unimproved real estate; or (3) the mere presence of a particular feature or structure within a federal project. (Sec. 158) A project that the Corps of Engineers assumes for maintenance under authority granted by Congress shall be: (1) treated as a project authorized by Congress; and (2) planned, operated, managed, or modified consistent with authorized projects. (Sec. 159) The Corps of Engineers must issue guidance for dam safety repair projects to: (1) identify the types of circumstances under which WRDA 1986's requirement relating to state-of-the-art design or construction criteria deemed necessary for safety purposes would apply, (2) assist Corps district offices in communicating with nonfederal interests when entering into and implementing cost-sharing agreements, and (3) assist Corps communications with nonfederal interests concerning their estimated and final cost-share responsibilities. (Sec. 160) The Corps of Engineers must expedite completion of a flood risk management project for Cedar River, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Sec. 161) The Corps of Engineers may consider all benefits to the public that may accrue from a proposed rehabilitation work when reviewing requests for expenditures from the emergency fund for repair or restoration of a flood management project. (Sec. 162) The Corps of Engineers' projects to support the fishery, ecosystem, and beneficial uses of the Great Lakes may include compatible recreation features, except that the federal cost of such features may not exceed 10% of the ecosystem restoration costs of the project. (Sec. 163) An Army district engineer or an authorized representative may permit a nonfederal interest's alterations to a federal levee, floodwall, or flood risk management channel project or its associated features. Permit applications seeking the Corps of Engineers' permission to occupy, use, or alter U.S.-built public works for the preservation or improvement of harbor or river navigable waters or to prevent floods shall be approved if: (1) the Corps has not made a determination, and (2) the plan was prepared and certified by a professional engineer licensed by the state in which the project is located. (Sec. 164) The Corps of Engineers must expedite examination and, if feasible, proceed to construction of flood mitigation and restoration projects in the Louisiana parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, and Pointe Coupee. (Sec. 165) The Corps of Engineers shall not finalize a revision for the Table Rock Lake Master Plan and Table Rock Lake Shoreline Management Plan during the five-year period after enactment of this bill and must provide 60 days for public comment on the revision. The moratorium on new or modified shoreline permits based on the existing plans must be suspended during that five-year period. Before adopting a revision to the management plan, the Corps must complete a study on the need to revise Table Rock Lake permit fees to achieve cost savings. The Corps must report the study results to Congress. (Sec. 166) The Corps of Engineers may adjust authorized benefit-cost ratios after the completion of any portion of a navigation project carried out by the Corps with nonfederal funds. (Sec. 167) The Corps of Engineers must transfer specified acres of land in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, to the Department of the Interior to be held in trust for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, on the condition that the transfer does not interfere with other civil works projects. The Corps retains the right to inundate the land with water to carry out the Eufaula Lake project and other civil works projects. Gaming is prohibited on this land. The tribe must pay the fair market value of the land plus transfer costs. (Sec. 168) WRDA 2007 is amended to extend the period during which the Corps of Engineers is prohibited from taking action seeking to remove an improvement (including dwellings) within the flowage easement of Lake Kemp, Texas (below elevation 1159 feet mean sea level), until the earlier of: (1) January 1, 2025, or (2) the transfer of ownership of an improvement occurring after this bill's enactment. (Sec. 169) The Corps of Engineers must consider information developed by the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District to expedite completion of the comprehensive planning authorized by WRDA 2007 to determine the feasibility of projects for flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration in Texas coastal areas. (Sec. 170) The Corps of Engineers must expeditiously authorize, fund, identify, and implement improvements to reduce negative impacts to community-owned flood protection system accreditation where federally owned and operated levees increase flood risk and compromise accreditation. (Sec. 171) The Corps of Engineers must report annually on corrosion prevention actions and projects. (Sec. 172) The Corps of Engineers' study to determine the feasibility of projects to restore aquatic ecosystems within the coastal waters of the northeastern United States from Virginia to Maine must be conducted as a comprehensive assessment and management plan. (Sec. 173) The Corps of Engineers may acquire beach fill from nondomestic sources regardless of whether it is available from domestic sources. (Sec. 174) The Corps of Engineers must give priority to flood management projects that have executed project partnership agreements in areas where: (1) there has been loss of life due to flood events, and (2) the President has declared a major disaster or an emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. (Sec. 175) The River and Harbor Act of 1958 is amended to allow the Corps of Engineers to establish, operate, and maintain new or existing watercraft inspection stations (currently, the Corps may only establish such stations) to protect the Columbia River Basin in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington from the spread of aquatic invasive species at Corps-operated and -maintained reservoirs. The Corps must also consult with such states and assist them with rapid response to any Quagga or Zebra mussel infestation. (Sec. 176) The Corps of Engineers must coordinate with Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to assess the recovery of Gulf Coast oyster beds damaged by: (1) Hurricane Katrina in 2005, (2) the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, and (3) floods in 2011 and 2016. (Sec. 177) The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) is amended to make eligible for assistance as a pilot project carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a project of the Corps of Engineers to provide alternative water supplies to reduce aquifer depletion. Any eligible project costs incurred and the value of any integral in-kind contributions made before receipt of such assistance shall be credited toward the 51% of project costs to be provided by sources of funding other than a secured loan. (Sec. 178) The Corps of Engineers must expedite a flood risk management project in Brays Bayou, Texas. (Sec. 179) For initiation of work on a separable element of a water resources development project that has received construction funds in the previous six years: (1) no new start or new investment decision is required, and (2) the work shall be treated as ongoing work. (Sec. 180) The Corps of Engineers must finalize before FY2018 all permit decisions and publish all decision documents related to the construction of, impoundment of water in, and operation of, the Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir Project, including any associated water transmission facilities, by the North Texas Municipal Water District in Fannin County, Texas. (Sec. 181) The Corps of Engineers must ensure appropriate consideration is given to the use of natural and nature-based features in the design, construction, maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of development projects. (Sec. 182) The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 is amended to revise standards for floating cabins with overnight accommodations on Corps of Engineers' waters in the Cumberland River basin. The amended standards may not be construed to authorize the Corps to impose requirements on floating cabins or facilities (including marinas or docks located on such waters) that are different or more stringent than the requirements imposed on all recreational vessels authorized to use such waters. (Sec. 183) The Corps of Engineers must work with state and local officials to establish a no wake zone for vessels in federally marked or maintained Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway navigation channels adjacent to a marina if: (1) documented safety hazards are a direct result of excessive wakes, (2) state law establishes a no wake zone in the channel or adjacent waters, and (3) the no wake zone complies with any Coast Guard recommendations to ensure the safety of vessels and passengers. Towing vessels are exempt from any such no wake zone requirements. (Sec. 184) The Corps of Engineers may carry out small flood control projects under the Flood Control Act of 1948 that are not specifically authorized by Congress, including planning, design, construction, and monitoring of structural and nonstructural technologies to prevent and mitigate flood damages associated with ice jams. (Sec. 185) The Corps of Engineers must review its guidance for consulting with Indian tribes on projects requiring the Corps to approve a permit that may impact tribal cultural or natural resources. The Corps must report on the results of its review, any proposed changes, and its justification if it determines no changes are necessary. (Sec. 186) The Corps of Engineers must develop a structural health monitoring program to assess and improve the condition of Corps infrastructure, including systems and frameworks for: (1) response to floods and earthquakes, (2) pre-disaster mitigation measures, (3) lengthening the useful life of the infrastructure, and (4) identifying risks due to sea level rise. (Sec. 187) The Corps of Engineers must expedite completion of a flood control project for Chicagoland Underflow Plan, Illinois, phase 2. (Sec. 188) The Corps of Engineers must effectuate the release of U.S. interests in certain tracts of land located in Cameron County, Texas, subject to any conditions the Corps may require to protect U.S. interests. The Brownsville Navigation District is responsible for costs associated with the releases. (Sec. 189) The bill makes permanent the Corps of Engineers' authority to use available priority funds (the difference between funds made available for operations and maintenance costs assigned to commercial navigation of harbors under WRDA 1986 each fiscal year and those funds made available for FY2012) for underserved harbors and projects within the Great Lakes Navigation System. (Sec. 190) The Corps of Engineers must transfer the human remains known as Kennewick Man or the Ancient One to the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to dispose of and repatriate the remains through the State Historic Preservation Officer to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, and the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids. The transfer is conditioned on the tribes' agreement on a final burial place in, and custody of the remains by, the state of Washington. (Sec. 191) The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) is amended to revise and reauthorize the EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) for FY2017-FY2021. The EPA must: (1) consult with Great Lakes states and Indian tribes, and solicit input from other nonfederal stakeholders, in selecting GLRI projects; and (2) designate a point person from an appropriate federal partner to coordinate GLRI projects involving harmful algal blooms. GLRI funding is expanded to activities of the Great Lakes National Program Office, including remediation of sediment contamination. The EPA or other federal agencies receiving GLRI funds may make grants to, or enter agreements with, nonfederal entities for planning, research, monitoring, outreach, or implementation of selected projects that support the GLRI and the Great Lakes Water Quality Control Agreement. Projects may be carried out on multiple levels, including locally, without a requirement that the projects be Great Lakes-wide or Great Lakes basin-wide. No funds made available to carry out the GLRI may be used for any water infrastructure activity (other than a green infrastructure project that improves habitat and other ecosystem functions in the Great Lakes) for which financial assistance is received pursuant to WIFIA. The EPA must: (1) review, and revise as appropriate, the GLRI action plan at least every five years; (2) report to the public on progress in implementing the GLRI plan; (3) publish each GLRI project on its website; and (4) provide Congress an annual description of GLRI amounts transferred to participating federal agencies. (Sec. 192) The Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (WRDA 1992) is amended to authorize additional funding for water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects, and assistance for construction, to communities identified under WRDA 1992 in states where the President has declared an emergency under the Stafford Act as a result of the presence of chemical, physical, or biological constituents, including lead or other contaminants in the eligible system, for the repair or replacement of public and private infrastructure. TITLE II--STUDIES (Sec. 201) The Corps of Engineers may conduct feasibility studies for the following navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, ecosystem or environmental restoration, water supply, flood control, and recreation projects: Ouachita-Black Rivers, Arkansas and Louisiana; Cache Creek Settling Basin, California; Coyote Valley Dam, California; Del Rosa Channel, City of San Bernardino, California; Merced County Streams, California; Mission-Zanja Channel, Cities of San Bernardino and Redlands, California; Soboba Indian Reservation, California; Indian River Inlet, Delaware; Lewes Beach, Delaware; Mispillion Complex, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware; Daytona Beach, Florida; Brunswick Harbor, Georgia; Dubuque, Iowa; St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana; Cattaraugus Creek, New York; Cayuga Inlet, Ithaca, New York; Delaware River Basin, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware; Silver Creek, Hanover, New York; Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh Rivers, Pennsylvania; Tioga-Hammond Lake, Pennsylvania; Brazos River, Fort Bend County, Texas; Chacon Creek, City of Laredo, Texas; Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Texas; City of El Paso, Texas; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, Texas; Port of Bay City, Texas; Chincoteague Island, Virginia; and Burley Creek Watershed, Kitsap County, Washington. (Sec. 202) The Corps of Engineers must expedite feasibility studies for, and if a project is justified in a completed report, may proceed directly to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design for, the following flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, hurricane and storm damage risk reduction, and navigation projects: Little Colorado River at Winslow, Navajo County, Arizona; Lower San Joaquin River, California, including Reclamation District 17; Sacramento River Flood Control System, California; Ft. Pierce, Florida; Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers, Iowa; Mississippi River Ship Channel, Louisiana; North Branch Ecorse Creek, Wayne County, Michigan; and Rahway River Basin (Upper Basin), New Jersey. It shall expedite post-authorization change reports for a flood damage reduction and environmental restoration project in Hamilton City, California, and a hurricane and storm damage risk reduction project in New Hanover County, North Carolina. (Sec. 203) The Corps of Engineers must conduct a study to determine the feasibility of modifying projects for flood risk management in Tulsa and West Tulsa, Oklahoma. TITLE III--DEAUTHORIZATIONS AND RELATED PROVISIONS (Sec. 301) This title establishes a process for the Corps of Engineers to seek comment from the public and states regarding an interim deauthorization list from which the Corps must then prepare a final deauthorization list of projects with an aggregate estimated federal cost to complete that is at least $10 billion. The Corps' interim list must identify: (1) each water resources development project authorized for construction before November 8, 2007, for which planning, design, or construction was not initiated before enactment of this bill or for which planning, design, or construction was initiated but no funds were obligated during the current fiscal year or the preceding six fiscal years; and (2) projects identified on a list under WRDA 1986 that have received no obligations during a specified preceding period of years. A project shall not be deauthorized if: (1) Congress disapproves of such project's deauthorization, or (2) a nonfederal interest provides sufficient funds to complete the project or a separable element of the project. (Sec. 302) Specified portions of a navigation project in Valdez, Alaska, and Texas City Ship Channel, Texas City, Texas, shall not be subject to navigation servitude. (Sec. 303) The Corps of Engineers must prioritize updates to water control manuals for control structures in the Los Angeles County Drainage Area in California. (Sec. 304) The bill deauthorizes specified portions of projects for: Sutter Basin, California; Stonington Harbor, Connecticut; Essex River, Massachusetts; and Salt Creek, Graham, Texas. (Sec. 306) Flowage easements are extinguished for portions of Port of Cascade Locks, Oregon. (Sec. 307) Unless local public officials object, portions of the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are declared to be nonnavigable waters of the United States. The declaration of nonnavigability for the Rivercenter portion of the Delaware River (currently, scheduled to expire on November 17, 2018) shall not expire. (Sec. 308) The Corps of Engineers must prioritize the updating of the master plan for the Juniata River and tributaries project in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It must ensure that alternatives for additional recreation access and development are fully assessed and incorporated as a part of the update. The Corps of Engineers may accept from the Trinity River Authority of Texas certain water supply storage space in Joe Pool Lake, Texas. TITLE IV--WATER RESOURCES INFRASTRUCTURE (Sec. 401) This title authorizes and sets forth conditions for: navigation projects in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas; flood risk management projects in California, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas; hurricane and storm damage risk reduction projects in California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina; ecosystem restoration projects in Florida and Washington; flood risk management and ecosystem restoration projects in Illinois and Wisconsin; flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, and recreation projects in California; ecosystem restoration and recreation projects in California and Oregon; a hurricane and storm damage risk reduction and ecosystem restoration project in Louisiana; deauthorizations, modifications, and other projects in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas.",2023-01-11T13:33:00Z, 114-hr-5244,114,hr,5244,Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial Act,Water Resources Development,2016-05-16,2016-07-06,Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.,House,"Rep. Knight, Stephen [R-CA-25]",CA,R,K000387,1,"Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial Act (Sec. 3) This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial at the Dam site in Los Angeles County, California, to honor the victims of the Saint Francis Dam disaster of March 12, 1928. The Memorial shall be managed by the Forest Service. (Sec. 4) USDA shall submit to Congress, by three years after this bill's enactment, recommendations regarding: the planning, design, construction, and long-term management of the Memorial; the proposed boundaries; a visitor center and educational facilities; and ensuring public access to the Memorial. (Sec. 5) The bill establishes the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument on specified National Forest System land administered by USDA in Los Angeles County for the purpose of conserving and enhancing the cultural, archaeological, historical, watershed, educational, and recreational resources and values of the Monument. (Sec. 6) USDA shall develop a management plan for the Monument by four years after this bill's enactment. USDA shall manage the Monument: (1) in a manner that conserves and enhances its cultural and historic resources, and (2) in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. The bill limits the use of motorized vehicles but permits grazing within the Monument. (Sec. 7) No additional funds are authorized to carry out this bill's requirements.",2023-01-11T13:33:02Z, 114-hr-5247,114,hr,5247,California Long-Term Provisions for Water Supply and Short-Term Provisions for Emergency Drought Relief Act,Water Resources Development,2016-05-16,2016-09-30,Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.,House,"Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]",CA,D,G000559,3,"California Long-Term Provisions for Water Supply and Short-Term Provisions for Emergency Drought Relief Act TITLE I--LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS FOR WESTERN STATES SUBJECT TO DROUGHT This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior, within California and other states served by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and also within Alaska and Hawaii, to provide: (1) cost-shared financial assistance and other long-term agreements to nonfederal participants to advance the planning, design, and construction of nonfederal permanent water storage and conveyance facilities, projects for the reclamation and reuse of municipal, industrial, domestic, and agricultural wastewater, naturally impaired ground and surface waters, ground water recharge, and other water management improvement projects; and (2) grants for projects in disadvantaged communities that are unable to meet primary water quality standards or whose local private or public water supply has been lost or severely diminished due to drought conditions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for five years after enactment of this Act, must require California to prioritize state revolving funds allocated under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act to projects that will: (1) provide additional water supplies to areas at risk of having inadequate supplies for public health and safety purposes, or (2) improve resiliency to drought. At California's request, the EPA must authorize 40-year financing for assistance in the case of state loan funds used to buy or refinance the debt obligation of municipalities and intermunicipal and interstate agencies at or below market rates. In Reclamation-served states, Interior may participate in up to: (1) 50% of the total cost of a federally owned surface water storage project upon the request of a state or public agency, or (2) 25% of the total cost of a state-led project involving a ground water or surface water storage facility upon a governor's request. The Department of the Army must carry out up to 15 pilot projects, including at least 6 nonfederal projects, to implement revisions of reservoir water operations manuals and flood control rule curves in states under a gubernatorial drought declaration during water year 2015. Interior must award funding on a competitive basis to water recycling and desalination projects sponsored by certain cities, districts, regional commissions, and facilities. The Water Desalination Act of 1996 is amended to reauthorize through FY2020 water desalination research grants and demonstration programs. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy must develop a strategic plan for future federal investments in desalination. The Reclamation Wastewater and ground water Study and Facilities Act is amended to establish a process for Interior to award grants to nonfederal sponsors for projects that reclaim and reuse: (1) municipal, industrial, domestic, or agricultural wastewater; or (2) impaired ground or surface waters. The EPA may continue the WaterSense Program for the voluntary labeling of products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services that meet EPA water efficiency criteria. Interior may provide secured loans or loan guarantees to private entities, state or local governments, irrigation districts, water users' associations, or other entities that contract with the United States under federal reclamation law to carry out water projects within the 17 western states served by Reclamation, other states where Reclamation is authorized to provide project assistance, Alaska, and Hawaii. Interior may enter a memorandum of understanding with California and up to four additional states to establish a pilot program that designates a state as lead agency for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). TITLE II--LISTED SPECIES AND WILDLIFE This title authorizes appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for: (1) gravel and rearing area additions and habitat restoration to the Sacramento River to benefit Chinook salmon and steelhead trout; (2) real-time operations of Shasta and related Central Valley facilities, temperature modeling, and forecasting to predict impacts to salmon and salmon habitat as a result of water management at Shasta; and (3) salvage systems for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Suisun Marsh (the Delta). It also authorizes appropriations for Interior to conduct a Delta smelt distribution study. The Department of Commerce must implement a pilot program to test an experimental trap and barge program to improve survival of juvenile salmonids emigrating from the San Joaquin watershed though the Delta. Interior and Commerce must expand conservation hatchery programs to enhance, supplement, and rebuild Delta smelt and Endangered Species Act-listed fish species under the smelt biological opinion dated December 15, 2008, and the salmonid biological opinion dated June 4, 2009, for California's Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP). A federal cost share of up to 50% is authorized for the acceleration and completion of water infrastructure and conveyance facilities necessary to achieve full water deliveries to Central Valley wildlife refuges and habitat areas. The National Marine Fisheries Service and California's Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts must conduct a nonnative predator research and pilot fish removal program to study the effects of removing certain nonnative bass and predator fish from the Stanislaus River. Interior must establish pilot projects to implement the Calfed Bay-Delta invasive species control program. TITLE III--CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY DROUGHT RELIEF AND OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must use the best scientific and commercial data available to implement, continuously evaluate, and make appropriate amendments to the reasonable and prudent alternative described in the smelt biological opinion. Interior must collaborate with stakeholders to conduct annual surveys on the science of the Delta to enhance real-time decisionmaking. By not later than March 15, 2021, Interior must complete studies to determine the abundance and distribution of Delta smelt. Interior must: (1) determine potential methods to minimize the effects of CVP and SWP operations on Delta smelt, (2) implement new targeted sampling and monitoring of Delta smelt or provide an explanation if such new sampling and monitoring is not warranted, and (3) use new tracking technologies. Until the California governor declares an end to its drought emergency or September 30, 2017, whichever is later, Interior and Commerce must conduct real-time monitoring of fish species relative to Delta conditions to identify: (1) opportunities to increase water pumping without violating environmental or endangered species laws or biological opinions; and (2) circumstances where it is necessary to decrease water pumping to protect natural origin steelhead, natural origin genetic spring run Chinook, genetic winter run Chinook salmon, or Delta smelt. Temporary procedures are set forth for management of: the Old and Middle River (OMR) to maximize water supplies for the CVP and the SWP, OMR reverse flow rates, and the C.W. "Bill" Jones and the Harvey O. Banks pumping plants. To address emergency drought conditions, Interior and Commerce must approve operations or temporary projects to provide the maximum quantity of water supplies to CVP agricultural, municipal, and industrial contractors, water service or repayment contractors, water rights settlement contractors, exchange and refuge contractors, and SWP contractors. Consistent with biological opinions and subject to environmental law restrictions, Interior and Commerce must: implement a pilot project to test the ability to open the Delta cross-channel gates to the maximum extent practicable; install a deflection barrier at Georgiana Slough and the Delta cross-channel gate; implement turbidity control strategies; adopt inflow-to-export ratios for the increment of increased flow in April and May; issue permits for temporary barriers, operable gates, and water transfer requests; enter an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to study saltcedar biological control efforts to increase water supplies and improve riparian habitats of the Colorado River; and vary averaging periods for Delta export-inflow ratios. During the period when emergency procedures are in effect, federal agencies must: (1) expedite final decisions for newly proposed federal water projects or operations upon the California governor's request, and (2) develop alternative arrangements to comply with NEPA. Interior and Commerce may, during that temporary period, authorize CVP and SWP operations at levels that capture peak flows during storm-related events. TITLE IV--WATER RIGHTS This title sets forth temporary procedures for Interior to confer with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regarding the implementation of this Act and any changes to the smelt or salmonid biological opinions. If the CDFW determines that SWP operations are inconsistent with California law, or requires take authorization in a manner that reduces water supply to the SWP as compared to the supply available under the biological opinions, and as a result the CVP yield is greater than it otherwise would have been, then that additional yield must be made available to SWP contractors to offset the reduced water supply. In cases where it is necessary to reduce CVP water supplies to make additional yield available to the SWP, such reductions must be applied proportionately to uses or contractors benefiting from that increased yield. For existing CVP agricultural water service contractors within the Sacramento River Watershed, this title sets forth temporary water allocation percentages for irrigation purposes in wet, dry, and above or below normal water years. TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS The CVP's service area is expanded to include the Kettleman City Community Services District. Interior shall enter a contract to deliver CVP water to that Kettleman City district for municipal and industrial uses if local supplies or SWP allocations are insufficient. Reclamation must coordinate implementation of projects for additional water storage at the New Melones Reservoir. The U.S. Geological Survey must establish an open water data system to promote voluntary sharing of water data among state, local, and tribal governments, communities, educational institutions, and the private sector. TITLE VI--OFFSETS This title establishes a process for Interior to identify, solicit public comment on, and submit to Congress a list of Reclamation projects to be deauthorized because they are no longer feasible. Reclamation projects that would yield an average of more than 200,000 acre-feet of water per year are exempt from this process. Accelerated Revenue, Repayment, and Surface Water Storage Enhancement Act This Act requires Interior, upon request from a water users association, to convert certain water service contracts between the United States and the water users association to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts. A percentage of the receipts generated from such prepayments is to be deposited in a Reclamation Surface Storage Account established to fund the construction of surface water storage. TITLE VII--DURATION AND EFFECT ON EXISTING OBLIGATIONS This title identifies the temporary provisions of titles III and IV that will expire when the California governor declares an end to its drought emergency or on September 30, 2017, whichever is later.",2023-01-11T13:33:02Z, 114-hr-5223,114,hr,5223,"To deauthorize the Salt Creek project in Graham, Texas.",Water Resources Development,2016-05-13,2016-05-16,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX-19]",TX,R,N000182,0,"This bill deauthorizes the Salt Creek project for flood control, environmental restoration, and recreation in Graham, Texas, authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1999. The non-federal sponsor for the project shall hold the United States harmless from any claim in connection with the project. The U.S Army Corps of Engineers is authorized to transfer any land acquired by the federal government for the project on behalf of the non-federal sponsor that remains in federal ownership after this bill's enactment to the non-federal sponsor. If land that is integral to the project ceases to be owned by the public, all rights to the land and improvements shall revert to the United States, at the Corps' discretion.",2023-01-11T13:33:03Z, 114-hr-5217,114,hr,5217,San Luis Unit Drainage Resolution Act,Water Resources Development,2016-05-12,2016-05-24,Subcommittee Hearings Held.,House,"Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16]",CA,D,C001059,0,"San Luis Unit Drainage Resolution Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to implement the Agreement between the United States and Westlands Water District August 2015 (Westlands Agreement) and the Agreement between Interior and the San Luis Water District, the Panoche Water District, and the Pacheco Water District (Northerly Districts Agreement). The bill amends the San Luis Act (the 1960 statute that authorized Interior to construct the San Luis Unit of the Central Valley Project (CVP), California) to: (1) repeal provisions that include distribution systems and drains as features of such unit, and (2) eliminate requirements for Interior to meet drainage requirements for such unit. Each contractor within the unit that receives water for irrigation shall be responsible for the management of drainage water within its boundaries. Each San Luis Unit Contractor (i.e., the Westlands Water District, San Luis Water District, Panoche Water District, and Pacheco Water District) shall assume all legal responsibility for the management of drainage water within, and shall not discharge drain water outside of, its boundaries. Interior shall: convert each San Luis Unit Contractor's existing long-term or interim renewal water service contract to a repayment contract; make allocation decisions in the CVP consistent with federal law and all decisions of the California State Water Resources Control Board establishing conditions on applicable licenses and permits for the CVP, and enter into a contract with the Navy for the delivery of CVP water to the Lemoore Naval Air Station. The bill suspends each San Luis Unit Contractor's capital repayment obligation and payments under its water service contracts and the April 1, 1965, repayment contract with the United States until the execution of a repayment contract under this bill, after which each contractor shall: (1) receive a specified credit against future operation and maintenance costs payable to the United States, and (2) be relieved of capital repayment obligations under specified water service contracts. CVP construction costs or other capitalized costs allocated to the Westlands Water District after the date of the Westlands Agreement shall be repaid within five years after notification of the allocation of less than $5 million. If the amount allocated is $5 million or greater, such cost shall be repaid as provided by applicable reclamation law. CVP construction costs or other capitalized costs allocated to any of the Northerly San Luis Unit Districts after the date of the Northerly District Agreement shall be repaid as provided by applicable reclamation law. Interior is authorized to provide financial assistance as specified in the Northerly District Agreement, which shall be non-reimbursable. The bill requires Interior to transfer title to specified facilities to the San Luis Unit Contractors upon the execution of the repayment contracts under this bill, consistent with all applicable reclamation policies and procedures. Interior and the San Luis Unit Contractor or other entity acquiring title shall comply with all applicable requirements under federal and California law before facility title is transferred. For any year in which the allocation for south-of-Delta CVP long-term water irrigation service contractors or irrigation repayment contractors is greater than 75%, Interior shall calculate for the Westlands Water District a per acre foot Restoration Fund payment based on a projection that such District would take delivery of the full allocation.",2023-01-11T13:33:03Z, 114-s-2902,114,s,2902,Western Water Supply and Planning Enhancement Act of 2016,Water Resources Development,2016-05-09,2016-09-15,Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 631.,Senate,"Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]",AZ,R,F000444,5,"Western Water Supply and Planning Enhancement Act of 2016 TITLE I--LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS FOR WESTERN STATES SUBJECT TO DROUGHT Subtitle A--Water Supply Improvements (Sec. 101) This bill directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to: (1) submit a report including, for any state in which a county designated by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a drought disaster area during water year 2015 is located, a list of projects operated for flood control in accordance with rules prescribed under the Flood Control Act of 1944; and (2) carry out at least 15 pilot projects, including at least 6 nonfederal projects, to implement revisions of operational documents (water control plans, manuals, diagrams, release schedules, rule curves, operational agreements with nonfederal entities, and environmental documentation) based on the best available science. The Corps of Engineers must report to Congress regarding the components of the forecast-based reservoir operations plan incorporated into an operational document change. (Sec. 102) The Department of the Interior, in cooperation with Wyoming, may amend the Definite Plan Report for the Seedskadee Project authorized under the Colorado River Storage Project Act to provide for the study, design, planning, and construction activities that will enable the use of all active storage capacity of Fontenelle Dam and Reservoir, including the placement of sufficient riprap on the upstream face of the dam to allow such storage capacity to be used for authorized project purposes. Interior may enter into: (1) any contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other agreement that is necessary to carry out such activities; and (2) contracts with Wyoming for division of any additional active capacity made available by the activities. Interior shall enter into a cooperative agreement with Wyoming for planning, design, related preconstruction activities, and construction of any modification of the Fontenelle Dam, which shall specify the responsibilities of Interior and Wyoming regarding: (1) completing the planning and final design of such modification, (2) any environmental and cultural resource compliance activities required for such modification, and (3) the construction of such modification. As a condition of providing additional storage, Wyoming shall provide to Interior funds for any work carried out to do so. (Sec. 103) Interior must: (1) enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for a comprehensive study of the effectiveness and environmental impacts of saltcedar biological and mechanical control efforts on increasing water supplies and improving riparian habitats, and (2) report a feasible plan to implement a tamarisk control plan as described in the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) study entitled ""Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study."" (Sec. 104) Interior must: (1) fund or participate in projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the initial units of Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs to address the effects of historic drought conditions, and (2) report before FY2027 on the effectiveness of such projects. Subtitle B--Protecting Critical Water Supply Watersheds (Sec. 112) Interior (for National Forest System land) and USDA (for public land) must study, develop, and describe only the management activity or the alternative of no action in an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement for a management activity that is developed through a collaborative process, proposed by a resource advisory committee, or covered by a community wildfire protection plan, or that covers an area with a high national fire danger rating, and for which the primary purpose is: to address an insect or disease infestation; to reduce hazardous fuel loads; to control a noxious or invasive weed; to protect a municipal water source; to maintain, enhance, or modify critical habitat to ensure protection from catastrophic disturbances; to increase water yield; or any combination thereof. (Sec. 113) A categorical exclusion to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 shall be available to USDA or Interior to develop and carry out such a management activity on National Forest System land or public land. (Sec. 114) A management activity covered by such a categorical exclusion must be consistent with the land use plan for those lands. Subtitle C--Bureau of Reclamation Transparency Act Bureau of Reclamation Transparency Act (Sec. 124) Interior must submit to Congress, make publicly available, and biennially update an Asset Management Report that describes Reclamation's efforts to maintain in a reliable manner all reserved works (buildings, structures, facilities, or equipment owned by Reclamation for which operations and maintenance are performed by Reclamation employees or through a contract with Reclamation) at Reclamation facilities (infrastructure assets that are owned by Reclamation at each Reclamation-owned project) and to standardize and streamline data reporting and processes across regions and areas for the purpose of maintaining such works. The report must include: (1) a detailed assessment of major repair and rehabilitation needs for all such works; and (2) an itemized list of major repair and rehabilitation needs of individual Reclamation facilities at each Reclamation project, including a budget level cost estimate of appropriations needed to complete each item and an assignment of a categorical rating for each item consistent with existing uniform categorization systems to inform the annual budget process and agency requirements. (Sec. 125) Interior must: (1) coordinate with the nonfederal entities responsible for the operation and maintenance of transferred works (Reclamation facilities at which operations and maintenance are carried out by a nonfederal entity under a formal agreement with Reclamation) in developing reporting requirements for Asset Management Reports regarding major repair and rehabilitation needs for transferred works; and (2) develop and implement a categorical rating system for transferred works. (Sec. 126) The maximum amount of the federal share of the cost of the Central Valley Water Recycling Project otherwise available as of the enactment of this bill is reduced by $2 million. Subtitle D--Water Supply Permitting Act Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act (Sec. 133) This subtitle establishes 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 in certain states on lands administered by Interior or USDA, exclusive of any easement, right-of-way, lease, or any private holding (qualifying projects). Reclamation must: (1) identify any federal agency that may have jurisdiction over a required review upon receipt of an application for a qualifying project; and (2) notify such agency that it has been designated as a cooperating agency unless the agency notifies Reclamation 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 Reclamation. A state in which a qualifying project is being considered may choose to: (1) participate as a cooperating agency; and (2) make subject to the processes of this subtitle 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. (Sec. 134) The principal responsibilities of Reclamation under this subtitle are to: (1) serve as the point of contact for applicants, state agencies, Indian tribes, and others regarding proposed qualifying 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. (Sec. 135) Reclamation must establish project schedules using reasonable time frames submitted by cooperating agencies. Cooperating agencies must also submit to Reclamation environmental review materials and project data in an electronic format. (Sec. 136) Interior may accept and expend funds contributed by a nonfederal public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit of that entity related to a qualifying project. Interior must ensure that all final permit decisions are made publicly available on the Internet. Subtitle E--Bureau of Reclamation Project Streamlining Act Bureau of Reclamation Project Streamlining Act (Sec. 143) This subtitle requires that a surface water or water supply project feasibility study initiated after enactment of this bill shall: (1) result in the completion of a final feasibility report within three years; (2) have a maximum federal cost of $3 million; and (3) ensure that personnel from the local project area, region, and headquarters levels of Reclamation concurrently conduct the required review. It sets forth factors for extending such time line for complex projects. Interior shall, within 90 days after the initiation of a project study: (1) initiate the process for completing reviews, including environmental reviews, required to be completed as part of such study; (2) convene a meeting of federal, tribal, and state agencies required to act; and (3) provide information that will enable required reviews and analyses to be conducted by other agencies in a thorough and timely manner. Interior must: (1) expedite the completion of any ongoing project study initiated before the enactment of this bill; and (2) proceed directly to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design of a project that it determines is justified. Interior must report on the implementation status of the planning process and each project study. (Sec. 144) Interior must: (1) expedite the completion of any ongoing project study initiated before the enactment of this title; and (2) proceed directly to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design of a project that it determines is justified. (Sec. 145) The subtitle sets forth requirements applicable to: (1) project studies initiated after enactment of this bill for which an environmental impact statement is prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); (2) other project studies initiated before enactment for which an environmental review process document is prepared under NEPA; and (3) any project study for the development of a nonfederally owned and operated surface water storage project for which Interior determines there is a demonstrable federal interest and that is located in a river basin where other Reclamation water projects are located, that will create additional water supplies that support Reclamation water projects, or that will become integrated into the operation of Reclamation water projects. Interior shall: annually prepare a list of all such studies that do not have adequate funding for study completion; develop and implement a coordinated environmental review process for the development of such studies; identify early all federal, state, and local government agencies and Indian tribes that may have jurisdiction and that may be required to act, which the federal lead agency shall invite to become participating or cooperating agencies; issue guidance regarding the use of programmatic approaches to carry out the environmental review process; and establish an electronic database and issue reporting requirements to make publicly available the status and progress with respect to compliance with applicable NEPA requirements and other action required for a project study. The subtitle sets forth the authorities and responsibilities of the joint lead agency, which may be a project sponsor, and the federal lead agency in the environmental review process, including: (1) the preparation and use of environmental documents; (2) establishing a plan for coordinating public and agency participation; (3) working with cooperating and participating agencies to identify and resolve issues that could delay process completion or result in the denial of any approval required for the project study; and (4) establishing, upon request, memoranda of agreement with the project sponsor, Indian tribes, and state and local governments to carry out the early coordination activities. A federal lead agency shall serve in that capacity for the entirety of all nonfederal projects that will be integrated into a larger system owned, operated, or administered by Reclamation. Interior, upon determining that a project can be expedited by a nonfederal sponsor and that there is a demonstrable federal interest in expediting the project, shall advance it as a nonfederal project. A federal jurisdictional agency must complete any required approval or decision for the environmental review process on an expeditious basis. If the agency fails to render a decision relating to a project study that requires the preparation of an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, the amount of funds made available to support the office of the head of the agency shall be reduced by specified amounts that must be transferred to the division of the agency charged with rendering the decision. Agencies must notify Congress of the amounts of such transfers and describe the decisions and project studies involved. Interior shall: (1) survey the use by Reclamation of categorical exclusions in projects since 2005 and propose a new categorical exclusion for a category of activities if merited, and (2) establish a program to measure and report on progress made toward improving and expediting the planning and environmental review process. (Sec. 146) Interior must develop and submit annually a Report to Congress on Future Water Project Development that identifies: (1) the costs and benefits of, the nonfederal interests associated with, and the support for project reports, proposed project studies, and proposed modifications to authorized water projects and project studies that are related to Reclamation's missions and authorities, that require specific congressional authorization, that have not been congressionally authorized, that have not been included in any previous annual report, and that, if authorized, could be carried out by Reclamation; and (2) any project study that was expedited under this subtitle. TITLE II--PROTECTING EXISTING WATER RIGHTS Water Rights Protection Act (Sec. 204) This title prohibits USDA or Interior from conditioning or withholding an action to issue, renew, amend, or extend any permit, approval, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement on: the transfer of any state water right to the United States or any other designee; the acquisition of a state water right in the name of the United States; limiting the date, time, quantity, location of diversion or pumping, or place of use of a state water right beyond any applicable limitations under state water law; or the modification of the terms and conditions of groundwater withdrawal, guidance and reporting procedures, and conservation and source protection measures established by a state. (Sec. 205) In developing any rule, policy, directive, or management plan relating to such an action, Interior or USDA: (1) shall recognize the long-standing authority of the states relating to groundwater and coordinate with the states to ensure that any such rule, policy, directive, or management plan is consistent with, and imposes no greater restriction or regulatory requirement than, applicable state groundwater law; and (2) shall not assert any connection between surface and groundwater that is inconsistent with such a connection recognized by state water laws or adversely affect any authority of a state in adjudicating water rights, any definition established by a state with respect to the term ""beneficial use,"" ""priority of water rights,"" or ""terms of use,"" or any other right or obligation of a state established under state law. TITLE III-- COMPLETING AND MAINTAINING RURAL WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE Subtitle A--Irrigation Rehabilitation and Renovation for Indian Tribal Governments and Economies Irrigation Rehabilitation and Renovation for Indian Tribal Governments and Their Economies Act or the IRRIGATE Act Part I--Indian Irrigation Fund (Sec. 311) This part establishes the Indian Irrigation Fund (IIF), from which Interior may make expenditures to carry out this subtitle. (Sec. 312) The Department of the Treasury shall deposit into the IIF for each of FY2017-FY2038 specified amounts of revenues that would otherwise be deposited in the reclamation fund established by the Reclamation Act of 1902. (Sec. 313) The part sets forth requirements for IIF expenditures, investments, and transfers. (Sec. 315) The IIF shall terminate on September 30, 2038, and the unexpended and unobligated balance shall be transferred to the reclamation fund. PART II--Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Certain Indian Irrigation Projects (Sec. 321) Interior shall establish a program to address the deferred maintenance and water storage needs of Indian irrigation projects that: (1) create risks to public or employee safety or natural or cultural resources, and (2) unduly impede the management and efficiency of the Indian irrigation program. Interior shall use or transfer specified amounts in the IIF to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for each of FY2017-FY2038 to carry out maintenance, repair, replacement, and water storage construction activities for Indian irrigation projects in the western United States that are owned by the federal government and managed and operated by the BIA and that have deferred maintenance documented. Such amounts shall not be: (1) subject to reimbursement by the owners of the land served by the Indian irrigation projects; or (2) assessed as debts or liens against the land served by such projects. (Sec. 323) Interior shall submit to Congress: (1) programmatic goals to carry out this part that would enable the completion of repairing, replacing, modernizing, or performing maintenance on projects as expeditiously as possible, facilitate or improve the BIA's ability to carry out its mission in operating a project, ensure that the results of government-to-government consultation with the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the land on which an eligible project is located are addressed, and facilitate the construction of new water storage using nonfederal contributions to address tribal, regional, and watershed-level supply needs; and (2) funding prioritization criteria to serve as a methodology for distributing funds under this part. Such criteria must take into account: the extent to which deferred maintenance of projects threatens public or employee safety or health, natural or cultural resources, or the BIA's ability to operate the project; the methodology of the rehabilitation priority index; the potential economic benefits of the expenditures on job creation and general economic development in the affected tribal communities; and the ability of the qualifying project to address tribal, regional, and watershed level water supply needs. (Sec. 324) Interior shall: (1) complete a study that evaluates options for improving programmatic and project management and performance of irrigation projects managed and operated by the BIA, and (2) submit status reports biennially on progress made and deficiencies remaining regarding addressing the deferred maintenance needs of Indian irrigation projects. (Sec. 325) Before expending funds on an Indian irrigation project under this part, Interior must consult with Indian tribes with jurisdiction over the land and solicit input from landowners served by the project and irrigators from adjacent irrigation districts. (Sec. 326) Interior shall ensure that, for each of FY2017-FY2038, each eligible Indian irrigation project that has critical maintenance needs receives funding. In allocating funding under this bill, Interior: (1) shall give priority to projects serving more than one Indian tribe within an Indian reservation and to projects for which funding has not been made available during the previous 10 years under any other Act of Congress that expressly addresses the deferred maintenance, repair, or replacement needs of such project; and (2) shall not provide more than a specified amount to any individual project during any consecutive 3-year period. Subtitle B--Clean Water for Rural Communities Clean Water for Rural Communities Act (Sec. 334) This subtitle authorizes Interior to carry out water supply projects in Montana and North Dakota entitled: (1) the ""Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System"" in accordance with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water System Feasibility Study, which received funding from Reclamation on September 1, 2010; and (2) the ""Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System"" in accordance with the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System Feasibility Report. Interior shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority (DRWA) and the Central Montana Regional Water Authority to provide federal assistance for the planning, design, and construction of such water systems. The bill sets forth the federal share of such costs and the authorized uses of federal funds, which exclude operation, maintenance, or replacement of the water systems. (Sec. 335) The Western Area Power Administration shall make available to the Dry-Redwater System a quantity of power (up to one and a half megawatt capacity) required to meet the system's pumping and incidental operation requirements between May 1 and October 31 of each year: (1) from the water intake facilities; and (2) through all pumping stations, water treatment facilities, reservoirs, storage tanks, and pipelines up to the point of delivery of water to all storage reservoirs and tanks and each entity that distributes water at retail to individual users. The Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System shall be eligible to receive such power only if it: (1) operates on a nonprofit basis, and (2) is constructed pursuant to Interior's cooperative agreement with DRWA. DRWA shall be responsible for: (1) charges for additional power needed to meet pumping requirements, (2) the costs of nonfederal transmission and distribution system delivery and service arrangements, and (3) funding any upgrades to the transmission system owned by the Western Area Power Administration Basin Electric Power District and the Heartland Consumers Power District required to deliver power to the system. TITLE IV--OFFSET Accelerated Revenue, Repayment, and Surface Water Storage Enhancement Act (Sec. 401) This title requires Interior, upon request from a water users association, to convert certain water service contracts between the United States and the association to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts.",2023-01-11T13:32:55Z, 114-s-2907,114,s,2907,"A bill to amend the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, to strike the termination date for funding for pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead, and for other purposes.",Water Resources Development,2016-05-09,2016-05-17,Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-495.,Senate,"Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]",NV,D,R000146,0,"This bill amends the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 to make permanent the authority of the Department of the Interior to fund pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the initial units of Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs to address the effects of historic drought conditions.",2023-01-11T13:32:55Z, 114-hr-5159,114,hr,5159,Western Water Recycling and Drought Relief Act,Water Resources Development,2016-04-29,2016-05-13,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]",CA,D,M001166,0,"Western Water Recycling and Drought Relief Act This bill amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Department of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of recycled water system facilities in California in cooperation with: the cities of Benicia, Brentwood, Redwood City, Pleasanton, Hayward, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale; the cities of Ceres, Modesto, and Turlock, the Del Puerto Water District, and Stanislaus County; the Dublin San Ramon Services District; the Santa Clara Valley Water District; the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District; the Delta Diablo; the Ironhouse Sanitary District; the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency; the San Jose Water Company; and the West Bay Sanitary District. The bill also authorizes Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of recycled water system facilities in Hawaii in cooperation with Hawaii Water Service Company, Waikoloa. The federal share of each project is limited to 25%. Interior must: (1) enter into individual agreements with the Western Recycled Water Coalition participating agencies to fund such projects (as well as existing projects done in cooperation with the California cities of Palo Alto, Mountain View, Pittsburg, Antioch, Redwood City, and San Jose and the Delta Diablo Sanitation District, the North Coast County Water District, the South County Regional Wastewater Authority, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District); and (2) include in such agreements a provision for the reimbursement of design, planning, and construction costs, but may not provide funds for project operation and maintenance. The bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the recycled water system facilities of: (1) Antioch and the Delta Diablo Sanitation District, and (2) the South County Regional Wastewater Authority and the Santa Clara Valley Water District.",2023-01-11T13:31:30Z, 114-s-2848,114,s,2848,Water Resources Development Act of 2016,Water Resources Development,2016-04-25,2016-09-19,Held at the desk.,Senate,"Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]",OK,R,I000024,83,"Water Resources Development Act of 2016 TITLE I--PROGRAM REFORMS (Sec. 1001) This bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (WRDA 1986) to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide technical assistance to nonfederal interests for feasibility studies of proposed water resources development projects if the nonfederal interest contracts to pay the costs of such assistance. (Sec. 1002) The Corps of Engineers may receive and repay funds from states or political subdivisions for immediate use on authorized water resources development studies or projects (currently, only flood-control projects). The definition of ""state"" for such purposes is expanded to include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, other U.S. territories or possessions, federally recognized Indian tribes, and other native entities. (Sec. 1003) The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA 2014) is amended to allow the Corps of Engineers to accept materials, services, or funds from a nonfederal public entity, a nonprofit entity, or a private entity to repair, restore, replace, or maintain a water resources project if there is a risk of adverse impacts to the functioning of the project. (Under current law, the Corps may accept only materials or services for repairing, restoring, or replacing such a project that has been damaged or destroyed as a result of an emergency.) (Sec. 1004) The Corps of Engineers may partner with nonfederal interests to maintain a project, but nonfederal interest partners are ineligible for reimbursement for their contributed materials, services, or funds. (Sec. 1005) The Corps of Engineers may accept and expend funds provided by nonfederal interests to undertake reviews, inspections, monitoring, and other federal activities related to nonfederal interests carrying out the study, design, or construction of water resources development projects under WRDA 1986. In determining credit or reimbursement, the Corps may include the amount of such funds provided by a nonfederal interest as a cost of the study, design, or construction. (Sec. 1006) The Corps of Engineers' funding of response actions to address human health and environmental threats from military munitions deposited on a beach shall be reimbursed from amounts made available to the Department of Defense Agency responsible for the original release of the munitions. (Sec. 1007) The Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (WRDA 1992) is amended to authorize the Corps of Engineers to allow a nonfederal 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 Corps' jurisdiction to collect user fees for the use of developed recreation sites and facilities, whether developed or constructed by such entity or the Corps. An entity may: (1) use any visitor reservation service that the Corps of Engineers has provided for by contract or interagency agreement to manage fee collections and reservations, subject to the Corps' terms and conditions; and (2) retain the fees collected to pay for operation, maintenance, and management at the recreation site where they were collected. (Sec. 1008) If a person or entity seeks permission from the Corps of Engineers for an occupation, use, or alteration of a harbor or river public works project that also requires review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) or another legal authority, the reviews and approvals shall occur concurrently to the extent practicable. If the Corps is not the lead federal agency for an environmental review, the Corps shall participate as a cooperating agency and use the same documents prepared under NEPA. The Corps of Engineers may accept funds from nonfederal public or private entities to evaluate an alteration, permanent occupation, or use of a work built by the United States. (Sec. 1009) To complete certain environmental infrastructure projects under WRDA 1992 that are already under construction (having received more than $4 million in federal appropriations when those appropriations are greater than 80% of the authorized amount), the bill increases authorized appropriations to allow completion of projects that have made significant progress if the benefits of the federal investment will not be realized without the increase. (Sec. 1010) The Flood Control Act of 1936 is amended to allow the Corps of Engineers to receive funds from nonfederal interests without the current requirement that federal funds be appropriated for a study or project. The Corps may receive funds from nonfederal interests to formulate, review, or revise operational documents for a Corps-owned and -operated reservoir (other than reservoirs in the Upper Missouri River, the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river system, and the Stones River). (Sec. 1011) To analyze the benefits of offshore oil and gas fabrication port navigation projects authorized after November 7, 2007, the recommended plan by the Corps of Engineers must use the value of future energy exploration and production fabrication contracts and the transportation savings that would result from a larger navigation channel under the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005. These requirements also apply to: (1) a project that has undergone an economic benefits update, and (2) ongoing feasibility studies at the request of a nonfederal sponsor. (Sec. 1012) The Corps of Engineers, at a nonfederal interest's request, may review proposals to increase the quantity of available water supplies at federal water resources projects through: (1) modification of a water resources project, (2) modification of how a project is managed, or (3) access to water released from a project. But this section shall not apply to proposals that: (1) reallocate existing water supply or hydropower storage, or (2) reduce water available for any authorized project purpose. If a proposal relates to a federal project that is not owned by the Corps of Engineers, this section applies only to activities under the Corps' authority. The Corps of Engineers must comply with public participation requirements and provide a copy of proposals to federal agencies that own a project, affected states, power marketing administrations, and other entities with project rights or responsibilities. The Corps of Engineers shall not approve a proposal that: (1) is not supported by the federal agency that owns the project, (2) adversely impacts contractual or legal rights, (3) increases costs to other entities, (4) interferes with authorized project purposes, or (5) modifies federal statutory requirements without congressional authorization. The cost of developing, reviewing, and implementing a submitted proposal shall be provided by a nonfederal entity. But if an entity working with a state is authorized to receive Corps of Engineers' assistance in the preparation of a comprehensive plan, the Corps may use those funds to pay 50% of the cost of the entity's proposal review. Special requirements are set forth for operation and maintenance costs relating to the construction of additional water supply storage at a reservoir for use under a water supply storage agreement. Other entities may contribute to the costs of implementing a proposal. The Corps of Engineers may provide technical assistance for a proposal if the nonfederal interest agrees to pay the costs of the assistance. This section shall not apply to Corps of Engineers-owned and -operated reservoirs in the Upper Missouri River, the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river system, or the Stones River. (Sec. 1013) The Corps of Engineers' revolving fund for maintenance and operation of plants and equipment may be used to construct buildings for its New England district headquarters in Bedford, Massachusetts, and its district headquarters in Buffalo, New York. (Sec. 1015) Monitoring plans for ecosystem restoration projects must describe: (1) the types and number of restoration activities, (2) the physical action to be undertaken, (3) the functions and values that will result from the restoration plan, and (4) the contingency plan for taking any corrective actions. The nonfederal sponsor's responsibility for operation and maintenance of a restoration project shall cease 10 years after the Corps of Engineers makes a determination of success. (Sec. 1016) In water resources projects in which a nonfederal interest has entered into a partnership agreement with the Corps of Engineers to receive a credit for the nonfederal interest's in-kind contributions, the maximum amount of credit shall be based on the value of the contributions rather than the cost incurred by the nonfederal sponsor. (Sec. 1017) The Corps of Engineers must develop a structural health monitoring program to assess and improve the condition of Corps infrastructure, including systems and frameworks for: (1) response to floods and earthquakes, (2) pre-disaster mitigation measures, (3) lengthening the useful life of the infrastructure, and (4) identifying risks due to sea level rise. (Sec. 1018) Habitat connectivity protection and restoration measures must be included in programmatic mitigation plans to address potential impacts to ecological resources, fish, and wildlife. The Corps of Engineers may use preconstruction engineering and design funds prior to authorization of project construction to: (1) satisfy mitigation requirements through third-party arrangements, or (2) acquire land interests necessary to meet mitigation requirements. These mitigation responsibilities do not affect the Corps' mitigation responsibilities under other laws. The Corps of Engineers must identify standard measures that reflect the best available scientific information for evaluating habitat connectivity. (Sec. 1019) The categories of ""nonfederal interests"" under the Flood Control Act of 1970 are expanded to include Alaska native villages, regional corporations, or village corporations among the entities that may enter partnership agreements with the Corps of Engineers for implementation or construction of water resources projects. (Sec. 1020) The Corps of Engineers may credit or reimburse discrete segments of projects that function independently in advance of completion of the total project or a project element. If the nonfederal interest receives reimbursement for a discrete segment of a project and fails to complete the entire project, the nonfederal interest must repay the amount of the reimbursement, plus interest. (Sec. 1021) The Corps of Engineers may accept funds from a rail carrier to expedite the evaluation of the rail carrier's permits for a project under the Corps' jurisdiction. (Sec. 1022) The Corps of Engineers' international outreach program is expanded to include informing the United States of technological innovations abroad that could improve any water resources development in the United States, including technology transfers or exchanges. (Under current law, the program is limited to informing the maritime industry and port authorities about innovations that could improve waterborne transportation.) (Sec. 1023) The Corps of Engineers must issue implementation guidance for water resources projects involving wetlands mitigation that impacts the service area of a mitigation bank. The guidance must provide for consideration in water resources development feasibility studies of the entire amount of potential in-kind credits available at mitigation banks and in-lieu fee programs with an approved service area that includes the projected impacts of the project. All potential mitigation bank and in-lieu fee credits that meet such criteria shall be considered reasonable alternatives if the mitigation bank: (1) has an approved mitigation banking instrument, and (2) has completed a functional analysis of the potential credits using the approved Corps-certified habitat assessment model specific to the region. (Sec. 1024) The Corps of Engineers must encourage Corps districts to enter cooperative agreements with youth service and conservation corps for natural resources conservation or recreation management services. (Sec. 1025) The bill increases the Corps of Engineers' annual maximum allotment for debris removal from rivers, harbors, streams, and tributaries. It expands the authorized activities to include: (1) the removal of obstructions located in or adjacent to a federal channel, and (2) the clearing or straightening of channels for recreation. (Sec. 1026) The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report on the shellfish aquaculture industry in the Chesapeake Bay, Gulf Coast states, California, and Washington. (Sec. 1027) The Corps of Engineers is prohibited from removing existing vegetation on levees until revised guidelines are adopted, unless the vegetation presents an unacceptable safety risk. The Corps must explain why it has not met deadlines for revising such guidelines. (Sec. 1028) The Corps of Engineers may cooperate with nonfederal interests working with a group of states, or a consortium of states, in the preparation of comprehensive plans for drainage basins, watersheds, or ecosystems. (Sec. 1029) The Corps of Engineers may give funding priority to projects that restore coastal wetlands that reduce the impact of storm surge. (Sec. 1030) The Corps of Engineers must transfer the human remains known as Kennewick Man or the Ancient One to the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation on the condition that it dispose of and repatriate the remains to the Indian tribes and band referred to in the letter from Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt to Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, dated September 21, 2000. (Sec. 1031) The Corps of Engineers must consider a property's economic or recreational significance or impacts at the national, state, or local level when carrying out a disposition study for a Corps project. (Sec. 1032) The bill makes permanent the Corps of Engineers' authority to apply credit for in-kind contributions provided by a nonfederal interest that are in excess of the required nonfederal cost share for a project toward the required nonfederal cost share for a different water resources development study or project. A nonfederal interest may request that the credit be applied at reasonable intervals prior to completion of the study or project. (Sec. 1033) The Corps of Engineers must issue a decision on requests for contracts for surplus water from Upper Missouri reservoirs within 60 days after receiving a request. If the Corps has not documented the volume of surplus water available, the Corps must identify the outstanding information necessary to make a decision and set a date for the final decision. (Sec. 1034) The bill increases the maximum amount that the Corps of Engineers may expend for small shore and beach restoration and protection projects not specifically authorized by Congress. (Sec. 1035) The Corps of Engineers may operate a fish hatchery to restore a population of threatened or endangered fish species. Nonfederal entities or other federal agencies shall be responsible for all additional costs associated with managing such a fish hatchery that are not authorized as of the enactment of this bill. (Sec. 1036) The first $100,000 of a watershed assessment or feasibility study for a water resources project shall be a federal expense. (Sec. 1037) The River and Harbor Act of 1968 is amended to provide for: (1) feasibility studies to be cost-shared in the same proportion as construction of projects, and (2) reimbursements to nonfederal interests if they expend more than their share of study costs. (Sec. 1038) The title makes permanent a program that demonstrates the benefits of recreation facilities and activities at Corps of Engineers' lakes primarily in Oklahoma. (Sec. 1039) The estimated costs of the Corps of Engineers' water resources projects may affect cost-sharing responsibilities established by law. (Sec. 1040) The Water Resources Development Act of 2000 is amended to make the tribal partnership program permanent and allow the Corps of Engineers to carry out cost-shared design and construction projects under the program. At an Indian tribe's request, the Corps of Engineers must report on the feasibility of a water resources development project or a project for the preservation of cultural and natural resources that will substantially benefit Indian tribes. The first $100,000 of such a study shall be at federal expense. The Corps of Engineers may carry out the design and construction of a feasible tribal partnership project if: (1) the federal share is not more than $10 million, or (2) congressional authorization is obtained for a federal share exceeding $10 million. The Corps of Engineers is prohibited from requiring an Indian tribe to waive its sovereign immunity as a condition to entering into a cost-sharing agreement under the tribal partnership program. The title sets forth the nonfederal cost shares for studies, design and construction, and watershed and river basin assessments under the expanded program. (Sec. 1041) WRDA 1986 is amended to extend the waiver of up to $200,000 for local cost-sharing requirements in U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) to planning assistance and Indian tribes. The waiver applies to comprehensive plans under the Water Resources Development Act of 1974. (Sec. 1042) The Corps of Engineers, with the consent of nonfederal sponsors, may enter into cost-sharing agreements under the Flood Control Act of 1970 to allow local governments in a watershed that has adopted a local or regional water management plan to participate in feasibility studies. (Sec. 1043) The Corps of Engineers' authority to provide nonfederal interests a credit in lieu of a reimbursement for the estimated federal share of a flood damage reduction project under repealed provisions the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (WRDA 1996) is extended to projects for which a written agreement with the Corps for construction was finalized on or before December 31, 2014. (Currently, the credit in lieu of reimbursement is limited to projects that have been constructed by a nonfederal interest before the provisions were repealed on June 10, 2014.) The credit may be applied to other water resources development projects or studies of the nonfederal interest. (Sec. 1044) Study costs incurred before execution of a feasibility cost-sharing agreement for an aquatic ecosystem restoration project under WRDA 1996 shall be federal costs if: (1) the study was initiated before October 1, 2006, and (2) the feasibility cost-sharing agreement was not executed before January 1, 2014. (Sec. 1045) The Corps of Engineers may not collect consideration (money or other thing of value) for easements across water resources development project land for the electric, telephone, or broadband service facilities of nonprofit organizations eligible for financing under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. (Sec. 1046) The Corps of Engineers must contract with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to study the use and performance of innovative materials in Corps projects. (Sec. 1047) The Corps of Engineers must publish a notice of correction removing from inactive project deauthorization lists under WRRDA 2014 any projects for which nonfederal funds have been obligated or expended for construction of integral project elements, regardless of whether the activity is pursuant to an agreement with, expenditure by, or obligation from the Corps. (Sec. 1048) The Corps of Engineers may accept requests and funding from nonfederal entities and federal power marketing agencies to review, and update if appropriate, flood control rule curves and water operations manuals for reservoirs constructed with federal funds and regulated by the Corps for storage in western states with Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) projects in areas: (1) with prolonged droughts, or (2) for which no review has occurred during the previous 10 years. The Corps of Engineers must enter agreements with affected states, reservoir owners or operators, and (if requested) nonfederal entities responsible for operation and maintenance costs before carrying out such activities. This section does not apply to the Boulder Canyon project, initial units of the Colorado River storage project, Reclamation dam or reservoir project facilities operated and maintained by the Department of the Interior (unless requested by all nonfederal project sponsors), Corps of Engineers-owned and -operated dams or reservoirs, or Reclamation project facilities operated and maintained by nonfederal entities under a transfer contract (unless requested by the organization contractually responsible for operation and maintenance). It also sets forth requirements for public participation and the protection of existing rights. (Sec. 1049) States, body politics deriving power from a state constitution, or government entities created by a state legislature may require that their partnership agreements with the Corps of Engineers to construct water resources projects do not obligate future appropriations for performance and payment that would be inconsistent with constitutional or statutory limitations of the state or a local government. (Sec. 1050) The maximum cost of a project must be increased automatically for changes in construction costs applied to unconstructed features based on actual appreciation in relevant real estate markets. The Corps of Engineers may accept in-kind contributions, land, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, and dredged material disposal areas (currently, the Corps may accept only funds) from a nonfederal interest for any authorized water resources development project that has exceeded its maximum cost if the use of such contributions does not increase the federal share of the project cost. But these accepted funds and other contributions are not eligible for credit or repayment and shall not be included in the total cost of the project. (Sec. 1051) The title establishes procedures to continue or make permanent under the Water Supply Act of 1958 certain water supply agreements that were predicated on water that was surplus to a deauthorized purpose and that provided for: (1) contingent permanent storage rights, or (2) complete payment of the actual investment costs of storage to be used in the case of an agreement with a duration of at least 30 years. (Sec. 1052) The title increases authorized funding for the Corps of Engineers to support federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, or foreign governments to address problems of national significance to the United States. (Sec. 1053) For two years after this bill's enactment, the Corps of Engineers shall not charge a fee under a contract entered into pursuant to the Flood Control Act of 1944 for surplus water stored in the Lake Cumberland Watershed of Kentucky and Tennessee. (Sec. 1054) The GAO must report on the implementation and effectiveness of environmental infrastructure projects carried out under WRDA 1992. TITLE II--NAVIGATION (Sec. 2001) Projects authorized to receive funding from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund are exempted temporarily from a process that deauthorizes unconstructed projects for which funds have not been obligated for a specified preceding period of years. The exemption for these inland waterways projects begins on June 10, 2014, and ends 15 years after enactment of this bill. (Sec. 2002) Nonfederal interests may receive credit or reimbursement for carrying out the federal share of flood gate operations and maintenance for hurricane and storm damage reduction projects that cross an inland or intracoastal waterway. (Sec. 2003) If the target total budget resources available to the Corps of Engineers from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) for a fiscal year is lower than the resources for the previous fiscal year, the target shall be adjusted to be the lesser of: (1) 103% of the total appropriated for the previous fiscal year, or (2) 100% of the harbor maintenance taxes received in the previous fiscal year. (Sec. 2004) Disposal of dredged material shall not be considered environmentally acceptable for purposes of identifying the federal standard (the least costly alternative consistent with sound engineering and environmental standards) if it violates state water quality standards approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). (Sec. 2005) The Cape Arundel Disposal Site located southeast of Cape Arundel, Maine, may remain open until five years after enactment of this bill, subject to certain conditions and limitations. (Sec. 2006) The Corps of Engineers may maintain federally authorized harbors of refuge to restore and maintain authorized dimensions. (Sec. 2007) The Corps of Engineers must consult with the Coast Guard and share information regarding assistance that the Corps can provide for the placement of aids to navigation on the Ouachita-Black Rivers. (Sec. 2008) The Corps of Engineers may use sediment from other federal and nonfederal sources, but any nonfederal source sediment must be obtained without federal expense. Federal water resources projects involving the disposal of dredged material may include a single or periodic application of sediment for beneficial use and shall not require operation and maintenance. The Corps may accept funds from a nonfederal interest to dispose of such dredged material for private shores or lands that are ineligible for federal cost sharing. (Sec. 2009) The bill makes permanent: (1) the requirement that the Corps of Engineers allocate for emerging harbor projects at least 10% percent of the funds made available under the HMTF for FY2015 (currently FY2012) to pay the operation and maintenance costs assigned to commercial navigation of all harbors and inland harbors within the United States, and (2) the Corps' authority to provide funds to donor ports and energy transfer ports. (Sec. 2010) The bill revises methods of: (1) allocating payments to donor ports and energy transfer ports through the establishment of a new category of medium-sized donor ports that are eligible for funding if they annually collect between $5 million and $15 million of total HMTF funding (donor ports must currently collect at least $15 million annually to be eligible), and (2) transferring through U.S. Customs and Border Protection payments that ports elect to provide to importers or shippers by specifying that the process applies to discretionary cargo (maritime cargo destined for inland locations that can be economically shipped through multiple seaports located in different countries or regions) that is shipped through eligible ports and most at risk of diversion to seaports outside the United States. The Corps of Engineers must limit payments to top importers or shippers through an eligible port, as ranked by value of discretionary cargo. (Sec. 2011) The bill extends to contracts for physical construction that have not been awarded before enactment of WRRDA 2014 the formula that calculates the harbor deepening costs to be paid by nonfederal interests during construction for harbor or inland harbor navigation projects. For the portion of a project that has a depth in excess of 45 feet but not in excess of 50 feet, the cost to be paid by nonfederal interests is decreased from 50% to 25% of the cost of construction for that portion. (Sec. 2012) The Corps of Engineers must carry out dredging activities on shallow draft ports located on the inland Mississippi River to the authorized widths and depths. (Sec. 2013) The Corps of Engineers must publish guidance for the implementation of WRRDA 2014 provisions concerning maintenance of emerging ports and Great Lakes ports. (Sec. 2014) The Corps of Engineers' justification for a harbor and navigation improvements project may include the long-term viability of a community that is located in the region that is served by, and that will rely on, the project. (Sec. 2015) The Corps of Engineers may permit a nonfederal interest to carry out maintenance activities necessary to ensure that a navigation project is maintained to not less than the minimum project dimensions. Costs incurred by the nonfederal interest are eligible for reimbursement up to the estimated federal cost, but are limited to costs directly related to the performance of work for the federal government and the actual fiscal year appropriations for that portion of maintenance dredging. In carrying out the maintenance activities, the nonfederal interest shall: (1) provide equipment at no cost to the federal government, and (2) hold the United States free from damages that arise from the use of the equipment. This section terminates 10 years after enactment of this bill. (Sec. 2016) The Corps of Engineers' next biennial HMTF report on operations and maintenance costs assigned to commercial navigation of harbors and inland harbors must identify transportation cost savings realized by achieving and maintaining the constructed width and depth for such harbors on a project-by-project basis. This requirement does not apply to subsequent reports. (Sec. 2017) The Corps of Engineers may place dredged material from the operation and maintenance of an authorized federal water resources project at another authorized water resource project if, for a reasonable cost, the placement would: (1) enhance protection from flooding caused by storm surges or sea level rise, or (2) significantly contribute to shoreline resiliency or wetland restoration. The Corps shall not require a nonfederal entity to bear any increased costs associated with the placement of dredged material at another project if it exceeds the cost of depositing the dredged material in accordance with federal regulations. (Sec. 2018) The bill makes permanent the Corps of Engineers' authority to use available priority funds (the difference between funds made available for operations and maintenance costs assigned to commercial navigation of harbors under WRDA 1986 each fiscal year and those funds made available for FY2012) for high- and moderate-use harbor projects and emerging harbor projects, including those within the Great Lakes Navigation System. (Sec. 2019) The Corps of Engineers must allocate funding made available to the Corps from the HMTF in accordance with the criteria and priority percentages under WRDA 1986 concerning expenditures for operation and maintenance of harbor projects. TITLE III--SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS (Sec. 3001) The Corps of Engineers, at a nonfederal sponsor's request, may use the natural disaster emergency fund to repair or restore flood control work, hurricane or shore protective structures, or the depths of federal navigable channels or waterways to an increased pumping capacity or a level of protection above the system design. The nonfederal sponsor must agree to pay the difference between the cost of restoration to the original design level and the cost of achieving the higher level of protection. The Corps must notify nonfederal sponsors of the opportunity to request nonstructural alternatives to restore or protect natural resources (including streams, rivers, floodplains, wetlands, or coasts) if those efforts will reduce flood risk. (Sec. 3002) The bill authorizes a temporary program for the Corps of Engineers to address consolidation, settlement, subsidence, sea level rise, and new data to restore federally authorized hurricane and storm damage reduction projects through cost-share agreements with nonfederal partners. (Sec. 3003) If the Corps of Engineers has assumed (as of the enactment of this bill) responsibility for maintenance of a high risk flood control project, the Corps must continue to be responsible for such maintenance until the project is modified to reduce the risk, or until 15 years after enactment of this bill, whichever is earlier. (Sec. 3004) The National Dam Safety Program Act is amended to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a program to provide technical, planning, design, and construction assistance grants to nonfederal sponsors (subject to a nonfederal cost-sharing requirement of at least 35%) for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams. An ""eligible high hazard potential dam"" is a nonfederal dam that: is located in a state with a state dam safety program, is classified as high hazard potential by the dam safety agency of the state in which the dam is located, has an emergency action plan approved by such agency, and fails to meet minimum state dam safety standards and poses an unacceptable risk to the public. An eligible high hazard potential dam does not include a licensed hydroelectric dam or a dam built under the authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). FEMA shall require a grant recipient to provide an assurance that the owner of the dam has developed and will carry out a plan for maintenance of the dam during its expected life. A grant must be approved by the relevant state dam safety agency. Grant funds shall be allocated to all states from which applications are submitted based on each state's relative number of eligible high hazard potential dams compared to all states. Grant funds may not be used to: rehabilitate a federal dam, perform routine operation or maintenance of a dam, modify a dam to produce hydroelectric power, increase water supply storage capacity, or make any other modification that does not also improve the safety of the dam. The bill sets forth requirements and conditions for nonfederal sponsors to receive such grants, including the demonstration of a floodplain management plan to reduce the impacts of future flood events. (Sec. 3005) The Corps of Engineers must expedite completion of flood damage reduction and flood risk management projects for: Chicagoland Underflow Plan, Illinois, phase 2; Cedar River, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Comite River, Louisiana; and Amite River and Tributaries, Louisiana. (Sec. 3006) Repair costs to correct a seepage problem at a dam in the Cumberland River Basin (for projects for which construction has not yet begun and appropriations have not been made as of this bill's enactment) must be: (1) treated as costs for a dam safety project, and (2) subject to cost-sharing requirements under WRDA 1986. (Sec. 3007) This bill establishes the High-Hazard Indian Dam Safety Deferred Maintenance Fund and the Low-Hazard Indian Dam Safety Deferred Maintenance Fund. The Department of the Treasury must make deposits to these funds at least monthly until the funds are terminated at the end of FY2037. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) must establish a program to address the deferred maintenance needs of Indian dams that create flood risks or other risks to safety, natural resources, or cultural resources and impede the management and efficiency of Indian dams. To be eligible, a dam must be federally owned and included in the BIA's Safety of Dams program. The low hazard fund and high hazard fund must be used to pay for maintenance, repair, and replacement activities for dams classified under guidelines of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as low hazard and significant or high hazard, respectively. The BIA must: (1) develop programmatic goals and prioritization criteria before expending funds; (2) prioritize dams that serve more than one tribe or highly populated Indian communities; (3) consult with landowners served by the dam before expending funds, except in emergencies; and (4) ensure that, each year, every dam in need of critical maintenance receives funding. The Department of the Interior must establish in the BIA the Tribal Safety of Dams Committee to study the modernization of the Indian Dams Safety Act of 1994 and develop recommendations for legislation to improve that Act. The BIA must: (1) request that Indian tribes report on dams on their land at least once every 180 days, and (2) report on each dam under BIA jurisdiction at least once each year. The BIA must establish a flood plain management pilot program to provide, upon request, guidance to Indians tribes on best practices for the mitigation and prevention of floods. The program is funded through the funds for high- and low-hazard dams and is terminated four years after enactment of this bill. (Sec. 3008) The Corps of Engineers may carry out feasible cost-sharing projects with nonfederal entities to rehabilitate nonfederally operated dams classified by states as posing a high hazard potential if the dams were: (1) constructed, in whole or in part, by the Corps for flood control purposes; and (2) completed before 1940. The Corps shall not expend more than $10 million for a project at any single dam. TITLE IV--RIVER BASINS, WATERSHEDS, AND COASTAL AREAS (Sec. 4001) The Corps of Engineers must coordinate with Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to develop a recovery plan for Gulf Coast oyster beds damaged by: (1) Hurricane Katrina in 2005, (2) the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, and (3) floods in 2011 and 2016. (Sec. 4002) The bill: (1) increases funding for ecosystem restoration projects for the lower Columbia River and Tillamook Bay estuaries in Oregon and Washington; (2) allows watercraft inspection stations to be established to protect against aquatic plant growths and invasive species in the Platte and Arkansas river basins and in additional locations of the Columbia River Basin; (3) addresses replacement housing for Indian families displaced by the construction of the Bonneville Dam and the John Day Dam; and (4) requires the Corps of Engineers to determine the feasibility of modifying projects to address safety risks for navigation of Columbia and Lower Willamette Rivers below Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. (Sec. 4003) The Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Department of the Interior, must carry out a pilot program to implement sediment management plans for Corps-owned and -operated reservoirs in the Upper Missouri River Basin, on request by project beneficiaries. The program may also apply to reservoirs managed or owned by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Corps of Engineers shall be the lead agency for soil moisture and snowpack monitoring projects in the Upper Missouri River Basin. (Sec. 4004) The bill increases the portion of the amount of appropriations authorized under the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 for critical ecosystem restoration projects in the area of Puget Sound, Washington, that may be used to carry out a single project. (Sec. 4005) The Corps of Engineers may carry out small flood control pilot projects with Corps laboratories, universities, government agencies, and private organizations to prevent and mitigate flood damages associated with ice jams. Priority must be given to the Upper Missouri River Basin. (Sec. 4006) The bill increases authorized appropriations for alternative or beneficially modified habitats for fish and wildlife, including native oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. (Sec. 4007) The Corps of Engineers' study to determine the feasibility of projects to restore aquatic ecosystems within the coastal waters of the northeastern United States from Virginia to Maine must be developed as a comprehensive assessment and management plan at federal expense. (Sec. 4008) The bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Rio Grande Basin fish and wildlife habitat program in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. (Sec. 4009) The Corps of Engineers must consider information developed by the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District to expedite completion of the coastal Texas ecosystem protection and restoration study. (Sec. 4010) The Corps of Engineers must conduct a study at federal expense to determine the feasibility of projects to address systemic flood damage reduction in the upper Mississippi and Illinois River basins. (Sec. 4011) The pilot designation is removed from California's Salton Sea restoration projects. Additional nonfederal interests may participate in cost sharing for these projects. (Sec. 4012) The list of South Carolina counties with nonfederal interests eligible for assistance with water treatment and distribution projects for Marion and Moultrie Lakes under WRDA 1992 is adjusted to add Berkeley County and remove Sumter County. (Sec. 4013) Corps of Engineers' studies to determine the feasibility of Corps projects in coastal zones to enhance ocean and coastal ecosystem resiliency must prioritize projects in communities whose existence is threatened by rising sea level. An interagency working group must be convened on extreme weather and sea level rise to: (1) coordinate research and federal investments; (2) participate in state authorized studies; and (3) share physical, biological, and socioeconomic data among state organizations. (Sec. 4014) The Corps of Engineers must report on regional assessments of coastal and back bay protection. (Sec. 4015) The Corps of Engineers must study coastal areas within the geographical boundaries of its South Atlantic Division to identify the risks and vulnerabilities to increased hurricane and storm damage as a result of sea level rise. It must: (1) develop a long-term strategy to enhance resiliency, increase sustainability, and lower risks in populated areas, areas of concentrated economic development, and areas with vulnerable environmental resources; and (2) report within four years after enactment of this bill with recommendations to address those risks and vulnerabilities. (Sec. 4016) The Corps of Engineers must study the feasibility of implementing projects for flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, navigation, water supply, recreation, and water resource related purposes within the Kanawha River Basin in West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. (Sec. 4017) In developing projects for coastal risk reduction, the Corps of Engineers must consider: (1) natural features created through physical, geological, biological, and chemical processes over time; (2) human-designed, natural-based features engineered and constructed to protect in concert with natural processes; and (3) nonstructural and structural measures. (Sec. 4018) The Department of Commerce must designate as a resilient waterfront community a unit of local government or Indian tribe that meets specified criteria and is: bound in part by a Great Lake or an ocean or bordered or traversed by a riverfront or an inland lake; self-nominated as a resilient waterfront community; and designated as one by Commerce on the basis of a community-developed plan. In making such a designation for inland lake and riverfront communities, Commerce must work with the Environmental Protection Agency and the heads of other federal agencies as necessary. A resilient waterfront community plan is a community-driven vision and plan developed: voluntarily at the discretion of the community to respond to local needs or take advantage of new water-oriented opportunities; with the leadership of the relevant governmental entity or Indian tribe and the active participation of community residents, utilities, and interested business and nongovernmental stakeholders; in consideration of all applicable state and federal coastal zone management planning; to address economic competitive strengths; and to complement and incorporate the objectives and recommendations of regional economic plans. A resilient waterfront community plan shall consider all, or a portion of, the waterfront area and adjacent land and water to which it is connected ecologically, economically, or through local governmental or tribal boundaries and integrate consideration of: the economic opportunities resulting from water proximity and access and the community's relationship to the water; ecosystem challenges and projections, including extreme weather and water conditions; infrastructure needs and opportunities to facilitate specified strategic and sustainable capital investments; and such other factors that align with metrics or indicators for resiliency, considering environmental and economic changes. After the designation of a resilient waterfront community, its plan may be effective for a 10-year period. Commerce must: (1) develop and maintain a resilient waterfront communities network to facilitate the sharing of best practices among waterfront communities; and (2) recognize such communities formally and publicly to promote tourism, investment, or other benefits. Commerce may use existing authority to support: the development of a resilient waterfront community plan, including planning and feasibility analysis; and the implementation of strategic components after the plan has been approved. A lead nonfederal partner (a local government or Indian tribe) may contract with an eligible nonfederal implementation partner (a nonprofit organization, a public utility, a private entity, an institution of higher education, a state government, or a regional organization) for implementation activities, such as site preparation, environmental review, acquisition of easements or land for uses for green infrastructure, construction of public waterfront or boating amenities and public spaces, and infrastructure upgrades to improve coastal resiliency. In developing a plan, a resilient waterfront community, among other eligible planning activities, may: conduct community visioning and outreach; and collaborate across local agencies and work with regional, state, and federal agencies to identify, understand, and develop responses to changing ecosystem and economic circumstances. Assistance may be furnished to: initiate implementation of a resilient waterfront community plan and facilitate high-quality development, including leveraging local and private sector investment; and address strategic community priorities identified in the plan. The lead nonfederal partner shall ensure that assistance and resources received by it to advance its resilient waterfront community plan and for related activities are used for the purposes of any initiative advanced by Commerce to promote waterfront community revitalization and resiliency. A resilient waterfront community that receives assistance under this bill shall furnish nonfederal funds from entities eligible to be nonfederal implementation partners toward the completion of planning or implementation activities. At regular intervals Commerce must give a list of resilient waterfront communities to the applicable states and the heads of national and regional offices of interested federal agencies. (Sec. 4019) The Corps of Engineers, within two years after enactment of this bill, must finalize a revision of the Table Rock Lake Master Plan and Table Rock Lake Shoreline Management Plan. The moratorium on new or modified shoreline permits based on the existing plan must be suspended until the final revision. The Corps must establish an oversight committee to review permits issued under the existing plan and advise on its revisions. The Corps must also report on and implement revisions to Table Rock Lake permit fees. (Sec. 4020) The Corps of Engineers must expedite its decision on whether to recommend a flood damage reduction project developed by nonfederal interests under repealed provisions of WRDA 1996 for the Pearl River Basin, Mississippi. TITLE V--DEAUTHORIZATIONS (Sec. 5001) This title deauthorizes specified portions of projects for: the Red River below Denison Dam in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas; Sutter Basin, California; Stonington Harbor, Connecticut; Green River and Barren River, Kentucky; Essex River, Massachusetts; Hannibal Small Boat Harbor, Missouri; New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, Georgia and South Carolina; and Salt Creek, Texas. Project modifications are made for navigation of Savannah Harbor, Georgia. Specified portions of the project for navigation in Valdez, Alaska, shall not be subject to navigation servitude. Flowage easements are terminated for portions of Port of Cascade Locks, Oregon. Unless local and regional public officials object, portions of the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are declared to be non-navigable waters of the United States. (Sec. 5002) The Corps of Engineers may: (1) convey property in the area of Pearl River in Mississippi and Louisiana and Sardis Lake in Mississippi, and (2) accept from the Trinity River Authority of Texas certain water supply storage space in Joe Pool Lake, Texas. The Corps must convey Pensacola Dam project interests to Oklahoma's Grand River Dam Authority for flood control purposes. Interior must allow for the prepayment of repayment obligations under a repayment contract between the United States and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. TITLE VI--WATER RESOURCES INFRASTRUCTURE (Sec. 6001) This title authorizes the Corps of Engineers to carry out final feasibility studies for: navigation in Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas; flood risk management in California, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas; hurricane and storm damage risk reduction in California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina; flood risk management and environmental restoration in California, Illinois, and Wisconsin; and environmental restoration in California, Florida, Oregon, and Washington. (Sec. 6002) The Corps of Engineers may carry out project modifications in accordance with recommendations of the Director of Civil Works for certain projects in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas. (Sec. 6003) The Corps of Engineers shall conduct studies to determine the feasibility of carrying out projects or modifying proposals for navigation, flood control, flood protection, flood damage reduction, flood risk management, environmental restoration, ecosystem restoration, environmental dredging, recreation, shoreline protection, sediment management, water conservation or supply, or water quality in: Ouachita-Black Rivers, Arkansas and Louisiana; Cache Creek Basin, California; Coyote Valley Dam, California; Del Rosa Drainage Area, California; Merced County, California; Mission-Zanja Drainage Area, California; Santa Ana River Basin, California; Delaware Bay Coastline, Delaware, and New Jersey-Roosevelt Inlet-Lewes Beach, Delaware; Mispillion Inlet, Conch Bar, Delaware; Daytona Beach flood protection, Florida; Brunswick Harbor, Georgia; Savannah River below Augusta, Georgia; Dubuque, Iowa; Mississippi River Ship Channel, Gulf to Baton Rouge, Louisiana; St. Tammany Parish Government Comprehensive Coastal Master Plan, Louisiana; Cayuga Inlet, Ithaca, New York; Chautauqua County, New York; Delaware River Basin, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware; Cincinnati, Ohio; Tulsa and West Tulsa, Arkansas River, Oklahoma; Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Chacon Creek, Texas; Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Texas; Trinity River and Tributaries, Texas; Chincoteague Island, Virginia; and Burley Creek Watershed, Washington. The Corps must consult with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense when studying the feasibility of Arctic deep draft ports. Such a port may be determined feasible based on its associated national security benefits. (Sec. 6004) The Corps of Engineers must expedite completion of reports, and if justified, proceed directly to project preconstruction, engineering, and design for: a navigation project in St. George Harbor, Alaska, a flood risk management in Rahway River Basin, New Jersey, the Hudson-Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Project, and a navigation project in Mobile Harbor, Alabama. (Sec. 6005) The Senate's procedure for expediting consideration of Corps-recommended water resources development and conservation projects under WRRDA 2014 is extended through 2020. (Sec. 6006) The GAO must submit a study of the methods and performance metrics used by the Corps of Engineers to calculate benefit-to-cost ratios and evaluate construction projects. It must address methods to improve metrics for small and rural geographic areas. (Sec. 6007) The Corps of Engineers, within one year after this bill's enactment, must complete the assessment and inventory required under WRRDA 2014 of Corps-controlled properties not needed for Corps missions. (Sec. 6008) The GAO must report on options for modernizing the Saint Lawrence Seaway for: (1) commerce and economic activity in the Great Lakes region, (2) the domestic manufacturing sector, (3) exports of domestically produced goods, (4) multimodal and global transportation, and (5) tourism. (Sec. 6009) The Corps of Engineers' authority to carry out the flood damage reduction, bank stabilization, and sediment and erosion control project for Yazoo Basin, Mississippi, shall not be limited to watersheds referenced in reports accompanying appropriations bills for previous fiscal years. TITLE VII--SAFE DRINKING WATER AND CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE (Sec. 7002) The bill expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should provide robust funding for the state drinking water treatment revolving loan funds established under the Safe Drinking Water Act and the state water pollution control revolving funds established under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). The bill sets forth congressional findings on the benefits of investment in safe drinking water and clean water, including: (1) the generation of significant federal tax revenue, (2) an increase in employment, and (3) an increase in economic output. Subtitle A--Drinking Water (Sec. 7101) The bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to: (1) make planning, design, and associated preconstruction activities eligible for assistance under state drinking water treatment revolving funds; and (2) allow the use of state revolving loan funds as security for state matching funds for water resources projects. (Sec. 7102) The bill adds the improvement of the sustainability of systems to the priorities under a state intended use plan and requires that greater weight be given to an application for assistance by a community water system if the application includes necessary information, including: (1) a description of utility management best practices, (2) a water conservation plan consistent with EPA guidelines, and (3) approaches to improve the sustainability of the system. (Sec. 7103) The bill revises the funding formula for the administration of state loan funds. (Sec. 7104) The bill makes the implementation of source water protection plans an eligible use of assistance from a state revolving fund. (Sec. 7105) The bill applies requirements under the Brooks Act (qualifications-based selection of architects and engineers) to contracts funded by state revolving funds, if the assistance is for a community with a population of more than 10,000 individuals. (Sec. 7106) The bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to add grant programs to assist: (1) small (less than 10,000 individuals) and disadvantaged communities in complying with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act, with priority given to underserved communities without basic drinking water or wastewater services; and (2) water systems and other entities to reduce lead in drinking water. Funding is authorized for these programs for FY2017-FY2021. (Sec. 7108) The EPA must appoint liaisons for minority, tribal, and low-income communities in each EPA region and identity each regional liaison on the EPA websites. (Sec. 7109) The EPA must: (1) notify the public of exceedances of lead in a public water system if such system or the state does not notify the public of the concentrations of lead found in a monitoring activity; and (2) establish a strategic plan to conduct targeted outreach, education, technical assistance, and risk communication to populations affected by lead in a public water system. (Sec. 7110) The EPA must require electronic submission of available compliance monitoring data on water quality by public water systems and states with primary enforcement responsibility under the Clean Water Act as a condition of receiving funds under such Act. (Sec. 7111) The EPA must establish a voluntary school and child care lead testing grant program. Funding is authorized for such program for FY2017-FY2021. (Sec. 7112) The bill codifies the EPA's WaterSense Program that allows water-efficient products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services to bear a ""WaterSense"" label. (Sec. 7113) The EPA and the Department of Agriculture must: (1) update existing programs in their departments for providing drinking water technical assistance to include information on cost-effective, innovative, and alternative drinking water delivery systems, including systems that are supported by wells; and (2) disseminate information on the cost effectiveness of alternative drinking water delivery systems to communities and nonprofit organization seeking funding for drinking water systems that serve 500 or fewer persons. (Sec. 7114) The bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to: (1) reauthorize through FY2021 the grant program for providing technical assistance to small water systems, (2) require technical assistance for tribal water systems, and (3) require the use of iron and steel products made in the United States for public water system projects. Subtitle B--Clean Water (Sec. 7201) The bill amends the Clean Water Act to: (1) revise and reauthorize through FY2021 the grant program for addressing combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, and stormwater discharges; and (2) establish a technical assistance program for small and medium treatment works. (Sec. 7203) The bill amends the Clean Water Act to provide guidance to communities in developing and implementing effective integrated planning approaches to municipal wastewater and stormwater management. The bill establishes an Office of the Municipal Ombudsman in the EPA to provide: (1) technical assistance to municipalities seeking to comply with the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act; and (2) information to the EPA to ensure that agency policies are implemented by all EPA offices, including regional offices. The EPA must notify communities that they may prepare integrated plans in the context of an administrative order or settlement agreement. (Sec. 7204) The bill amends the Clean Water Act to direct the EPA to ensure that EPA offices promote the integration of green infrastructure into permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance. (Sec. 7205) The bill sets forth criteria for determining the ability of households to pay utility bills (affordability) and the financial capability of a community to make investments to improve water quality or drinking water. The EPA may not use median household income as the sole indicator of affordability for a residential household. (Sec. 7206) The bill amends the Clean Water Act to direct the EPA to carry out an annual survey of sea grasses in the Chesapeake Bay. (Sec. 7207) The EPA must appoint a coordinator to coordinate efforts to address the issue of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes. Subtitle C--Innovative Financing and Promotion of Innovative Technologies (Sec. 7301) The bill amends the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 to grant the Department of the Army discretion in obligating funds for the water infrastructure public-private partnership pilot program. (Sec. 7302) The bill expands the water infrastructure public-private partnership pilot program to include projects to prevent, reduce, or mitigate the effects of drought, including projects that enhance the resilience of drought-stricken watersheds and removes the designation of ""pilot"" from the program name, thus making such program permanent. (Sec. 7303) The bill establishes the Water Infrastructure Investment Trust Fund to finance capitalization grants for the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water State revolving funds. The EPA must: (1) study, and report on, the affordability gap faced by low-income populations in urban and rural areas in obtaining services from clean water and drinking water systems; and (2) analyze options to provide incentives for rate adjustments. (Sec. 7304) The EPA must carry out a grant program to accelerate the development of innovative water technologies that address pressing water challenges, including the improvement of water quality, minimization of contamination of drinking water, and recycling or reuse of water. Grants for such purposes are limited to $5 million per project. The EPA must report annually to Congress on progress in the development of innovative water technologies. (Sec. 7305) The bill revises and reauthorizes the Water Resources Research Act for FY2017-FY2021. The Department of the Army must conduct an evaluation of each Water Resources Research and Technology Institute under the Act at least once every three years and terminate support to an Institute that does not meet quality and effectiveness standards. (Sec. 7306) The bill revises and reauthorizes the Water Desalination Act of 1996 for FY2017-FY2021. (Sec. 7307) The bill requires the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, NOAA, the EPA, and other appropriate federal agencies and and state, local, and tribal governments to jointly develop nonregulatory national drought resilience guidelines relating to drought preparedness planning and investments for communities, water utilities, and other water users and providers. (Sec. 7308) The bill amends the Clean Water Act to: (1) make projects that employ innovative water technologies eligible for additional assistance under a Clean Water State revolving fund; (2) authorize the EPA to provide technical assistance to facilitate and encourage financial assistance for innovative water technologies; and (3) require the EPA to report to Congress on the amount of financial assistance provided by state water pollution control revolving funds to deploy innovative water technologies, the barriers impacting greater use of innovative water technologies, and the cost-saving potential from emerging technologies. (Sec. 7309) The bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to: (1) make projects that employ innovative water technologies eligible for additional assistance under a Drinking Water State revolving fund; (2) authorize the EPA to provide technical assistance to facilitate and encourage financial assistance for the deployment of innovative water technologies; and (3) require the EPA to report to Congress on the amount of financial assistance provided by state loan funds to deploy innovative water technologies, the barriers impacting greater use of innovative water technologies, and the cost-saving potential from emerging technologies. Subtitle D--Drinking Water Disaster Relief and Infrastructure Investments (Sec. 7401) The bill defines ""eligible state"" for purposes of emergency assistance, as a state for which the President has declared an emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act relating to public health threats associated with the presence of lead and other contaminants in a public drinking water supply system. If a community with a public water supply system has received an emergency declaration, that community shall be deemed a disadvantaged community eligible for additional subsidies from Safe Drinking Water Act revolving funds, including forgiveness of loan principal. The EPA may make secured loans under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 to public water supply systems to address lead and other contaminants in drinking water, including repair and replacement of public and private drinking water infrastructure. (Sec. 7402) The bill eliminates caps on additional subsidies available in FY2016 if a federal or state emergency declaration has been issued due to a threat to public health from exposure to lead in a municipal drinking water supply. (Sec. 7403) The Department of Health and Human Services must establish: (1) within the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry or another relevant agency, a lead exposure registry to collect data on the lead exposure of residents of a city exposed to lead contamination in drinking water; and (2) an Advisory Committee to review programs that address lead exposure, identify research needs, best practices, and effective services to communities affected by lead exposure. (Sec. 7404) The bill provides additional funding in FY2017-FY2018 for: (1) the childhood lead poisoning prevention program, (2) the healthy homes initiative of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and (3) the healthy start initiative. (Sec. 7405) The Department of Justice and the EPA Inspector General must report on the status of any ongoing investigations into the federal and state response to the contamination of the drinking water supply in Flint, Michigan. The Government Accountability Office must also review issues relating to the such response and report to Congress on such review. Subtitle E--Report on Groundwater Contamination (Sec. 7502) The Department of the Navy must submit annual reports to Congress on groundwater contamination. Subtitle F--Restoration PART I--GREAT LAKES RESTORATION (Sec. 7611) This bill amends the Clean Water Act to reauthorize the EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for FY2017-FY2021. The Initiative must prioritize and carry out programs and projects for Great Lakes protection and restoration, including: (1) the remediation of toxic substances and areas of concern; (2) the prevention and control of invasive species and their impacts; (3) the protection and restoration of near-shore health and the prevention and mitigation of nonpoint source pollution (water pollution that comes from many diffuse sources, such as pollution on the ground picked up by rain or snow); (4) habitat and wildlife protection and restoration; and (5) accountability, monitoring, evaluation, communication, and partnership activities. Funding made available to implement the Initiative may not be used for any water infrastructure activity (other than a green infrastructure project that improves habitat and other ecosystem functions in the Great Lakes) for which funding is made available under the clean water or drinking water state revolving fund program. Federal agencies must maintain the base level of funding for their Great Lakes activities without regard to funding under the Initiative and identify new activities to support the environmental goals of the Initiative. (Sec. 7612) The bill amends the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 with respect to: (1) the identification, review, and implementation of proposals and regional projects; (2) reporting requirements; and (3) funding. PART II--LAKE TAHOE RESTORATION This bill revises and reauthorizes the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for 10 fiscal years after the bill's enactment. (Sec. 7621) The bill amends the findings and purposes of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act to include relevant findings since its enactment in 2000, including references to the 2011 and 2012 Lake Tahoe Forums and updated levels of support provided by public and private entities to the Lake Tahoe Basin since 1997. (Sec. 7622) The bill adds definitions, including ""Environmental Improvement Program"" as the program adopted by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and ""forest management activity"" to mean: (1) prescribed burning for ecosystem health and hazardous fuels reduction, (2) mechanical and minimum tool treatment, (3) stream environment zone restoration and other watershed and wildlife habitat enhancements, and (4) other activities consistent with practices of the Forest Service. (Sec. 7623) The bill adds additional requirements for the management of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, including by requiring the Forest Service to: coordinate with the EPA and state, local, and private entities, including local fire departments and volunteer groups; conduct forest management activities in the Basin in a manner that helps achieve and maintain the environmental threshold carrying capacities established by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, unless such activities would excessively increase the cost of a program; and establish and monitor post-program ground condition criteria for ground disturbance caused by forest management activities. Subject to valid existing rights, the federal land located in the Basin is withdrawn from: (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. A land conveyance is exempt from the withdrawal if it is carried out under the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act or the Santini-Burton Act. The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit must support the attainment of the environmental threshold carrying capacities established by the Planning Agency. The Forest Service may enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with public and private entities to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, Stream Environment Zone restoration, and similar management activities on federal and nonfederal land within programs in the Basin. (Sec. 7624) The bill mandates and funds priority programs in the Basin, including programs for fire risk reduction and forest management, invasive species management, stormwater management, erosion projects, and for the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Recovery Program. The bill imposes civil penalties up to $1,000 for launching a boat that is not decontaminated to prevent the spread of invasive species. (Sec. 7625) The bill authorizes the Army Civil Works Division to enter into interagency agreements with nonfederal interests in the Basin to provide technical assistance for the Environmental Improvement Program. The Forest Service, the EPA, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in coordination with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the states of California and Nevada, must develop and implement a plan for monitoring, assessment, and research to evaluate the effectiveness of the Environmental Improvement Program. The bill requires reporting on the status of all programs authorized by this bill. The President must submit information as part of the President's annual budget about each federal agency involved in the Environmental Improvement Program. (Sec. 7628) The bill amends the Santini-Burton Act to authorize: (1) a donation from the California Tahoe Conservancy and the California Department of Parks and Recreation to the Forest Service of 1,936 acres of land administered by the Conservancy and 183 acres of land administered by California State Parks; (2) a transfer from the Forest Service to Nevada of 38.68 acres of land known as the Van Sickle Unit USFS Inholding and 92.28 acres of land known as the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park USFS Inholding; and (3) the conveyance of any urban lot within the Lake Tahoe Basin under the administrative jurisdiction of the Forest Service. PART III--LONG ISLAND SOUND RESTORATION (Sec. 7631) This bill amends the Clean Water Act to expand the duties of the Office of Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study to include: (1) a study on environmental impacts on the Long Island Sound watershed; (2) planning initiatives for the Long Island Sound; (3) developing and implementing strategies to increase public education and awareness about the ecological health and water quality conditions of the Long Island Sound; and (4) monitoring of progress toward meeting goals, actions, and schedules of the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Grants in support of the Conservation and Management Plan (other than citizen involvement and education grants) must not exceed 60% (currently 50%) of the cost of research, studies, or work. The bill revises the Offices's biennial reporting requirement with respect to the implementation of the Conservation and Management Plan and requires that reports be made available to the public. The President must submit in the President's annual budget information about the involvement of each federal department and agency in the protection and restoration of the Long Island Sound watershed, including an interagency budget for each department and agency. The EPA must coordinate the actions of all federal departments and agencies that impact water quality in the Long Island Sound watershed to improve the water quality and living resources of the watershed. The bill: (1) extends the Long Island Sound Stewardship Advisory Committee through 2021, and (2) exempts the Advisory Committee from requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. (Sec. 7632) The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 the Office of Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study, the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006, the Long Island Sound Grants, and the Long Island Sound Stewardship grants. PART IV--DELAWARE RIVER BASIN CONSERVATION (Sec. 7643) This bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish a nonregulatory Delaware River Basin restoration program, under which it shall: (1) draw on existing and new 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; (2) adopt a basin-wide strategy that supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities, targets cost-effective projects with measurable results, and maximizes conservation outcomes with no net gain of federal full-time equivalent employees; and (3) establish the voluntary grant and technical assistance programs in accordance with this bill. (Sec. 7644) The USFWS shall: (1) establish the Delaware River Basin restoration grant program to provide competitive matching grants to carry out restoration and protection activities within the basin, and (2) develop criteria to ensure that funded activities accomplish specified purposes and advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the strategy adopted under this bill. The USFWS may contract with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or another organization that offers grant management services. (Sec. 7645) The USFWS shall submit to Congress an annual report on the implementation of this bill, including a description of each project that has received funding. (Sec. 7646) The bill authorizes appropriations for FY2017-FY2022. The USFWS shall use at least 75% of any amount made available for each fiscal year to carry out the grant program and to provide or provide for technical assistance under such program. PART V--COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN RESTORATION (Sec. 7651) The bill amends the Clean Water Act to require the EPA to establish a Columbia River Basin Restoration Program. The program shall consist of a collaborative stakeholder-based program for environmental protection and restoration activities throughout the Columbia River Basin. Under the program, the EPA must: (1) assess trends in water quality, including trends that affect uses of the water of the Columbia River Basin; (2) collect, characterize and assess data on water quality to identify possible causes of environmental problems; (3) provide grants for projects that assist in eliminating or reducing pollution, cleaning up contaminated sites, improving water quality, monitoring, reducing runoff, protecting habitat, or promoting citizen engagement or knowledge; (4) establish a Columbia River Basin Restoration Working Group to recommend, prioritize, and review projects and actions; and (5) establish a voluntary, competitive Columbia River Basin program to provide grants to governmental and private entities for environmental protection and restoration activities throughout the Columbia River Basin. Subtitle G--Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development (Sec. 7701) The EPA must establish a competitive grant program in FY2017-FY2021 to assist the development of innovative activities relating to workforce development in the water utility sector. Subtitle H--Offset (Sec. 7801) The bill prohibits new loan commitments under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program as of October 1, 2020 and thereafter. TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS (Sec. 8001) The bill amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to allow states to submit to the EPA evidence of a permit program or other system for regulation of coal combustion residual units that are located in the state in lieu of a federal regulatory program. The EPA must approve and review such programs from time to time, but not less frequently that once every five years, or on the request of any state. The EPA may use specified authorities to enforce the prohibition against open dumping with respect to a coal combustion residual unit. (Sec. 8002) The bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms, as modified by this section, the: (1) settlement agreement effective August 22, 2016, approved by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation, the state of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and (2) the June 15, 2010, agreement between Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board on an amended water storage contract. The Corps of Engineers must cooperate with Oklahoma to modify the order of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma dated September 11, 2009, to conform to the amended storage contract, settlement agreement, and this section. Obligations relating to future use storage in Sardis Lake in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, are waived, effective January 1, 2050. The bill establishes terms for use of water by members of the tribes who hold an interest in an allotment of tribal land. The tribes must waive specified claims relating to water rights, damages relating to water, and the regulation of water. The bill specifies actions that must be taken before the settlement agreement takes effect, including that the settlement agreement is amended in accordance with this section and executed by the parties involved. If the actions are not taken on or before September 30, 2020, or a later agreed upon date, the settlement agreement is null and void. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma has exclusive jurisdiction for actions regarding the settlement agreement and amended storage contract. (Sec. 8003) The Corps of Engineers must transfer approximately 18.38 acres of land in McIntosh County, Oklahoma to Interior to be held in trust for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, on the condition that the transfer does not interfere with civil works projects. The Corps retains the right to inundate the land with water to carry out civil works projects. Gaming is prohibited on this land. The tribe must pay the fair market value of the land plus costs associated with transfer of the land. (Sec. 8004) The Denali Commission Act of 1998 is amended to reauthorize the Denali Commission (an independent federal agency designed to provide rural and infrastructure development, utilities, job training, and economic support for Alaska) through FY2021. If a vacancy occurs in the position of federal cochairperson of the commission, the Department of Commerce may appoint an interim federal cochairperson to serve until the vacancy is filled. No commission member, other than the federal cochairperson, shall be considered a federal employee. Commission members are subject to a fine or imprisonment for certain conflict of interest violations. (Sec. 8005) The bill amends the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 to authorize the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to allow the use of floating cabins (designed or used for human habitation or occupation but not primarily designed or used for navigation or transportation on water) that are already located on TVA waters if the TVA has authorized the use of recreational vessels and the cabin owners maintain the cabins to reasonable health, safety, and environmental standards. The board may not require removal of such cabins for a specified period after enactment of this bill and must allow continued use of such cabins that meet recreational access requirements. But the TVA may establish regulations to prevent construction of new floating cabins. (Sec. 8006) The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 is amended to provide that the Environmental Protection Agency's oil pollution prevention regulations shall not apply to farm containers that: (1) have an individual or aggregate gallon capacity below specified amounts on a separate parcel, or (2) hold animal feed ingredients approved for livestock by the Food and Drug Administration. (Sec. 8007) The bill provides a concurrent agency review process for permit applications for the mechanized removal of salt cedar from areas that consist of not more than 500 acres. The Corps of Engineers may accept funds from nonfederal entities to conduct a review. (Sec. 8008) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that an equitable proportion of the costs of operation and maintenance of the Nogales sanitation project to be contributed by the city of Nogales, Arizona, should be based on the average daily volume of wastewater originating from the city. The city shall have no obligation to contribute to any capital costs of repairing or upgrading the Nogales sanitation project. The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission shall reimburse the city for, and shall not charge the city after enactment of this bill for, operations and maintenance costs in excess of an equitable proportion of the costs. But the costs reimbursed or a reduction in costs charged shall not exceed $4 million. (Sec. 8009) The bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Pechanga Settlement Agreement, entered into by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, the Rancho California Water District (RCWD), and the United States, except to the extent that the agreement is modified by or conflicts with this section. The bill confirms water rights that must be held in trust by the United States on behalf of the tribe. Members of the tribe with an allotment of trust land (allottees) may lease this land together with any water right. The tribe must enact a Pechanga Water Code that governs the storage, recovery, and use of the water rights, subject to Interior's approval. The tribe and the United States (acting as trustee for the tribe and allottees) must waive all claims to water rights in the Santa Margarita River Watershed, except water rights recognized in the Pechanga Settlement Agreement and this section. The tribe and the United States (acting as trustee for the tribe) waive specified claims against the RCWD. The tribe may waive claims against the United States regarding specified water rights and damages. The waivers in this section are enforceable on the date Interior publishes specified findings regarding deposits, waivers, and approved agreements. If Interior does not publish those findings on or before April 30, 2021, or a later date agreed upon by the tribe and Interior, this section is repealed and related agreements are void. The bill establishes the Pechanga Settlement Fund, which is to be used to carry out this section. Interior is not liable for failing to carry out any obligation or activity under this section if there are insufficient appropriations. (Sec. 8010) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the EPA should receive and expeditiously process tort claims for injury arising out of the Gold King Mine release on August 5, 2015, that discharged contaminated water north of Silverton, Colorado, into Cement Creek while EPA contractors were conducting an investigation to assess mine conditions. The bill establishes procedures for processing eligible response cost claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. The EPA must implement a program for long-term water quality monitoring of rivers contaminated by the Gold King Mine release. (Sec. 8011) The GAO must report within five years after this bill's enactment on: (1) the Columbia River Basin restoration program, and (2) watercraft inspection stations' effectiveness in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species at Corps of Engineers-operated reservoirs. (Sec. 8012) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) state water quality standards that impact the disposal of dredged material should be developed collaboratively, (2) open-water disposal of dredged material should be reduced, and (3) disputes between states related to the disposal of dredged material and the protection of water quality should be resolved in accordance with regional plans and the involvement of regional bodies. (Sec. 8013) Interior is prohibited (for five years after enactment of this bill) from increasing permit fees for cabins or trailers on North Dakota land administered by Reclamation's Dakotas Area Office by more than 33% of the permit fee that was in effect on January 1, 2016. (Sec. 8014) Reclamation must use the same permit renewal process for trailer area permits at Heart Butte Dam and Reservoir (Lake Tschida) as it uses for other permit renewals in other reservoirs in North Dakota administered by its Dakotas Area Office. The bill sets forth: (1) requirements for trailer homes, campers, and recreational vehicles; and (2) procedures for permit transfers, replacement and anchoring of trailer homes, and removal of flooded trailer homes. The United States shall not be liable for flood damage to the personal property of a permittee or for damages arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to a lot to which a permit applies. Any temporary flooding or flood damage to the personal property of a permittee shall not be a taking by the United States. TITLE IX--BLACKFEET WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT ACT Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act (Sec. 9004) This bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the water rights compact between the Blackfeet Tribe and Montana dated April 15, 2009, as modified to be consistent with this title. (Sec. 9005) The Blackfeet Tribe and the Fort Belknap Indian Community must enter into an agreement on their Milk River water rights. The Department of the Interior must approve the agreement if it equitably accommodates the interests of each tribe. Interior may establish terms and conditions for the Milk River water rights if an agreement between the tribes is not approved by a certain date. (Sec. 9006) The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) must enter into at least one water delivery contract with the Blackfeet Tribe for water from the St. Mary River water right delivered through Milk River Project facilities. The tribe has the right to the remaining portion of U.S. St. Mary River water rights after all other rights are satisfied. (Sec. 9007) Interior must conduct studies in cooperation with the Blackfeet Tribe and Montana regarding St. Mary River and Milk River water supplies, rehabilitation of the St. Mary Diversion Dam and Canal, increased storage in Fresno Dam and Reservoir, and use of the Milk River Project. The USBR must review the final project design of the Swiftcurrent Creek Bank Stabilization Project and negotiate with the tribe any changes to the design prior to beginning construction. At the request of the tribe, USBR must enter agreements with the tribe to carry out the project. The tribe must grant the United States easements and rights-of-way for the Milk River Project and other construction described in this title. (Sec. 9008) The USBR is granted exclusive jurisdiction to authorize the development of St. Mary Unit hydroelectric power. The tribe is granted the exclusive right to develop and market such power. Before construction of a hydroelectric power generation project, the tribe must enter into an agreement with the USBR that includes specified provisions. (Sec. 9009) Interior must allocate water stored in Lake Elwell for the tribe. The tribe may use the water or enter into agreements for use of the water. Under an agreement, the water must be used within the Missouri River Basin and no portion of the water may be permanently alienated. (Sec. 9010) The USBR must carry out: (1) deferred maintenance related to the Blackfeet Irrigation Project; (2) dam safety improvements for Four Horns Dam; and (3) rehabilitation and enhancement of the Four Horns Feeder Canal, Dam, and Reservoir. Ownership of Birch Creek water delivery facilities is transferred to the tribe. (Sec. 9011) In accordance with agreements with the tribe, the USBR must construct: (1) the water diversion and delivery features of the Blackfeet Regional Water System; (2) facilities to store water and support irrigation on the tribe’s reservation; and (3) construction described in the report “Blackfeet Water Storage, Development, and Project Report,” dated March 13, 2013. Ownership of these facilities is granted to the tribe, except ownership of the Birch Creek Unit of the Blackfeet Indian Irrigation Project. (Sec. 9014) Land within the tribe’s reservation acquired by the tribe or by the United States must be held in trust for the tribe. (Sec. 9015) Tribal water rights are ratified, confirmed, declared to be valid, and held in trust. Members of the tribe with an allotment of trust land (allottees) are entitled to water for irrigation, which must be satisfied from the tribal water rights. The tribe may allocate, distribute, and lease tribal water rights for off-reservation use, subject to Interior approval. The tribe must establish a tribal water code, subject to Interior approval. The tribe may not permanently alienate any portion of its tribal water rights. (Sec. 9016) The bill establishes the Blackfeet Settlement Trust Fund. Interior must make specified deposits to the fund. The tribe may make withdrawals from the fund in accordance with this title and a tribal management plan or expenditure plan that has been approved by Interior. (Sec. 9017) The bill establishes the Blackfeet Water Settlement Implementation Fund for use by Interior to carry out this title. (Sec. 9019) The instream flow water rights of the tribe within the Lewis and Clark National Forest and Glacier National Park are confirmed as described in “Stipulation to Address Claims by and for the Benefit of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe to Water Rights in the Lewis & Clark National Forest and Glacier National Park.” (Sec. 9020) The tribe and the United States (acting as trustee for the tribe) must waive all claims to water rights in Montana, except water rights recognized in the compact and this title. The United States, acting as trustee for allottees, must waive all claims to water rights within the tribe’s reservation, except water rights recognized in the compact and this title. The tribe must: (1) waive claims against the United States regarding specified water rights, land, and facilities; and (2) withdraw objections to U.S. water rights claims for the benefit of the Milk River Project. The waivers in this title are enforceable on the date Interior publishes specified findings regarding appropriations, waivers, and approved agreements. If Interior does not publish those findings on or before January 21, 2025, or a later date agreed upon by the tribe and Interior, the provisions of this title expire and related actions and agreements are void. If appropriations are not made on or before January 21, 2026, the waivers expire and the United States’ approval of the compact is no longer effective. (Sec. 9024) The United States is not liable for failing to carry out any obligation or activity under this title if there are insufficient appropriations.",2023-01-11T13:32:41Z, 114-s-2835,114,s,2835,"A bill to amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to establish a program to provide grant assistance for the rehabilitation and repair of high hazard potential dams, and for other purposes.",Water Resources Development,2016-04-21,2016-04-21,Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2389-2390),Senate,"Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]",RI,D,R000122,6,"This bill amends the National Dam Safety Program Act to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a program to provide technical, planning, design, and construction assistance grants to non-federal sponsors for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams. The bill defines an "eligible high hazard potential dam" as a non-federal dam that: is classified as high hazard potential by the dam safety agency of the state in which the dam is located; has an emergency action plan approved by such agency; and fails to meet minimum state dam safety standards and poses an unacceptable risk to the public. An eligible high hazard potential dam does not include a licensed hydroelectric dam or a dam built under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture. FEMA shall require a grant recipient to provide an assurance that the owner of the dam has developed and will carry out a plan for maintenance of the dam during its expected life. A grant must be approved by the relevant state dam safety agency. Grant funds shall be allocated to all states from which applications are submitted based on each state's relative number of eligible high hazard potential dams compared to all states. Grant funds may not be used to: rehabilitate a federal dam, perform routine operation or maintenance of a dam, modify a dam to produce hydroelectric power, increase water supply storage capacity, or make any other modification that does not also improve the safety of the dam.",2023-01-11T13:33:08Z, 114-hr-4862,114,hr,4862,Sustainable Water Supplies Act,Water Resources Development,2016-03-23,2016-03-28,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]",CA,D,D000623,1,"Sustainable Water Supplies Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior: (1) in order to determine the feasibility of agreements for long-term use of existing or expanded non-federal storage and conveyance facilities to augment federal water supply, ecosystem, and operational flexibility benefits, to enter into cooperative agreements with non-federal entities to provide replacement water supplies for drought relief for Central Valley Project contractors, units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, state wildlife areas, and private wetland areas; and (2) complete a report (to be made available to the Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System and Central Valley Project contractors) on the feasibility of such agreements within two years of this Act's enactment. Such agreements must: (1) include the purchase of storage capacity in non-federal facilities from willing sellers; and (2) provide reimbursement for the temporary use of available capacity in existing above-ground, off-stream storage, and associated conveyance facilities owned by local water agencies.",2023-01-11T13:31:49Z, 114-hr-4686,114,hr,4686,Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III Act,Water Resources Development,2016-03-03,2016-03-08,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Reichert, David G. [R-WA-8]",WA,R,R000578,1,"Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III Act This bill expands the purposes of the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program to include: protection, mitigation, and enhancement of fish and wildlife and the recovery and maintenance of self-sustaining harvestable populations of fish and other aquatic life, both anadromous and resident species, in the Yakima River Basin; improving the reliability of municipal, industrial, and domestic water supply and use purposes, especially during drought years; implementation of the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan to realize water savings of not less than 85,000 acre feet; encouraging an increase in the use of water transfers, leasing, markets, and other voluntary transactions among public and private entities to enhance water management in the Yakima River Basin; improving the resilience of the ecosystems, economies, and communities in the Basin as they face drought and other changes; and authorizing and implementing the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan as Phase III of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project. The bill directs the Conservation Advisory Group to provide recommendations to advance the purposes and programs of the Yakima River Basin Enhancement Project. Water acquisition efforts may continue as needed to provide water to be used by the Yakima Project Manager for instream flow purposes and to allow voluntary water acquisitions to provide improved instream flows for anadromous and resident fish and other aquatic life. The bill modifies authorities for Yakima Basin Water Projects, including for the development of additional storage capacity at Lake Cle Elum and the enhancement of water supplies for Yakima Basin Tributaries. The Yakima Indian Nation is redesignated as the Yakama Nation. The Department of the Interior may conduct studies to evaluate measures to further Yakima Project purposes on tributaries to the Yakima River. The bill directs Interior to: implement the Integrated Plan as Phase III of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, subject to feasibility studies, environmental reviews, cost-benefit analyses, and available appropriations; implement an initial development phase of the Integrated Plan and develop plans for the intermediate and final development phases of the Integrated Plan; complete upstream and downstream fish passage facilities at Cle Elum Reservoir and another Yakima Project reservoir; negotiate long-term agreements for a pump plan and associated facilities to access and deliver inactive storage at Kachess Reservoir and a conveyance system to allow water transfers from Keechelus Reservoir to Kachess Reservoir ("K to K Pipeline"); participate in, provide funding for, and accept non-federal financing for water conservation projects intended to conserve 85,000 acre feet of water and for aquifer storage and recovery projects; conduct studies, feasibility analyses and environmental reviews of fish passage, water supply, conservation, habitat restoration projects, and other alternatives for the initial and future phases of the Integrated Plan; coordinate with and assist the state of Washington in implementing a robust water market to enhance water management in the Yakima River Basin; enter into cooperative agreements with, or make grants to, the Yakama Nation, the state of Washington, or other entities subject to a 50% non-federal cost-sharing requirement; and retain authority and discretion over the management of project supplies to optimize operational use and flexibility to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and treaty rights of the Yakama Nation. Interior, in conjunction with the state of Washington and in consultation with the Yakama Nation, must report, not later than five years after enactment of this bill, on the development and implementation of the Integrated Plan.",2023-01-11T13:31:55Z, 114-hr-4667,114,hr,4667,"To direct the Secretary of the Army to expedite the completion of repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike, Florida, and for other purposes.",Water Resources Development,2016-03-02,2016-03-03,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Clawson, Curt [R-FL-19]",FL,R,C001102,25,"This bill directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, after completion of the study of the Herbert Hoover Dike, Florida, known as the Herbert Hoover Dike Dam Safety Modification Study, to: (1) carry out, without any further congressional authorization, the projects recommended as part the study; and (2) complete such projects by December 31, 2020. Appropriations in the amount of $800 million are made to carry out this bill.",2023-01-11T13:31:56Z, 114-s-2616,114,s,2616,"A bill to modify certain cost-sharing and revenue provisions relating to the Arkansas Valley Conduit, Colorado.",Water Resources Development,2016-03-02,2016-09-15,Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 630.,Senate,"Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]",CO,R,G000562,1,"(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) (Sec. 1) This bill revises cost-sharing under the contract for construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit, Colorado, to require that payment be made in an amount equal to 35% of the funds appropriated for (currently, 35% of the cost of) the Conduit that is comprised of revenue generated by payments pursuant to a repayment contract, and of revenue that may be derived from contracts for the use of Fryingpan-Arkansas project excess capacity or exchange contracts using project facilities. The bill requires that any revenue that may be derived from contracts for the use of project excess capacity or exchange contracts using project facilities be credited towards payment of the actual cost of the Ruedi Dam and Reservoir, the Fountain Valley Pipeline, and the South Outlet Works at Pueblo Dam and Reservoir until those costs, plus interest, have been fully repaid (currently, until the date the payments for the Conduit begin). All such revenue shall be available to the Department of the Interior: for the payment of costs associated with the construction of the Conduit; for the payment to the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District of amounts needed for the District to repay the principal and interest on loans obtained from agencies of Colorado for construction of the Conduit; and to be credited towards repayment of the funds appropriated for (currently, towards payment of the actual costs of) the Conduit, plus interest. Interior shall enter into one or more agreements with the District that specify the distribution of such revenue for such uses.",2023-01-11T13:31:47Z, 114-hr-4610,114,hr,4610,To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in a series of water reclamation projects to provide a new water supply to communities previously impacted by perchlorate contamination plumes.,Water Resources Development,2016-02-24,2016-02-25,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Knight, Stephen [R-CA-25]",CA,R,K000387,0,"This bill amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in projects to benefit eligible communities through projects to: capture and treat wastewater and to distribute recycled water from a new mixed-use development that cannot otherwise be economically provided recycled water from one or more existing water reclamation plants and recycled water distribution systems; adjust or forego a portion of facility capacity or connection fees otherwise paid by the property owner to a regional water agency that imports out-of-basin water supplies; and/or extend local recycled water distribution systems to properties adjacent to new mixed-use development. The bill defines ""eligible communities"" as communities: in a state under a drought emergency declared by the governor, where water retailers have been directed by a state water resources control board to reduce consumption or use of potable water usage by 24% to 32%, and whose sanitation district has been directed by a regional water quality control board to reduce the discharge of chloride to comply with basin water quality standards. The Department of the Interior shall give priority to projects that: will serve a region that has received federal authorization for projects associated with perchlorate remediation programs under the Bureau of Reclamation or the Army Corps of Engineers, will serve or are located in a region that has completed feasibility studies for perchlorate remediation efforts, and/or will serve a region where the regional water agency that imports out-of-basin water supplies has a wholesale area that includes a population of between 200,000 and 350,000. The federal share of the cost of such a project shall not exceed 25% of the total cost.",2023-01-11T13:32:05Z, 114-s-2533,114,s,2533,California Long-Term Provisions for Water Supply and Short-Term Provisions for Emergency Drought Relief Act,Water Resources Development,2016-02-10,2016-05-17,Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-495.,Senate,"Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]",CA,D,F000062,0,"California Long-Term Provisions for Water Supply and Short-Term Provisions for Emergency Drought Relief Act TITLE I--LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS FOR WESTERN STATES SUBJECT TO DROUGHT This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior, within California and other states served by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and also within Alaska and Hawaii, to provide: (1) cost-shared financial assistance and other long-term agreements to nonfederal participants to advance the planning, design, and construction of nonfederal permanent water storage and conveyance facilities, projects for the reclamation and reuse of municipal, industrial, domestic, and agricultural wastewater, naturally impaired ground and surface waters, groundwater recharge, and other water management improvement projects; and (2) grants for projects in disadvantaged communities that are unable to meet primary water quality standards or whose local private or public water supply has been lost or severely diminished due to drought conditions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for five years after enactment of this Act, must require California to prioritize state revolving funds allocated under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act to projects that will: (1) provide additional water supplies to areas at risk of having inadequate supplies for public health and safety purposes, or (2) improve resiliency to drought. At California's request, the EPA must authorize 40-year financing for assistance in the case of state loan funds used to buy or refinance the debt obligation of municipalities and intermunicipal and interstate agencies at or below market rates. In Reclamation-served states, Interior may participate in up to: (1) 50% of the total cost of a federally owned surface water storage project upon the request of a state or public agency, or (2) 25% of the total cost of a state-led project involving a groundwater or surface water storage facility upon a governor's request. The Department of the Army must carry out up to 15 pilot projects, including at least 6 nonfederal projects, to implement revisions of reservoir water operations manuals and flood control rule curves in states under a gubernatorial drought declaration during water year 2015. Interior must award funding on a competitive basis to water recycling and desalination projects sponsored by certain cities, districts, regional commissions, and facilities. The Water Desalination Act of 1996 is amended to reauthorize through FY2020 water desalination research grants and demonstration programs. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy must develop a strategic plan for future federal investments in desalination. The Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act is amended to establish a process for Interior to award grants to nonfederal sponsors for projects that reclaim and reuse: (1) municipal, industrial, domestic, or agricultural wastewater; or (2) impaired ground or surface waters. The EPA may continue the WaterSense Program for the voluntary labeling of products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services that meet EPA water efficiency criteria. Interior may provide secured loans or loan guarantees to private entities, state or local governments, irrigation districts, water users' associations, or other entities that contract with the United States under federal reclamation law to carry out water projects within the 17 western states served by Reclamation, other states where Reclamation is authorized to provide project assistance, Alaska, and Hawaii. Interior may enter a memorandum of understanding with California and up to four additional states to establish a pilot program that designates a state as lead agency for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). TITLE II--LISTED SPECIES AND WILDLIFE This title authorizes appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for: (1) gravel and rearing area additions and habitat restoration to the Sacramento River to benefit Chinook salmon and steelhead trout; (2) real-time operations of Shasta and related Central Valley facilities, temperature modeling, and forecasting to predict impacts to salmon and salmon habitat as a result of water management at Shasta; and (3) salvage systems for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Suisun Marsh (the Delta). It also authorizes appropriations for Interior to conduct a Delta smelt distribution study. The Department of Commerce must implement a pilot program to test an experimental trap and barge program to improve survival of juvenile salmonids emigrating from the San Joaquin watershed though the Delta. Interior and Commerce must expand conservation hatchery programs to enhance, supplement, and rebuild Delta smelt and Endangered Species Act-listed fish species under the smelt biological opinion dated December 15, 2008, and the salmonid biological opinion dated June 4, 2009, for California's Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP). A federal cost share of up to 50% is authorized for the acceleration and completion of water infrastructure and conveyance facilities necessary to achieve full water deliveries to Central Valley wildlife refuges and habitat areas. The National Marine Fisheries Service and California's Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts must conduct a nonnative predator research and pilot fish removal program to study the effects of removing certain nonnative bass and predator fish from the Stanislaus River. Interior must establish pilot projects to implement the Calfed Bay-Delta invasive species control program. TITLE III--CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY DROUGHT RELIEF AND OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must use the best scientific and commercial data available to implement, continuously evaluate, and make appropriate amendments to the reasonable and prudent alternative described in the smelt biological opinion. Interior must collaborate with stakeholders to conduct annual surveys on the science of the Delta to enhance real-time decisionmaking. By not later than March 15, 2021, Interior must complete studies to determine the abundance and distribution of Delta smelt. Interior must: (1) determine potential methods to minimize the effects of CVP and SWP operations on Delta smelt, (2) implement new targeted sampling and monitoring of Delta smelt or provide an explanation if such new sampling and monitoring is not warranted, and (3) use new tracking technologies. Until the California governor declares an end to its drought emergency or September 30, 2017, whichever is later, Interior and Commerce must conduct real-time monitoring of fish species relative to Delta conditions to identify: (1) opportunities to increase water pumping without violating environmental or endangered species laws or biological opinions; and (2) circumstances where it is necessary to decrease water pumping to protect natural origin steelhead, natural origin genetic spring run Chinook, genetic winter run Chinook salmon, or Delta smelt. Temporary procedures are set forth for management of: the Old and Middle River (OMR) to maximize water supplies for the CVP and the SWP, OMR reverse flow rates, and the C.W. "Bill" Jones and the Harvey O. Banks pumping plants. To address emergency drought conditions, Interior and Commerce must approve operations or temporary projects to provide the maximum quantity of water supplies to CVP agricultural, municipal, and industrial contractors, water service or repayment contractors, water rights settlement contractors, exchange and refuge contractors, and SWP contractors. Consistent with biological opinions and subject to environmental law restrictions, Interior and Commerce must: implement a pilot project to test the ability to open the Delta cross-channel gates to the maximum extent practicable; install a deflection barrier at Georgiana Slough and the Delta cross-channel gate; implement turbidity control strategies; adopt inflow-to-export ratios for the increment of increased flow in April and May; issue permits for temporary barriers, operable gates, and water transfer requests; enter an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to study saltcedar biological control efforts to increase water supplies and improve riparian habitats of the Colorado River; and vary averaging periods for Delta export-inflow ratios. During the period when emergency procedures are in effect, federal agencies must: (1) expedite final decisions for newly proposed federal water projects or operations upon the California governor's request, and (2) develop alternative arrangements to comply with NEPA. Interior and Commerce may, during that temporary period, authorize CVP and SWP operations at levels that capture peak flows during storm-related events. TITLE IV--WATER RIGHTS This title sets forth temporary procedures for Interior to confer with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regarding the implementation of this Act and any changes to the smelt or salmonid biological opinions. If the CDFW determines that SWP operations are inconsistent with California law, or requires take authorization in a manner that reduces water supply to the SWP as compared to the supply available under the biological opinions, and as a result the CVP yield is greater than it otherwise would have been, then that additional yield must be made available to SWP contractors to offset the reduced water supply. In cases where it is necessary to reduce CVP water supplies to make additional yield available to the SWP, such reductions must be applied proportionately to uses or contractors benefiting from that increased yield. For existing CVP agricultural water service contractors within the Sacramento River Watershed, this title sets forth temporary water allocation percentages for irrigation purposes in wet, dry, and above or below normal water years. TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS The CVP's service area is expanded to include the Kettleman City Community Services District. Interior shall enter a contract to deliver CVP water to that Kettleman City district for municipal and industrial uses if local supplies or SWP allocations are insufficient. Reclamation must coordinate implementation of projects for additional water storage at the New Melones Reservoir. The U.S. Geological Survey must establish an open water data system to promote voluntary sharing of water data among state, local, and tribal governments, communities, educational institutions, and the private sector. TITLE VI--OFFSETS This title establishes a process for Interior to identify, solicit public comment on, and submit to Congress a list of Reclamation projects to be deauthorized because they are no longer feasible. Reclamation projects that would yield an average of more than 200,000 acre-feet of water per year are exempt from this process. Accelerated Revenue, Repayment, and Surface Water Storage Enhancement Act This Act requires Interior, upon request from a water users association, to convert certain water service contracts between the United States and the water users association to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts. A percentage of the receipts generated from such prepayments is to be deposited in a Reclamation Surface Storage Account established to fund the construction of surface water storage. TITLE VII--DURATION AND EFFECT ON EXISTING OBLIGATIONS This title identifies the temporary provisions of titles III and IV that will expire when the California governor declares an end to its drought emergency or on September 30, 2017, whichever is later.",2023-01-11T13:32:00Z, 114-hr-4497,114,hr,4497,Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2016,Water Resources Development,2016-02-08,2016-02-10,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]",VA,R,W000804,4,"Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2016 This bill amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to: (1) declare that additional research is required into increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of new and existing treatment works through alternative approaches, including non-structural alternatives, decentralized approaches, energy use efficiency, water use efficiency, and actions to extract energy from wastewater; (2) require each water resources research and technology institute to arrange for research that fosters the exploration of new ideas that expand understanding of water resources (currently, of water-related phenomena); (3) direct the Department of the Interior to report to specified congressional committees annually on each institute's compliance with matching fund requirements and provisions permitting the use of funds only to reimburse direct cost expenditures incurred for the conduct of the water resources research program; and (4) authorize appropriations for such institutes through FY2022.",2023-01-11T13:32:09Z, 114-hr-4466,114,hr,4466,North Texas Reservoir Approval Act,Water Resources Development,2016-02-04,2016-02-05,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3]",TX,R,J000174,2,"North Texas Reservoir Approval Act This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to exempt the construction of, impoundment of water in, and operation of the Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir Project by the North Texas Municipal Water District in Fannin County, Texas. Thus, the district would not need to obtain a permit for the discharge of dredged or fill materials into waters of the United States with respect to the construction of the dam, the flooding of the area for the reservoir, and the operation of that reservoir project, including any associated water transmission facilities.",2023-01-11T13:32:10Z, 114-s-2488,114,s,2488,Wichita Project Equus Beds Division Authorization Extension Act,Water Resources Development,2016-02-03,2016-02-03,Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.,Senate,"Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]",KS,R,M000934,1,"Wichita Project Equus Beds Division Authorization Extension Act This bill amends the Wichita Project Equus Beds Division Authorization Act of 2005 to extend for ten years the authority of the Department of the Interior to carry out the Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Project, Kansas.",2023-01-11T13:32:02Z, 114-hr-4436,114,hr,4436,Everglades for the Next Generation Act,Water Resources Development,2016-02-02,2016-02-03,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]",FL,D,H000324,6,"Everglades for the Next Generation Act This bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to authorize the Department of the Army, after completing an implementation report prepared for a project under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and without any further congressional authorization, to carry out: (1) any 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 Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, provided that the report is completed by five years after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) any group of projects under the Plan that the Corps determines will provide regional or watershed ecosystem or water supply benefits if constructed in accordance with a project implementation report approved by the Corps and the District by such date.",2023-01-11T13:32:12Z, 114-hr-4440,114,hr,4440,"To amend the Act entitled ""An Act to provide for the construction of the Cheney division, Wichita Federal reclamation project, Kansas, and for other purposes"" to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the Equus Beds Division of the Wichita Project.",Water Resources Development,2016-02-02,2016-02-05,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Pompeo, Mike [R-KS-4]",KS,R,P000602,0,"This bill amends the Wichita Project Equus Beds Division Authorization Act of 2005 to extend for ten years the authority of the Department of the Interior to carry out the Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Project, Kansas.",2023-01-11T13:32:12Z, 114-s-2481,114,s,2481,Everglades for the Next Generation Act,Water Resources Development,2016-02-02,2016-02-02,Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.,Senate,"Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]",FL,D,N000032,0,"Everglades for the Next Generation Act This bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to authorize the Department of the Army, after completing an implementation report prepared for a project under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and without any further congressional authorization, to carry out: (1) any 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 Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, provided that the report is completed by five years after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) any group of projects under the Plan that the Corps determines will provide regional or watershed ecosystem or water supply benefits if constructed in accordance with a project implementation report approved by the Corps and the District by such date.",2023-01-11T13:32:02Z, 114-hr-4417,114,hr,4417,Essex River Jobs and Recreation Act,Water Resources Development,2016-02-01,2016-02-02,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]",MA,D,M001196,0,"Essex River Jobs and Recreation Act This bill deauthorizes portions of the project for navigation, Essex River, Massachusetts, that do not lie within specified areas.",2023-01-11T13:32:12Z, 114-hr-4366,114,hr,4366,San Luis Unit Drainage Resolution Act,Water Resources Development,2016-01-12,2016-11-16,Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 12.,House,"Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-21]",CA,R,V000129,0,"San Luis Unit Drainage Resolution Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to implement the Agreement between the United States and Westlands Water District to settle litigation concerning the U.S. duty to provide drainage service, entered September 15, 2015 (Westlands Agreement) and the agreement among the United States, the San Luis Water District, the Panoche Water District, and the Pacheco Water District. The bill amends the 1960 statute that authorized Interior to construct the San Luis Unit of the Central Valley Project (CVP), California, to: (1) repeal provisions that include distribution systems and drains as features of such unit, and (2) eliminate requirements for Interior to meet drainage requirements for such unit. Each contractor within the unit that receives water for irrigation shall be responsible for the management of drainage water within its boundaries. The Westlands Water District (the District) shall assume all legal responsibility for the management of drainage water within, and shall not discharge drain water outside of, its boundaries. Interior shall: convert the District's existing long-term or interim renewal water service contract to a repayment contract, make allocation decisions in the CVP consistent with federal law and applicable California State Water Resources Control Board requirements, and enter into a contract with the Navy for the delivery of CVP water to the Lemoore Naval Air Station to meet irrigation needs associated with its air operations. The bill suspends the District's capital repayment obligation and payments under its water service contracts and the April 1, 1965, repayment contract with the United States until the execution of the repayment contract, after which the District shall: (1) receive a specified credit against future operation and maintenance costs payable to the United States, and (2) be relieved of capital repayment obligations under specified water service contracts. Upon discharge of such capital repayment obligation, the ownership and full cost pricing limitations in federal reclamation law shall not apply to lands in the District. CVP construction costs or other capitalized costs allocated to the District after the date of the Westlands Agreement shall be repaid within five years after notification of the allocation of less than $5 million. If the amount allocated is $5 million or greater, such cost shall be repaid as provided by applicable reclamation law. Upon the execution of the repayment contract, Interior shall transfer to the District title to: the San Luis Canal System, excluding the main canal that is integrated with the California Aqueduct; the Mendota Pool diversion facilities operated by the District; the Pleasant Valley System; the drainage collection system; the Tranquillity Field Office; the Huron field office; and all real property interests held by the United States in lands associated with such facilities and equipment. For any year in which the allocation for south-of-Delta CVP long-term water service contractors or repayment contractors is greater than 75%, Interior shall calculate for the District a per acre foot Restoration Fund payment based on a projection that the District would take delivery of such allocation.",2023-01-11T13:32:17Z, 114-hr-3867,114,hr,3867,Clean Water for Rural Communities Act,Water Resources Development,2015-10-29,2015-11-02,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-At Large]",MT,R,Z000018,0,"Clean Water for Rural Communities Act This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to carry out the projects entitled: (1) the "Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System," in accordance with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water System Feasibility Study, which received funding from the Bureau of Reclamation on September 1, 2010; and (2) the "Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System," in accordance with the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System Feasibility Report. The bill defines the service areas of such projects in North Dakota and Montana. Interior must enter into a cooperative agreement with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority and the Central Montana Regional Water Authority to provide federal assistance for the planning, design, and construction of such Water Systems. The federal share of such costs and the authorized uses of federal funds, which shall exclude operation, maintenance, or replacement of the Water Systems, are specified. The Western Area Power Administration must make available to the Dry-Redwater System a quantity of power (up to one and a half megawatt capacity) required to meet the System's pumping and incidental operation requirements between May 1 and October 31 of each year: (1) from the water intake facilities; and (2) through all pumping stations, water treatment facilities, reservoirs, storage tanks, and pipelines up to the point of delivery of water to all storage reservoirs and tanks and each entity that distributes water at retail to individual users. The System shall be eligible to receive such power only if it: (1) operates on a nonprofit basis, and (2) is constructed pursuant to the cooperative agreement with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority. Additional power may be purchased. The Authority is responsible for: (1) charges for such additional power, (2) the costs of non-federal transmission and distribution system delivery and service arrangements, and (3) funding any upgrades to the transmission system owned by the Western Area Power Administration Basin Electric Power District and the Heartland Consumers Power District required to deliver power to the System. The bill authorizes appropriations and adjustments in authorized amounts in accordance with ordinary fluctuations in development costs.",2023-01-11T13:29:35Z, 114-hr-3756,114,hr,3756,WIFIA Improvement Act,Water Resources Development,2015-10-16,2015-10-23,Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.,House,"Rep. Curbelo, Carlos [R-FL-26]",FL,R,C001107,24,WIFIA Improvement Act This bill amends the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 to repeal provisions prohibiting any project receiving federal credit assistance under such Act from being financed from the proceeds of tax-exempt bonds.,2023-01-11T13:29:39Z, 114-s-1936,114,s,1936,New Mexico Drought Preparedness Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-08-04,2015-10-08,Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-381.,Senate,"Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]",NM,D,U000039,1,"New Mexico Drought Preparedness Act of 2015 Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation (Secretary), to carry out a water acquisition program in specified basins in New Mexico, under which the Secretary shall: (1) make acquisitions of water by lease or purchase of water rights or contractual entitlements from willing lessors or sellers; and (2) take other actions to enhance stream flow to benefit fish and wildlife, water quality, and river ecosystem restoration and to enhance stewardship and conservation of working land, water, and watersheds. Authorizes the Secretary, in cooperation with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, to provide funding and technical assistance for the installation of metering and measurement devices and the construction of check structures on irrigation diversions, canals, laterals, ditches, and drains to: (1) ensure the conservation and efficient use of water within the District by reducing actual consumptive use or by not increasing the use of water, and (2) improve the measurement and allocation of water acquired through such water acquisition program. Requires the Secretary to provide for development of a comprehensive plan for the San Acacia and Isleta reaches to plan, design, construct, and prioritize projects that balance river maintenance, water availability, use, and delivery, and ecosystem benefits. Requires the Secretary of the Army to continue, for five years after enactment of this Act, the temporary deviation in the operation of Cochiti Lake and Jemez Canyon Dam that was initiated in 2009 and terminated in 2013, to evaluate the benefits of the deviation while a permanent reauthorization of the reservoirs is pursued. Requires the Secretaries to: (1) conduct a feasibility study to address Cochiti Dam operation limitations on the timing, magnitude, and duration of flows that support federally listed species in the Middle Rio Grande; (2) submit a feasibility report on the reauthorization of the purposes of Cochiti Dam; and (3) enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to study water and reservoir management and operation issues along the Rio Grande. Authorizes financial assistance to be made available for eligible water projects to help New Mexico and other Western states address drought-related impacts to water supplies or any other immediate water-related crisis or conflict. Amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (OPLMA) to: (1) authorize the use of water management improvement grants to assist applicants in planning for or addressing the impacts of drought, (2) authorize the Commissioner of Reclamation to waive any cost-share requirements to address emergency drought situations and to prioritize projects based on drought relief benefits, and (3) authorize appropriations for such grants. Reauthorizes appropriations for: (1) the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, and (2) Rio Grande Pueblos infrastructure grants under OPLMA. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate certain financial assistance made available under the Food Security Act of 1985 (FSA) to establish special conservation initiatives to assist producers in implementing eligible activities on agricultural land in the western states for: (1) mitigating the effects of drought; (2) improving water quality and quantity; (3) restoring, enhancing, and preserving fish and wildlife habitat; and (4) promoting innovative and collaborative conservation tools and approaches. Amends the FSA to provide that areas eligible for designation as conservation priority areas shall include areas with actual and significant water quantity impacts related to agricultural production activities.",2023-01-11T13:29:59Z, 114-hr-3315,114,hr,3315,Waterway Safety Improvement Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-07-29,2015-07-30,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]",TX,R,B001291,2,"Waterway Safety Improvement Act of 2015 This bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to authorize the Department of the Army to make modifications to deep-draft, high-commercial-use channels, including bends and entrances, as necessary to ensure safe navigation and efficient operations of such channels without regard to provisions of such Act regarding the maximum cost of water resources development and conservation projects.",2023-01-11T13:30:21Z, 114-hr-3349,114,hr,3349,Timely Permitting Accessibility Act,Water Resources Development,2015-07-29,2015-07-30,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3]",WA,R,H001056,2,"Timely Permitting Accessibility Act This bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to authorize the Secretary of the Army to accept and expend funds contributed by a private entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit of that entity related to a project or activity for a public purpose under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army. A ""private entity"" includes a business association, a cooperative of businesses, associations, or individuals. Such authority expires 10 years after enactment of this Act. The Government Accountability Office is required, within 7 years after enactment of this Act, to carry out a study of the implementation of such authority.",2023-01-11T13:30:20Z, 114-s-1894,114,s,1894,California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-07-29,2015-10-08,Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-381.,Senate,"Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]",CA,D,F000062,1,"California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2015 TITLE I--CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY DROUGHT RELIEF This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce, in response to a California drought emergency declaration, to approve projects and operations to provide the maximum quantity of water supplies to Central Valley Project (CVP) agricultural, municipal and industrial, and refuge service and repayment contractors; State Water Project (SWP) contractors; and other California localities or municipalities. The requirements apply to the Klamath Project if projects or operations would benefit California federal water contractors. Requirements are set forth concerning: operation of the Delta Cross Channel Gates; turbidity control; reverse flow in the Old and Middle Rivers; proposals to increase flow in the San Joaquin River through a voluntary sale, transfer, or exchange of water from an agency with rights to divert water from the river or its tributaries in conjunction with procedures to adopt a 1:1 inflow to export ratio for the increment of increased flow; management of the impacts on species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; coordination with the salmonid biological opinion, dated June 4, 2009, and the smelt biological opinion, dated December 15, 2008; permits for temporary barriers or operable gates in Delta channels and for water transfer requests associated with voluntarily fallowing nonpermanent crops; and coordination with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to study the effectiveness and environmental impacts of saltcedar biological control efforts on increasing water supplies and improving riparian habitats of the Colorado River. "Delta" means the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Suisun Marsh. Federal agencies must: (1) expedite final decisions for federal water projects or operations upon California's request, and (2) develop alternative arrangements to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during California emergency drought declarations, must require California to prioritize state revolving funds allocated under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act to projects that will: (1) provide additional water supplies to areas at risk of having inadequate supplies for public health and safety purposes, or (2) improve resiliency to drought. The EPA must also, at California’s request, authorize 40-year financing for assistance in the case of state loan funds used to buy or refinance the debt obligation of municipalities and intermunicipal and interstate agencies at or below market rates. Interior must confer with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regarding the implementation of this title and any changes to the smelt or salmonid biological opinions. If the CDFW requires take authorization under California law for operation of the SWP in a manner that reduces water supply to the SWP as compared to the supply available under the biological opinions, and as a consequence the CVP yield is greater, the additional yield must be made available to SWP contractors to offset losses from the CDFW's action. This title expires on the later of: (1) the California governor's declaration of an end of California's drought emergency, or (2) September 30, 2017. TITLE II--ACTIONS TO BENEFIT FISH AND REFUGES The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Recovery Plan for Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, and Central Valley steelhead is authorized through FY2020. Interior must evaluate: (1) nonstructural barriers to prevent straying of threatened or endangered salmonids through key Delta junctions, and (2) the feasibility of additional gravel and natural rearing areas to improve salmon and steelhead population recovery. Interior must establish pilot programs to test alternative release strategies for hatchery-raised, winter-run salmon to reduce mortality rates. Interior and Commerce must assess methods of reducing predation by: (1) modifying natural and artificial factors in the Sacramento River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed, (2) lowering light intensity at artificial structures, and (3) redepositing salvaged salmon smolts. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) must implement a pilot program to test an experimental trap and barge program to improve survival of juvenile salmonids emigrating from the San Joaquin watershed through the Delta. The NMFS and the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts must implement a pilot program to remove nonnative predator fish from the Stanislaus River. Interior must begin pilot projects to implement the Calfed Bay-Delta invasive species control program. Interior is directed to determine methods to minimize the effects of the CVP and the SWP on Delta smelt and utilize new technologies for better smelt tracking. A federal cost share of up to 50% is authorized for the acceleration and completion of water infrastructure and conveyance facilities necessary to achieve full water deliveries to Central Valley wildlife refuges and habitat areas. TITLE III--LONG-TERM WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS Interior is directed to award funding on a competitive basis for certain water recycling, water desalination, and drought recovery and resiliency projects that can reduce reliance on surface and groundwater supplies. The bill identifies cities, water districts, desalination projects, and other sponsors to be included among the projects reviewed. The Water Desalination Act of 1996 is amended to reauthorize through FY2020 research grants and a demonstration program to develop processes for converting saline water into water suitable for beneficial uses. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy must develop a strategic plan for future federal investments in desalination that coordinates federal agencies' activities. The EPA must implement a program to provide financial assistance for the design of desalination facilities that provide water suitable for environmental enhancement, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and other beneficial consumptive or nonconsumptive uses. The bill provides procedures for Interior to participate in federal and nonfederal storage projects. Deadlines are established for Reclamation to submit to Congress water storage feasibility studies concerning specified dams and reservoirs under the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act. The Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 is amended to allow Interior to develop any necessary additional project benefits (including additional conservation storage capacity) in conjunction with its activities to modify Reclamation dams and facilities to preserve their structural safety. The costs must be subject to a cost-sharing agreement among applicable federal, state, and local agencies and repaid in accordance with reclamation laws. The Department of the Army must carry out up to five pilot projects, including at least two nonfederal projects, to implement revisions of water operations manuals, including flood control rule curves, in states under a gubernatorial drought declaration during water year 2015. Reclamation-owned dams or reservoirs are excluded from being such a pilot project. A WaterSense Program is established within the EPA to promote products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services certified to display a label designating them as water efficient. Interior must enter voluntary agreements to implement water conservation programs with public water agencies or other entities that receive water from a Reclamation-operated project. The conserved water is to be retained by: (1) the public water agencies; and (2) Interior to promote groundwater recharge and conservation, refuge water supply, or authorized projects. An existing water service or repayment contractor may contribute funds to implement such an agreement in exchange for water. USDA must provide grants for water projects in eligible communities that are unable to meet primary water quality standards or that have severely diminished water supplies due to drought conditions. The Department of Defense must commence at least three water conservation pilot projects on California military installations. The Drug Enforcement Administration must assist California state or local law enforcement in the suppression of cannabis operations. The EPA may award grants and assist with financing of research and demonstration projects to promote innovative water supply and conservation technologies. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) must establish an open water data system to advance the availability, timely distribution, and use of data for water management, education, research, assessment, and monitoring. TITLE IV--FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR STATE AND LOCAL DROUGHT RESILIENCY PROJECTS Interior may provide financial assistance, such as secured loans or loan guarantees, to private entities, state or local governments, irrigation districts, water users' associations, or other entities that contract with the United States under federal reclamation law to carry out water projects within the 17 western states served by Reclamation, other states where Reclamation is authorized to provide project assistance, Alaska, and Hawaii. Eligible project costs of such a project must be reasonably anticipated to be at least $20 million. The final maturity date of a secured loan may not be later than 35 years after substantial completion of the underlying project. Interior and California may enter into a memorandum of understanding to designate California as lead agency for purposes of NEPA. Interior must permit California, and not more than four additional states, to participate in the program. The bill establishes a process for Interior to identify, solicit public comment on, and submit to Congress a list of inactive water resources development programs or projects to be deauthorized because they are no longer viable for construction. Under the national water availability and use assessment program, the USGS may enter into cost shared financial assistance and other long-term agreements with nonfederal participants in the 17 Reclamation-served western states, Hawaii, and Alaska to advance nonfederal permanent water storage and conveyance facilities, projects for the reclamation and reuse of municipal, industrial, domestic and agricultural wastewater, and naturally impaired ground and surface waters, and other water management improvement projects. The Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act is amended to establish a process for Interior to award grants to nonfederal sponsors for projects that reclaim and reuse: (1) municipal, industrial, domestic, or agricultural wastewater; or (2) impaired ground or surface waters. For FY2026-FY2050, a designated portion of revenues that would otherwise be deposited in the Reclamation Fund are to be deposited instead into a Federal Support for State and Local Drought Solutions Fund established in the Treasury for expenditures on certain federal loan guarantees and cost sharing authorized for state and local storage projects under this Act and project funding under the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act.",2023-01-11T13:30:01Z, 114-s-1837,114,s,1837,Drought Recovery and Resilience Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-07-22,2015-07-22,Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.,Senate,"Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]",CA,D,B000711,0,"Drought Recovery and Resilience Act of 2015 TITLE I--EMERGENCY DROUGHT RESPONSE APPROPRIATIONS FROM RECLAMATION FUND This bill provides emergency supplemental appropriations for FY2015 from the Reclamation Fund to the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Army Corps of Engineers for water projects, programs, grants, or loans in states impacted by drought. Interior is provided additional amounts for the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), including amounts for water reclamation and reuse projects, the WaterSMART program under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, and water acquisition, water conveyance, and facilities construction under the Refuge Water Supply Program. The EPA is provided additional amounts for cleanup of polluted groundwater supplies, capitalization grants for state water pollution control revolving funds and for drinking water treatment revolving loan funds, and loans under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014. USDA is provided additional amounts for: (1) the Rural Utilities Service for direct and guaranteed loans and grants for rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal programs; and (2) emergency grants, upon declaration of a natural disaster, to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers to address impacts of drought. Additional amounts are also provided to: DOJ for the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist state or local law enforcement agencies in the suppression of cannabis operations; the Army Corps to carry out the Water Resources and Development Act of 2007; and projects under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 in drought-affected states that reduce fire risk, improve water quality or downstream water quantity, or expand ground water recharge capacity. TITLE II--NEW WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AUTHORIZATIONS National Water Recycling and Reclamation Act of 2015 The EPA must establish a National Water Recycling and Reclamation Program to provide private or governmental entities with grants for up to 80% of the costs for water recycling and reclamation projects for which eligible costs are anticipated to exceed $1 million. Selection criteria for such grants include the extent to which projects address water demand and supply, environmental protection, and federal return on investment through renewable water supplies. Reclamation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act or RIFIA Interior may provide financial assistance, such as secured loans or loan guarantees, to private entities, state or local governments, irrigation districts, water users' associations, or other entities that contract with the United States under federal reclamation law to carry out water projects within the 17 western states served by Reclamation, other states where Reclamation is authorized to provide project assistance, Alaska, and Hawaii. Projects eligible for assistance include: reclamation and reuse of municipal, industrial, domestic, and agricultural wastewater and naturally impaired ground; water infrastructure projects that would contribute to a safe, adequate water supply for domestic, agricultural, environmental, or municipal and industrial use; new water conduits, pipelines, canals, pumping or power facilities; energy efficiency projects; accelerated repair and replacement of aging water distribution facilities; brackish or sea water desalination; or acquisition of real property or an interest therein for water storage, reclaimed or recycled water, or wastewater that is integral to an authorized project. Priority must be given to projects that promote wastewater recycling, agricultural or urban water conservation and efficiency, stormwater capture, or other innovations that reduce reliance on surface and groundwater supplies. To be eligible for assistance, eligible project costs of a project and other projects in a watershed must be reasonably anticipated to be at least $10 million. The interest of a secured loan may not be more than the yield on Treasury securities of a similar maturity. Interior may sell or reoffer into the capital markets a secured loan after the substantial completion of the project. The final maturity date of a secured loan may not be later than 35 years after the expected date of substantial completion of the underlying project. Interior may also enter into cost-shared financial assistance agreements with nonfederal entities in the 17 Reclamation-served western states or Hawaii to carry out the planning, design, and construction of any permanent water storage and conveyance facility used solely to regulate and maximize the water supply arising from a project that is eligible for assistance, including recycled water projects not congressionally authorized, to: (1) recycle wastewater or ground water, or (2) use integrated and coordinated water management on a watershed or regional scale. The federal share of the cost of such a project shall be: (1) nonreimbursable, and (2) the lesser of 50% of the total cost or $15 million (adjusted for inflation). Reclamation Title Transfer Act of 2015 Reclamation may establish a program that: (1) identifies and analyzes the potential for public benefits from the transfer of eligible facilities out of federal ownership, and (2) facilitates the transfer of such facilities to qualifying entities to promote more efficient management of water and water-related facilities. ""Eligible facilities"" is defined as reclamation projects or facilities (including dams and appurtenant works, infrastructure, recreational facilities, buildings, distribution and drainage works, and associated land or interests in land or water) for which the United States holds title and that meet the criteria for potential transfer. A ""qualifying entity"" is a state, local government, Indian tribe, municipal or quasi-municipal corporation, or other entity (such as a water district) that has the capacity to continue to manage the conveyed property for the same purposes that the property has been managed under the reclamation laws. Reclamation may convey an eligible facility to a qualifying entity if Congress is notified before the conveyance and does not disapprove. A right of first refusal is granted to a qualifying entity that is operating an eligible facility at the time conveyance is being considered. The bill terminates Reclamation's authority to carry out such conveyances 15 years after this Act's enactment. Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2015 The EPA must provide grants to eligible higher education institutions and research institutions to establish and maintain between three and five centers of excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure. One of the centers must be the national electronic clearinghouse center and must operate a website and a public database on the infrastructure. The EPA must provide grants for innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects and must give priority to applications from: (1) a community that has combined storm and sanitary sewers in its collection system or is low-income or disadvantaged, or (2) an eligible entity that will use at least 10% of the grant for a low-income or disadvantaged community. The EPA must ensure that: (1) EPA offices promote the use of the infrastructure in, and coordinate its integration into, permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance; and (2) the EPA's Office of Water supports establishing innovative financing mechanisms in the implementation of the infrastructure. The EPA must: (1) direct EPA regional offices to promote and integrate the use of the infrastructure, and (2) promote sharing information about the infrastructure approaches. The EPA must establish an innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard consisting of voluntary, measurable goals to increase the percentage of annual water managed by entities that use the infrastructure. TITLE III--IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE AND WATER MANAGEMENT Restoring America's Watersheds Act of 2015 The Forest Service must establish a Water Source Protection Program within the region of the National Forest System west of the 100th Meridian. USDA is authorized to enter into water source investment partnerships with specified end water users to protect and restore the condition of National Forest watersheds that provide water to nonfederal partners. The Forest Service must establish a Watershed Condition Framework within such region to: (1) identify for restoration up to five priority watersheds in each National Forest and up to two priority watersheds in each national grassland, and (2) develop and implement a watershed restoration action plan for each priority watershed. The Forest Service must also establish a Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Program within such region to: carry out critical maintenance and urgent repairs and improvements on National Forest System roads, trails, and bridges; restore fish and other aquatic organism passage by removing or replacing unnatural barriers to the passage of fish and other aquatic organisms; and decommission unneeded roads and trails. The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund is reauthorized through FY2024. Five Demonstrations of Advancing Yields by Fixing Operations of Reservoirs to Encompass Climatic and Atmospheric Science Trends Act The Department of the Army must establish up to five pilot projects to implement forecast-based reservoir operations in states with drought emergencies during water year 2015. Interior must establish a wind and solar energy leasing pilot program to conduct lease sales of certain sites located on Reclamation land for purposes of carrying out wind and solar energy projects. The bill sets forth procedures for qualified developers to bid on sites that Interior offers for lease. Interior, within five years after enactment of this Act, must determine whether to expand the pilot program to apply to all authorized Reclamation lands. The general term for issued leases is: (1) an initial term of 25 years, and (2) any additional period after the initial 25-year term during which electricity is being produced annually in commercial quantities from the lease. However, a lease term may not be more than 5 years for the placement and operation of a meteorological or data collection facility or for the development or demonstration of a new wind or solar energy technology. Interior must establish and require payment of a royalty as a condition of issued leases. The royalty must be a percentage of the gross proceeds from the sale of electricity produced on land that is the subject of the lease. Lease royalties and authorized bonuses collected by Interior must be distributed in a manner such that: 25% is paid to the states and 25% is paid to the counties within the boundaries of which the royalties or bonuses are derived; 25% is deposited into a Fish and Wildlife Restoration Fund for Interior to use or make payments to states, federal agencies, or others for protecting fish and wildlife in regions impacted by the development of hydropower by federal agencies and the development of wind or solar energy on Reclamation land; 15% is paid to state Reclamation offices during the first 15 years after enactment of this Act for purposes of reducing the number of renewable energy permits that have not been processed before the enactment of this Act; and the remainder is deposited into the general fund of the Treasury for purposes of reducing the annual federal budget deficit. The Safe Drinking Water Act is amended to require a state to operate an EPA-prescribed injection control program for underground wells if the EPA finds that the state improperly issued permits under the state's underground injection control program. DOJ must maintain a registry of incidents of cultivation of marijuana on government property or while intentionally trespassing on another's property. DOJ is authorized to use amounts from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to pay for costs incurred by state, local, or tribal governments in connection with the remediation of an area formerly used for the production or cultivation of marijuana in which such a government assisted in a federal prosecution related to marijuana. The bill requires court sentences for certain marijuana offenses to include an order requiring the defendant to reimburse federal, state, or local governments for costs incurred for cleanup associated with the cultivation of marijuana by the defendant or on premises or in property that the defendant owns, resides in, or does business in. The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 is amended to: (1) include ""planning for or addressing the impact of drought"" among the activities for which Reclamation may make grants and enter cooperative agreements for water management improvement, (2) include Hawaii among the states in which eligible grant and agreement applicants may be located, (3) reauthorize such grants and agreements for FY2015-FY2023, and (4) reauthorize the authority of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to provide grants to state water resource agencies under the national water availability and use assessment program for FY2014-FY2023. The Internal Revenue Code is amended to establish a refundable tax credit for the purchase and installation of a qualified water-harvesting system. The Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 is amended to authorize Interior, subject to feasibility studies and other specified conditions, to develop additional project benefits (such as additional conservation storage capacity) through the construction of new or supplementary works on a project in conjunction with its authority to modify Reclamation dams and related facilities to preserve their structural safety. Interior may expend available appropriated funds for construction of a project that meets certain environmental standards, but the bill prohibits the federal cost-share from exceeding 25% of the project costs. The USGS must establish and maintain an open water data system to advance the availability, timely distribution, and widespread use of water data and information for water management, education, research, assessment, and monitoring purposes. TITLE IV--PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE Water Innovation and Prize Competition Act of 2015 The Department of Energy must establish a program to award prizes for development of water desalination technologies. The Natural Resources Conservation Service must collaborate with Reclamation to provide assistance, upon request, to water or power delivery authorities for purposes of increasing water use efficiency and providing on-farm assistance to address water quantity and water quality conservation practices. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must prepare a California salmon drought plan. The President must update the National Response Plan and the National Disaster Recovery Framework to include a plan for catastrophic drought.",2023-01-11T13:30:04Z, 114-hres-361,114,hres,361,"Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the need to explore emerging technologies that are mobile and capable of supplying high volumes of sterile, pathogenic-free water, and for other purposes.",Water Resources Development,2015-07-14,2015-07-17,Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.,House,"Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]",TX,R,W000816,2,"This resolution urges the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Homeland Security to explore emerging technologies that are mobile and capable of supplying high volumes of sterile, pathenogenic-free water to communities and hospitals when water systems are closed as a result of EPA-induced shutdowns, disease outbreaks, epidemics, pandemics, or natural disasters.",2023-01-11T13:30:15Z, 114-hr-3045,114,hr,3045,California Water Recycling and Drought Relief Act,Water Resources Development,2015-07-13,2015-08-31,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]",CA,D,M001166,9,"California Water Recycling and Drought Relief Act This bill amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Department of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of recycled water system facilities in California in cooperation with: the cities of Benicia, Brentwood, Ceres, Fresno, Hayward, Modesto, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, Redwood City, Sunnyvale, and Turlock; the Dublin San Ramon Services District; the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District; the Delta Diablo; the Ironhouse Sanitary District; the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency; the Del Puerto Water District; Stanislaus County; the Santa Clara Valley Water District; the San Jose Water Company; the West Bay Sanitary District; and the town of Yountville. The federal share of each project is limited to 25%. Interior must enter into individual agreements to fund such projects and include in such agreements a provision for the reimbursement of design, planning, and construction costs, but may not provide funds for project operation and maintenance. The bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the Antioch, California, recycled water system facilities.",2023-01-11T13:30:31Z, 114-hr-2993,114,hr,2993,Water Recycling Acceleration Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-07-09,2016-04-20,Subcommittee Hearings Held.,House,"Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-6]",CA,D,M001163,5,"Water Recycling Acceleration Act of 2015 Amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to provide that any water recycling project for which funding may otherwise be available under such Act shall not be required to have been previously specifically authorized by law for such funding, if that project reclaims and reuses: (1) municipal, industrial, domestic, or agricultural wastewater; or (2) naturally impaired ground and surface waters. Requires the Department of the Interior to give funding priority to such projects: that are located in an area that has been identified by the U.S. Drought Monitor as experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional drought at any time during the previous four-year period or that was designated as a disaster area by the state between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018; that are likely to provide for a more reliable water supply and to protect, restore, and enhance river or estuarine ecosystems or their immediate tributaries; that are likely to improve water resource flexibility and reduce impacts on environmental resources; that are regional in nature; that have multiple stakeholders; that provide multiple benefits, including water supply reliability, ecosystem benefits, groundwater management and enhancements, and water quality improvements; and for which a feasibility study has been completed and any necessary environmental or public reviews have been initiated. Requires Interior to: (1) issue water recycling project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that include such criteria; (2) solicit water recycling project proposals; and (3) review each proposed water recycling project for the purpose of determining whether or not the proposal, and the process under which the proposal was developed, comply with federal law applicable to the development of water recycling projects. Terminates Interior's authority under this Act 10 years after its enactment.",2023-01-11T13:30:33Z, 114-hr-2983,114,hr,2983,Drought Recovery and Resilience Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-07-08,2015-08-18,Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.,House,"Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]",CA,D,H001068,38,"Drought Recovery and Resilience Act of 2015 TITLE I--EMERGENCY DROUGHT RESPONSE APPROPRIATIONS FROM RECLAMATION FUND This bill provides emergency supplemental appropriations for FY2015 from the Reclamation Fund to the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Army Corps of Engineers for water projects, programs, grants, or loans in states impacted by drought. Interior is provided additional amounts for the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), including amounts for water reclamation and reuse projects, the WaterSMART program under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, and water acquisition, water conveyance, and facilities construction under the Refuge Water Supply Program. The EPA is provided additional amounts for cleanup of polluted groundwater supplies, capitalization grants for state water pollution control revolving funds and for drinking water treatment revolving loan funds, and loans under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014. USDA is provided additional amounts for: (1) the Rural Utilities Service for direct and guaranteed loans and grants for rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal programs; and (2) emergency grants, upon declaration of a natural disaster, to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers to address impacts of drought. Additional amounts are also provided to: DOJ for the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist state or local law enforcement agencies in the suppression of cannabis operations; the Army Corps to carry out the Water Resources and Development Act of 2007; and projects under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 in drought-affected states that reduce fire risk, improve water quality or downstream water quantity, or expand ground water recharge capacity. TITLE II--NEW WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AUTHORIZATIONS National Water Recycling and Reclamation Act of 2015 The EPA must establish a National Water Recycling and Reclamation Program to provide private or governmental entities with grants for up to 80% of the costs for water recycling and reclamation projects for which eligible costs are anticipated to exceed $1 million. Selection criteria for such grants include the extent to which projects address water demand and supply, environmental protection, and federal return on investment through renewable water supplies. Reclamation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act or RIFIA Interior may provide financial assistance, such as secured loans or loan guarantees, to private entities, state or local governments, irrigation districts, water users' associations, or other entities that contract with the United States under federal reclamation law to carry out water projects within the 17 western states served by Reclamation, other states where Reclamation is authorized to provide project assistance, Alaska, and Hawaii. Projects eligible for assistance include: reclamation and reuse of municipal, industrial, domestic, and agricultural wastewater and naturally impaired ground; water infrastructure projects that would contribute to a safe, adequate water supply for domestic, agricultural, environmental, or municipal and industrial use; new water conduits, pipelines, canals, pumping or power facilities; energy efficiency projects; accelerated repair and replacement of aging water distribution facilities; brackish or sea water desalination; or acquisition of real property or an interest therein for water storage, reclaimed or recycled water, or wastewater that is integral to an authorized project. Priority must be given to projects that promote wastewater recycling, agricultural or urban water conservation and efficiency, stormwater capture, or other innovations that reduce reliance on surface and groundwater supplies. To be eligible for assistance, eligible project costs of a project and other projects in a watershed must be reasonably anticipated to be at least $10 million. The interest of a secured loan may not be more than the yield on Treasury securities of a similar maturity. Interior may sell or reoffer into the capital markets a secured loan after the substantial completion of the project. The final maturity date of a secured loan may not be later than 35 years after the expected date of substantial completion of the underlying project. Interior may also enter into cost-shared financial assistance agreements with nonfederal entities in the 17 Reclamation-served western states or Hawaii to carry out the planning, design, and construction of any permanent water storage and conveyance facility used solely to regulate and maximize the water supply arising from a project that is eligible for assistance, including recycled water projects not congressionally authorized, to: (1) recycle wastewater or ground water, or (2) use integrated and coordinated water management on a watershed or regional scale. The federal share of the cost of such a project shall be: (1) nonreimbursable, and (2) the lesser of 50% of the total cost or $15 million (adjusted for inflation). Reclamation Title Transfer Act of 2015 Reclamation may establish a program that: (1) identifies and analyzes the potential for public benefits from the transfer of eligible facilities out of federal ownership, and (2) facilitates the transfer of such facilities to qualifying entities to promote more efficient management of water and water-related facilities. "Eligible facilities" is defined as reclamation projects or facilities (including dams and appurtenant works, infrastructure, recreational facilities, buildings, distribution and drainage works, and associated land or interests in land or water) for which the United States holds title and that meet the criteria for potential transfer. A "qualifying entity" is a state, local government, Indian tribe, municipal or quasi-municipal corporation, or other entity (such as a water district) that has the capacity to continue to manage the conveyed property for the same purposes that the property has been managed under the reclamation laws. Reclamation may convey an eligible facility to a qualifying entity if Congress is notified before the conveyance and does not disapprove. A right of first refusal is granted to a qualifying entity that is operating an eligible facility at the time conveyance is being considered. The bill terminates Reclamation's authority to carry out such conveyances 15 years after this Act's enactment. Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2015 The EPA must provide grants to eligible higher education institutions and research institutions to establish and maintain between three and five centers of excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure. One of the centers must be the national electronic clearinghouse center and must operate a website and a public database on the infrastructure. The EPA must provide grants for innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects and must give priority to applications from: (1) a community that has combined storm and sanitary sewers in its collection system or is low-income or disadvantaged, or (2) an eligible entity that will use at least 10% of the grant for a low-income or disadvantaged community. The EPA must ensure that: (1) EPA offices promote the use of the infrastructure in, and coordinate its integration into, permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance; and (2) the EPA's Office of Water supports establishing innovative financing mechanisms in the implementation of the infrastructure. The EPA must: (1) direct EPA regional offices to promote and integrate the use of the infrastructure, and (2) promote sharing information about the infrastructure approaches. The EPA must establish an innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard consisting of voluntary, measurable goals to increase the percentage of annual water managed by entities that use the infrastructure. TITLE III--IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE AND WATER MANAGEMENT Restoring America's Watersheds Act of 2015 The Forest Service must establish a Water Source Protection Program within the region of the National Forest System west of the 100th Meridian. USDA is authorized to enter into water source investment partnerships with specified end water users to protect and restore the condition of National Forest watersheds that provide water to nonfederal partners. The Forest Service must establish a Watershed Condition Framework within such region to: (1) identify for restoration up to five priority watersheds in each National Forest and up to two priority watersheds in each national grassland, and (2) develop and implement a watershed restoration action plan for each priority watershed. The Forest Service must also establish a Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Program within such region to: carry out critical maintenance and urgent repairs and improvements on National Forest System roads, trails, and bridges; restore fish and other aquatic organism passage by removing or replacing unnatural barriers to the passage of fish and other aquatic organisms; and decommission unneeded roads and trails. The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund is reauthorized through FY2024. Five Demonstrations of Advancing Yields by Fixing Operations of Reservoirs to Encompass Climatic and Atmospheric Science Trends Act The Department of the Army must establish up to five pilot projects to implement forecast-based reservoir operations in states with drought emergencies during water year 2015. Interior must establish a wind and solar energy leasing pilot program to conduct lease sales of certain sites located on Reclamation land for purposes of carrying out wind and solar energy projects. The bill sets forth procedures for qualified developers to bid on sites that Interior offers for lease. Interior, within five years after enactment of this Act, must determine whether to expand the pilot program to apply to all authorized Reclamation lands. The general term for issued leases is: (1) an initial term of 25 years, and (2) any additional period after the initial 25-year term during which electricity is being produced annually in commercial quantities from the lease. However, a lease term may not be more than 5 years for the placement and operation of a meteorological or data collection facility or for the development or demonstration of a new wind or solar energy technology. Interior must establish and require payment of a royalty as a condition of issued leases. The royalty must be a percentage of the gross proceeds from the sale of electricity produced on land that is the subject of the lease. Lease royalties and authorized bonuses collected by Interior must be distributed in a manner such that: 25% is paid to the states and 25% is paid to the counties within the boundaries of which the royalties or bonuses are derived; 25% is deposited into a Fish and Wildlife Restoration Fund for Interior to use or make payments to states, federal agencies, or others for protecting fish and wildlife in regions impacted by the development of hydropower by federal agencies and the development of wind or solar energy on Reclamation land; 15% is paid to state Reclamation offices during the first 15 years after enactment of this Act for purposes of reducing the number of renewable energy permits that have not been processed before the enactment of this Act; and the remainder is deposited into the general fund of the Treasury for purposes of reducing the annual federal budget deficit. The Safe Drinking Water Act is amended to require a state to operate an EPA-prescribed injection control program for underground wells if the EPA finds that the state improperly issued permits under the state's underground injection control program. DOJ must maintain a registry of incidents of cultivation of marijuana on government property or while intentionally trespassing on another's property. DOJ is authorized to use amounts from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to pay for costs incurred by state, local, or tribal governments in connection with the remediation of an area formerly used for the production or cultivation of marijuana in which such a government assisted in a federal prosecution related to marijuana. The bill requires court sentences for certain marijuana offenses to include an order requiring the defendant to reimburse federal, state, or local governments for costs incurred for cleanup associated with the cultivation of marijuana by the defendant or on premises or in property that the defendant owns, resides in, or does business in. The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 is amended to: (1) include "planning for or addressing the impact of drought" among the activities for which Reclamation may make grants and enter cooperative agreements for water management improvement, (2) include Hawaii among the states in which eligible grant and agreement applicants may be located, (3) reauthorize such grants and agreements for FY2015-FY2023, and (4) reauthorize the authority of the U.S. Geological Survey to provide grants to state water resource agencies under the national water availability and use assessment program for FY2014-FY2023. The Internal Revenue Code is amended to establish a refundable tax credit for the purchase and installation of a qualified water-harvesting system. The Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 is amended to authorize Interior, subject to feasibility studies and other specified conditions, to develop additional project benefits (such as additional conservation storage capacity) through the construction of new or supplementary works on a project in conjunction with its authority to modify Reclamation dams and related facilities to preserve their structural safety. Interior may expend available appropriated funds for construction of a project that meets certain environmental standards, but the bill prohibits the federal cost-share from exceeding 25% of the project costs. TITLE IV--PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE Water Innovation and Prize Competition Act of 2015 The Department of Energy must establish a program to award prizes for development of water desalination technologies. The Natural Resources Conservation Service must collaborate with Reclamation to provide assistance, upon request, to water or power delivery authorities for purposes of increasing water use efficiency and providing on-farm assistance to address water quantity and water quality conservation practices. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must prepare a California salmon drought plan. The President must update the National Response Plan and the National Disaster Recovery Framework to include a plan for catastrophic drought.",2023-01-11T13:30:33Z, 114-hr-2898,114,hr,2898,Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-06-25,2015-10-08,Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-381.,House,"Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-21]",CA,R,V000129,26,"Highlights: The Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015 establishes procedures for the Department of the Interior, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Agriculture to address drought conditions in California by revising regulatory standards for managing conveyances of water to individual, agricultural, municipal, and industrial users from the California-based Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project in coordination with requirements for protecting threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, including fish species of salmonid and smelt in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Suisun Marsh. The bill requires the use of updated data to adjust incidental take levels, water export restrictions, and other conservation measures set forth in a smelt biological opinion issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on December 15, 2008, and in a salmonid biological opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service on June 4, 2009, in order to increase water exports and maximize water supplies without causing a significant negative impact on the long-term survival of certain species listed as threatened or endangered. The bill also provides for: (1) a nonnative predator fish removal program in the Stanislaus River, (2) the repeal of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act and the related settlement, (3) expansion of the CVP's authorized service area to include the Kettleman City Community Services District, and (4) the use of expedited procedures to consider project requests from the California governor relating to emergency drought conditions. For areas within and beyond California, the bill revises or establishes requirements for water supply permits, prepayments on water service contracts, water efficiency considerations in dam safety projects, and water rights in land use decisions. Full Summary: Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015 TITLE I--ADJUSTING DELTA SMELT MANAGEMENT BASED ON INCREASED REAL-TIME MONITORING AND UPDATED SCIENCE (Sec. 102) Establishes procedures to adjust Delta smelt management measures set forth in the smelt biological opinion for the Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP) in California issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on December 15, 2008. Defines: (1) "Delta" as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Suisun Marsh, and (2) "Delta smelt" as fish species with the scientific name Hypomesus transpacificus. Requires the USFWS, by October 1, 2016, and at least every five years thereafter, to cooperate with federal, California, and local agencies to use updated scientific and commercial data to modify the calculation of incidental take levels for adult and larval/juvenile Delta smelt in the smelt biological opinion. Requires the modified incidental take level to be set as the 80% upper prediction interval derived from simulated salvage rates since at least 1993, based on factors including prespawning adult Delta smelt indexes and the flow of the Old and Middle River (OMR) during the adult salvage period, unless the USFWS determines that certain requirements are not appropriate. (Sec. 103) Directs the USFWS to implement and make appropriate amendments to the reasonable and prudent alternative described in the USFWS's smelt biological opinion. Requires Interior to make all significant decisions in writing under the smelt opinion and any successor opinions affecting the CVP or the SWP. Requires Interior to determine annually: (1) the extent that adult Delta smelt are distributed in relation to certain levels of turbidity or other environmental factors that may influence the salvage rate, and (2) how the CVP and SWP may be operated to minimize salvage while maximizing export pumping rates without causing a significant negative impact on the long-term survival of Delta smelt. Defines "negative impact on the long-term survival" as an appreciable reduction in the likelihood of the survival of a listed species in the wild by reducing the reproduction, numbers, or distribution of that species. Requires Interior, if suspended sediment loads from the Sacramento River appear likely to raise turbidity levels in specified areas during each period from December through March, to conduct daily monitoring to determine how increased trawling can inform real-time CVP and SWP operations. Directs Interior, by January 1, 2016, and at least every five years thereafter, in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), public water agencies, and other interested entities, to implement new targeted sampling and monitoring specifically designed to understand Delta smelt abundance, distribution, and habitats during all life stages. Requires Interior, in implementing provisions of the smelt biological opinion pertaining to reverse flow in the OMR, to maximize CVP and SWP water supplies by managing export pumping rates to a reverse flow rate of -5,000 cubic feet per second, unless Interior provides documentation concluding that a less negative OMR flow rate is necessary to avoid a negative impact on the long-term survival of Delta smelt. Directs Interior to manage a more negative OMR flow rate if it can be established without an imminent negative impact. Requires the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the USFWS, by December 1, 2015, to execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to ensure that the smelt biological opinion is implemented in a manner that maximizes water supply while complying with applicable laws and regulations. Provides a framework under which reinitiation of consultation is unnecessary if any changes that the MOU makes to the biological opinion will not have a significant negative impact on the long-term survival on listed species and would not be a major change to implementation of the biological opinion. Prohibits procedural changes that do not create a significant negative impact on long-term survival from altering application of the take permitted by the incidental take statement in the biological opinion. Directs Interior, for purposes of increasing CVP and SWP water supplies, to revise the method of calculating reverse flow in the OMR for implementation of the reasonable and prudent alternatives in the USFWS's smelt biological opinion, the salmonid biological opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on June 4, 2009, and any succeeding opinion. TITLE II--ENSURING SALMONID MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIVE TO NEW SCIENCE (Sec. 202) Establishes a process for Reclamation and the Assistant Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries, also known as the NMFS) to provide for implementation of the reasonable and prudent alternative described in the NMFS's salmonid biological opinion to be adjusted as new scientific and commercial data is developed. Requires Interior and the Department of Commerce, by December 31, 2016, and at least annually thereafter, to direct Reclamation and the Assistant Administrator to implement certain recommended adjustments to project operations (pertaining to negative OMR flows, timing and triggers for pumping restrictions, and inflow to export ratios) that, in the exercise of the adaptive management provisions of the salmonid biological opinion, will reduce water supply impacts of the salmonid biological opinion on the CVP and the SWP. Requires implementation of adjustments for which: (1) the net effect on listed salmonid species and Delta smelt is equivalent to those of the underlying project operational parameters in the salmonid biological opinion, and (2) the effects of the adjustment can be expected to fall within incidental take authorizations. Directs Reclamation and the Assistant Administrator to evaluate potential species survival improvements likely to result from other measures that, if implemented, would offset adverse effects. Requires survival estimates to be based on: (1) quantitative estimates, or (2) qualitative terms if scientific information is lacking for quantitative estimates. Requires the Assistant Administrator to compare existing measures to increase through-Delta survival of salmonid through restrictions on export pumping rates to possible alternative management measures to increase salmonid survival through: (1) physical habitat restoration improvements, (2) predation control programs, (3) installation of temporary barriers or management of Cross Channel Gates operations, (4) salvaging near Clifton Court Forebay, or (5) conservation hatchery programs. Directs Reclamation to implement such an alternative measure in order to increase export rates if the Assistant Administrator determines that: (1) the alternative measure is technically feasible and within federal jurisdiction, or (2) California or a local agency has certified that it has the authority and capability to implement the alternative measure. Directs the Assistant Administrator and Reclamation to consider requiring the Assistant Administrator to show that the implementation of certain conservation measures is necessary to avoid a significant negative impact on salmonid species before the measures are imposed in any specific instance. Requires the Assistant Administrator, the USFWS, and Reclamation to establish operational criteria to coordinate management of OMR flows under the smelt and salmonid biological opinions to provide additional water supplies. Directs the Assistant Administrator and Reclamation to document the effects of any adaptive management decisions that prioritize the maintenance of one species at the expense of the other. Prohibits the Assistant Administrator and Reclamation from limiting OMR reverse flow to -5,000 cubic feet per second unless current monitoring data indicates that such a limitation is reasonably required to avoid a significant negative impact on the long-term survival of a listed salmonid species. Directs Commerce, if quantitative estimates of through-Delta survival established to adjust the salmonid biological opinion's pumping restrictions exceed the through-Delta survival established for the opinion's reasonable and prudent alternatives, to evaluate and implement the adjusted management measures as a prerequisite to implementing the alternatives contained in the opinion. (Sec. 203) Directs Commerce and California's Oakdale and South San Joaquin Irrigation Districts (the districts) to conduct a nonnative predator fish removal program to remove nonnative striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black bass, and other nonnative predator fish species from the Stanislaus River. Requires the program to quantify the impact of such removal on the populations of juvenile anadromous fish. Requires the districts to be responsible for 100% of the cost of such program. Directs Commerce to post on the NMFS's website a summary of the raw data collected under the program each month. Deems the program to be consistent with the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA). Prohibits striped bass from being treated as anadromous fish for purposes of the CVPIA's application to the program. (Sec. 204) Directs Interior to collaborate with Commerce, the CDFW, and other relevant agencies and interested parties to begin pilot projects to implement the invasive species control program under P.L. 108-361. Requires the projects to: (1) seek to reduce invasive aquatic vegetation, predators, and other competitors that contribute to the decline of native listed pelagic and anadromous species that occupy the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and their tributaries and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta; and (2) remove, reduce, or control the effects of species, including Asiatic clams, silversides, gobies, Brazilian water weed, water hyacinth, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, crappie, bluegill, white and channel catfish, and brown bullheads. Terminates such pilot projects seven years after commencement of their implementation. TITLE III--OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY AND DROUGHT RELIEF (Sec. 302) Requires the Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Commerce, and the Interior to approve projects and operations to provide the maximum quantity of water supplies practicable to all individuals or districts that receive CVP water under water service or repayments contracts, water rights settlement contracts, exchange contracts, or refuge contracts or agreements, to SWP contractors, and to any other tribe, locality, water agency, or municipality in California to address the emergency drought conditions for the period of time such that in any year that the Sacramento Valley Index is 6.5 or lower, or at California's request, and until two succeeding years after either of those events has been completed where the final index is 7.8 or greater. Directs Commerce and Interior to develop a drought operations plan for such periods. Provides for: (1) temporary barriers or operable gates to be designed so that formal consultations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) are not necessary; (2) adoption of a 1:1 inflow to export ratio under specified conditions, as measured as a three-day running average at Vernalis between April 1 and May 31, absent a determination in writing that a more restrictive inflow to export ratio is required to avoid a significant negative impact on the long-term survival of a listed salmonid species under the ESA; and (3) water transfers through the C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant or the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant from April 1 to November 30 if the transfers comply with California law. Provides expedited procedures for consideration of requests by the California governor relating to federal, state, or local projects or operations to provide relief for emergency drought conditions. Requires Interior to convene a final project decision meeting with relevant federal agencies upon the request of the California governor, USDA, or Commerce. Directs the relevant federal agency to issue a final decision on the project within 10 days after the meeting is requested. Allows Interior to also convene such a meeting at its own discretion. (Sec. 303) Directs Commerce and Interior to ensure that the Delta Cross Channel Gates remain open to the maximum extent practicable using findings from the U.S. Geological Survey on diurnal behavior of juvenile salmonids, timed to maximize the peak flood tide period and provide water supply and water quality benefits for the duration of a California drought emergency declaration and for periods based on Sacramento Valley index levels, or at California's request, consistent with operational and monitoring criteria set forth in the Order Approving a Temporary Urgency Change in License and Permit Terms in Response to Drought Conditions of the California State Water Resources Control Board, effective January 31, 2014, and other associated authorizations. Requires Commerce and Interior, with respect to such gate operations, to: (1) collect data on the impact of such operations on threatened or endangered species, water quality, water supply; (2) collaborate with the CDWR to install a deflection barrier at Georgiana Slough in coordination with diurnal operations to protect migrating salmonids, consistent with knowledge gained from activities in 2014 and 2015; (3) evaluate combined salmonid survival when deciding how to operate the gates to enhance salmonid survival and water supply benefits; and (4) notify Congress by May 15, 2016, regarding the extent to which the gates are able to remain open. Directs Interior to recommend revisions to gate operations, the CVP, and the SWP that are likely to produce water supply benefits without causing a significant negative impact on the long-term survival of the listed fish species within the Delta or on water quality. (Sec. 304) Sets forth requirements concerning Reclamation's responsibility to continue to vary the averaging period of the Delta Export/Inflow ratio pursuant to California State Water Resources Control Board decision D1641 during and in the period after the Sacramento Valley index is 6.5 or lower, or at California's request. (Sec. 305) Allows USDA, Commerce, or Interior to deem alternative arrangements for a project to be in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) during emergency drought conditions if immediate implementation is necessary to address: (1) human health and safety, or (2) a specific and imminent loss of agriculture production upon which an identifiable region depends for 25% or more of its tax revenue used to support public services. Requires consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality to develop such alternative arrangements. (Sec. 306) Sets forth requirements regarding: (1) the implementation of offsite upstream projects in the Delta and upstream of the Sacramento River and San Joaquin basins that offset the effects on threatened or endangered species; (2) management of a more negative reverse flow in the OMR for specific periods; and (3) scientific tools to identify any changes to real-time operations of Reclamation, California, and local water projects that could result in the availability of additional water supplies. (Sec. 307) Requires USDA, Commerce, and Interior to authorize the CVP and the SWP to operate (within ranges permitted by applicable environmental laws) at levels that result in negative OMR flows at -7,500 cubic feet per second daily average for 56 cumulative days after October 1. Authorizes such temporary operational flexibility on days that the CDWR determines the daily average river flow of the Sacramento River is at or above 17,000 cubic feet per second. Allows OMR flow, during the first flush of sediment out of the Delta each water year, to be managed at rates less negative than -5,000 cubic feet per second for a minimum duration to avoid movement of adult Delta smelt to areas in the southern Delta that would be likely to increase entrainment at CVP and SWP pumping plants. Requires Reclamation to monitor such operations to ensure that incidental take levels are not exceeded. Provides a process for Reclamation to use emergency consultation procedures under the ESA to temporarily adjust operating procedures of the relevant biological opinions if operational flexibility actions implemented under this section will exceed 56 days. (Sec. 308) Amends the CVPIA to provide Interior with procedures for expedited transfers of CVP water to assist California urban areas, agricultural water users, and others in meeting their future water needs. (Sec. 309) Exempts from mitigation measure requirements certain operating criteria adjustments, or urgent actions to address water supply shortages for the least amount of time or volume of diversion necessary as determined by Reclamation, during any year that the Sacramento Valley index is 6.5 or lower, or at California's request, and until two succeeding years following either of those events have been completed where the final index is 7.8 or greater. Requires any mitigation measures imposed to be based on quantitative data and required only to the extent that such data demonstrates actual harm to species. (Sec. 310) Directs Reclamation to work with local water and irrigation districts in the Stanislaus River Basin to ascertain the water storage made available by the Draft Plan of Operations in New Melones Reservoir (DRPO) for water conservation programs, conjunctive use projects, water transfers, rescheduled project water, and other projects to maximize water storage and ensure the beneficial use of the water resources in that basin. Requires the source of water for any storage program at New Melones Reservoir to be made available under a valid water right. Directs Reclamation to inform Congress of the amount of storage made available by the DRPO that has been put to use under such program, including proposals from interested parties. (Sec. 311) Requires Interior, in collaboration with the Sacramento Water Forum, to expedite evaluation, completion, and implementation of the Modified Lower American River Flow Management Standard developed by the Water Forum in 2015 to improve water supply reliability for CVP American River water contractors and resource protection in the lower American River during consecutive dry years under current and future demand and climate change conditions. (Sec. 312) Provides for SWP and CVP contractors, if Reclamation or another federal agency initiates or reinitiates consultation with the USFWS or the NMFS with respect to construction or operation of the CVP and SWP, to be accorded all rights and responsibilities extended to applicants in the consultation process. (Sec. 313) Repeals the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act and the related stipulation of settlement in Natural Resources Defense Council v. Rodgers in the Eastern District of California. Deems certain fish and game requirements to be satisfied by the existence of a warm water fishery in the San Joaquin River (below Friant Dam, but upstream of Gravelly Ford) that has an environment suitable for species of fish other than salmon and trout. (Sec. 314) Requires Interior, by December 31, 2015, to develop and implement a program, including rescheduling guidelines for Shasta and Folsom Reservoirs, to allow existing CVP agricultural water service contractors within the Sacramento River Watershed, as well as refuge service and municipal and industrial water service contractors within the Sacramento River Watershed and the American River Watershed, to reschedule water provided for under their CVP contracts from one year to the next. Conditions such rescheduling on the program being consistent with existing rescheduling guidelines utilized by Reclamation for rescheduling water for CVP water service contractors that are located south of the Delta. TITLE IV--CALFED STORAGE FEASIBILITY STUDIES (Sec. 401) Establishes deadlines for Interior, through Reclamation, to complete and submit to Congress water storage feasibility studies concerning specified dams and reservoirs under the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act. Requires cooperation with public water agencies that contract with the United States for CVP water and that are expected to participate in the cost pools for the proposed projects. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, if a feasibility report is not submitted on time, to notify each of the relevant congressional committee chairs individually in person on the status of each project once a month until the study is provided to Congress. (Sec. 402) Prohibits the Bakersfield Field Office, Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP), dated December 2014, and the related findings from having any effect on or applicability to Interior's determination of feasibility of, or on any findings or environmental review documents related to: (1) the Temperance Flat Reservoir Project on the Upper San Joaquin River, or (2) Interior's actions regarding Upper San Joaquin River storage in Fresno and Madera Counties. Requires Interior, if it finds the Temperance Flat project to be feasible, to manage land recommended in the RMP for designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, regardless of whether Interior submits any official recommendation to Congress. (Sec. 404) Allows Reclamation to partner or enter into an agreement on certain water storage projects identified in the Water Supply Reliability and Environmental Improvement Act with local joint powers authorities formed pursuant to state law by irrigation districts and other local water districts and local governments within the applicable hydrologic region. Authorizes Interior to carry out feasible projects, but prohibits federal funds from being used for construction. TITLE V--WATER RIGHTS PROTECTIONS (Sec. 501) Directs Interior to confer with the CDFW on potential impacts to any consistency determination for operations of the SWP resulting from the implementation of this Act. Requires additional yield to be made available for delivery to SWP contractors to offset any losses that result if a CDFW consistency determination or take authorization resulting from this Act reduces water supply to the SWP as compared with water supply available under the smelt and the salmonid biological opinions. Directs Interior to notify the CDFW if implementation of the biological opinions under this Act reduces environmental protections for species covered by such opinions. (Sec. 502) Requires Interior, in the operation of the CVP, to adhere to California laws governing water rights priorities and to honor water rights senior to those held by the United States for operation of the CVP, regardless of the source of priority, including any appropriative water rights initiated prior to December 19, 1914. (Sec. 503) Requires Interior to ensure that actions taken to comply with environmental laws do not: (1) result in the involuntary reduction of water supply or fiscal impacts to recipients of water from either the SWP or the United States, or (2) cause redirected adverse water supply or fiscal impacts to those within the Sacramento River or San Joaquin River watersheds or the SWP service area. (Sec. 504) Directs Interior, in the operation of the CVP, to allocate water provided for irrigation purposes to existing CVP agricultural water service contractors within the Sacramento River Watershed in compliance with specified allocation percentages. Makes Interior's allocations subject to: (1) the priority of individuals or entities with Sacramento River water rights, (2) the U.S. obligation to make a substitute supply of water available to the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors, and (3) Interior's obligation to make water available to managed wetlands pursuant to the CVPIA. Declares that Interior's allocation authority shall not be deemed to: (1) modify any provision of a water service contract that addresses municipal and industrial water shortage policies; (2) affect or limit Interior's authority to adopt, modify, or implement municipal and industrial water shortage policies; (3) affect allocations to CVP municipal and industrial contractors; (4) affect the allocation of water to Friant Division contractors; or (5) result in the involuntary reduction in contract water allocations to individuals or entities with contracts to receive water from the Friant Division. Requires Interior to develop and implement a program to allow existing CVP agricultural water service contractors within the Sacramento River Watershed to reschedule water, provided for under their water service contracts, from one year to the next. (Sec. 505) Declares that nothing in this Act preempts or modifies any existing obligation of the United States under federal reclamation law to operate the CVP in conformity with state law, including established water rights priorities. TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS (Sec. 601) Includes the Kettleman City Community Services District within the CVP's authorized service area. Requires Interior to enter a long-term contract with such district for the delivery of up to 900 acre-feet of CVP water for municipal and industrial use, limited to the minimal quantity necessary to meet immediate needs if local supplies or SWP allocations are insufficient. (Sec. 602) Amends the CVPIA to establish an advisory board to make recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior regarding expenditures from the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund. Directs Interior, for each fiscal year, to consult with the advisory board to submit to Congress a plan for the expenditure of all of the funds deposited into the Restoration Fund during the preceding fiscal year. Requires the plan to include an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of each expenditure. Requires the advisory board to submit: (1) annually to Congress and Interior recommendations regarding priorities and spending levels on projects and programs; and (2) biennially to Congress details regarding progress on certain fish, wildlife, and water management and conservation actions. (Sec. 603) Sets forth requirements concerning the accounting of CVP water credited to the quantity of CVP yield, excluding CVP water released pursuant to U.S. Department of the Interior Record of Decision, Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report, dated December 2000, used to implement an action undertaken for a fishery beneficial purpose that was not imposed by agreements pertaining to the CVP under applicable state or federal law existing on October 30, 1992. Prohibits reclamation policies and allocations from being based upon a premise that CVP contract supplies are supplemental or secondary to any other contractor source of supply. (Sec. 604) Directs Interior to implement an updated plan under the CVPIA to increase the yield of the CVP by the amount dedicated to fish and wildlife purposes. Sets forth a potential amendment that would automatically reduce by 25% the annual quantity of CVP yield that is dedicated and managed for fish, wildlife, and habitat restoration purposes, and for assisting California in protecting waters of the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary, if: (1) the updated plan has not increased CVP yield by 800,000 acre-feet within five years after enactment of this Act; and (2) by March 15, 2021, and any year thereafter the quantity of CVP water forecasted to be made available to all water service or repayment contractors of the CVP is below 50% of the total quantity of water to be made available under such contracts. (Currently, Interior is authorized to temporarily reduce deliveries of the quantity of water dedicated for such purposes by up to 25% whenever reductions due to hydrologic circumstances are imposed upon CVP agricultural deliveries.) (Sec. 605) Prohibits Interior and Commerce from distinguishing between natural-spawned and hatchery-spawned or otherwise artificially propagated strains of a species in making any determination under the ESA that relates to any anadromous or pelagic fish species that resides in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta or tributary rivers. (Sec. 606) Directs Interior to negotiate with interested local water and power providers to transfer ownership, control, and operation of the CVP's New Melones Unit to interested local water and power providers in California. Requires Interior to notify Congress every six months regarding the status of such negotiations, past and present formal discussions, and any actions that the United States should take to finalize the transfer agreement. (Sec. 607) Directs Reclamation, in carrying out the climate change adaptation program, to expand opportunities and expedite assessments, with nonfederal partners, of risks to the water supply of sub-basins and watersheds within major Reclamation river basins. Requires Reclamation to ensure timely decision and expedited implementation of adaptation and mitigation strategies developed through the special study process. Makes nonfederal partners responsible for 100% of the special study costs. (Sec. 608) Prohibits Interior, in operation of the CVP's Trinity River Division, from making releases from Lewiston Dam in excess of the volume for each water-year type (i.e., critically dry, dry, normal, wet, extremely wet) required by Interior's record of decision in the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report dated December 2000. (Sec. 609) Expands the purposes of the CVPIA to include: (1) ensuring that certain water dedicated to fish and wildlife purposes is replaced and provided to CVP water contractors by December 31, 2018, at the lowest cost reasonably achievable, and (2) facilitating and expediting CVPIA water transfers. (Sec. 610) Redefines "anadromous fish" under the CVPIA to: (1) restrict the definition to only native stocks of salmon (including steelhead) and sturgeon that were present in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers as of October 30, 1992, and that ascend those rivers and their tributaries to reproduce after maturing in San Francisco Bay or the Pacific Ocean, and (2) exclude striped bass and American shad. (Sec. 611) Directs Interior to publish an annual report detailing instream flow releases from the CVP and the SWP, their explicit purpose and authority, and all measured environmental benefit of such releases. (Sec. 612) Provides Klamath Project contractors with all the rights and responsibilities extended to applicants under the ESA consultation process if Reclamation initiates or reinitiates consultation with the USFWS or the NMFS with respect to construction or operation of that project. TITLE VII--WATER SUPPLY PERMITTING ACT Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act (Sec. 703) Establishes 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 qualifying projects (defined as new surface water storage projects in the states covered under the Act of June 17, 1902, on lands administered by Interior or USDA, exclusive of any easement, right-of-way, lease, or any private holding). Directs Reclamation: (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 Reclamation 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 Reclamation. 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 title all state agencies that have jurisdiction over the project, that are required to conduct or issue a review, or that are required to make a determination on issuing a permit, license, or approval for the project. (Sec. 704) Lists as Reclamation's principal responsibilities under this title: (1) to serve as the point of contact for applicants, state agencies, Indian tribes, and others regarding proposed qualifying projects; (2) to 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) to coordinate all federal agency reviews necessary for the development and construction of qualifying projects. (Sec. 705) Requires each cooperating agency to submit to Reclamation: (1) a time frame 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. (Sec. 706) Authorizes Interior to accept and expend funds contributed by a nonfederal public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit of that entity related to a qualifying project. Directs Interior to ensure that all final permit decisions are made available to the public, including on the Internet. TITLE VIII--BUREAU OF RECLAMATION PROJECT STREAMLINING Bureau of Reclamation Project Streamlining Act (Sec. 803) Sets forth provisions governing feasibility studies for water projects initiated by Interior under the Reclamation Act of 1902 (project studies). Requires a project study initiated after enactment of this title to: (1) result in the completion of a final feasibility report within three years; (2) have a maximum federal cost of $3 million; and (3) ensure that personnel from the local project area, region, and Reclamation's headquarters levels concurrently conduct the required review. Sets forth factors for extending such time line for complex projects. Requires Interior to notify Congress of any determinations that a project is complex. Requires Interior, within 90 days after the initiation of a project study, to: (1) initiate the process for completing reviews, including environmental reviews, required to be completed as part of such study; (2) convene a meeting of federal, tribal, and state agencies required to act; and (3) provide information that will enable required reviews and analyses to be conducted by other agencies in a thorough and timely manner. Directs Interior to submit to Congress, and make publicly available, information regarding the status of the implementation of this Act and the relevant project studies. Requires: (1) an interim report within 18 months after enactment of this Act, and (2) a final report within four years after enactment of this Act. (Sec. 804) Directs Interior to: (1) expedite the completion of any ongoing project study initiated before the enactment of this title; and (2) proceed directly to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design of a project that it determines is justified. (Sec. 805) Sets forth requirements applicable to: (1) project studies initiated after enactment of this title for which an environmental impact statement is prepared under NEPA; (2) other project studies initiated before such enactment for which an environmental review process document is prepared under NEPA; and (3) any project study for the development of a nonfederally owned and operated surface water storage project for which Interior determines there is a demonstrable federal interest and that is located in a river basin where other Reclamation water projects are located, that will create additional water supplies that support Reclamation water projects or that will become integrated into the operation of Reclamation water projects. Requires Interior to: annually prepare a list of all such studies that do not have adequate funding for study completion; develop and implement a coordinated environmental review process for the development of such studies; identify early all federal, state, and local government agencies and Indian tribes that may have jurisdiction and that may be required to act, which the federal lead agency shall invite to become participating or cooperating agencies; issue guidance regarding the use of programmatic approaches to carry out the environmental review process; and establish an electronic database and issue reporting requirements to make publicly available the status and progress with respect to compliance with applicable NEPA requirements and other action required for a project study. Sets forth the authorities and responsibilities of the joint lead agency, which may be a project sponsor, and the federal lead agency in the environmental review process, including: (1) the preparation and use of environmental documents; (2) establishing a plan for coordinating public and agency participation; (3) working with cooperating and participating agencies to identify and resolve issues that could delay process completion or result in the denial of any approval required for the project study; and (4) establishing, upon request, memoranda of agreement with the project sponsor, Indian tribes, and state and local governments to carry out the early coordination activities. Requires a federal lead agency to serve in that capacity for the entirety of all nonfederal projects that will be integrated into a larger system owned, operated, or administered by Reclamation. Directs Interior, upon determining that a project can be expedited by a nonfederal sponsor and that there is a demonstrable federal interest in expediting the project, to advance it as a nonfederal project. Requires a federal jurisdictional agency to complete any required approval or decision for the environmental review process on an expeditious basis. Provides for a reduction of funds for the office of the head of such an agency that fails to render such a decision by a specified deadline. Requires such funds to be made available (transferred) to the division of the federal jurisdictional agency charged with rendering the decision by not later than one day after the specified deadline and once each week thereafter until a final decision is rendered. Directs the agency, within 10 days after the last date in a fiscal year on which funds of the federal jurisdictional agency may be transferred with respect to an individual decision, to provide written notification to Congress regarding the decision, project study, and transfer amounts. Allows Reclamation to establish memoranda of agreement with project sponsors, Indian tribes, and state and local governments to carry out early coordination activities and provide technical assistance. Directs Interior to: (1) survey the use by Reclamation of categorical exclusions in projects since 2005 and propose a new categorical exclusion for a category of activities if merited, and (2) establish a program to measure and report on progress made toward improving and expediting the planning and environmental review process. Requires the Government Accountability Office to submit reports to Congress (within 5 years and within 10 years after enactment of this Act) evaluating the impact of project acceleration measures on project delivery, compliance with environmental laws, and environmental impacts of projects. Sets forth conditions concerning the categorical exclusion treatment of repairs, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of Reclamation surface water storage projects that are in operation or under construction when damaged by an event or incident that results in a declaration by the President of a major disaster or emergency pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. (Sec. 806) Requires Interior to develop and submit annually a Report to Congress on Future Water Project Development that identifies: (1) the costs and benefits of, the nonfederal interests associated with, and the support for project reports, proposed project studies, and proposed modifications to authorized water projects and project studies that are related to Reclamation's missions and authorities, that require specific congressional authorization, that have not been congressionally authorized, that have not been included in any previous annual report, and that, if authorized, could be carried out by Reclamation; and (2) any project study that was expedited under this title. Specifies surface water storage, rural water supply, wastewater, and groundwater projects to be included in such studies and reports. TITLE IX--ACCELERATED REVENUE, REPAYMENT, AND SURFACE WATER STORAGE ENHANCEMENT Accelerated Revenue, Repayment, and Surface Water Storage Enhancement Act (Sec. 902) Directs 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, subject to exceptions for repayment contracts under which the contractor has previously negotiated for prepayment. Requires a specified percentage of certain receipts generated from prepayment of contracts under this title, 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 title, to be directed to the Reclamation Surface Water Storage Account. Requires the Secretary to allocate amounts in such Account to fund 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; and reduced adverse impacts to fish and wildlife from water storage or diversion projects within watersheds associated with water storage projects funded under this Act. TITLE X--SAFETY OF DAMS (Sec. 1001) Amends the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to authorize Interior, subject to a feasibility study, to develop additional project benefits (including additional conservation storage capacity) through the construction of new or supplementary works when it exercises its authority to modify Reclamation dams and related facilities to preserve their structural safety, provided that: (1) the additional project benefits will promote more efficient management of water and water-related facilities, (2) the feasibility study is authorized under the Federal Water Project Recreation Act of 1965, and (3) the costs are agreed to in writing between Interior and the project proponents and are allocated to the authorized purposes of the structure and repaid consistent with federal reclamation law. TITLE XI--WATER RIGHTS PROTECTION Water Rights Protection Act (Sec. 1103) Prohibits Interior and USDA from: conditioning or withholding the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement (permit) on the limitation or encumbrance of any water right or the transfer of any water right to the United States or any other designee or any other impairment of any water right under state law by federal or state action; requiring any water user (including a federally recognized Indian tribe) to apply for or acquire a water right in the name of the United States under state law as a condition of such a permit; asserting jurisdiction over groundwater withdrawals or impacts on groundwater resources, unless consistent with state groundwater resource laws, regulations, and policies; or infringing on the rights and obligations of a state in evaluating, allocating, and adjudicating state waters originating on or under, or flowing from, land owned or managed by the federal government. (Sec. 1104) Requires Interior and USDA to coordinate with states to ensure that federal actions are consistent with, and impose no greater restrictions or regulatory requirements than, state groundwater laws and programs. Prohibits Interior and USDA from taking actions that adversely affect: (1) water rights granted by a state, (2) a state's authority to adjudicate water rights, (3) groundwater withdrawal conditions and conservation measures established by a state, or (4) the use of groundwater in accordance with state law.",2023-01-11T13:30:35Z, 114-s-1694,114,s,1694,Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-06-25,2015-12-16,Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 332.,Senate,"Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]",WA,D,C000127,1,"Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill expands the purposes of the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program to include: protection, mitigation, and enhancement of fish and wildlife and the recovery and maintenance of self-sustaining harvestable populations of fish and other aquatic life, both anadromous and resident species, throughout their historic distribution range in the Yakima River Basin; improving the reliability of municipal, industrial, and domestic water supply and use purposes, especially during drought years; implementation of the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan to realize water savings of not less than 85,000 acre feet; encouraging an increase in the use of water transfers, leasing, markets, and other voluntary transactions among public and private entities to enhance water management in the Yakima River Basin; improving the resilience of the ecosystems, economies, and communities in the Basin as they face drought and other changes; and authorizing and implementing the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan as Phase III of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project. The bill defines "Integrated Plan" and "Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Plan" as the plan and activities authorized by the Yakima River Basin Enhancement Project Phase III Act of 2015 to be carried out in cooperation with, and in addition to, activities of the state of Washington and the Yakama Nation. (Sec. 3) The bill directs the Conservation Advisory Group to provide recommendations to advance the purposes and programs of the Yakima River Basin Enhancement Project. Federal and state governments may fund up to the 17.5% of the local cost share of the Basin Conservation Program in exchange for the long-term use of the conserved water. The bill also allows water acquisition efforts to continue as needed to provide water to be used by the Yakima Project Manager for instream flow purposes and to allow voluntary water acquisitions to provide improved instream flows for anadromous and resident fish and other aquatic life. (Sec. 4) The bill increases funding for: (1) the Wapato Irrigation Project, (2) development of additional storage capacity at Lake Cle Elum, (3) the Interim Comprehensive Basin Operating Plan, and (4) environmental compliance activities in the Yakima River. The Yakima Indian Nation is redesignated as the Yakama Nation. The Department of the Interior may conduct studies to evaluate measures to further Yakima Project purposes on tributaries to the Yakima River. (Sec. 5) The bill directs Interior to: implement the Integrated Plan as Phase III of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, subject to feasibility studies, environmental reviews, cost-benefit analyses, and available appropriations; implement an initial development phase of the Integrated Plan and develop plans for the intermediate and final development phases of the Integrated Plan; complete upstream and downstream fish passage facilities at Cle Elum Reservoir and another Yakima Project reservoir; negotiate long-term agreements for a pump plan and associated facilities to access and deliver inactive storage at Kachess Reservoir and a conveyance system to allow water transfers from Keechelus Reservoir to Kachess Reservoir ("K to K Pipeline"); participate in, provide funding for, and accept non-federal financing for water conservation projects intended to conserve 85,000 acre feet of water and for aquifer storage and recovery projects; conduct studies, feasibility analyses and environmental reviews of fish passage, water supply, conservation, habitat restoration projects, and other alternatives for the initial and future phases of the Integrated Plan; coordinate with and assist the state of Washington in implementing a robust water market to enhance water management in the Yakima River Basin; enter into cooperative agreements with, or make grants to, the Yakama Nation, the state of Washington, or other entities subject to a 50% non-federal cost-sharing requirement; and retain authority and discretion over the management of project supplies to optimize operational use and flexibility to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and treaty rights of the Yakama Nation. Interior, in conjunction with the state of Washington and in consultation with the Yakama Nation, must submit to specified congressional committees, not later than five years after the enactment of this Act, a progress report on the development and implementation of the Integrated Plan.",2023-01-11T13:30:37Z, 114-s-1657,114,s,1657,"Dams Accountability, Maintenance, and Safety Act",Water Resources Development,2015-06-24,2015-06-24,Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.,Senate,"Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]",WY,R,B001261,0,"Dams Accountability, Maintenance, and Safety Act Amends the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to authorize the Department of the Interior, subject to a feasibility study, to develop additional project benefits (including additional conservation storage capacity) through the construction of new or supplementary works when it exercises its authority to modify Bureau of Reclamation dams and related facilities to preserve their structural safety, provided that: (1) the additional project benefits will promote more efficient management of water and water-related facilities, (2) the feasibility study is authorized under the Federal Water Project Recreation Act of 1965, and (3) the costs are allocated to the authorized purposes of the structure and repaid consistent with federal reclamation law.",2023-01-11T13:30:39Z, 114-hr-2749,114,hr,2749,"Dams Accountability, Maintenance, and Safety Act",Water Resources Development,2015-06-12,2015-06-25,Subcommittee Hearings Held.,House,"Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-21]",CA,R,V000129,18,"Dams Accountability, Maintenance, and Safety Act Amends the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to authorize the Department of the Interior, subject to a feasibility study, to develop additional project benefits (including additional conservation storage capacity) through the construction of new or supplementary works when it exercises its authority to modify Bureau of Reclamation dams and related facilities to preserve their structural safety, provided that: (1) the additional project benefits will promote more efficient management of water and water-related facilities, (2) the feasibility study is authorized under the Federal Water Project Recreation Act of 1965, and (3) the costs are allocated to the authorized purposes of the structure and repaid consistent with federal reclamation law.",2023-01-11T13:30:55Z, 114-s-1552,114,s,1552,Clean Water for Rural Communities Act,Water Resources Development,2015-06-11,2015-06-18,Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-399.,Senate,"Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]",MT,R,D000618,1,"Clean Water for Rural Communities Act Authorizes the Department of the Interior to carry out the projects entitled: (1) the "Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System" in accordance with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water System Feasibility Study, which received funding from the Bureau of Reclamation on September 1, 2010; and (2) the "Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System" in accordance with the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System Feasibility Report. Defines the service areas of such projects in North Dakota and Montana. Directs Interior to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority and the Central Montana Regional Water Authority to provide federal assistance for the planning, design, and construction of such Water Systems. Sets forth the federal share of such costs and the authorized uses of federal funds, which exclude operation, maintenance, or replacement of the Water Systems. Directs the Western Area Power Administration to make available to the Dry-Redwater System a quantity of power (up to one and a half megawatt capacity) required to meet the System's pumping and incidental operation requirements between May 1 and October 31 of each year: (1) from the water intake facilities; and (2) through all pumping stations, water treatment facilities, reservoirs, storage tanks, and pipelines up to the point of delivery of water to all storage reservoirs and tanks and each entity that distributes water at retail to individual users. Makes the System eligible to receive such power only if it: (1) operates on a nonprofit basis, and (2) is constructed pursuant to the cooperative agreement with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority. Provides for the purchase of additional power. Makes the Authority responsible for: (1) charges for such additional power, (2) the costs of non-federal transmission and distribution system delivery and service arrangements, and (3) funding any upgrades to the transmission system owned by the Western Area Power Administration Basin Electric Power District and the Heartland Consumers Power District required to deliver power to the System. Authorizes appropriations and adjustments in authorized amounts in accordance with ordinary fluctuations in development costs.",2023-01-11T13:30:42Z, 114-hr-2689,114,hr,2689,"To clarify the scope of eligible water resources projects under the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 and the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, and for other purposes.",Water Resources Development,2015-06-09,2015-06-10,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Walters, Mimi [R-CA-45]",CA,R,W000820,38,"Defines "water resources project" and "water resources development project" to include water supply and environmental infrastructure projects, including projects designed to reclaim or reuse municipal wastewater or impaired surface or groundwater, for purposes of specified provisions of: (1) the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 concerning feasibility studies and feasibility reports for water resources projects, and (2) the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 concerning the annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development.",2023-01-11T13:30:58Z, 114-s-1533,114,s,1533,Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act,Water Resources Development,2015-06-09,2015-06-18,Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-399.,Senate,"Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]",WY,R,B001261,1,"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, exclusive of any easement, right-of-way, lease, or any private holding (qualifying projects). Directs 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 Department 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 its jurisdiction. Directs Interior to ensure that all final permit decisions are made available to the public, including on the Internet.",2023-01-11T13:30:43Z, 114-hr-2489,114,hr,2489,Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-05-21,2015-05-22,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.",House,"Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]",NY,D,M001185,1,"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.",2023-01-11T13:31:19Z, 114-hr-2492,114,hr,2492,"To direct the Secretary of the Army to provide for modification of certain Federal water resources development projects on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers, and for other purposes.",Water Resources Development,2015-05-21,2015-05-22,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Graham, Gwen [D-FL-2]",FL,D,G000575,21,"Directs the Department of the Army to operate the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint federal water resources projects on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia in a manner that ensures the maintenance of freshwater flows. Defines ""freshwater flows"" to mean the quality, quantity, timing, and variability of freshwater flows required to: (1) support and reestablish the ecological integrity of the rivers, commercial and recreational fisheries dependent on freshwater flows into Apalachicola Bay and adjacent waters, and thriving and diverse fish, wildlife, and plant populations having species composition, diversity, adaptability, and functional organization similar to those found prior to construction of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint projects; (2) restore and recover species that are endangered, threatened, or at risk; and (3) prevent significantly harmful adverse impacts to the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola River ecosystems. Requires the Army to: (1) complete the ongoing revision of the water control manuals for such projects and issue revised manuals that ensure the maintenance of freshwater flows; (2) ensure that operational modifications needed to maintain freshwater flows are achieved while providing system-wide balance in conservation storage through the maintenance of water levels within the same action zone for each of the project reservoirs; (3) enter into an arrangement for the National Academy of Sciences to carry out an independent peer review of each revised manual; and (4) obtain written approval from the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Geological Survey of each manual developed before a final manual may be issued.",2023-01-11T13:31:19Z, 114-s-1365,114,s,1365,Authorized Rural Water Projects Completion Act,Water Resources Development,2015-05-18,2015-06-18,Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-399.,Senate,"Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]",MT,D,T000464,6,"Authorized Rural Water Projects Completion Act TITLE I--RECLAMATION RURAL WATER CONSTRUCTION AND SETTLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION FUND Establishes the Reclamation Rural Water Construction and Settlement Implementation Fund, which shall consist of the Rural Water Project Account and the Reclamation Infrastructure and Settlement Implementation Account. Directs the Department of the Treasury to deposit into such Accounts for each of FY2015-FY2035 specified amounts of revenues that would otherwise be deposited in the reclamation fund established by the Reclamation Act of 1902. Prohibits making deposits in, or making funds available from, the Fund if doing so would increase the deficit. Terminates the Fund on September 30, 2035, and requires the unexpended and unobligated balance to be transferred to the reclamation fund. TITLE II--RURAL WATER PROJECTS Permits the Department of the Interior to use specified amounts available in the Rural Water Project Account, for each of FY2015-FY2035, to complete construction of rural water projects: (1) authorized to be carried out on or before this Act's enactment date, or (2) for which a feasibility study was submitted by February 27, 2015, pursuant to the Rural Water Supply Act of 2006 and an Act of Congress after enactment of this Act has authorized construction. Prohibits Interior from using any amounts from the Fund to pay for operation and maintenance costs of an authorized rural water project. Prohibits Interior from expending any amounts from the Fund to carry this out until development of: (1) programmatic goals that would enable the completion of construction of the authorized rural water projects as expeditiously as practicable and that reflect the goals and priorities identified in the laws authorizing the projects and the goals of the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006; and (2) funding prioritization criteria to serve as a methodology for distributing funds that take into account specified factors, including an evaluation of the urgent and compelling need for potable water supplies in the affected rural and tribal communities and the potential economic benefits of the expenditures on job creation and general economic development in such communities. TITLE III--RECLAMATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND SETTLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION Directs Interior to use specified amounts authorized to be expended from the Reclamation Infrastructure and Settlement Implementation Account for each of FY2015-FY2035 to: (1) provide authorized compensation to extinguish or otherwise resolve all monetary claims of an Indian tribe against the United States relating to use of tribal land by the United States for the generation of hydropower; or (2) complete construction, planning, and design of projects and implement provisions authorized under one or more Acts of Congress that resolve litigation involving the United States and the rights of federally recognized Indian tribes to access, use, or manage water resources or that implement approved agreements pursuant to which such tribes agree to some limitation on the exercise of such rights.",2023-01-11T13:31:07Z, 114-hr-2346,114,hr,2346,North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act,Water Resources Development,2015-05-14,2015-06-04,Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.,House,"Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]",VA,R,W000804,2,North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act This bill amends the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to extend the authorization for the Department of the Interior to carry out certain wetlands conservation projects through FY2020.,2023-01-11T13:31:24Z, 114-hr-2273,114,hr,2273,To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to amend the Definite Plan Report for the Seedskadee Project to enable the use of the active capacity of the Fontenelle Reservoir.,Water Resources Development,2015-05-12,2016-07-06,Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 546.,House,"Rep. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY-At Large]",WY,R,L000571,0,"(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 14, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) (Sec. 1) This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the state of Wyoming, to amend the Definite Plan Report for the Seedskadee Project authorized under the Colorado River Storage Project Act to provide for the study, design, planning, and construction activities that will enable the use of all active storage capacity of Fontenelle Dam and Reservoir, including the placement of sufficient riprap on the upstream face of the Dam to allow such storage capacity to be used for authorized Project purposes. Interior may enter into: (1) any contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other agreement that is necessary to carry out this Act; and (2) contracts with Wyoming for division of any additional active capacity made available under this Act. Interior shall enter into a cooperative agreement with Wyoming for planning, design, related preconstruction activities, and construction of any modification of the Fontenelle Dam under this Act, which shall specify the responsibilities of Interior and Wyoming regarding: (1) completing the planning and final design of such modification, (2) any environmental and cultural resource compliance activities required for such modification, and (3) the construction of such modification. As a condition of providing additional storage, Wyoming shall provide to Interior funds for any work carried out to do so.",2023-01-11T13:27:14Z, 114-s-1291,114,s,1291,A bill to authorize early repayment of obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within the Northport Irrigation District in the State of Nebraska.,Water Resources Development,2015-05-12,2015-06-18,Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-399.,Senate,"Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]",NE,R,F000463,0,"Authorizes any landowner within the Northport Irrigation District in Nebraska to repay, at any time, the construction costs of project facilities allocated to the landowner's land within the District. Provides that upon discharge in full of the obligation for repayment of all such costs, the parcels of land shall not be subject to the ownership and full-cost pricing limitations under federal reclamation law. Directs the Department of the Interior, upon request, to provide to the landowner who has repaid such costs in full a certificate acknowledging that the landholding is free of such limitations.",2023-01-11T13:31:09Z, 114-s-1305,114,s,1305,A bill to amend the Colorado River Storage Project Act to authorize the use of the active capacity of the Fontenelle Reservoir.,Water Resources Development,2015-05-12,2015-09-09,Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 215.,Senate,"Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]",WY,R,B001261,1,"(Sec. 1) This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the state of Wyoming, to amend the Definite Plan Report for the Seedskadee Project (authorized under the Colorado River Storage Project Act) to provide for the study, design, planning, and construction activities that will enable the use of all active storage capacity of Fontenelle Dam and Reservoir, including the placement of sufficient riprap on the upstream face of the Dam to allow such storage capacity to be used for authorized Project purposes. Interior may enter into: (1) any contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other agreement that is necessary to carry out this Act; and (2) contracts with Wyoming for division of any additional active capacity made available under this Act. Interior must enter into a cooperative agreement with Wyoming for planning, design, related preconstruction activities, and construction of any modification of the Fontenelle Dam, which shall specify the responsibilities of Interior and Wyoming regarding: (1) completing the planning and final design of the modification of the Dam, (2) any environmental and cultural resource compliance activities required for the modification of the Dam, and (3) the construction of the modification of the Dam.",2023-01-11T13:29:47Z, 114-hr-2235,114,hr,2235,National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act,Water Resources Development,2015-05-05,2015-06-04,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Crawford, Eric A. ""Rick"" [R-AR-1]",AR,R,C001087,3,"National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act This bill directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to impose a charge for conducting mitigation fishery activities in connection with federal water resources development projects carried out by water development agencies (the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, or the Tennessee Valley Authority). The agencies must pay the charge in accordance with a fishery mitigation plan developed and approved by the USFWS Director and the agency head. ""Mitigation fishery activities"" are the rearing and stocking of native and nonnative fish to replace or maintain fishery resources or harvest levels lost as a result of a project, including project planning, population assessment and evaluation, genetic monitoring, broodstock development, and fish health sampling. USFWS's charges must be reasonably related to expenditures necessary to: (1) operate, maintain, and rehabilitate certain USFWS-owned and -operated mitigation fishery facilities, hatcheries, and health centers; and (2) conduct mitigation fishery activities, including expenditures for personnel, transportation, utilities, contractual services, fish feed, supplies, equipment, routine maintenance, deferred maintenance, fish eggs, technical support, fish health, management and administration, planning, outreach and education, and hatchery product evaluations. The bill lists the applicable mitigation fishery facilities in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.",2023-01-11T13:27:15Z, 114-hr-2085,114,hr,2085,"To direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into negotiations with interested local water and power providers for the transfer of ownership, control, and operation of the New Melones Unit, Central Valley Project, and for other purposes.",Water Resources Development,2015-04-29,2015-05-26,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Denham, Jeff [R-CA-10]",CA,R,D000612,3,"Directs the Department of the Interior to: (1) enter into negotiations for the transfer of ownership, control, and operation of the New Melones Unit, Central Valley Project to interested local water and power providers within California; (2) report to specified congressional committees every six months on such negotiations, on actions Interior recommends the United States take to finalize an agreement for such transfer, and on the terms of any agreement reached; and (3) transfer such Unit in accordance with such an agreement. Defines: (1) the "New Melones Unit, Central Valley Project" to mean all federal reclamation projects located within or diverting water from or to the watershed of the Stanislaus and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries; and (2) "interested local water and power providers" to include the Calaveras County Water District, Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District, Modesto Irrigation District, Oakdale Irrigation District, Stockton East Water District, South San Joaquin Irrigation District, Tuolumne Utilities District, Turlock Irrigation District, and Union Public Utilities District.",2023-01-11T13:27:33Z, 114-hr-2097,114,hr,2097,Bureau of Reclamation Surface Water Storage Streamlining Act,Water Resources Development,2015-04-29,2015-05-26,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]",WA,R,N000189,4,"Bureau of Reclamation Surface Water Storage Streamlining Act Sets forth provisions governing feasibility studies for surface water storage projects initiated by the Department of the Interior under the Reclamation Act of 1902 (project studies). Requires a project study initiated after enactment of this Act to: (1) result in the completion of a final feasibility report within three years; (2) have a maximum federal cost of $3 million; and (3) ensure that personnel from the local project area, region, and headquarters levels of the Bureau of Reclamation concurrently conduct the required review. Sets forth factors for extending such timeline for complex projects. Requires Interior, within 90 days after the initiation of a project study, to: (1) initiate the process for completing reviews, including environmental reviews, required to be completed as part of such study; (2) convene a meeting of federal, tribal, and state agencies required to act; and (3) provide information that will enable required reviews and analyses to be conducted by other agencies in a thorough and timely manner. Directs Interior to: (1) expedite the completion of any ongoing project study initiated before the enactment of this Act; and (2) proceed directly to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design of a project that it determines is justified. Sets forth requirements applicable to: (1) project studies initiated after enactment of this Act for which an environmental impact statement is prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); (2) other project studies initiated before enactment for which an environmental review process document is prepared under NEPA; and (3) any project study for the development of a non-federally owned and operated surface water storage project for which Interior determines there is a demonstrable federal interest and that is located in a river basin where other Bureau water projects are located, that will create additional water supplies that support Bureau water projects, or that will become integrated into the operation of Bureau water projects. Requires Interior to: annually prepare a list of all such studies that do not have adequate funding for study completion; develop and implement a coordinated environmental review process for the development of such studies; identify early all federal, state, and local government agencies and Indian tribes that may have jurisdiction and that may be required to act, which the federal lead agency shall invite to become participating or cooperating agencies; issue guidance regarding the use of programmatic approaches to carry out the environmental review process; and establish an electronic database and issue reporting requirements to make publicly available the status and progress with respect to compliance with applicable NEPA requirements and other action required for a project study. Sets forth the authorities and responsibilities of the joint lead agency, which may be a project sponsor, and the federal lead agency in the environmental review process, including: (1) the preparation and use of environmental documents; (2) establishing a plan for coordinating public and agency participation; (3) working with cooperating and participating agencies to identify and resolve issues that could delay process completion or result in the denial of any approval required for the project study; and (4) establishing, upon request, memoranda of agreement with the project sponsor, Indian tribes, and state and local governments to carry out the early coordination activities. Requires a federal lead agency to serve in that capacity for the entirety of all non-federal projects that will be integrated into a larger system owned, operated, or administered by the Bureau. Directs Interior, upon determining that a project can be expedited by a non-federal sponsor and that there is a demonstrable federal interest in expediting the project, to advance it as a non-federal project. Requires a federal jurisdictional agency to complete any required approval or decision for the environmental review process on an expeditious basis. Provides for a reduction of funds for such an agency that fails to render such a decision by a specified deadline. Directs Interior to: (1) survey the use by the Bureau of categorical exclusions in projects since 2005 and propose a new categorical exclusion for a category of activities if merited, and (2) establish a program to measure and report on progress made toward improving and expediting the planning and environmental review process. Requires Interior to develop and submit annually a Report to Congress on Future Surface Water Storage Development that identifies: (1) the costs and benefits of, the non-federal interests associated with, and the support for project reports, proposed project studies, and proposed modifications to authorized surface water storage projects and project studies that are related to the missions and authorities of the Bureau, that require specific congressional authorization, that have not been congressionally authorized, that have not been included in any previous annual report, and that, if authorized, could be carried out by the Bureau; and (2) any project study that was expedited under this Act.",2023-01-11T13:27:33Z, 114-hr-1772,114,hr,1772,Delaware River Basin Conservation Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-04-14,2015-07-23,Subcommittee Hearings Held.,House,"Rep. Carney, John C., Jr. [D-DE-At Large]",DE,D,C001083,17,"Delaware River Basin Conservation Act of 2015 Requires the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish a nonregulatory Delaware River Basin restoration program, under which it 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; (2) adopt a Basin-wide strategy that supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities, targets cost-effective projects with measurable results, and maximizes conservation outcomes with no net gain of federal full-time equivalent employees; and (3) establish voluntary grant and technical assistance programs in accordance with this Act. 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 USFWS to: (1) establish the Delaware River Basin restoration grant program to provide competitive matching grants to carry out restoration and protection activities within the Basin, and (2) develop criteria for such grant program to ensure that funded activities accomplish specified purposes and advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the strategy adopted under this Act. Authorizes the USFWS to contract with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or another organization that offers grant management services.",2023-01-11T13:27:43Z, 114-s-921,114,s,921,Delaware River Basin Conservation Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-04-14,2016-07-07,Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 548.,Senate,"Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]",DE,D,C000174,6,"(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Delaware River Basin Conservation Act of 2015 (Sec. 4) This bill requires the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish a nonregulatory Delaware River Basin restoration program, under which it 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; (2) adopt a basin-wide strategy that supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities, targets cost-effective projects with measurable results, and maximizes conservation outcomes with no net gain of federal full-time equivalent employees; and (3) establish the voluntary grant and technical assistance programs in accordance with this bill. ""Basin"" is defined 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. (Sec. 5) The USFWS shall: (1) establish the Delaware River Basin restoration grant program to provide competitive matching grants to carry out restoration and protection activities within the basin, and (2) develop criteria to ensure that funded activities accomplish specified purposes and advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the strategy adopted under this bill. The USFWS may contract with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or another organization that offers grant management services. (Sec. 6) The USFWS shall submit to Congress annually a report on the implementation of this bill, including a description of each project that has received funding. (Sec. 7) Appropriations are authorized to carry out this bill for FY2016-FY2021. The USFWS shall use at least 75% of any amount made available for each fiscal year to carry out the grant program and to provide or provide for technical assistance under such program.",2023-01-11T13:27:24Z, 114-hr-1710,114,hr,1710,Drought Resilience Investment Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-03-26,2015-03-27,Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.,House,"Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]",CA,D,M001166,3,"Drought Resilience Investment Act of 2015 Amends the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 to exempt a water resources infrastructure project receiving federal credit assistance under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, that is carried out in a state during any period in which a state of drought declaration issued by the state's governor is in effect, from the prohibition against being financed with proceeds of any: (1) obligation that is tax exempt; or (2) qualified tax credit bond or a Build America Bond. Specifies that a state of drought declaration shall remain in effect until the date on which the governor rescinds the declaration. Terminates this Act on September 30, 2018.",2023-01-11T13:27:58Z, 114-hr-1370,114,hr,1370,To direct the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to revise certain authorized purposes described in the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System Master Water Control Manual.,Water Resources Development,2015-03-16,2015-03-17,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6]",MO,R,G000546,1,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 and elevate flood control as the highest priority of authorized purposes of the Corps at all times.,2023-01-11T13:28:09Z, 114-s-741,114,s,741,Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-03-16,2015-03-16,Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1530; text of measure as introduced: CR S1530-1531),Senate,"Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]",MD,D,C000141,3,"Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2015 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program to provide grants in each of FY2015-FY2019 for programs or projects to increase the resiliency or adaptability of water systems to any ongoing or forecasted changes to the hydrologic conditions of a U.S. region. A water system is a community water system, a treatment works, a decentralized wastewater treatment system for domestic sewage, a groundwater storage and replenishment system, a system for transport and delivery of water for irrigation or conservation, or a natural or engineered system that manages floodwater. The EPA must give priority to owners or operators of water systems that are at the greatest and most immediate risk of facing significant negative impacts due to changing hydrologic conditions. The EPA must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the list of grant applications funded includes a substantial number that propose to use innovative approaches that meet at least one of these goals: promote more efficient water use, conservation, reuse, or recycling; use decentralized, low-impact development technologies and nonstructural approaches; reduce stormwater runoff or flooding by protecting or enhancing natural ecosystem functions; modify, upgrade, enhance, or replace existing water system infrastructure in response to changing hydrologic conditions; improve water quality or quantity for agricultural and municipal uses; and provide multiple benefits, including water supply enhancement or demand reduction, water quality protection or improvement, increased flood protection, and ecosystem protection or improvement.",2023-01-11T13:27:51Z, 114-hr-1278,114,hr,1278,Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-03-04,2015-03-23,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Capps, Lois [D-CA-24]",CA,D,C001036,18,"Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2015 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program to provide grants in each of FY2016-FY2020 for programs or projects to increase the resiliency or adaptability of water systems to any ongoing or forecasted changes to the hydrologic conditions of a U.S. region. A water system is a community water system, a treatment works, a decentralized wastewater treatment system for domestic sewage, a groundwater storage and replenishment system, a system for transport and delivery of water for irrigation or conservation, or a natural or engineered system that manages floodwaters. The EPA must give priority to owners or operators of water systems that are at the greatest and most immediate risk of facing significant negative impacts due to changing hydrologic conditions. The EPA must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the list of grant applications funded includes a substantial number that propose to utilize innovative approaches that meet at least one of these goals: promote more efficient water use, conservation, reuse, or recycling; use decentralized, low-impact development technologies and nonstructural approaches; reduce stormwater runoff or flooding by protecting or enhancing natural ecosystem functions; modify, upgrade, enhance, or replace existing water system infrastructure in response to changing hydrologic conditions; improve water quality or quantity for agricultural and municipal uses; and provide multiple benefits, including water supply enhancement or demand reduction, water quality protection or improvement, increased flood protection, and ecosystem protection or improvement.",2023-01-11T13:28:12Z, 114-hres-142,114,hres,142,"Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that in order to better understand water availability, sustainability, and security at a national scale, the United States should prioritize the assessment of the quality and quantity of surface water and groundwater resources, and produce a national water census with the same sense of urgency that was incorporated in the ""Man on the Moon"" project to address the inevitable challenges of ""Peak Water"".",Water Resources Development,2015-03-04,2015-05-19,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]",PA,D,C001090,5,"Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the United States should rapidly transition to a sustainable, secure water economy that prioritizes ecological flows; (2) all federal agencies whose missions include water should coordinate their efforts and collaborate with state and local water authorities; and (3) the United States should prioritize the assessment of the quality and quantity of surface water and groundwater resources and produce a national water census to address the inevitable challenges of Peak Water.",2023-01-11T13:27:57Z, 114-s-653,114,s,653,Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-03-04,2015-06-11,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",Senate,"Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]",MD,D,C000141,1,"(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.) Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) Amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to: (1) declare that additional research is required into increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of new and existing treatment works through alternative approaches, including non-structural alternatives, decentralized approaches, energy use efficiency, water use efficiency, and actions to extract energy from wastewater; (2) require each water resources research and technology institute to arrange for research that fosters the exploration of new ideas that expand understanding of water resources (currently, of water-related phenomena); (3) direct the Department of the Interior to report to specified congressional committees annually on each institute's compliance with matching fund requirements and provisions permitting the use of funds only to reimburse direct cost expenditures incurred for the conduct of the water resources research program; and (4) authorize appropriations for such institutes through FY2020.",2023-01-11T13:27:54Z, 114-s-612,114,s,612,WIIN Act,Water Resources Development,2015-02-27,2016-12-16,Became Public Law No: 114-322.,Senate,"Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]",TX,R,C001056,33,"Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act or the WIIN Act TITLE I--WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT Water Resources Development Act of 2016 Subtitle A--General Provisions (Sec. 1101) This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enter cooperative agreements with youth service and conservation corps organizations for services on Corps projects. (Sec. 1102) The Corps of Engineers must use its existing channel depths and dimensions authority under the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1915 to carry out navigation safety activities at harbor or inland harbor projects eligible for Corps operation and maintenance under the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (WRDA 1986), including at entrances, bends, sidings, and turning places necessary for the free movement of boats. (Sec. 1103) The bill makes permanent a requirement under WRDA 1986 that the Corps of Engineers use at least 10% (currently, exactly 10%) of the difference between the funds made available for a fiscal year to pay operations and maintenance costs of harbors and inland harbors and the funds that were available for such costs for FY2012 as priority funding for emerging harbor projects that transit less than 1 million tons of cargo annually. (Sec. 1104) The Corps of Engineers must report on its inventory and assessment of the structural condition of all federal breakwaters and jetties protecting harbors and inland harbors. (Sec. 1105) The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA 2007) is amended to require the Corps of Engineers to consider regional (currently, local) communities when it makes recommendations for harbor and navigation improvements that are not justified solely by national economic development benefits. (Sec. 1106) The Corps of Engineers may enter agreements to assume the operation and maintenance costs of an alternative project to maintenance dredging for a federal navigation channel if the costs of the operation and maintenance of the alternative project, and any remaining costs necessary for maintaining the federal navigation channel, are less than the costs of maintaining such channel without the alternative project. (Sec. 1107) The bill makes permanent the Corps of Engineers' authority to use available priority funds (the difference between funds made available for operations and maintenance costs assigned to commercial navigation of harbors under WRDA 1986 each fiscal year and those funds made available for FY2012) for underserved harbors and projects within the Great Lakes Navigation System. (Sec. 1108) If the target total budget resources available to the Corps of Engineers from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) for a fiscal year is lower than the resources for the previous fiscal year, the target shall be adjusted to be the lesser of: (1) 103% of the total appropriated for the previous fiscal year, or (2) 100% of the harbor maintenance taxes received in the previous fiscal year. (Sec. 1109) The Corps of Engineers may maintain federally authorized harbors of refuge to restore and maintain authorized dimensions. (Sec. 1110) The bill amends the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA 2014) to revise the payment allocations to donor ports and energy transfer ports through the establishment of a new category of medium-sized donor ports that are eligible for funding if they annually collect between $5 million and $15 million of total HMTF funding (donor ports must currently collect at least $15 million annually to be eligible). The bill modifies the method of transferring through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection payments that ports may currently elect to provide to importers or shippers. The new process: (1) excludes shippers from being eligible recipients of such payments, and (2) requires payment calculations by the Corps of Engineers based on discretionary cargo (maritime cargo for which the U.S. port of unlading is different than the U.S. port of entry) that is shipped through the ports and that is most at risk of diversion to seaports outside the United States. The Corps of Engineers must determine the top importers at a port electing to provide such payments, as ranked by value of discretionary cargo, and payments shall be limited to those top importers. The bill extends through FY2020, or through FY2025 if target total budget resources are met, the authorization for funding to such donor ports, medium-sized donor ports, and energy transfer ports for: (1) payments to importers, (2) maintenance dredging that benefits commercial navigation at harbors, or (3) environmental remediation related to dredging berths and federal navigation channels. (Sec. 1111) The bill extends to contracts for physical construction that have not been awarded before enactment of WRRDA 2014 the formula that calculates the harbor deepening costs to be paid by nonfederal interests during construction for harbor or inland harbor navigation projects. For the portion of a project that has a depth in excess of 45 feet but not in excess of 50 feet, the cost to be paid by nonfederal interests is decreased from 50% to 25% of the cost of construction for that portion. (Sec. 1112) The Corps of Engineers must publish guidance for the implementation of WRRDA 2014 provisions concerning maintenance of emerging ports and Great Lakes ports. (Sec. 1113) The Corps of Engineers may permit a nonfederal interest to carry out maintenance activities necessary to ensure that a navigation project is maintained to not less than the minimum project dimensions. Costs incurred by the nonfederal interest are eligible for reimbursement up to the estimated federal cost, but are limited to costs directly related to the performance of work for the federal government and the actual fiscal year appropriations for that portion of maintenance dredging. Any reimbursement is subject to the nonfederal interest complying with all federal laws and regulations that would apply if such maintenance activities were carried out by the Corps. In carrying out the maintenance activities, the nonfederal interest shall: (1) provide equipment at no cost to the federal government, and (2) hold the United States free from damages that arise from the use of the equipment. This section terminates 10 years after enactment of this bill. (Sec. 1114) The Corps of Engineers' next biennial HMTF report on operations and maintenance costs assigned to commercial navigation of harbors and inland harbors must identify transportation cost savings realized by achieving and maintaining the constructed width and depth for such harbors on a project-by-project basis. This requirement does not apply to subsequent reports. (Sec. 1115) The Corps of Engineers must establish a pilot program to accept services from nonfederal interests or commercial entities for removal of sediment captured behind up to 10 U.S. dams under Corps jurisdiction for the purpose of restoring authorized storage capacity. The nonfederal interests or commercial entities may sell or otherwise dispose of the removed sediment without compensating the Corps for the sediment's value. (Sec. 1116) In a state in which a drought emergency has been declared or was in effect during the year before enactment of this bill, the Corps of Engineers may enter agreements with nonfederal interests to carry out approved water supply conservation measures. (Sec. 1117) Upon the request of a governor of a state with a drought emergency during the year leading up to the enactment of this bill, the Corps of Engineers may prioritize updates of water control manuals and incorporate seasonal operations for water conservation and water supply for control structures. (Sec. 1118) The Corps of Engineers, at a nonfederal interest's request, may review proposals to increase the quantity of available water supplies at federal water resources development projects through: (1) modification of the project, (2) modification of how a project is managed, or (3) access to water released from a project. But this section shall not apply to proposals that: (1) reallocate existing water supply or hydropower storage, or (2) reduce water available for any authorized project purpose. If a proposal relates to a federal project that is not operated by the Corps of Engineers, this section applies only to activities under the Corps' authority. The Corps of Engineers must comply with public participation requirements and provide a copy of proposals to federal agencies that operate a project, affected states, power marketing administrations, and other entities with project rights or responsibilities. The Corps of Engineers shall not approve a proposal that: (1) is not supported by the federal agency that operates the project, (2) adversely impacts contractual or legal rights, (3) increases costs to other entities, (4) interferes with authorized project purposes, or (5) modifies federal statutory requirements without congressional authorization. The cost of developing, reviewing, and implementing a submitted proposal shall be provided by a nonfederal entity. But if an entity working with a state is authorized to receive the Corps of Engineers' assistance in the preparation of a comprehensive plan, the Corps may use those funds to pay 50% of the cost of the entity's proposal review. Special requirements are set forth for operation and maintenance costs relating to the construction of additional water supply storage at a reservoir for use under a water supply storage agreement. Other entities may contribute to the costs of implementing a proposal. The Corps of Engineers may provide technical assistance for a proposal if the nonfederal interest agrees to pay the costs of the assistance. This section shall not apply to reservoirs in the Upper Missouri River, the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river system, or the Stones River. (Sec. 1119) For federally recognized Indian tribes, local cost-sharing requirements for studies and projects are waived up to a specified amount. (Sec. 1120) The Corps of Engineers must submit to Congress: (1) the Tribal Consultation Policy reports that it currently submits to the Office of Management and Budget; and (2) a report on its review of existing policies, regulations, and guidance related to consultation with Indian tribes that may have an impact on tribal cultural or natural resources. (Sec. 1121) The Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (WRDA 2000) is amended to allow the Corps of Engineers to carry out cost-shared design and construction of water resources development projects under the tribal partnership program. At an Indian tribe's request, the Corps of Engineers must report on the feasibility of a water resources development project that will substantially benefit Indian tribes. The Corps of Engineers may carry out the design and construction of a feasible tribal partnership project if: (1) the federal share is not more than $10 million, or (2) congressional authorization is obtained for a federal share exceeding $10 million. The Corps of Engineers is prohibited from requiring an Indian tribe to waive its sovereign immunity as a condition to entering into a cost-sharing agreement under the tribal partnership program. The bill sets forth the nonfederal cost shares for studies, design and construction, and watershed and river basin assessments under the expanded program. (Sec. 1122) The Corps of Engineers must establish a pilot program to carry out 10 cost-sharing projects for the beneficial use of dredged material. Project selections must be based solely on: (1) environmental, economic, and social benefits; and (2) diversity in project types and geographical locations. The projects are exempt from federal standards that require dredged material disposals representing the least costly alternatives. Regional teams that include local agencies and stakeholders must be established to identify and assist in implementation of projects. The Corps of Engineers may use sediment from other federal and nonfederal sources, but any nonfederal source sediment must be obtained without federal expense. Federal water resources projects involving the disposal of dredged material may include a single or periodic application of sediment for beneficial use and shall not require operation and maintenance. The Corps may accept funds from a nonfederal interest to dispose of such dredged material for private shores or lands that are ineligible for federal cost sharing. (Sec. 1123) The bill repeals provisions of WRDA 2000 concerning the authorization of appropriations for Great Lakes fishery and ecosystem restoration plans and projects. (Sec. 1124) A Corps of Engineers coordinator and principal approving official must be designated to acquire Federal Aviation Administration authorizations for the Corps to operate small unmanned aircraft systems (drones) to support civil works and emergency response missions. (Sec. 1125) The Corps of Engineers may accept funds from a railroad carrier to expedite the evaluation of the carrier's permits for a project under the Corps' jurisdiction. (Currently, the Corps may accept such funds from only public utility or natural gas companies to expedite such a permit.) The Corps' authority to accept such contributions for expedited permit processing is extended through June 10, 2024. (Sec. 1126) The Corps of Engineers may provide technical assistance to nonfederal interests for feasibility studies of a proposed water resources development project if the nonfederal interest contracts to pay the costs of such assistance. (Sec. 1127) The Corps of Engineers may authorize credits or reimbursements for discrete segments of a flood reduction project under WRDA 1986 before final completion of the project if the nonfederal interest can independently operate and maintain the segment without creating a hazard in advance of project completion. (Sec. 1128) The Corps of Engineers may cooperate with groups of states to prepare comprehensive plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of the water and related resources of drainage basins, watersheds, or ecosystems located within their boundaries. States may combine funds that the Corps makes available to them for such purposes. (Sec. 1129) The cost-share assistance under the Water Resources Development Act of 1974 that is provided to Indian tribes, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Marianas, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to prepare comprehensive plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of the water and related resources of drainage basins, watersheds, or ecosystems shall be as provided under the local cost-sharing waivers for U.S. territories under WRDA 1986. (Sec. 1130) State regional districts' flood damage reduction projects are eligible for assistance from: (1) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a levee safety program, and (2) the Corps of Engineers for flood mitigation activities. The national levee database, inventory and review procedures, and safety guidelines must be updated to include regional district participation. (Sec. 1131) The categories of ""nonfederal interests"" under the Flood Control Act of 1970 are expanded to include Alaska native villages, regional corporations, and village corporations among the entities that may enter partnership agreements with the Corps for implementation or construction of water resources projects. (Sec. 1132) The Corps of Engineers' post-authorization change reports recommending modifications to authorized projects: (1) may not be delayed by policy or priority change considerations, and (2) must be submitted to Congress upon completion. (Sec. 1133) The Corps of Engineers must establish a publicly available database on its dredging projects, including information on maintenance dredging carried out by federal and nonfederal vessels. For each project and contract, the database must include estimated and actual data on the number of private contractor bids received and the bid amounts. (Sec. 1134) The Corps of Engineers' system for electronic submission of permit applications must: (1) allow applicants to prepare permit applications, request jurisdictional determinations, and track their status electronically; and (2) address joint applications for state and federal permits. The Corps must maintain records of each permit decision and jurisdictional determination for at least five years and then archive those records. (Sec. 1135) The Corps of Engineers must publish data on: (1) the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water resources development projects; and (2) water quality and water management of projects owned, operated, or managed by the Corps. But disclosure is not authorized for confidential or privileged information, law enforcement or national security information, infrastructure security information, or personal information. (Sec. 1136) Transmittal letters and attachments printed as House or Senate documents for certain proposed reports and recommendations transmitted to Congress for flood control or navigation improvements must be made publicly available. The Corps of Engineers must provide the Library of Congress a copy of each final post-authorization change report for water resources projects. (Sec. 1137) The Corps of Engineers must report on the amount of acquisitions it has made in the prior fiscal year for civil works projects from entities that manufactured the articles, materials, or supplies outside of the United States. The report must indicate dollar values and summarize total procurement funds spent on goods manufactured inside versus outside the United States for each category of acquisition. (Sec. 1138) The Corps of Engineers' international outreach program is expanded to include informing the United States of technological innovations abroad that could improve any water resources development in the United States, including technology transfers or exchanges. (Under current law, the program is limited to informing the maritime industry and port authorities about innovations that could improve waterborne transportation.) (Sec. 1139) The Corps of Engineers must issue guidance for dam safety repair projects to: (1) identify the types of circumstances under which WRDA 1986's requirement relating to state-of-the-art design or construction criteria deemed necessary for safety purposes would apply, (2) assist Corps district offices in communicating with nonfederal interests when entering into and implementing cost-sharing agreements, and (3) assist Corps communications with nonfederal interests concerning their estimated and final cost-share responsibilities. (Sec. 1140) The Corps of Engineers' projects to support the fishery, ecosystem, and beneficial uses of the Great Lakes may include compatible recreation features, except that the federal cost of such features may not exceed 10% of the ecosystem restoration costs of the project. (Sec. 1141) WRDA 2007 is amended to extend the period during which the Corps of Engineers is prohibited from taking action seeking to remove an improvement (including dwellings) within the flowage easement of Lake Kemp, Texas (below elevation 1159 feet mean sea level), until the earlier of: (1) January 1, 2025, or (2) the transfer of ownership of an improvement occurring after this bill's enactment. (Sec. 1142) The Corps of Engineers must report on corrosion prevention actions and projects. (Sec. 1143) The Corps of Engineers is authorized to conduct a study of the economic and noneconomic costs, benefits, and impacts of acquiring sediment from domestic and nondomestic sources for shoreline protection. The Corps must report on the results of the study. (Sec. 1144) The Corps of Engineers must give priority to flood management projects that have executed project partnership agreements in areas where: (1) there has been loss of life due to flood events and the President has declared a major disaster or an emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, or (2) there is a significant risk for catastrophic flooding. (Sec. 1145) The Corps of Engineers must coordinate with Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to assess the recovery of Gulf Coast oyster beds damaged by: (1) Hurricane Katrina in 2005, (2) the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, and (3) floods in 2011 and 2016. (Sec. 1146) For initiation of work on a separable element of a water resources development project that has received construction funds in the previous six years: (1) no new start or new investment decision is required, and (2) the work shall be treated as ongoing work. (Sec. 1147) The Corps of Engineers must expedite environmental decisions and reviews related to the construction of, impoundment of water in, and operation of, the Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir Project, including any associated water transmission facilities, by the North Texas Municipal Water District in Fannin County, Texas. (Sec. 1148) The bill revises WRRDA 2014's standards for floating cabins with overnight accommodations on Corps of Engineers' waters in the Cumberland River basin. The amended standards may not be construed to authorize the Corps to impose requirements on floating cabins or facilities (including marinas or docks located on such waters) that are different or more stringent than the requirements imposed on all recreational vessels authorized to use such waters. (Sec. 1149) At the request of state or local officials, the Corps of Engineers must identify and allow implementation of appropriate safety measures addressing navigation hazards in federally marked or maintained Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway navigation channels adjacent to a marina. In identifying appropriate measures, the Corps must consider whether: (1) documented safety hazards are a direct result of excessive wakes from recreational vessels, (2) proposed measures will remedy safety concerns without significant impacts to the navigable capacity of the channel, and (3) the measures are consistent with any Coast Guard recommendations to ensure the safety of vessels and passengers. (Sec. 1150) The Corps of Engineers may carry out small flood control projects under the Flood Control Act of 1948 that are not specifically authorized by Congress, including planning, design, construction, and monitoring of structural and nonstructural technologies to prevent and mitigate flood damages associated with ice jams. During FY2017-FY2022, the Corps must carry out at least 10 projects to demonstrate such technologies and designs. Projects must be selected from all cold U.S. regions, including the Upper Missouri River Basin and the Northeast region. (Sec. 1151) The Corps of Engineers must develop a structural health monitoring program to assess and improve the condition of Corps infrastructure, including systems and frameworks for: (1) response to floods and earthquakes, (2) predisaster mitigation measures, (3) lengthening the useful life of the infrastructure, and (4) identifying risks due to sea level rise. (Sec. 1152) The Corps of Engineers must transfer the human remains known as Kennewick Man or the Ancient One to the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to dispose of and repatriate the remains through the State Historic Preservation Officer to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids. The transfer is conditioned on the tribes: (1) following the state of Washington's requirements under state laws; and (2) verifying their agreement on a final burial place in, and legal custody of the remains by, the state of Washington. (Sec. 1153) The bill amends WRRDA 2014 to allow the Corps of Engineers to accept materials, services, or funds from a nonfederal public entity, a nonprofit entity, or a private entity to repair, restore, replace, or maintain a water resources project if there is a risk of adverse impacts to the functioning of the project. (Under current law, the Corps may accept only materials or services for repairing, restoring, or replacing such a project that has been damaged or destroyed as a result of an emergency.) The Corps may: (1) use such accepted materials and services only if they comply with all applicable laws and regulations that would apply if they were acquired by the Corps, and (2) accept services only to provide supplementary services to existing federal employees and to perform work that would not otherwise be accomplished as a result of funding or personnel limitations. (Sec. 1154) The Corps of Engineers' funding of response actions to address human health and environmental threats from military munitions deposited on a beach shall be reimbursed from amounts made available to the Department of Defense (DOD) agency responsible for the original release of the munitions. (Sec. 1155) The Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (WRDA 1992) is amended to authorize the Corps of Engineers to allow a nonfederal public 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 Corps' jurisdiction to collect user fees for the use of developed recreation sites and facilities, whether developed or constructed by such entity or the Corps. These nonfederal public entities may: (1) use any visitor reservation service that the Corps of Engineers has provided for by contract or interagency agreement to manage fee collections and reservations, subject to the Corps' terms and conditions; and (2) retain the fees collected to pay for operation, maintenance, and management at the recreation site where they were collected. (Sec. 1156) If a person or entity seeks permission from the Corps of Engineers for an occupation, use, or alteration of a harbor or river public works project that also requires review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) or another legal authority, the reviews and approvals shall occur concurrently to the extent practicable. If the Corps is not the lead federal agency for an environmental review, the Corps shall (consistent with federal laws) participate as a cooperating agency and use the same documents prepared under NEPA. The Corps of Engineers may accept funds from nonfederal public or private entities to evaluate an alteration, permanent occupation, or use of a work built by the United States. The bill establishes time frames for the Corps of Engineers to make decisions on applications affecting public projects. The Corps must notify Congress and explain its justification for any time frames that are extended. (Sec. 1157) The bill authorizes funding for FY2017-FY2021 for the Corps of Engineers to carry out to completion certain environmental infrastructure projects or programs of assistance under WRDA 1992 if: (1) a project has already received more than $4 million in federal appropriations and those appropriations are greater than 80% of the authorized amount, (2) significant progress has been demonstrated but a project is not complete, and (3) the federal investment will not be realized without the project's completion. The Corps of Engineers' annual report on future water resources development must include projects under environmental infrastructure assistance programs if authorized before enactment of this title. (Sec. 1158) The Corps of Engineers' revolving fund for maintenance and operation of plants and equipment may be used to construct buildings for its New England district headquarters in Bedford, Massachusetts, and its district headquarters in Buffalo, New York. (Sec. 1160) The bill establishes a process that requires the Corps of Engineers to submit project prospectuses or building surveys to obtain approval before using plant maintenance and operation revolving funds to newly construct, or perform a major renovation of more than $20 million on, a building for use by the Corps of Engineers. (Sec. 1161) Monitoring plans for ecosystem restoration projects must describe: (1) the types and number of restoration activities, (2) the physical action to be undertaken, (3) the functions and values that will result from the restoration plan, and (4) the contingency plan for taking any corrective actions. The nonfederal interest's responsibility for operation and maintenance of the nonstructural and nonmechanical elements of an ecosystem restoration project shall cease 10 years after the Corps of Engineers makes a determination of success. (Sec. 1162) Habitat connectivity protection and restoration measures must be included in programmatic mitigation plans to address potential impacts to ecological resources, fish, and wildlife. The Corps of Engineers, with the consent of the nonfederal interest and with prior notice to Congress, may use preconstruction engineering and design funds after authorization of project construction to: (1) satisfy mitigation requirements through third-party arrangements, or (2) acquire land interests necessary to meet mitigation requirements. (Sec. 1163) The Corps of Engineers must issue implementation guidance for water resources projects involving wetlands mitigation that impacts the service area of a mitigation bank. The guidance must provide for consideration in water resources development feasibility studies of the entire amount of potential in-kind credits available at Corps'-approved mitigation banks and in-lieu fee programs with an approved service area that includes the location of the projected impacts of the project. All potential mitigation bank and in-lieu fee credits that meet such criteria shall be considered reasonable alternatives if: (1) the mitigation bank has an approved mitigation banking instrument and has completed a functional analysis of the potential credits using the approved Corps-certified habitat assessment model specific to the region, and (2) the Corps determines that the use of such banks or in-lieu fee programs provide reasonable assurance that the statutory and regulatory mitigation requirements for a water resources development project are met. (Sec. 1164) The bill increases the Corps of Engineers' annual maximum allotment for debris removal from rivers, harbors, streams, and tributaries. It expands the authorized activities to include: (1) the removal of obstructions located in or adjacent to a federal channel, and (2) the clearing or straightening of channels for recreation. (Sec. 1165) The Corps of Engineers must consider a property's economic, cultural, historic, or recreational significance or impacts at the national, state, or local level when carrying out a disposition study for a Corps project or conducting assessments for its inventory of properties that are not needed for Corps missions. The Corps of Engineers must complete its inventory of such properties within one year after this bill's enactment. (Sec. 1166) The bill revises the Corps of Engineers' authority to apply credit for in-kind contributions provided by a nonfederal interest that are in excess of the required nonfederal cost share for a project toward the required nonfederal cost share for a different water resources development study or project. A nonfederal interest may request that the credit be applied prior to completion of the study or project. (Sec. 1167) The bill increases the maximum amount that the Corps of Engineers may expend for small shore and beach restoration and protection projects not specifically authorized by Congress. (Sec. 1168) The Corps of Engineers may operate a fish hatchery to restore a population of threatened or endangered fish species. Nonfederal entities or other federal agencies shall be responsible for all additional costs associated with managing such a fish hatchery that are not authorized as of the enactment of this bill. (Sec. 1169) The River and Harbor Act of 1968 is amended to provide for: (1) feasibility studies to be cost-shared in the same proportion as construction of projects, and (2) reimbursements to nonfederal interests if they expend more than their share of study costs. (Sec. 1170) The bill makes permanent a program that demonstrates the benefits of recreation facilities and activities at Corps of Engineers' lakes primarily in Oklahoma. (Sec. 1171) The Corps of Engineers' authority to provide nonfederal interests a credit in lieu of a reimbursement for the estimated federal share of a flood damage reduction project under repealed provisions the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (WRDA 1996) is extended to projects for which a written agreement with the Corps for construction was finalized on or before December 31, 2014. (Currently, the credit in lieu of reimbursement is limited to projects that have been constructed by a nonfederal interest before the provisions were repealed on June 10, 2014.) The credit may be applied to other water resources development projects or studies of the nonfederal interest. (Sec. 1172) The Corps of Engineers may not collect consideration (money or other thing of value) for easements across water resources development project land for the electric, telephone, or broadband service facilities of nonprofit organizations eligible for financing under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. (Sec. 1173) The Corps of Engineers must contract with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to study the use and performance of innovative materials in Corps projects. (Sec. 1174) Under the Corps of Engineers' authority to make contracts for domestic and industrial uses of surplus water that may be available at Corps-controlled reservoirs, the Corps must provide nonfederal entities an opportunity to convert to permanent storage agreements under the Water Supply Act of 1958 certain water supply agreements (with a duration of 30 years or longer predicated on water that was surplus to a purpose and provided for the complete payment of the actual investment costs of storage to be used) whose project purposes are no longer authorized as of the enactment of this section. (Sec. 1175) Projects authorized to receive funding from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund are exempted temporarily from a process that deauthorizes unconstructed projects for which funds have not been obligated for a specified preceding period of years. The exemption for these inland waterways projects begins on June 10, 2014, and ends upon the completion of certain navigation projects in the Lower Ohio River, Illinois, and Kentucky. (Sec. 1176) The Corps of Engineers, at a nonfederal sponsor's request, may use the natural disaster emergency fund to repair or restore flood control work, hurricane or shore protective structures, or the depths of federal navigable channels or waterways to an increased pumping capacity or a level of protection above the system design. The nonfederal sponsor must agree to pay the difference between the cost of restoration to the original design level and the cost of achieving the higher level of protection. The Corps must notify and consult with nonfederal sponsors regarding the opportunity to request nonstructural alternatives to restore or protect natural resources (including streams, rivers, floodplains, wetlands, or coasts) if those efforts will reduce flood risk. (Sec. 1177) The Corps of Engineers may carry out feasible cost-sharing projects with nonfederal entities to rehabilitate nonfederally operated dams classified by states as posing a high hazard potential if the dams were: (1) constructed, in whole or in part, by the Corps for flood control purposes; and (2) completed before 1940. The Corps shall not expend more than $10 million for a project at any single dam. (Sec. 1178) The bill increases funding for ecosystem restoration projects for the lower Columbia River and Tillamook Bay estuaries in Oregon and Washington. The River and Harbor Act of 1958 is amended to allow the Corps of Engineers to establish, operate, and maintain new or existing watercraft inspection stations (currently, the Corps may only establish such stations) to protect the Columbia River Basin in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington from the spread of aquatic invasive species at Corps-operated and -maintained reservoirs. The Corps must also consult with such states and assist them with rapid response to any aquatic invasive species, including quagga or zebra mussel infestation. At the Department of the Interior's request, the Corps of Engineers may provide assistance, on land transferred by the Corps to Interior, to Indian tribes displaced by construction of the Bonneville Dam, Oregon. The Corps of Engineers must recommend to Congress a plan to assist the Indian tribes displaced by John Jay Dam construction. (Sec. 1179) The Corps of Engineers, in partnership with Interior, must carry out a pilot program to implement sediment management plans for Corps-owned and -operated reservoirs in the Upper Missouri River Basin, on request by project beneficiaries. The program may also apply to reservoirs managed or owned by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Corps of Engineers shall be the lead agency for soil moisture and snowpack monitoring projects in the Upper Missouri River Basin. (Sec. 1180) The bill increases authorized appropriations for alternative or beneficially modified habitats for fish and wildlife, including native oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. (Sec. 1181) The pilot designation is removed from California's Salton Sea restoration projects. Additional nonfederal interests may participate in cost sharing for these projects. (Sec. 1182) Under WRDA 1992, the list of: (1) South Carolina counties with nonfederal interests eligible for assistance with water treatment and distribution projects for Marion and Moultrie Lakes is adjusted to add Berkeley County and remove Sumter County, and (2) Alabama counties with nonfederal interests eligible for assistance with water related infrastructure is expanded to include Blount and Cullman counties. (Sec. 1183) Corps of Engineers' studies to determine the feasibility of Corps projects in coastal zones to enhance ocean and coastal ecosystem resiliency must prioritize projects in communities whose existence is threatened by rising sea level. The Corps must coordinate with Indian tribes in carrying out the studies. An interagency working group must be convened on extreme weather and sea level rise to: (1) coordinate research and federal investments, and (2) participate in state authorized studies. The Corps of Engineers must report on regional assessments of coastal and back bay protection. (Sec. 1184) In studying the feasibility of projects for flood risk management, hurricane and storm damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration, the Corps of Engineers (with the consent of the nonfederal sponsor) must consider: (1) natural features created through physical, geological, biological, and chemical processes over time; (2) human-designed, nature-based features engineered and constructed to provide risk reduction by acting in concert with natural processes; and (3) nonstructural and structural measures. (Sec. 1185) The Corps of Engineers, within two years after enactment of this bill, must finalize a revision of the Table Rock Lake Master Plan and Table Rock Lake Shoreline Management Plan. The moratorium on new or modified shoreline permits based on the existing plan must be suspended until the final revision. The Corps must establish an oversight committee to review permits issued under the existing plan and advise on its revisions. The Corps must also report on and implement revisions to Table Rock Lake permit fees. (Sec. 1186) Under the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 program for providing environmental assistance to nonfederal interests in Idaho, Montana, rural Nevada, New Mexico, rural Utah, and Wyoming, the Corps of Engineers must give priority to project sponsors prepared to: (1) execute a new or amended project cooperation agreement, and (2) commence promptly after the enactment of this bill. The Corps shall consider a project authorized under such program and an environmental infrastructure project authorized under WRDA 1992 for new starts on the same basis as any other similarly funded project. (Sec. 1187) The bill removes provisions of the Water Supply Act of 1958 concerning Congress's recommendation for an interstate water compact for the operation of projects in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River System. (Sec. 1188) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) state water quality standards that impact the disposal of dredged material should be developed collaboratively, (2) open-water disposal of dredged material should be reduced, and (3) disputes between states related to the disposal of dredged material and the protection of water quality should be resolved in accordance with regional plans and the involvement of regional bodies. (Sec. 1189) Disposal of dredged material shall not be considered environmentally acceptable for purposes of identifying the federal standard (the least costly alternative consistent with sound engineering and environmental standards) if it violates state water quality standards approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). Subtitle B--Studies (Sec. 1201) The Corps of Engineers may conduct feasibility studies for the following navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, ecosystem or environmental restoration, water conservation, water supply, flood control, reservoir, and recreation projects: Ouachita-Black Rivers, Arkansas and Louisiana; Cache Creek Settling Basin, California; Coyote Valley Dam, California; Del Rosa Channel, City of San Bernardino, California; Merced County Streams, California; Mission-Zanja Channel, Cities of San Bernardino and Redlands, California; Soboba Indian Reservation, California; Indian River Inlet, Delaware; Lewes Beach, Delaware; Mispillion Complex, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware; Daytona Beach, Florida; Brunswick Harbor, Georgia; Savannah River below Augusta, Georgia; Dubuque, Iowa; St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana; Cattaraugus Creek, New York; Cayuga Inlet, Ithaca, New York; Delaware River Basin, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware; Silver Creek, Hanover, New York; Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh Rivers, Pennsylvania; Tioga-Hammond Lake, Pennsylvania; Brazos River, Fort Bend County, Texas; Chacon Creek, City of Laredo, Texas; Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Texas; City of El Paso, Texas; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, Texas; Port of Bay City, Texas; Chincoteague Island, Virginia; and Burley Creek Watershed, Kitsap County, Washington. (Sec. 1202) The Corps of Engineers must conduct studies to determine the feasibility of modifying projects for: (1) flood risk management in Tulsa and West Tulsa, Oklahoma; and (2) navigation in the Mississippi River Ship Channel, Gulf to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Corps of Engineers must review plans and studies to determine the feasibility of carrying out a second phase of a project in Cincinnati, Ohio, for flood risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, and recreation. If feasible, the Corps may undertake additional flood risk reduction and ecosystem components. When determining whether an Arctic deep draft port is feasible, the Corps of Engineers must consult with DOD and the Coast Guard to consider benefits to national security or Coast Guard missions. The Corps may provide technical assistance to Alaska native villages, regional corporations, or villages for deep draft ports. (Sec. 1203) The Corps of Engineers' study to determine the feasibility of projects to restore aquatic ecosystems within the coastal waters of the northeastern United States from Virginia to Maine must be carried out as a comprehensive assessment and management plan. (Sec. 1204) The Corps of Engineers must study coastal areas within the geographical boundaries of its South Atlantic Division to identify the risks and vulnerabilities to increased hurricane and storm damage as a result of sea level rise. It must: (1) develop a long-term strategy to enhance resiliency, increase sustainability, and lower risks in populated areas, areas of concentrated economic development, and areas with vulnerable environmental resources; and (2) report within four years after enactment of this bill with recommendations to address those risks and vulnerabilities. (Sec. 1205) The Corps of Engineers must consider information developed by the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District to expedite completion of the comprehensive plan authorized by WRDA 2007 to determine the feasibility of projects for flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration in Texas coastal areas. (Sec. 1206) The Corps of Engineers must study and develop a long-term strategy for the riverine areas located within the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois River basins to address the risks and vulnerabilities of increased flood damages. (Sec. 1207) The Corps of Engineers must study the feasibility of implementing projects for flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, navigation, water supply, recreation, and water resources related purposes within the Kanawha River Basin in West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. Subtitle C--Deauthorizations, Modifications, and Related Provisions (Sec. 1301) The Corps of Engineers must seek comment from the public and states regarding an interim deauthorization list from which the Corps must then prepare a final deauthorization list of projects with an aggregate estimated federal cost to complete that is at least $10 billion. The Corps' interim list must identify: (1) each water resources development project authorized for construction before November 8, 2007, for which planning, design, or construction was not initiated before enactment of this bill or for which planning, design, or construction was initiated but no funds were obligated during the current fiscal year or the preceding six fiscal years; and (2) projects identified on a list under WRDA 1986 that have received no obligations during a specified preceding period of years. A project shall not be deauthorized if: (1) Congress disapproves of such project's deauthorization, or (2) a nonfederal interest provides sufficient funds to complete the project or a separable element of the project. (Sec. 1302) The bill deauthorizes water resources development projects authorized for construction by this bill unless, within 10 years after its enactment: (1) funds have not been obligated for construction of, or a post-authorization study for, such a project; or (2) this bill's authorization is modified by a subsequent Act of Congress. The Corps of Engineers must identify for Congress any projects so deauthorized. After 12 years, the Corps must submit to Congress: (1) a list of projects authorized by this bill that have not been completed, (2) the reasons the projects were not completed, (3) a schedule for completions based on expected appropriations, and (4) a 5-year and 10-year projection of the construction backlog with recommendations on how to mitigate such backlog. (Sec. 1303) Specified portions of a navigation project in Valdez, Alaska, and Texas City Ship Channel, Texas City, Texas, shall not be subject to navigation servitude. (Sec. 1304) The Corps of Engineers must prioritize updates to water control manuals for control structures for the flood control project in the Los Angeles County Drainage Area in California. (Sec. 1305) The bill deauthorizes specified portions of projects for: Sutter Basin, California; Stonington Harbor, Connecticut; Green River Locks and Dams 3, 4, 5, and 6 and Barren River Lock and Dam 1, Kentucky; Essex River, Massachusetts; Hannibal Small Boat Harbor on the Mississippi River, Hannibal, Missouri; Red River below Denison Dam, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana; and Salt Creek, Graham, Texas. (Sec. 1307) Flowage easements are extinguished for portions of Port of Cascade Locks, Oregon. (Sec. 1308) Unless local public officials object, portions of the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are declared to be nonnavigable waters of the United States. The declaration of nonnavigability for the Rivercenter portion of the Delaware River (currently, scheduled to expire on November 17, 2018) shall not expire. (Sec. 1309) The Corps of Engineers must prioritize the updating of the master plan for the Juniata River and tributaries project in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It must ensure that alternatives for additional recreation access and development are fully assessed and incorporated as a part of the update. (Sec. 1317) The Corps of Engineers must transfer specified acres of land in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, to Interior to be held in trust for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, on the condition that the transfer does not interfere with other civil works projects. The Corps retains the right to inundate the land with water to carry out the Eufaula Lake project and other civil works projects. Gaming is prohibited on this land. The tribe must pay the fair market value of the land plus transfer costs. (Sec. 1318) The Corps of Engineers must effectuate the release of U.S. interests in certain tracts of land located in Cameron County, Texas, subject to any conditions the Corps may require to protect U.S. interests. The Brownsville Navigation District is responsible for costs associated with the releases. (Sec. 1319) The bill deauthorizes the lock and dam at New Savannah Bluff, Savannah River, Georgia and South Carolina. The Savannah Harbor expansion project in Georgia is modified to maintain pool levels, allow safe fish passage, and convey a park and recreation area to Augusta-Richmond County. (Sec. 1320) The bill modifies the authorized federal and nonfederal costs for a flood damage reduction and environmental restoration project in Hamilton City, California. (Sec. 1321) The Corps of Engineers: (1) may convey property in the area of Pearl River in Mississippi and Louisiana and Sardis Lake in Mississippi; (2) must convey Pensacola Dam project interests to Oklahoma's Grand River Dam Authority for flood control purposes; and (3) must accept from the Trinity River Authority of Texas certain water supply storage space in Joe Pool Lake, Texas. (Sec. 1322) The Corps of Engineers may give funding priority to projects that restore coastal wetlands that reduce the impact of storm surge. The Corps must provide priority funding and expedite completion of flood damage reduction and flood risk management projects for: Chicagoland Underflow Plan, Illinois, including phase 2 of the McCook Reservoir; Cedar River, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Comite River, Louisiana; Amite River and Tributaries, Louisiana; and the Louisiana parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, and Pointe Coupee. The Corps of Engineers must also give priority funding and expedite completion of reports, and if justified, proceed directly to project preconstruction, engineering, and design for navigation, flood risk management, ecosystem, and restoration projects in: St. George Harbor, Alaska; Rahway River Basin, New Jersey; the Hudson-Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Project; Mobile Harbor, Alabama; Little Colorado River at Winslow, Navajo County, Arizona; Lower San Joaquin River, California; Sacramento River Flood Control System, California; Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers, Iowa; Mississippi River Ship Channel, Louisiana; and North Branch Ecorse Creek, Wayne County, Michigan. The Corps of Engineers must provide priority funding for, and expedite completion of, a post-authorization change report for a hurricane and storm damage risk reduction project in New Hanover County, North Carolina. The Corps of Engineers must expedite its review and decision on recommendations for flood damage reduction and flood risk management in Pearl River Basin, Mississippi, and Brays Bayou, Texas. Subtitle D--Water Resources Infrastructure (Sec. 1401) This subtitle authorizes and sets forth conditions for: navigation projects in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas; flood risk management projects in California, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas; hurricane and storm damage risk reduction projects in California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina; ecosystem restoration projects in Florida and Washington; flood risk management and ecosystem restoration projects in Illinois and Wisconsin; flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, and recreation projects in California; ecosystem restoration and recreation projects in California and Oregon; a hurricane and storm damage risk reduction and ecosystem restoration project in Louisiana; and modifications and other projects in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas. TITLE II--WATER AND WASTE ACT OF 2016 Water and Waste Act of 2016 Subtitle A--Safe Drinking Water (Sec. 2101) Urges Congress to provide robust funding of capitalization grants to states for the drinking water state revolving fund (DWSRF) and the clean water state revolving fund. (Sec. 2102) This bill allows public water systems to use financial assistance from the DWSRF for: (1) planning, design, and associated preconstruction activities, including activities related to the siting of the facility; and (2) meeting matching fund requirements. (Sec. 2103) It revises the requirements which govern the amount of money states may use for administering the DWSRF and providing technical assistance to public water systems. (Sec. 2104) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must establish a grant program to provide assistance for public water systems in complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act if those systems serve communities that: (1) are disadvantaged; or (2) have populations of less than 10,000 individuals and do not have the capacity to incur debt sufficient to finance a DWSRF project. The bill makes Indian tribes eligible for the grant program. (Sec. 2105) The EPA must also establish a grant program for reducing the concentration of lead in drinking water by: (1) replacing publicly owned lead service lines, (2) identifying and addressing conditions that contribute to increased concentration of lead in drinking water, and (3) providing assistance to low-income homeowners to replace lead service lines. The bill makes Indian tribes eligible for the grant program. (Sec. 2106) This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act by requiring public water systems to notify their customers when a lead action level under national drinking water regulations is exceeded in more than 10% of customer taps sampled. An action level is generally a certain contaminant level that triggers a requirement for the public water system to take additional actions to control corrosion. Further, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must: (1) notify customers of an exceedance of the lead action level that has the potential to have serious adverse effects on human health as a result of short-term exposure, if the state or the public water system fails to notify the public within 24 hours after the public water system learns of the violation or exceedance; and (2) issue the notice no later than 24 hours of being notified of the exceedance. Community water systems' consumer confidence reports must include a definition of ""action level."" The EPA must establish a strategic plan for conducting targeted outreach, education, technical assistance, and risk communication to populations affected by lead in the public water system. EPA employees must forward to the public water system any data indicating that the drinking water of a household served by a public water system contains a level of lead that exceeds the lead action level. Information on the sampling techniques used to obtain the data must also be forwarded with the data. The public water system must then disseminate to affected households information on the exceedance of a lead limit, its potential adverse effects on human health, corrective steps underway, and advice on whether customers should seek alternative water supplies. The EPA must disseminate the information if the public water system or the state fails to do so. The EPA must: (1) make information about lead in drinking water available to the public, and (2) carry out targeted outreach strategies that focus on educating groups that are at greater risk than the general population for adverse health effects from exposure to lead in drinking water. (Sec. 2107) The EPA must establish a grant program for voluntary testing of drinking water for lead contamination at schools and child care facilities. (Sec. 2108) The EPA, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, must: (1) develop a technology clearinghouse for information on the cost-effectiveness of innovative and alternative drinking water delivery systems, including wells and well systems; and (2) disseminate the information to the public and to communities and nonprofit organizations seeking federal funding for drinking water delivery systems serving 500 or fewer persons. (Sec. 2109) The EPA may: (1) research innovative water technologies, and (2) provide technical assistance to public water systems to facilitate use of innovative water technologies. (Sec. 2110) This bill reauthorizes through FY2021 the grant program for providing technical assistance to small drinking water systems. (Sec. 2112) The EPA may make grants for providing intertribal consortia or tribal organizations training and operator certification services in order to enable their public water systems to comply with national primary drinking water regulations. (Sec. 2113) Projects funded by DWSRF must only use iron and steel produced in the United States, unless: (1) it would be inconsistent with the public interest, (2) iron and steel products are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality, or (3) inclusion of iron and steel products produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25%. Subtitle B--Drinking Water Disaster Relief and Infrastructure Investments (Sec. 2201) This bill allows the EPA to make grants to help states where the President has declared a disaster relating to public health threats associated with the presence of lead and other contaminants in a public drinking water supply system. The National Center for Environmental Health's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry must conduct voluntary surveillance activities to evaluate adverse health effects on individuals exposed to lead from drinking water in affected communities upon the request of an appropriate state or local health official in those states. (Sec. 2203) The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish: (1) within the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention a lead exposure registry to collect data on the lead exposure of residents of a city exposed to lead contamination in drinking water; and (2) an Advisory Committee to review programs that address lead exposure, identify research needs, best practices, and effective services to communities affected by lead exposure. (Sec. 2204) The bill provides additional funding in FY2017-FY2018 for: (1) CDC's childhood lead poisoning prevention program, and (2) HHS' healthy start initiative. Subtitle C--Control of Coal Combustion Residuals (Sec. 2301) This bill amends the subtitle D (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to establish a permit program for coal combustion residuals (coal ash) that states, after approval by the EPA, may elect to administer in lieu of a federal regulatory program. The EPA must review the programs at least once every 12 years, or on the request of a state. The EPA may use specified authorities to enforce the prohibition against open dumping with respect to a coal combustion residual unit TITLE III--NATURAL RESOURCES Subtitle A--Indian Dam Safety (Sec. 3101) The bill establishes the High-Hazard Indian Dam Safety Deferred Maintenance Fund and the Low-Hazard Indian Dam Safety Deferred Maintenance Fund. The Department of the Treasury must make deposits to these funds at least monthly until the funds are terminated at the end of FY2023. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) must establish a program to address the deferred maintenance needs of Indian dams that create flood risks or other risks to safety, natural resources, or cultural resources and impede the management and efficiency of Indian dams. To be eligible, a dam must be federally owned and included in the BIA's Safety of Dams program. The low-hazard fund and high-hazard fund must be used to pay for maintenance, repair, and replacement activities with respect to dams classified under guidelines of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as low hazard and significant or high hazard, respectively. The BIA must: (1) develop programmatic goals and prioritization criteria before expending funds; (2) prioritize dams that serve more than one tribe or highly populated Indian communities; (3) consult with landowners served by a dam before expending funds, except in emergencies; and (4) ensure that, each year, every dam in need of critical maintenance receives funding. The Department of the Interior must establish within the BIA the Tribal Safety of Dams Committee to study the modernization of the Indian Dams Safety Act of 1994 and develop recommendations for legislation to improve that Act. The BIA must establish a flood-plain management pilot program to provide, upon request, guidance to Indian tribes on best practices for the mitigation and prevention of floods. The program is funded through the funds for high- and low-hazard dams and is terminated four years after this bill's enactment. Subtitle B--Irrigation Rehabilitation and Renovation for Indian Tribal Governments and Their Economies Part I--Indian Irrigation Fund (Sec. 3211) The bill establishes the Indian Irrigation Fund for purposes of carrying out this subtitle. (Sec. 3216) The fund terminates on September 30, 2021. Part II--Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Certain Indian Irrigation Projects (Sec. 3221) Interior shall establish, and the BIA shall carry out, a program to address deferred maintenance and water storage needs with respect to Indian irrigation projects that: (1) create risks to public or employee safety, natural resources, or cultural resources; and (2) unduly impede the management and efficiency of the Indian irrigation program. (Sec. 3222) The bill specifies which Indian irrigation projects are eligible for funding under the program. (Sec. 3223) The BIA must develop certain programmatic goals and funding prioritization criteria with respect to the program. (Sec. 3224) The BIA shall study options for improving programmatic and project management and performance of irrigation projects managed and operated by the bureau. (Sec. 3225) Before expending program funds on a project, the BIA must: (1) consult with the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the land on which the project is located, and (2) solicit and consider input from landowners and irrigators. (Sec. 3226) The bill establishes certain requirements, priorities, and limitations with respect to allocating program funding among projects. Subtitle C--Weber Basin Prepayments (Sec. 3301) Interior shall allow the prepayment of certain repayment obligations under specified contracts between the United States and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. Subtitle D--Pechanga Water Rights Settlement Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act (Sec. 3404) The bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Pechanga Settlement Agreement, entered into by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, the Rancho California Water District (RCWD), and the United States, except to the extent that the agreement is modified by or conflicts with this subtitle. (Sec. 3405) The bill confirms water rights that must be held in trust by the United States on behalf of the tribe. Members of the tribe with an allotment of trust land (allottees) may lease this land together with any water right. The tribe must enact a Pechanga Water Code that governs the storage, recovery, and use of the water rights, subject to Interior's approval. (Sec. 3406) The tribe and the United States (acting as trustee for the tribe and allottees) must waive all claims to water rights in the Santa Margarita River Watershed, except for water rights recognized in the Pechanga Settlement Agreement and this subtitle. (Sec. 3407) The tribe and the United States (acting as trustee for the tribe) waive specified claims against the RCWD. The tribe may waive claims against the United States regarding specified water rights and damages. (Sec. 3409) The bill establishes the Pechanga Settlement Fund, which is to be used to carry out this subtitle. (Sec. 3412) If Interior does not publish, prior to a specified date, certain findings regarding deposits, waivers, and approved agreements: (1) this subtitle is repealed, and (2) related agreements are void. (Sec. 3413) Interior is not liable for failing to carry out any obligation or activity under this subtitle if there are insufficient appropriations. Subtitle E--Delaware River Basin Conservation (Sec. 3503) The bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish a nonregulatory Delaware River Basin restoration program, under which it shall: (1) draw on existing management plans for the basin and work in consultation with applicable management entities to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and protection activities within the basin; (2) adopt a basin-wide strategy that supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities, targets cost-effective projects with measurable results, and maximizes conservation outcomes with no net gain of federal full-time equivalent employees; and (3) establish specified voluntary grant and technical assistance programs. (Sec. 3504) The USFWS must: (1) establish a Delaware River Basin restoration grant program to provide competitive matching grants to carry out restoration and protection activities within the basin, and (2) develop criteria to ensure that funded activities accomplish specified purposes and advance the implementation of certain priority actions or needs. (Sec. 3506) The bill prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this subtitle for federal acquisition of interests in land. (Sec. 3507) This subtitle terminates after September 30, 2023. Subtitle F--Miscellaneous Provisions (Sec. 3601) Interior is temporarily prohibited from increasing permit fees for cabins or trailers on North Dakota land administered by the Bureau of Reclamation's Dakotas Area Office by more than 33% of the permit fee that was in effect on January 1, 2016. (Sec. 3602) Reclamation must use the same permit renewal process for trailer area permits at Heart Butte Dam and Reservoir (Lake Tschida) as it uses for other permit renewals in other reservoirs in North Dakota administered by its Dakotas Area Office. The bill specifies: (1) requirements for trailer homes, campers, and recreational vehicles; and (2) procedures for permit transfers, replacement and anchoring of trailer homes, and removal of flooded trailer homes. (Sec. 3603) The bill revises and reauthorizes the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for seven fiscal years after this bill's enactment. The bill requires the Forest Service's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit to: coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state, local, and private entities, including local fire departments and volunteer groups; conduct forest management activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin in a manner that helps achieve and maintain the environmental threshold carrying capacities established by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, unless such activities would excessively increase the cost of a program; and establish and monitor post-program ground condition criteria for ground disturbance caused by forest management activities. The bill excludes certain forest management projects from the requirements of the National Environment Policy Act of 1969. Subject to valid existing rights, the federal land located in the basin is withdrawn from: (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. A land conveyance is exempt from the withdrawal if it is carried out under the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act or the Santini-Burton Act. The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit must support the attainment of the environmental threshold carrying capacities established by the Planning Agency. The Forest Service may enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with public and private entities to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, Stream Environment Zone restoration, and similar management activities on federal and nonfederal land within programs in the basin. The bill mandates and funds priority programs in the basin, including the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Recovery Program, erosion projectts, and programs for fire-risk reduction and forest management, invasive species management, and stormwater management. The bill imposes civil penalties of up to $1,000 for launching a boat that is not decontaminated to prevent the spread of invasive species. The bill authorizes the Army Civil Works Division to enter into interagency agreements with nonfederal interests in the basin to provide technical assistance for the Environmental Improvement Program. The Forest Service, the EPA, the USFWS, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in coordination with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the states of California and Nevada, must develop and implement a plan for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the Environmental Improvement Program. The President must submit information as part of the President's annual budget regarding each federal agency involved in the Environmental Improvement Program. The bill amends the Santini-Burton Act to authorize: (1) a donation of specified land from the California Tahoe Conservancy and the California Department of Parks and Recreation to the Forest Service, (2) a transfer of specified land from the Forest Service to Nevada, and (3) the conveyance of any urban lot within the basin under the administrative jurisdiction of the Forest Service. (Sec. 3604) The bill takes into trust, for the benefit of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, a specified parcel of federal land in Tuolumne County, California. Gaming is prohibited on this land. (Sec. 3605) The bill amends the San Luis Rey Indian Water Rights Settlement Act to approve and ratify all provisions of the settlement agreement dated January 30, 2015, and approved by the La Jolla, Rincon, San Pasqual, Pauma, and Pala Bands of Mission Indians (California), the San Luis Rey River Indian Water Authority, the City of Escondido, California, the Vista Irrigation District, and the United States. The tribes shall continue to possess federally reserved rights and other water rights held in trust by the United States. In any proceeding involving the assertion, enforcement, or defense of such rights, the United States shall not be a required party and a decision by the United States regarding participation in any such proceeding shall not be subject to judicial review or give rise to any claim for relief against the United States. (Sec. 3606) The bill takes into trust, for the benefit of the Tule River Indian Tribe, a specified parcel of federal land in Tulare County, California. Gaming is prohibited on this land. A person claiming valid, existing rights to the land may apply to Interior to have those rights converted to a long-term right-of-way. (Sec. 3607) The bill provides for the disposition of four specified parcels of land in California. Interior must convey certain lands designated as ""Morongo lands"" to a specified individual in exchange for another parcel to be held in trust for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. The bill grants an easement to the city of Banning for a public right-of-way in exchange for a specified parcel to be held in trust for the tribe. (Sec. 3608) The bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms, as modified by this section: (1) the settlement agreement effective August 22, 2016, approved by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation, the state of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and (2) the June 15, 2010, agreement between Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board on an amended water storage contract. The Corps of Engineers must cooperate with Oklahoma to modify the order of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma dated September 11, 2009, to conform to the amended storage contract, settlement agreement, and this section. Obligations relating to future-use storage in Sardis Lake in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, are waived, effective January 1, 2050. The bill establishes terms for use of water by members of the tribes who hold an interest in an allotment of tribal land. The tribes must waive specified claims relating to water rights, damages relating to water, and the regulation of water. The bill specifies actions that must be taken before the settlement agreement takes effect, including that the settlement agreement is amended in accordance with this section and executed by the parties involved. If the actions are not taken on or before September 30, 2020, or a later agreed upon date, the settlement agreement is null and void. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma has exclusive jurisdiction for actions regarding the settlement agreement and amended storage contract. Subtitle G--Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act (Sec. 3704) The bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the water rights compact between the Blackfeet Tribe and Montana dated April 15, 2009, as modified to be consistent with this subtitle. (Sec. 3705) The Blackfeet Tribe and the Fort Belknap Indian Community must enter into an agreement on their Milk River water rights. Interior must approve the agreement if it equitably accommodates the interests of each tribe. Interior may establish terms and conditions for the Milk River water rights if an agreement between the tribes is not approved by a certain date. (Sec. 3706) Reclamation must enter into at least one water delivery contract with the Blackfeet Tribe for water from the St. Mary River water right delivered through Milk River Project facilities. The tribe has the right to the remaining portion of U.S. St. Mary River water rights after all other rights are satisfied. (Sec. 3707) Interior must conduct studies in cooperation with the Blackfeet Tribe and Montana regarding St. Mary River and Milk River water supplies, rehabilitation of the St. Mary Diversion Dam and Canal, increased storage in Fresno Dam and Reservoir, and use of the Milk River Project. Reclamation must review the final project design of the Swiftcurrent Creek Bank Stabilization Project and negotiate with the tribe any changes to the design prior to beginning construction. At the request of the tribe, Reclamation must enter into agreements with the tribe to carry out the project. The tribe must grant the United States easements and rights-of-way for the Milk River Project and other construction described in this subtitle. (Sec. 3708) Reclamation is granted exclusive jurisdiction to authorize the development of St. Mary Unit hydroelectric power. The tribe is granted the exclusive right to develop and market such power. Before construction of a hydroelectric power generation project, the tribe must enter into an agreement with Reclamation that includes specified provisions. (Sec. 3709) Interior must allocate water stored in Lake Elwell for the tribe. The tribe may use the water or enter into agreements for use of the water. Under an agreement, the water must be used within the Missouri River Basin and no portion of the water may be permanently alienated. (Sec. 3710) Reclamation must carry out: (1) deferred maintenance related to the Blackfeet Irrigation Project; (2) dam safety improvements for Four Horns Dam; and (3) rehabilitation and enhancement of the Four Horns Feeder Canal, Dam, and Reservoir. Ownership of Birch Creek water delivery facilities is transferred to the tribe. (Sec. 3711) In accordance with agreements with the tribe, Reclamation must construct: (1) the water diversion and delivery features of the Blackfeet Regional Water System; (2) facilities to store water and support irrigation on the tribe's reservation; and (3) construction described in the report ""Blackfeet Water Storage, Development, and Project Report,"" dated March 13, 2013. Ownership of these facilities is granted to the tribe, except ownership of the Birch Creek Unit of the Blackfeet Indian Irrigation Project. (Sec. 3714) Land within the tribe's reservation acquired by the tribe or by the United States must be held in trust for the tribe. (Sec. 3715) Tribal water rights are ratified, confirmed, declared to be valid, and held in trust. Members of the tribe with an allotment of trust land (allottees) are entitled to water for irrigation, which must be satisfied from the tribal water rights. The tribe may allocate, distribute, and lease tribal water rights for off-reservation use, subject to Interior approval. The tribe must establish a tribal water code, subject to Interior approval. The tribe may not permanently alienate any portion of its tribal water rights. (Sec. 3716) The bill establishes the Blackfeet Settlement Trust Fund. Interior must make specified deposits to the fund. The tribe may make withdrawals from the fund in accordance with this subtitle and a tribal management plan or expenditure plan that has been approved by Interior. (Sec. 3717) The bill establishes the Blackfeet Water Settlement Implementation Fund for use by Interior to carry out this subtitle. (Sec. 3719) The instream flow water rights of the tribe within the Lewis and Clark National Forest and Glacier National Park are confirmed as described in ""Stipulation to Address Claims by and for the Benefit of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe to Water Rights in the Lewis & Clark National Forest and Glacier National Park."" (Sec. 3720) The tribe and the United States (acting as trustee for the tribe) must waive all claims to water rights in Montana, except water rights recognized in the compact and this subtitle. The United States, acting as trustee for allottees, must waive all claims to water rights within the tribe's reservation, except water rights recognized in the compact and this subtitle. The tribe must: (1) waive claims against the United States regarding specified water rights, land, and facilities; and (2) withdraw objections to U.S. water rights claims for the benefit of the Milk River Project. The waivers in this subtitle are enforceable on the date Interior publishes specified findings regarding appropriations, waivers, and approved agreements. If Interior does not publish those findings on or before January 21, 2025, or a later date agreed upon by the tribe and Interior, the provisions of this subtitle expire and related actions and agreements are void. If appropriations are not made on or before January 21, 2026, or a later date agreed upon by the tribe and the Interior, the waivers expire and the United States' approval of the compact is no longer effective. (Sec. 3724) The United States is not liable for failing to carry out any obligation or activity under this subtitle if there are insufficient appropriations. Subtitle H--Water Desalination (Sec. 3801) The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 the Water Desalination Act of 1996. In addition, the bill: (1) expands the list of desalination-related research and study topics with respect to which Interior is authorized to award grants and contracts under the Act, (2) establishes certain priorities with respect to research funding and the desalination demonstration program, and (3) requires the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to coordinate federal desalination research and development activities. Subtitle I--Amendments to the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (Sec. 3901) The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990. In addition, the bill: (1) modifies requirements with respect to the identification, review, and implementation of proposals and regional projects under the Act; and (2) prohibits the use of funds appropriated under the Act for federal acquisition of interests in land. Subtitle J--California Water (Sec. 4001) Interior and the Department of Commerce must provide the maximum practicable amount of water supplies to specified contractors by approving operations or temporary projects related to California drought relief. In doing so, Interior and Commerce shall: with respect to the Delta cross channel (a facility that diverts water from the Sacramento River), collect specified data, design and implement monitoring capabilities, and implement a pilot project to test and evaluate the ability to keep cross-channel gates open to the greatest extent practicable; collaborate with the California Department of Water Resources to install a specified deflection barrier; implement turbidity (a measure of water clarity) control strategies; timely evaluate specified proposals to increase flow in the San Joaquin River; take specified action regarding inflow-to-export ratios; issue certain permit decisions within a specified timeframe; and allow and facilitate certain water transfers. The bill provides for expedited procedures with respect to federal approval of projects or operational changes related to drought relief. (Sec. 4002) In implementing specified biological opinions regarding smelt and salmonid (types of fish), Interior and Commerce shall, subject to specified requirements, manage reverse flow in certain rivers at the most negative reverse flow rate allowable in order to maximize water supplies. (Sec. 4003) With specified restrictions, the bill allows Interior and Commerce to authorize the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, in order to capture peak flows during storm-related events, to operate at levels resulting in Old River and Middle River flows that are more negative than is allowable by the applicable biological opinion. (Sec. 4004) The bill establishes certain requirements regarding consultations on the coordinated operations of federal, state, and local agencies working to resolve water resource issues. (Sec. 4005) Under specified circumstances resulting in reduced water supply to the State Water Project and increased yield for the Central Valley Project, additional yield shall be made available, subject to certain restrictions, to the State Water Project to offset the reduced water supply. The bill prohibits Interior and Commerce from: (1) in carrying out specified provisions of this subtitle, taking certain action related to water-rights laws, protections, and priorities; or (2) carrying out a specific action authorized under applicable provisions of the subtitle that would result in the involuntary reduction of water supply to an individual, district, or agency that has a contract for water with the State Water Project or Central Valley Project. In general, Interior shall make every reasonable effort in the operation of the Central Valley Project to allocate water provided for irrigation purposes in accordance with specified percentage requirements. (Sec. 4006) Reclamation must work with local water and irrigation districts to determine the water storage made available by a specified draft plan of operations for certain projects to maximize water storage and ensure the beneficial use of water resources in the Stanislaus River Basin. The source of water for any such storage program at New Melones Reservoir shall be made available under a valid water right. (Sec. 4007) Subject to specified requirements, the bill allows Interior to: (1) on the request of a state or public agency organized under state law, negotiate and enter into an agreement on behalf of the United States for the design, study, and construction or expansion of certain federally owned water-storage projects; (2) participate in such projects in an amount up to 50% of the total project cost; (3) on the request of a state governor, participate in state-led water storage projects in an amount up to 25% of the total project cost; and (4) provide financial assistance to carry out projects within any ""Reclamation State"" (in general, a western state in which Reclamation operates a water development project). The provisions of this section apply only to projects determined by Interior to be feasible before January 1, 2021. The bill reauthorizes through FY2019 the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act. (Sec. 4008) The bill provides for specified compensatory and other relief with respect to a water-dependent business or nonfederal hydroelectric project that is adversely affected by the construction of certain water storage projects. (Sec. 4009) Subject to specified requirements, Interior may participate in an eligible desalination project in an amount up to 25% of the total project cost. The bill amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to establish: (1) processes for Interior's authorization of new water recycling and reuse projects; and (2) a competitive grant program with respect to funding the planning, design, and construction of such projects. (Sec. 4010) The bill requires Interior to conduct, with respect to Delta smelt, increased monitoring and a distribution study. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is authorized to carry out specified actions related to the protection of certain fish populations. Interior and Commerce must develop and implement as necessary the expanded use of conservation hatchery programs to enhance, supplement, and rebuild Delta smelt and certain other fish species under the smelt and salmonid biological opinions. For specified environmental purposes, Interior is authorized to acquire land, water, or interests in land or water from willing sellers in California. The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 and revises the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000. Interior is authorized to share in up to 50% of the cost of carrying out certain actions related to the acceleration and completion of water infrastructure and conveyance facilities necessary to achieve full water deliveries to Central Valley wildlife refuges and habitat areas. The National Marine Fisheries Service shall, jointly with specified irrigation districts in California, establish and conduct a non-native predator research and pilot fish removal program to study the effects of removing certain fish species from the Stanislaus River. The districts shall be responsible for 100% of program costs. Interior, in collaboration with Commerce and other agencies and parties, must establish and carry out pilot projects to implement a specified invasive species control program. The bill amends the Central Valley Project Improvement Act to exclude striped bass from a project that requires reasonable efforts to ensure that all anadromous fish (which are fish that migrate from salt water to spawn in fresh water) naturally produce at twice the average levels in Central Valley rivers and streams. (Striped bass are non-native anadromous fish that prey on native salmon and steelhead.) (Sec. 4011) The bill: (1) provides for prepayment of certain repayment contracts between the United States and contractors of federally developed water supplies, and (2) requires that a specified portion of the receipts generated from such prepayment be directed to the Reclamation Water Storage Account to fund the construction of water storage. (Sec. 4013) With specified exceptions, this subtitle terminates after five years TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS (Sec. 5001) The Department of Transportation (DOT) must give Congress three full business days' prior notice of any announcement of competitive DOT projects receiving a discretionary grant award, letter of intent, loan, loan guarantee, or line of credit of $750,000 or more. DOT shall also give Congress notice of emergency program fund allocations for the repair of highways and roads damaged as a result of a disaster: three full business days before issuance of the allocation; or concurrently with the allocation, if it is made using DOT's quick release (or any successor) process. (Sec. 5002) The Denali Commission Act of 1998 is amended to reauthorize the Denali Commission (an independent federal agency designed to provide rural and infrastructure development, utilities, job training, and economic support for Alaska) through FY2021. If a vacancy occurs in the position of federal cochairperson of the commission, the Department of Commerce may appoint an interim federal cochairperson to serve until the vacancy is filled. No commission member, other than the federal cochairperson, shall be considered a federal employee. Commission members are subject to a fine or imprisonment for certain conflict of interest violations. (Sec. 5003) The Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 is amended to authorize the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to allow the use of floating cabins (designed or used for human habitation or occupation but not primarily designed or used for navigation or transportation on water) that are already located on TVA waters if the TVA has authorized the use of recreational vessels and the cabin owners maintain the cabins to reasonable health, safety, and environmental standards. The board may not require removal of such cabins for a specified period after enactment of this bill and must allow continued use of such cabins that meet recreational access requirements. But the TVA may establish regulations to prevent construction of new floating cabins. (Sec. 5004) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the EPA should receive and expeditiously process tort claims for injury arising out of the Gold King Mine release on August 5, 2015, that discharged contaminated water north of Silverton, Colorado, into Cement Creek while EPA contractors were conducting an investigation to assess mine conditions. The bill establishes procedures for processing eligible response cost claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. The EPA must implement a program for long-term water quality monitoring of rivers contaminated by the Gold King Mine release. (Sec. 5005) The Clean Water Act is amended to revise and reauthorize the EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for FY2017-FY2021. The bill restates the initiative's priorities for Great Lakes protection and restoration programs and projects, including: (1) the remediation of toxic substances and areas of concern; (2) the prevention and control of invasive species and their impacts; (3) the protection and restoration of near-shore health and the prevention and mitigation of nonpoint source pollution (water pollution that comes from many diffuse sources, such as pollution on the ground picked up by rain or snow); (4) habitat and wildlife protection and restoration; and (5) accountability, monitoring, evaluation, communication, and partnership activities. In selecting the best combination of the initiative's programs and projects, the EPA must consult with the Great Lakes states and Indian tribes and solicit input from other nonfederal stakeholders. The EPA must designate a point person from an appropriate federal partner to coordinate, with federal partners and nonfederal stakeholders, the initiative's projects and activities involving harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes. In addition to current requirements concerning the use of funds made available to carry out the initiative, the bill requires initiative funds to be used to strategically implement operations and activities of the EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office, such as remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern. The EPA or federal agency that receives funds under the initiative may make a grant to, or enter into an agreement with, a qualified nonfederal entity for planning, researching, monitoring, outreach, or implementation of a project that supports the Initiative Action Plan or the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Projects may be carried out under the initiative on multiple levels, including at the local level. Funding made available to implement the initiative may not be used for any water infrastructure activity (other than a green infrastructure project that improves habitat and other ecosystem functions in the Great Lakes) for which funding is made available under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA). The EPA must review, and revise, if appropriate, the Initiative Action Plan at least once every five years. The EPA must also: (1) establish a process for monitoring and periodically reporting to the public on the plan's progress, (2) make information about each project carried out under the plan available on a public website, and (3) provide Congress a yearly detailed description of the initiative's progress and amounts transferred to participating federal agencies for carrying out activities that support the initiative. (Sec. 5006) The National Dam Safety Program Act is amended to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a program to provide technical, planning, design, and construction assistance grants to nonfederal sponsors (subject to a nonfederal cost-sharing requirement of at least 35%) for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams. An ""eligible high hazard potential dam"" is a nonfederal dam that: is located in a state with a state dam safety program, is classified as high hazard potential by the dam safety agency of the state in which the dam is located, has an emergency action plan approved by such agency, and fails to meet minimum state dam safety standards and poses an unacceptable risk to the public. An eligible high hazard potential dam does not include a licensed hydroelectric dam or a dam built under the authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). FEMA shall require a grant recipient to provide an assurance that the owner of the dam has developed and will carry out a plan for maintenance of the dam during its expected life. A grant must be approved by the relevant state dam safety agency. Grant funds shall be allocated to all states from which applications are submitted based on each state's relative number of eligible high hazard potential dams compared to all states. Grant funds may not be used to: rehabilitate a federal dam, perform routine operation or maintenance of a dam, modify a dam to produce hydroelectric power, increase water supply storage capacity, or make any other modification that does not also improve the safety of the dam. The bill sets forth requirements and conditions for nonfederal sponsors to receive such grants, including the demonstration of a floodplain management plan to reduce the impacts of future flood events. (Sec. 5007) The bill amends the Clean Water Act to direct the EPA to carry out an annual survey of sea grasses in the Chesapeake Bay. (Sec. 5008) WIFIA is amended to expand the water infrastructure public-private partnership loan program to include: (1) chloride control projects; (2) alternative water supplies to reduce aquifer depletion; and (3) projects to prevent, reduce, or mitigate the effects of drought, including projects that enhance the resilience of drought-stricken watersheds. The Corps of Engineers or the EPA must allow WIFIA secured loan fees to be financed as part of the loan. Any eligible project costs incurred and the value of any integral in-kind contributions made before receipt of assistance must be credited toward the 51% of project costs to be provided by sources of funding other than a secured loan. (Sec. 5009) The Department of the Navy must submit to Congress for four years annual reports and comprehensive strategies to address groundwater contamination from a site in Bethpage, New York. (Sec. 5010) The bill amends the Clean Water Act to require the EPA to establish a Columbia River Basin Restoration Program. The program shall consist of a collaborative stakeholder-based program for environmental protection and restoration activities throughout the Columbia River Basin. Under the program, the EPA must: (1) assess trends in water quality, including trends that affect uses of the water of the Columbia River Basin; (2) collect, characterize, and assess data on water quality to identify possible causes of environmental problems; (3) provide grants for projects that assist in eliminating or reducing pollution, cleaning up contaminated sites, improving water quality, monitoring, reducing runoff, protecting habitat, or promoting citizen engagement or knowledge; (4) establish a working group to recommend, prioritize, and review projects and actions; and (5) establish a voluntary, competitive Columbia River Basin program to provide grants to governmental and private entities for environmental protection and restoration activities throughout the Columbia River Basin. (Sec. 5011) WRRDA 2014 is amended to provide that the EPA's oil pollution prevention regulations shall not apply to farm containers that: (1) have an individual or aggregate gallon capacity below specified amounts on a separate parcel, or (2) hold animal feed ingredients approved for livestock by the Food and Drug Administration. (Sec. 5012) The Clean Water Act is amended to modify the eligible recipients of additional subsidization that states may provide from water pollution control revolving funds. (Sec. 5013) The Estuary Restoration Act of 2000 is amended to: (1) reauthorize estuary habitat restoration projects through FY2021; and (2) allow nongovernmental organizations to enter into the required agreements with the Corps of Engineers under WRDA 1986 for flood control projects to be initiated only after the nonfederal interests agree to pay all operation, maintenance, replacement, and rehabilitation costs and the nonfederal share of construction costs. (Sec. 5014) The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act is amended to require the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force to issue guidelines for environmental banks in Louisiana. ""Environmental banks"" are projects to restore, create, or enhance natural resources at designated sites to establish mitigation credits that may be used to satisfy existing liability under federal environmental laws.",2023-04-24T20:39:48Z, 114-hr-1107,114,hr,1107,Bureau of Reclamation Transparency Act,Water Resources Development,2015-02-26,2015-12-03,"Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 279.",House,"Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4]",AZ,R,G000565,25,"Bureau of Reclamation Transparency Act (Sec. 4) This bill directs the Department of the Interior to submit to Congress, make publicly available, and biennially update an Asset Management Report that describes the Bureau of Reclamation's efforts to maintain in a reliable manner all reserved works (buildings, structures, facilities, or equipment owned by the Bureau for which operations and maintenance are performed by Bureau employees or through a contract with the Bureau) at Reclamation facilities (infrastructure assets that are owned by the Bureau at each Reclamation project owned by the Bureau) and to standardize and streamline data reporting and processes across regions and areas for the purpose of maintaining such works. Such Report must include: (1) a detailed assessment of major repair and rehabilitation needs for all such works; and (2) an itemized list of major repair and rehabilitation needs of individual Reclamation facilities at each Reclamation project, including a budget level cost estimate of appropriations needed to complete each item and an assignment of a categorical rating for each item consistent with existing uniform categorization systems to inform the annual budget process and agency requirements. Interior may exclude from the public version of the Report any information that it identifies as sensitive or classified, but shall make available to specified congressional committees a version of the report containing the sensitive or classified information. (Sec. 5) Interior must: (1) coordinate with the non-federal entities responsible for the operation and maintenance of transferred works (Reclamation facilities at which operations and maintenance are carried out by a non-federal entity under a formal agreement with the Bureau) in developing reporting requirements for Asset Management Reports regarding major repair and rehabilitation needs for transferred works, and (2) develop and implement a categorical rating system for transferred works that incorporates the rating system for major repair and rehabilitation needs for reserved works.",2023-01-11T13:28:40Z, 114-s-593,114,s,593,Bureau of Reclamation Transparency Act,Water Resources Development,2015-02-26,2015-09-09,Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 208.,Senate,"Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]",WY,R,B001261,1,"Bureau of Reclamation Transparency Act (Sec. 4) Directs the Department of the Interior to submit to Congress, make publicly available, and biennially update an Asset Management Report that describes the Bureau of Reclamation's efforts to maintain in a reliable manner all reserved works (buildings, structures, facilities, or equipment owned by the Bureau for which operations and maintenance are performed by Bureau employees or through a contract with the Bureau) at Reclamation facilities (infrastructure assets that are owned by the Bureau at each Reclamation project owned by the Bureau) and to standardize and streamline data reporting and processes across regions and areas for the purpose of maintaining such works. Requires such Report to include: (1) a detailed assessment of major repair and rehabilitation needs for all such works; and (2) an itemized list of major repair and rehabilitation needs of individual Reclamation facilities at each Reclamation project, including a budget level cost estimate of appropriations needed to complete each item and an assignment of a categorical rating for each item consistent with existing uniform categorization systems to inform the annual budget process and agency requirements. (Sec. 5) Directs Interior to: (1) coordinate with the non-federal entities responsible for the operation and maintenance of transferred works (Reclamation facilities at which operations and maintenance are carried out by a non-federal entity under a formal agreement with the Bureau) in developing reporting requirements for Asset Management Reports regarding major repair and rehabilitation needs for transferred works; and (2) develop and implement a categorical rating system for transferred works. (Sec. 6) Reduces the maximum amount of the federal share of the cost of the Central Valley Water Recycling Project otherwise available as of the date of enactment of this Act by $2 million.",2023-01-11T13:28:17Z, 114-hr-1060,114,hr,1060,Sacramento Valley Water Storage and Restoration Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-02-25,2015-05-19,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]",CA,R,L000578,3,"Sacramento Valley Water Storage and Restoration Act of 2015 Directs the Department of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to: (1) finalize and publish in the Federal Register the feasibility study authorized in the Water Supply, Reliability, and Environmental Improvement Act, for enlargement of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County, California; (2) work with the Department of Commerce, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency, by June 30, 2015, to coordinate the efforts of the relevant agencies and work with the state of California, the Sites Project Authority, and other stakeholders to complete and issue the final joint environmental impact statement and report on the Sites Project (the Sites Reservoir in Glenn and Colusa Counties, California, and related facilities, including associated water conveyance and hydropower generation and transmission facilities); and (3) enter into agreements with the Authority to carry out such work as the Bureau and the Authority mutually agree is appropriate to ensure that all studies and environmental reviews are completed on an expeditious basis and that the shortest applicable process under the National Environmental Policy Act is utilized, including in the completion of the final feasibility study and final joint environmental impact statement and report on the Sites Project. Amends the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act to: (1) authorize construction of the Sites Reservoir in Colusa County if Interior determines that the project is feasible; and (2) direct the Bureau, at the Authority's request, to enter into a project partnership agreement for the Authority to provide full project management control for construction of the Sites Project, or a separable element of the Project, in accordance with plans approved by Interior. Authorizes and directs: (1) the Bureau to advance the Sites Project as a non-federal project if the Bureau determines and Interior concurs that the Project can be expedited by the Authority as a non-federal project and that there is a demonstrable federal interest for the Project to be constructed and operated as a non-federal project, and (2) Interior to execute and implement a long-term agreement with the Authority for the coordination of operations of the Central Valley Project and the Sites Project. Directs the Bureau to: (1) be the lead federal agency for the purposes of all federal reviews, analyses, opinions, statements, permits, licenses, or other approvals or decisions required under federal law to allow either the Bureau or the Authority to construct the Sites Project; and (2) take such steps as necessary to ensure that all such reviews, approvals, or decisions required to allow either the Bureau or the Authority to construct the Sites Project are completed on an expeditious basis and utilize the shortest applicable process.",2023-01-11T13:28:42Z, 114-hr-813,114,hr,813,FORECAST Act,Water Resources Development,2015-02-09,2015-02-10,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]",CA,D,H001068,11,"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 nonfederal 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. 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, and property; (2) reducing the need for future disaster relief; (3) improving local water storage capability and reliability in coordination with the nonfederal 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.",2023-01-11T13:28:32Z, 114-hr-796,114,hr,796,"To amend 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 the South Sacramento County Agriculture and Habitat Lands Water Recycling Project in Sacramento County, California.",Water Resources Development,2015-02-05,2015-03-16,"Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.",House,"Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-6]",CA,D,M001163,2,"Amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Department 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.",2023-01-11T13:28:33Z, 114-hr-578,114,hr,578,Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-01-28,2015-01-29,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7]",OH,R,G000563,92,"Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act of 2015 Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from promulgating or enforcing any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm at a water resources development project administered by the Chief of Engineers if: (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and (2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the state in which the project is located.",2023-01-11T13:29:00Z, 114-s-263,114,s,263,A bill to protect the right of individuals to bear arms at water resources development projects.,Water Resources Development,2015-01-27,2015-01-27,Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.,Senate,"Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]",ID,R,C000880,2,"Prohibits the Department of the Army from promulgating or enforcing any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm in any area open to the public (other than a federal facility) at a water resources development project administered by the Chief of Engineers if: (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and (2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the state in which the project is located.",2023-01-11T13:28:49Z, 114-hr-404,114,hr,404,To authorize early repayment of obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within the Northport Irrigation District in the State of Nebraska.,Water Resources Development,2015-01-16,2015-06-02,Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.,House,"Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]",NE,R,S001172,0,"(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Authorizes any landowner within the Northport Irrigation District in Nebraska to repay, at any time, the construction costs of project facilities allocated to the landowner's land within the District. Provides that upon discharge in full of the obligation for repayment of all such costs, the parcels of land shall not be subject to the ownership and full-cost pricing limitations under federal reclamation law. Directs the Department of the Interior, upon request, to provide to the landowner who has repaid such costs in full a certificate acknowledging that the landholding is free of such limitations.",2023-01-11T13:27:30Z, 114-hr-231,114,hr,231,To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 to deauthorize the Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area Critical Restoration Project.,Water Resources Development,2015-01-08,2015-01-09,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Murphy, Patrick [D-FL-18]",FL,D,M001191,19,"Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 to deauthorize the Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area Critical Restoration Project upon execution of a transfer agreement between the Secretary of the Army and the South Florida Water Management District, under which the District shall operate the transferred project as an environmental restoration project to provide water storage and water treatment options.",2023-01-11T13:29:12Z, 114-s-124,114,s,124,A bill to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 to deauthorize the Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area Critical Restoration Project.,Water Resources Development,2015-01-08,2015-01-08,Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.,Senate,"Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]",FL,R,R000595,1,"Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 to deauthorize the Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area Critical Restoration Project upon execution of a transfer agreement between the Secretary of the Army and the South Florida Water Management District, under which the District shall operate the transferred project as an environmental restoration project to provide water storage and water treatment options.",2023-01-11T13:28:54Z, 114-s-133,114,s,133,Klamath Basin Water Recovery and Economic Restoration Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-01-08,2015-01-08,Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S102),Senate,"Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]",OR,D,W000779,3,"Klamath Basin Water Recovery and Economic Restoration Act of 2015 Authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Hydroelectric Settlement (Settlement), the Klamath River Basin Restoration Agreement for the Sustainability of Public and Trust Resources and Affected Communities (Restoration Agreement), and the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement (Upper Basin Agreement) and any amendments that are executed to make them consistent with this Act. Directs: (1) the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Agriculture to promptly execute and implement the Restoration Agreement; (2) the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce to promptly execute and implement the Upper Basin Agreement; and (3) the Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to implement the Settlement to the extent that it does not conflict with this Act. Includes in the Klamath Reclamation Project's purposes irrigation, reclamation, flood control, municipal uses, industrial uses, power, fish and wildlife purposes, and National Wildlife Refuge purposes. Prohibits water allocations for fish and wildlife and National Wildlife Refuge purposes from adversely affecting water allocations for irrigation purposes, with the exception of allocations to refuges as provided for in the Restoration Agreement. Provides for the disposition of net revenues from the leasing of refuge land within the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. Authorizes the Klamath Tribes, and the United States acting as trustee for such Tribes, to make the commitments set forth in the Restoration Agreement and Upper Basin Agreement in consideration of: (1) the benefits those Agreements provide to the Tribes, and (2) the resolution of any contest or exception the Klamath Project Water Users and Off-Project Irrigators had to the Tribes' water rights claims. Authorizes the Karuk Tribe and Yurok Tribe to make the commitments set forth in the Restoration Agreement in consideration for the commitments of the Klamath Project Water Users described in that Agreement and the other benefits provided in that Agreement and this Act. Authorizes the Klamath Tribes, Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribe, and any other federally recognized tribes of the Klamath Basin that become party to the Restoration Agreement after this Act's enactment to relinquish and release certain claims against the United States. Amends the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 to authorize the Secretary, consistent with the Agreements, to carry out any activities to: (1) align water supplies with demand; (2) limit the net costs of power used to manage water for the Klamath Project, the On-Project Power Users, irrigators in the Off-Project Area, and the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex; and (3) restore any ecosystem and otherwise protect fish and wildlife in the Klamath Basin watershed. Establishes in the Treasury the Klamath Tribes Tribal Resource Fund to be administered by the Secretary for the benefit of the Klamath Tribes in accordance with the Upper Basin Agreement. Authorizes the Klamath Tribes to submit a tribal investment plan for funds disbursed to the Tribes. Requires the Klamath Tribes to submit for the Secretary's approval an economic development plan for the use of the Fund. Requires that plan to include a resource acquisition and enhancement plan that requires at least 50% of the amount appropriated each fiscal year for the Fund to be used to enhance, restore, and utilize the natural resources of the Tribes in a manner that also provides for the Tribes' economic development and benefits adjacent non-Indian communities. Prohibits any amount in the Fund or revenue from any water use contract from being distributed to any member of the Klamath Tribes on a per capita basis. Requires the Tribes to make the commitments set forth in the Agreements and to be in substantial compliance with those commitments before amounts in the Fund are disbursed. Directs the Governors of Oregon and California and the Secretary, in accordance with the Settlement, to jointly: (1) determine whether to proceed with the removal of the Iron Gate Dam, the Copco No. 1 Dam, the Copco No. 2 Dam, and the J.C. Boyle Dam on the Klamath River based on factors identified in the Settlement; and (2) designate a dam removal entity if they decide to proceed. Requires the Secretary to accept title to the Keno Dam in Klamath County, Oregon, upon receiving notice that the dam removal entity is ready to remove the J.C. Boyle Dam. Terminates FERC's jurisdiction over the Keno Dam and makes it part of the Klamath Reclamation Project upon the Secretary's acceptance of title to it. Requires FERC to: (1) issue an order approving partial surrender of the license for the East Side and West Side Developments associated with the Link River Dam upon PacifiCorp's filing of an application for such surrender; and (2) resume timely consideration of the pending licensing application for the Fall Creek Development within 60 days after title to the Iron Gate Dam is transferred to the dam removal entity, regardless of whether PacifiCorp retains ownership of the Development. Transfers title to PacifiCorp's California hatchery facilities to California when the dam removal entity takes title to the Iron Gate Dam or such other time as may be agreed to by the Settlement parties. Authorizes the Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into agreements with state, tribal, and local governments and private entities to implement the Act, the Settlement, and the Agreements. Requires priority to be given to the Yurok Tribe, the Karuk Tribe, the Klamath Tribes, and any other federally recognized tribes of the Klamath Basin that become party to the Restoration Agreement in awarding grants or contracts to implement the fisheries programs in that Agreement.",2023-01-11T13:28:53Z, 114-hr-176,114,hr,176,LOCAL Act of 2015,Water Resources Development,2015-01-06,2015-01-07,Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.,House,"Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3]",AR,R,W000809,1,"Local Organization Cooperative Agreement for Land and Facility Maintenance Act of 2015 or the LOCAL Act of 2015 - 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.",2023-01-11T13:29:14Z,