Must See TV – D.C. Style

By Julie Minerva on Posted in Federal Legislation, Flood Control, Levees, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

As a registered federal lobbyist I’m often asked to describe my job.  Some days I describe it as an advocate; other days as an educator.  I’ve also been known to liken it to being a translator or cruise director, but this past month it has felt a lot like being a host of Talk Soup.  You see, I attend countless Congressional hearings and markups and spend endless hours watching House and Senate floor debate on C-SPAN.  To borrow a phrase from Greg Kinnear, I watch it so you don’t have to.  In that spirit, and because I am long over due on providing a blog post to TheLeveeWasDry.Com, here are the highlights from the House debate on the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Energy & Water Appropriations bill.  

In mid-June, the U.S. House of Representatives cleared the first Minibus appropriations package, HR 2740.  The four-bill package included the FY20 Energy & Water Appropriations bill which funds the civil works program for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).  The House Appropriations Committee, under a new democratic majority, continues the longstanding bi-partisan support for the Corps and its mission by proposing a record level of funding for the Corps.  In total the House proposes to fund the Corps at $7.36B, which is an increase of $357M over the FY19 enacted level and an increase of $2.53B over the President’s FY20 budget proposal.  Continue Reading

House Financial Services Committee Schedules First NFIP Hearing of the Year

By Scott L. Shapiro and Andrea P. Clark on Posted in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Legislation

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) often seems to be the Congressional-stepchild; everyone knows that it deserves some attention but everyone is too busy with their favorite child.  Unfortunately, the Program is scheduled to expire in May and when it expires, the consequences can be dire.  Financial Services Committee Chair Maxine Waters has been a long-time proponent of the Program and the changes that are necessary to keep it running and make it work better.  To that end, the Committee has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, March 13th at 10:00 am.  You can view the hearing here.

According to the Committee notice, the following people are scheduled to testify at the hearing:

  • Maria Cox Lamm, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Association of State Flood Plain Managers
  • Christopher Heidrick, Heidrick & Company Insurance and Risk Management Services, LLC, on behalf of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America
  • Velma Smith, Senior Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts
  • Mabél Guzmán, Broker, @properties, on behalf of the National Association of Realtors
  • Collin O’Mara, President and CEO, National Wildlife Federation, on behalf of the SmarterSafer Coalition
  • Raymond J. Lehmann, Director of Finance, Insurance and Trade Policy, Street Institute

Calling all Potential P3 Projects 

By Julie Minerva on Posted in Federal Regulations, Flood Control, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

If you answer yes to the questions below, you should carve out some time to participate in the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) next Public Private Partnership (P3) webinar:

  • You are the non-federal sponsor of a federally authorized Corps project;
  • The project construction cost exceeds $50M;
  • The construction of the project includes a design, build, finance, operation and maintenance approach or some combination of these elements;
  • The construction schedule will accelerate project delivery;
  • The project has the ability to generate revenue or leverage non-federal funding sources.

Per a February 1st publication in the Federal Register, the Corps is currently soliciting project applications for its P3 pilot program.  Applications are due by April 2nd and the Corps intends to select up to 10 projects nationwide.  To support this opportunity, the Corps is holding P3 webinars to discuss the background behind this effort to help revolutionize the civil works program and to walk interested applicants through the process.  You are invited to join the Corps for its next P3 webinar on Wednesday, February 13th from 1:00-2:30 pm EST/10:00-11:30 am PST:

AUDIO Information
Dial-in Number: 888-273-3658
Access Code: 8350039
Security code (if requested): 0039
WEBINAR Information
Meeting Address:
https://usace.webex.com/usace/j.php?MTID=m46b76a225c03afe7bc448c3d5fc57870

Additional information about the Corps P3 efforts can be found by visiting the Corps Infrastructure Initiative page https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Infrastructure/ and slides for the P3 webinar can be viewed here https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll11/id/3426  

Julie Minerva is a Washington, DC based infrastructure advocate who specializes in Civil Works and all things related to the US Army Corps of Engineers. You can find her at: jminerva@carpiclay.com

Water Resources Development Act is Signed Into Law By President

By Scott L. Shapiro and Andrea P. Clark on Posted in Federal Legislation, Flood Control, Floodplain Management, Levees, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018, included as title I of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (S. 3021), was signed into law today.  The new law provides the needed authorization for investment in harbor, waterway, flood protection, and other water infrastructure improvements throughout the country.

As noted in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee press release:

“I am proud of the fact that our Committee, the House, and the Senate have worked together to send bipartisan WRDA legislation to the president in each of the last three congresses,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA).  “These laws are essential federal commitments to improving the harbors, ports, waterways, locks, dams, and other water infrastructure that makes our transportation network more efficient, the country competitively stronger, and our communities safer from flooding.”

“Passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 is a win for our Nation’s coastal communities,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR).  “This critical legislation authorizes water infrastructure projects developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will strengthen our ports, harbors, and waterways, and will create and sustain jobs.  This bill is the product of a strong bipartisan, bicameral effort and I applaud my House and Senate colleagues for their hard work to get this legislation signed into law.  In particular, I want to thank Chairman Shuster who is retiring and under whose leadership we have passed a WRDA bill every two years.”

In contrast to this wordier press release, the White House had very little to say.

But at the end of the day, this is now three WRDAs in the past six years, continuing the effort of each Congress to pass a WRDA since 2014.  In speaking with House and Senate staff, they all appear dedicated to keeping this trend going in the next Congress.  But, we will need to wait and see.

President Issues a Presidential Memoranda on Western Water (But Flood Is Mentioned)

By Scott L. Shapiro and Andrea P. Clark on Posted in Federal Regulations, Flood Control

Amidst much fanfare, on Friday President Trump released a Presidential Memoranda (much like an Executive Order, yet different?) directing Federal agencies to work together to reduce regulatory burdens on Western water deliveries.  It appears that the main thrust of the Memoranda is for NOAA Fisheries (which has Endangered Species Act oversight over certain fish species) to be more highly coordinated with the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, who has oversight over the Federal Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Federal Bureau of Reclamation.

Interestingly, the Memorandum actually leads off by noting that “[d]uring the 20th Century, the Federal Government invested enormous resources in water infrastructure throughout the western United States to reduce flood risks to communities….” This might lead one to believe that the Memoranda actually addresses flood risk issues.  But in fact, that is the only reference to flood in the Memoranda.  Nonetheless, it is an interesting action and could foretell the Administration’s willingness to provide streamlining in the flood risk reduction arena as well.

Here is the White House release on the Memoranda:

REDUCING REGULATORY BURDENS: President Donald J. Trump’s Administration is reducing regulatory burdens that harm reliable water access in the West.

  • President Trump is signing a memorandum to reduce regulatory burdens and promote more efficient environmental reviews of water infrastructure projects in the West.
    • Decades of uncoordinated regulatory actions have diminished the ability of Federal infrastructure to deliver needed water and have increased costs in the West.
    • Court actions dictating water operations have further complicated the regulatory environment.
  • The President is directing the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to:
    • Streamline regulatory processes and remove unnecessary burdens.
    • Develop a timeline for completing compliance requirements for major water projects.
    • Responsibly expedite ongoing environmental reviews.
    • Convene water experts and resource managers to develop an action plan for improving seasonal forecasts of water availability.
    • Expand the use of technologies to improve the delivery of water and power.
    • Consider the views of local operators during hydroelectric relicensing proceedings.

IMPROVING WATER RELIABILITY: President Trump is working to increase water reliability for families, farmers, and cities across the West.

  • President Trump is committed to ensuring Western communities have the water supplies they need to maintain our economic prosperity.
    • Federal water projects in the West irrigate millions of acres of farmland, provide water and power to millions, and support more than $48 billion in economic activity.
  • The President’s memorandum will benefit major water infrastructure projects in order to more effectively meet the demands of water users in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
    • The Administration will expedite biological opinions for the Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project in California, Klamath Irrigation Project in Oregon, and the Federal Columbia River System in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Expedited regulatory processes will provide certainty for California farmers who need more water to restore farmlands crippled by drought and regulation.

PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES: The President’s memorandum will ensure a timely review process without compromising environmental protections under the Endangered Species Act.

  • The memorandum establishes timelines for environmental reviews of infrastructure projects, allowing the best information to guide conservation of endangered or threatened species.
    • The timelines allow for robust environmental review processes.
    • Agencies will make determinations regarding endangered and threatened species based on the best available scientific and commercial data.

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Finally to be Considered by the Senate

By Scott L. Shapiro and Andrea P. Clark on Posted in Federal Legislation, Flood Control, Floodplain Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Great news for those of us tracking the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes specific projects, creates and modifies programs, and updates authorities for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:  The Senate has scheduled a a cloture vote on Tuesday.  For those with less background on the inner-workings of the Senate, a cloture vote is a procedural vote to allow only 30 hours of debate on a topic, followed by a vote on a bill.  In this case, if the cloture vote passes then the WRDA bill will be officially voted on at 9:00 pm on Wednesday assuming the Senate is still in session.

You will likely recall that the House recently passed S.3021, which was a pre-conference bill developed jointly by the House and Senate staffers to coordinate the House’s and Senate’s views on what should be in WRDA.  Assuming that the cloture vote passes on Tuesday this all but assures that WRDA will be approved by the Senate and signed by the President before the week’s end.

Here is the notice provided to the Senate’s Democratic Caucus:

Tuesday, October 9, 2018
*   The Senate will convene at 3:00pm and resume consideration of the House message to accompany S.3021, the legislative vehicle for the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (WRDA).
*   The cloture vote on the motion to concur with the House message to accompany S.3021 (WRDA) will occur at 5:30pm. If cloture is invoked, the Senate will begin to burn up to 30 hours post-cloture.

During the Friday and Saturday Sessions
House message to accompany S.3021, the legislative vehicle for the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (WRDA).
*         Senator McConnell moved to concur with the House message to accompany S.3021 and filed cloture on that motion to concur.
o    Senator McConnell filled the amendment tree relative to the House message to accompany S.3021.

USACE Appropriations Bill Signed by President, Becomes Law

By Scott L. Shapiro and Andrea P. Clark on Posted in Federal Legislation, Flood Control, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Today the President signed an FY2019 “Minibus” into law (HR 5895) covering three of the twelve appropriations areas – energy and water, MilCon/VA, and legislative branch.  The Energy and Water portion funds the activities of USACE’s Civil Works function.  The agreement would provide a total of $7 billion to USACE, $171.5 million more than in fiscal 2018 and $2.21 billion more than requested by the President in his FY2019 Budget.

Our thanks to our friends at Van Scoyoc Associates for this information.  Major allocations for USACE are shown in the table below:

Account (dollars in millions)

Agreement

Vs. FY 2018

Vs. request

Operation and maintenance

$3,739.5

+$109.5

+$1,662.8

Construction

$2,183.0

+$98.0

+$1,311.3

Mississippi River

$368.0

-$57.0

+$123.3

Regulatory program

$200.0

$0.0

$0.0

Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FURSAP)

$150.0

+$11.0

+$30.0

Investigations

$125.0

+$2.0

+$43.0

Flood control and coastal emergencies

$35.0

$0.0

$0.0

Other Highlights of the bill include the following:

  • The Act allows for six new study starts in FY2019 – one for navigation, one for flood protection, one for environmental restoration, and three for any authorized purpose.
  • The Act allows for five new construction starts – one for navigation, one for flood protection, one for environmental restoration, and two for any authorized purpose.
  • There is a prohibition on USACE spending any funds on moving elements of USACE to other agencies.
  • The Act clarifies that a new start designation is not needed to move from feasibility phase of a study to preconstruction engineering and design phase (PED).
  • $25M is available for authorized reimbursements to non-federal partners
  • The Act calls for full use of the Inland Waterway Trust Fund and more than 90% use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.
  • The Act allocates $50M for use by Donor and Energy Ports…the full authorized amount.

For all the additional funds provided, USACE has 60 days to produce a Work Plan designating where the money will be allocated in the coming fiscal year, including specific projects and dollar amounts.  At the same time, USACE is preparing its portion of the President’s Budget for FY2020 that will be submitted to Congress in February of next year.

Continue Reading

Federal Funding Panel Shared Interesting Perspectives at Annual FMA Conference

By Andrea P. Clark and Scott L. Shapiro on Posted in Federal Legislation, Flood Control, Floodplain Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

At last week’s Floodplain Management Association meeting in Reno, Nevada, the two of us planned and participated in a panel discussion on federal funding for flood control projects under the Trump administration.  Attendees enjoyed a discussion on federal funding options for local entities that are ready to carry out a flood control project (or any water infrastructure project, really), how some California agencies are strategizing to obtain such funding, and importantly, a perspective from a key staff member at the President’s Office of Management and Budget, which sets and implements the President’s policy and budget. Continue Reading

WRDA, Appropriations, and USACE Is Staying Where It Is (for now, at least): A Busy Few Days on the Hill

By Scott L. Shapiro and Andrea P. Clark on Posted in Federal Legislation, Flood Control, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

All joking aside about a gridlocked Congress, real progress has been made this week on flood risk reduction authorizations and appropriations.  As explained below, it is looking like the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) may pass shortly, and the relevant budget subcommittees are ready to move an agreed-upon appropriations packet forward to their respective floors as well.  Also, Congress appears to have put a nail in the coffin for any proposal to move USACE to a different Federal department.

Continue Reading

USACE 408 Guidance Is Officially Final (EC 1165-2-220)

By Scott L. Shapiro and Andrea P. Clark on Posted in Federal Regulations, Flood Control, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

We previously reported on and provided what appeared to be final drafts of the new 408 guidance.  On Friday we received the formal version, and are providing access to it here:  EC_1165-2-220.

Keep coming back for more helpful information on legal updates & commentary on flood risk and floodplain management.

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