GALVESTON, Texas (July 16, 2015) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now accepting proposals from local and regional stakeholders for completed feasibility reports, proposed feasibility studies, and proposed modifications to authorized projects or studies to be conducted in partnership with the Corps.
Section 7001 of Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA 2014) requires that the Secretary of the Army annually submit to the Congress a report that identifies for potential congressional authorization completed feasibility reports, proposed feasibility studies, and proposed modifications to authorized projects or studies that meet all the following criteria:
- Are related to the missions and authorities of the Corps, including: navigation, flood risk management, and aquatic ecosystem restoration; Recreation, hydropower and/or water supply will be considered “related” when it is performed in conjunction with one or more of the primary mission(s).
- Require specific congressional authorization.
- Have not been congressionally authorized.
- Have not been included in the main table of a previous annual report.
- If authorized could be carried out by the Corps.
- The annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development is to be based, in part, upon annual requests for proposals for authorization from non-Federal interests for proposed feasibility studies and proposed modifications to authorized projects or studies that require authorization for the Corps to proceed.
“We encourage our partners to submit proposals that may help the Corps and Congress identify where resources can be invested to address our nation’s water resources priorities,” said Col. Richard P. Pannell, USACE Galveston District commander. “This provides a tremendous opportunity for our partners to shape the future by identifying beneficial and necessary water resources projects to be developed through federal and non-federal cost sharing.”
Section 7001 requires that the Secretary of the Army certify that the proposals included in the annual report meet the criteria established by Congress, listed above. Any proposals that do not meet the criteria will be included in the report’s appendix. Inclusion in the annual report to Congress does not provide authorization or appropriation for a study or project.
Please contact Dr. Edmond Russo, USACE Galveston District’s deputy district engineer for programs and project management, at Edmond.J.Russo@usace.army.mil for assistance with researching and identifying existing authorizations and existing USACE decision documents.
Proposals must be submitted online by Sept. 23, 2015, at http://www.wrrda7001proposals.us/.
To learn more about the submission process or to read the May 26, 2015, Federal Register notice, visit http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ProjectPlanning/WRRDA7001Proposals.aspx.
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