The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) prior to leaving for August recess. The bill, H.R. 8812, authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects. WRDA focuses on projects that improve the nation’s water resources infrastructure and protect communities from flooding and storm impacts, as well as improving inland waterway navigation and the nation’s ports and harbors.
The legislation strengthens existing alternative project delivery processes and creates similar alternative delivery methods for smaller projects using the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP). The bill requires the Corps to track National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for water resource projects through an online permitting dashboard.
In addition, the legislation also strengthens the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) High Hazard Potential Dam program by requiring rehabilitated dams to be maintained and floodplain management plans remain in place.
The Senate will consider the WRDA legislation when the session reconvenes on September 9, 2024.