Corps of Engineers would manage water projects, permits, and studies

The Secretary of the Army would establish four offices within the Corps of Engineers’ civil works division. The offices would cover inland navigation construction, water supply and drought resilience, technical assistance and community outreach, and alternative project delivery methods. The offices would need program managers and enough administrative, technical, and budget support to perform their listed duties. The offices would be funded from amounts otherwise authorized for the general expenses of the civil works division. Each office would be established no later than 180 days after enactment, and the Secretary would report on implementation within two years.

The Secretary would operate an electronic system for permit applications, environmental-review documents, and status tracking. The system would cover permits and jurisdictional requests under the Secretary’s authority, plus environmental reviews for projects led or overseen by the Corps. Non-Federal project partners could submit information and track the status of environmental reviews through the system. The Secretary would keep covered records and make final environmental-review documents available to the public. The Secretary would still need to follow other federal and state environmental laws. The electronic system would be implemented within one year after enactment, while record requirements for environmental documents would apply to documents prepared after enactment.

The Secretary would carry out or speed up studies, projects, reports, and infrastructure work listed throughout the Act. The provisions cover water supply, navigation, flood and coastal storm protection, ecosystem restoration, drought resilience, environmental infrastructure, dam safety, and many named locations nationwide. Some projects would require feasibility findings, congressional authorization, non-Federal cost sharing, or agreements before construction. Authorized funding levels would not by themselves provide money unless funds are made available. Some provisions would deauthorize named project portions or reduce authorized navigation dimensions. Deadlines vary by provision, including 30 days, 90 days, 180 days, one year, two years, and five years after enactment; several deauthorizations would begin on enactment.