SE North Carolina News

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, under the leadership of Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO-06) and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC-07). The legislation authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program to enhance the nation's ports, harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, among other water resources infrastructure projects. Subcommittee Chairman Rouzer played a significant role in drafting this bill, which now awaits a vote in the full House.

"The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 is the culmination of months of hard work by Members of Congress, staff, and stakeholders across the country," said Chairman Rouzer. "This bipartisan legislative package improves our nation’s ports and harbors and inland navigation networks, strengthens U.S. and international commerce, and will help improve protection of communities during national disasters. The provisions of this bill touch every aspect of our water resources across the country, positively impacting the very way of life for every American. I look forward to its passage on the House Floor in the coming weeks."

The WRDA 2024 includes more than 1,900 requests from members and stakeholders. It authorizes 160 new feasibility studies for locally proposed projects and approves 12 projects that have been thoroughly reviewed by the Corps with final reports submitted to Congress.

As amended today, WRDA reauthorizes FEMA’s National Dam Safety Program through 2028 and introduces changes to strengthen the High Hazard Potential Dam program. This includes requirements for maintaining rehabilitated dams and ensuring appropriate floodplain management plans are in place.

Additionally, WRDA incorporates reforms aimed at empowering non-federal project sponsors, increasing project transparency, and improving project delivery. It strengthens existing alternative delivery processes within smaller projects under the continuing authorities program (CAP). The bill mandates tracking National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents via an online permitting dashboard. Furthermore, it creates a new initiative to assist non-federal interests in accessing Corps resources for studying and constructing new projects.

A provision within WRDA allows recreational Corps facilities to retain fees for their Operation & Maintenance.

Since 2014, WRDA legislation has been developed and passed on a bipartisan biennial basis by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The approval of WRDA 2024 continues this tradition while providing Congress with opportunities to influence Corps' projects.

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