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00Ui6' tII~9Ust28, 1992 ~ If/ Issue No. 954 TIIE WEEKLY NEWSLETIER OF TIIE WESlERN STATES Wfi;, editor - Tony Willardson Creekview Plaza. SUite A-201 I 942 East 7145 So. I Midvale. Utah 84047 I (801) 561-5300 I FAX (801) 255-9642 typist - carrie Curvin WATER RESOURCES Corps Omnibus Bill The Water Resources Development Act of 1992 is a biennial authorization of the U,S, Army Corps of Engineers civil works program. Earlier this month, the House Public Works and Transportation Committee _ported H.R. 5754 (WSW #953). Last May, the nate Environment and Public Works Committee eported its version (S, 2734; S, Rpt 102-283). Under Title I, the Senate bill authorizes 22 new projects and total and federal funding consistent with 1986 cost sharing reforms (P.L 99-662) as follows: commercial navigation improvements at Sitka Harbor, Alaska ($15M/$12M); Morro Bay Harbor, California ($2.2M/$1.8M); Sargent Beach, Texas ($64,6M); and flood control projects for Sacramento, California ($17.4M/$13.1M); Rio Grand Alamosa, Colorado ($6.8M/$5M); Las Vegas Wash and tributaries, Nevada ($196M/$138M); Shoal Creek near Austin, Texas ($6.8M/$5,1 M); and the American River watershed, in California ($662M/$467M). The latter includes levee improvements and construction of Auburn Dam to protect Sacramento from floods. Both were dropped from the House bill. Of note, at a 8.5% discount rate, project benefit/cost ratios ranges from 1,3 to 5,7, S. 2734, Title III, includes several cost sharing changes. Under the Corps' Section 22 program, which provides technical assistance to states, the bill allows in-kind contributions to cover one-half of the required 50% match. It clarifying the Corps may .'milarlY assist Indian tribes. The Secretary of Army also authorized to enter into agreements with non- ederal sponsors for the operation and management of recreation facilities, as well as impose charges at Corps recreation areas, The bill would establish new 25% cost sharing requirements for wetland and other chairman - Dave Kennedy executive director - Craig Bell aquatic habitat restoration projects, with non-federal operation and maintenance also required. In lieu of assuming operation and maintenance responsibilities for the economic life of a project, the Secretary may negotiate and accept lump sum payments from non- federal sponsors, The Secretary may also accept contributions from non-profit private entities for environmental protection and restoration projects. Of note, the bill provides that in the future non-federal project sponsors should only be charged for the Corps' direct overhead costs. The Senate Committee report also expresses continuing concern over the Corps failure to develop adequate procedures for determining non-federal project sponsors 'ability- to-pay.' Interagency cost sharing measures are also addressed, The U,S. Fish and Wildlife Service is authorized to provide financial assistance (50% cost sharing up to $3M) for the construction of the Chase Lake Prairies Wetlands Interpretive Center in North Dakota under the North American Waterfowl management plan. S. 2734 reauthorizes the 1986 Safety of Dams Act for an additional five years, which the Council supports, Under Title III, the Secretary is also authorized to make energy efficiency improvements by rehabilitating hydropower generating facilities. Under Title IV, the bill would create a new Infrastructure Technology Research and Development Program to advance state-of-the-art project design and construction techniques in consultation and collaboration with outside experts. The Corps is also authorized to execute a cooperative agreement with the National Center for Infrastructure Studies, which is a consortium of leading colleges and universities, to pursue, develop and assess new and innovative technologies and new analytical procedures.