2012 US Code
Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters
Chapter 36 - WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT (§§ 2201 - 2348)
Subchapter V - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 2280 - 2348)
Section 2282 - Feasibility reports

In the case of any water resources project-related study authorized to be undertaken by the Secretary that results in recommendations concerning a project or the operation of a project and that requires specific authorization by Congress in law or otherwise, the Secretary shall perform a reconnaissance study and prepare a feasibility report, subject to section 2215 of this title.

A feasibility report shall describe, with reasonable certainty, the economic, environmental, and social benefits and detriments of the recommended plan and alternative plans considered by the Secretary and the engineering features (including hydrologic and geologic information), the public acceptability, and the purposes, scope, and scale of the recommended plan. A feasibility report shall also include the views of other Federal agencies and non-Federal agencies with regard to the recommended plan, a description of a nonstructural alternative to the recommended plan when such plan does not have significant nonstructural features, and a description of the Federal and non-Federal participation in such plan, and shall demonstrate that States, other non-Federal interests, and Federal agencies have been consulted in the development of the recommended plan.

This subsection shall not apply to—

(A) any study with respect to which a report has been submitted to Congress before November 17, 1986;

(B) any study for a project, which project is authorized for construction by this Act and is not subject to section 903(b); ¹

(C) any study for a project which does not require specific authorization by Congress in law or otherwise; and

(D) general studies not intended to lead to recommendation of a specific water resources project.

In this subsection, the term “feasibility report” means each feasibility report, and any associated environmental impact statement and mitigation plan, prepared by the Corps of Engineers for a water resources project. The term includes a project implementation report prepared under title VI of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2680–2694), a general reevaluation report, and a limited reevaluation report.

Before initiating any feasibility study under subsection (a) of this section after November 17, 1986, the Secretary shall first perform, at Federal expense, a reconnaissance study of the water resources problem in order to identify potential solutions to such problem in sufficient detail to enable the Secretary to determine whether or not planning to develop a project should proceed to the preparation of a feasibility report. Such reconnaissance study shall include a preliminary analysis of the Federal interest, costs, benefits, and environmental impacts of such project, and an estimate of the costs of preparing the feasibility report. The duration of a reconnaissance study shall normally be no more than twelve months, but in all cases is to be limited to eighteen months.

In the case of any water resources project-related study authorized to be undertaken by the Secretary without specific authorization by Congress in law or otherwise, the Secretary shall prepare a detailed project report.

For purposes of studies undertaken pursuant to this section, the Secretary is authorized to consider benefits which may accrue to Indian tribes as a result of a project resulting from such a study.

The Secretary shall undertake such measures as are necessary to ensure that standard and uniform procedures and practices are followed by each district office (and each division office for any area in which there is no district office) of the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the preparation of feasibility reports on water resources projects.

The Secretary shall establish procedures to enhance public participation in the development of each feasibility study under subsection (a) of this section, including, if appropriate, establishment of a stakeholder advisory group to assist the Secretary with the development of the study.

If the Secretary provides for the establishment of a stakeholder advisory group under this subsection, the membership of the advisory group shall include balanced representation of social, economic, and environmental interest groups, and such members shall serve on a voluntary, uncompensated basis.

Procedures established under this subsection shall not delay development of any feasibility study under subsection (a) of this section.

(Pub. L. 99–662, title IX, §905, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4185; Pub. L. 106–541, title II, §222(a), Dec. 11, 2000, 114 Stat. 2597; Pub. L. 110–114, title II, §2043(b), Nov. 8, 2007, 121 Stat. 1101.)

This Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(B), is Pub. L. 99–662, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4082, known as the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2201 of this title and Tables.

Section 903(b), referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(B), is section 903(b) of Pub. L. 99–662, title IX, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4184, which is not classified to the Code.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2000, referred to in subsec. (a)(4), is Pub. L. 106–541, Dec. 11, 2000, 114 Stat. 2572. Title VI of the Act is not classified to the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2000 Amendment note set out under section 2201 of this title and Tables.

2007—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–114, §2043(b)(1), designated first sentence of existing provisions as par. (1) and inserted subsec. (a) and par. (1) headings, substituted “the Secretary that results in recommendations concerning a project or the operation of a project and that requires specific authorization by Congress in law or otherwise, the Secretary shall perform a reconnaissance study and” for “the Secretary, the Secretary shall” in par. (1), designated second and third sentences of existing provisions as par. (2) and inserted heading, substituted “A feasibility report” for “Such feasibility report” and “The feasibility report” in par. (2), added pars. (3) and (4), and struck out last sentence of existing provisions which read as follows: “This subsection shall not apply to (1) any study with respect to which a report has been submitted to Congress before November 17, 1986, (2) any study for a project, which project is authorized for construction by this Act and is not subject to section 903(b), (3) any study for a project which is authorized under any of the following sections: section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948 (33 U.S.C. 701s), section 2 of the Flood Control Act of August 28, 1946 (33 U.S.C. 701r), section 107 of the River and Harbor Act of 1960 (33 U.S.C. 577), section 3 of the Act entitled ‘An Act authorizing Federal participation in the cost of protecting the shores of publicly owned property’, approved August 13, 1946 (33 U.S.C. 426g), and section 111 of the River and Harbor Act of 1968 (33 U.S.C. 426i), and (4) general studies not intended to lead to recommendation of a specific water resources project.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–114, §2043(b)(2)(A), inserted heading.

Subsecs. (c) to (f). Pub. L. 110–114, §2043(b)(2)(B)–(E), added subsec. (c), redesignated former subsecs. (c) to (e) as (d) to (f), respectively, and inserted headings in subsecs. (d) and (e).

2000—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 106–541 added subsec. (e).

Pub. L. 106–541, title II, §216, Dec. 11, 2000, 114 Stat. 2595, provided that:

“(a) Definitions.—In this section, the following definitions apply:

“(1) Academy.—The term ‘Academy’ means the National Academy of Sciences.

“(2) Method.—The term ‘method’ means a method, model, assumption, or other pertinent planning tool used in conducting an economic or environmental analysis of a water resources project, including the formulation of a feasibility report.

“(3) Feasibility report.—The term ‘feasibility report’ means each feasibility report, and each associated environmental impact statement and mitigation plan, prepared by the Corps of Engineers for a water resources project.

“(4) Water resources project.—The term ‘water resources project’ means a project for navigation, a project for flood control, a project for hurricane and storm damage reduction, a project for emergency streambank and shore protection, a project for ecosystem restoration and protection, and a water resources project of any other type carried out by the Corps of Engineers.

“(b) Independent Peer Review of Projects.—

“(1) In general.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 11, 2000], the Secretary [of the Army] shall contract with the Academy to study, and make recommendations relating to, the independent peer review of feasibility reports.

“(2) Study elements.—In carrying out a contract under paragraph (1), the Academy shall study the practicality and efficacy of the independent peer review of the feasibility reports, including—

“(A) the cost, time requirements, and other considerations relating to the implementation of independent peer review; and

“(B) objective criteria that may be used to determine the most effective application of independent peer review to feasibility reports for each type of water resources project.

“(3) Academy report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of a contract under paragraph (1), the Academy shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report that includes—

“(A) the results of the study conducted under paragraphs (1) and (2); and

“(B) in light of the results of the study, specific recommendations, if any, on a program for implementing independent peer review of feasibility reports.

“(4) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,000,000, to remain available until expended.

“(c) Independent Peer Review of Methods for Project Analysis.—

“(1) In general.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 11, 2000], the Secretary [of the Army] shall contract with the Academy to conduct a study that includes—

“(A) a review of state-of-the-art methods;

“(B) a review of the methods currently used by the Secretary;

“(C) a review of a sample of instances in which the Secretary has applied the methods identified under subparagraph (B) in the analysis of each type of water resources project; and

“(D) a comparative evaluation of the basis and validity of state-of-the-art methods identified under subparagraph (A) and the methods identified under subparagraphs (B) and (C).

“(2) Academy report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of a contract under paragraph (1), the Academy shall transmit to the Secretary, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report that includes—

“(A) the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1); and

“(B) in light of the results of the study, specific recommendations for modifying any of the methods currently used by the Secretary for conducting economic and environmental analyses of water resources projects.

“(3) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $2,000,000. Such sums shall remain available until expended.”

Pub. L. 106–541, title II, §219, Dec. 11, 2000, 114 Stat. 2596, provided that: “In conducting a feasibility study for a water resources project, the Secretary [of the Army], to the maximum extent practicable, should not employ a person for engineering and consulting services if the same person is also employed by the non-Federal interest for such services unless there is only 1 qualified and responsive bidder for such services.”

¹ See References in Text note below.