Bill > HR3080

This bill, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, aims to improve and streamline the process for developing and constructing water resources projects across the United States. Key provisions include reforms to accelerate studies and project delivery, such as setting a three-year timeline for feasibility studies with a $3 million cost limit, and removing duplicative analyses in project evaluations. It also expedites the evaluation and processing of permits, including for hydropower at Corps of Engineers facilities, and clarifies authorities for modifications to projects by non-Federal entities. The bill addresses dam and levee safety, enhances risk reduction measures for extreme weather events, and includes provisions for river basin and coastal area improvements. Furthermore, it introduces innovative financing mechanisms for water infrastructure, including pilot programs for non-Federal implementation of studies and projects, and establishes a framework for State Water Pollution Control Revolving Funds. The Act also focuses on deauthorizing inactive projects to prevent backlog and includes provisions for the efficient operation and maintenance of inland waterways and harbors, with specific attention to the Inland Waterways Trust Fund and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. Finally, it authorizes various specific water resources development projects and modifications across different regions of the country.