102 HR 215 RH: Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms for California Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2024-12-18
text/xml
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Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
IB
Union Calendar No. 751
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 215
[Report No. 118–919]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 9, 2023
Mr. Valadao (for himself, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Duarte, Mr. Mike Garcia of California, Mr. Issa, Mr. Kiley, Mrs. Kim of California, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Obernolte, and Mrs. Steel) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
December 18, 2024
Additional sponsor: Mr. Fong
December 18, 2024
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 9, 2023
A BILL
To provide long-term water supply and regulatory reliability to drought-stricken California, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms for California Act” or the “WATER for California Act”.
2.

Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Title I—CVP and SWP Operations
Sec. 101. Operation of the CVP and SWP.
Sec. 102. Operations and reviews.
Sec. 103. Application of State laws.
Sec. 104. Reconsultation of NOAA biological opinion and FWS biological opinion.
Sec. 105. Sunset.
Sec. 106. Consultation on coordinated operations.
Title II—Allocations for Sacramento Valley Contractors
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. Allocations of water.
Sec. 203. Protection of refuge, municipal and industrial, and other contractors.
Sec. 204. Other contractors.
Title III—Infrastructure
Sec. 301. Shasta reservoir enlargement project.
Sec. 302. Water supply plan; projects.
Sec. 303. Conservation fish hatcheries.
Sec. 304. Storage; duration.
Sec. 305. Shasta dam enlargement.
Title IV—CVPIA Actions
Sec. 401. CVPIA restoration actions.
Title V—Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act
Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Definitions.
Sec. 503. Establishment of lead agency and cooperating agencies.
Sec. 504. Bureau responsibilities.
Sec. 505. Cooperating agency responsibilities.
Sec. 506. Funding to process permits.
3.

Definitions
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1)

Cvp
The term CVP means the Central Valley Project.
(2)

Cvp contractor
The term CVP contractor means any public water agency, water user organization, or person that has entered into a contract with the United States for water service from the CVP, whether in the form of a water service contract, repayment contract, water rights settlement contract, exchange contract, or refuge contract.
(3)

Fws biological opinion
The term FWS Biological Opinion means the United States Fish and Wildlife Service “Biological Opinion for the Reinitiation of Consultation on the Coordinated Operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project” (Service File No. 08FBTD00–2019–F–0164) signed on October 21, 2019.
(4)

Noaa biological opinion
The term NOAA Biological Opinion means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries “Biological Opinion on the Long-term Operation of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project” (Consultation Tracking Number: WCRO–2016–00069) signed on October 21, 2019.
(5)

Preferred alternative
The term Preferred Alternative means the Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative), as described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Reinitiation of Consultation on the Coordinated Long-Term Operation of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, issued by the Bureau of Reclamation, and dated December 2019.
(6)

Swp
The term SWP means the California State Water Project.
(7)

Swp contractor
The term SWP contractor means a public agency that has entered into a long-term water supply contract with the California Department of Water Resources for water service from the SWP.
I

CVP and SWP Operations
101.

Operation of the CVP and SWP
(a)

Congressional direction regarding cvp and swp operations
The CVP and the SWP shall be operated, and reporting shall be done, in accordance with the Preferred Alternative and FWS Biological Opinion and NOAA Biological Opinion.
(b)

Exceptions
Operation of the CVP and SWP shall proceed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, except:
(1)
to the extent changes to operations are undertaken pursuant to one or more agreements, which are voluntarily entered into, approved, and implemented by CVP contractors, for operations of the CVP, and SWP contractors, for operations of the SWP, with all applicable Federal departments and the State of California, including any agency or board of the State of California; or
(2)
to the extent changes in operations of the CVP, SWP, or both can be made while improving the supply of water available to CVP contractors, SWP contractors, or both.
(c)

Costs
No cost, including water supply, financial, mintigation-related, or otherwise, associated with the implementation of any agreement under subsection (b)(1) or the implementation of any reoperation under subsection (b)(2) shall be imposed by any Federal department or agency or the State of California, including any agency or board of the State of California, directly or indirectly on any CVP contractor, SWP contractor, or any other person or entity, unless such costs are incurred on a voluntary basis.
(d)

No redirected adverse impacts
The Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Commerce shall not carry out any specific action authorized under the applicable provisions of this title that would directly or through State agency action indirectly result in the involuntary reduction of water supply to an individual, district, or agency that has in effect a contract for water with the SWP or the CVP, including settlement, exchange, and refuge contracts, and Friant Division contracts.
(e)

Endangered species act
Notwithstanding subsection (b), implementation of subsection (a) shall not conflict with the FWS Biological Opinion and the NOAA Biological Opinion.
(f)

Native species protection
The State of California shall not impose any bag, catch, or size restriction or limit on the take or harvest of striped bass or any species of black bass, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass, that occupy the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers Delta or its tributaries.
102.

Operations and reviews
In carrying out section 101(a), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce shall implement their statutory authorities in a manner that improves water supply reliability and enables the CVP and SWP to provide the maximum quantity of water supplies practicable to CVP agricultural, municipal, and industrial contractors, water service or repayment contractors, water rights settlement contractors, exchange contractors, refuge contractors, and SWP contractors, in accordance with the Preferred Alternative, NOAA Biological Opinion, and FWS Biological Opinion.
103.

Application of State laws
(a)

Reduced water supply
If, as a result of the application of applicable State law or regulation, the State of California (including any agency or board of the State of California) alters operation of the SWP in a manner that directly or indirectly results in reduced water supply to the SWP as compared with the water supply available under the Preferred Alternative, and as a result, CVP yield is greater than it otherwise would have been under the Preferred Alternative, then that additional yield shall be made available to the SWP for delivery to SWP Contractors to offset that reduced water supply. If it is necessary to reduce water supplies for any authorized uses of the CVP or CVP Contractors to make available to the SWP that additional yield, such reductions shall be applied proportionately to those authorized uses or CVP contractors that benefit from that increased yield.
(b)

No restriction of certain water rights
The State of California (including any agency or board of the State of California) shall not restrict the exercise of any water right obtained pursuant to State law, including but not limited to a pre-1914 appropriative right or riparian right in order to offset any impact resulting from the implementation of this title on any species affected by operations of the CVP or the SWP.
(c)

No involuntary water reduction
The State of California (including any agency or board of the State of California), the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Commerce shall not take any action related to operation of the CVP or SWP that would directly or indirectly result in the involuntary reduction of water supply to any CVP agricultural, municipal and industrial contractor, water service or repayment contractor, water rights settlement contractor, exchange contractor, refuge contractor or any SWP contractor, as compared to the water supply available under the Preferred Alternative; and nothing in this section is intended to modify, amend, or affect any of the rights and obligations of the parties to such contracts.
104.

Reconsultation of NOAA biological opinion and FWS biological opinion
(a)

Requirement for reconsultation
(1)

Requirement
Unless action is taken pursuant to section 101(b), neither the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, nor the Secretary of Commerce, or their designees shall commence, complete, or request reinitiation of consultation on the coordinated long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project that will result in changes to or the replacement of the documents listed in paragraph (2) unless—
(A)
more than 75 percent of California has experienced 4 consecutive years of D3 or D4 level drought, as defined by the U.S. Drought Monitor;
(B)
the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation identifies one specific factor or combination of factors under section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations; and
(C)
not fewer than 120 days before officially commencing or requesting reinitiation, the Secretary of the Interior notifies the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, in writing, of—
(i)
the intent to commence or request reinitiation under this section; and
(ii)
the detailed justification for the identification of the specific factor or combination of factors under section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, that was identified to satisfy the requirement in subparagraph (B).
(2)

Documents
The documents referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
(A)
The FWS Biological Opinion.
(B)
The NOAA Biological Opinion.
(C)
The Record of Decision for the Reinitiation of Consultation on the Coordinated Long-Term Modified Operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, signed on February 18, 2020.
(b)

Applicable procedures and review
For the purposes of this Act, before reinitiating consultation on the Long-Term Operation of the CVP and SWP, a request by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Commerce, or any other Federal employee, to reinitiate consultation shall be made in writing and considered a rule under section 551 of title 5, United States Code, and subject to the requirements of sections 801 through 808 of that title.
(c)

Cooperation
In implementing this section, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce shall comply with requirements included in section 4004 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Public Law 114–322).
(d)

Exclusion
Notwithstanding subsection (b), in implementing this section, section 801(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply.
105.

Sunset
Sections 101 through 104 shall have no force or effect on and after the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
106.

Consultation on coordinated operations
The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Public Law 114–322) is amended—
(1)
in section 4004(a)—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), strike “public water agency that contracts” and insert “contractor”;
(B)
in paragraph (1), by inserting “or proposed action” before the semicolon;
(C)
in paragraph (2), by inserting “or proposed action” before the semicolon;
(D)
by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively;
(E)
after paragraph (2), by inserting the following new paragraph:
“(3)
receive a copy of the draft proposed action and have the opportunity to review that document and provide comment to the action agency, which comments shall be afforded due consideration during development;”; and
(F)
in paragraph (7), as redesignated by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph—
(i)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “action agency proposes a proposed action or” before “the consulting agency”;
(ii)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting “proposed action or” before “alternative will”; and
(iii)
in subparagraph (B), by striking “alternative actions” and insert “actions or alternatives”; and
(2)
in section 4013, by deleting “section 4004, which shall expire 10 years after the date of its enactment;” and inserting “section 4004, which shall expire on December 16, 2033;”.
II

Allocations for Sacramento Valley Contractors
201.

Definitions
In this title, the following definitions apply:
(1)
The term existing CVP agricultural water service or repayment contractor within the Sacramento River Watershed means any water service or repayment contractor within the Shasta, Trinity, or Sacramento River division of the CVP that has in effect a water service or repayment contract on the date of enactment of this title that provides water for irrigation.
(2)
The terms Above Normal, Below Normal, Dry, and Wet, with respect to a year, have the meanings given those terms in the Sacramento Valley Water Year Type (40–30–30) Index.
202.

Allocations of water
Subject to section 203, the Secretary of the Interior shall make every reasonable effort in the operation of the CVP to allocate water provided for irrigation purposes to each existing CVP agricultural water service contractor within the Sacramento River Watershed in accordance with the following:
(1)
Not less than 100 percent of the contract quantity of the existing CVP agricultural water service contractor within the Sacramento River Watershed in a Wet year.
(2)
Not less than 100 percent of the contract quantity of the existing CVP agricultural water service contractor within the Sacramento River Watershed in an Above Normal year.
(3)
Not less than 100 percent of the contract quantity of the existing CVP agricultural water service contractor within the Sacramento River Watershed in a Below Normal year that is preceded by an Above Normal or Wet year.
(4)
Not less than 50 percent of the contract quantity of the existing CVP agricultural water service contractor within the Sacramento River Watershed in a Dry year that is preceded by a Below Normal, Above Normal, or Wet year.
(5)
In any other year not identified in any subsections (a) through (d), not less than twice the allocation percentage to south-of-Delta CVP agricultural water service contractors, up to 100 percent.
203.

Protection of refuge, municipal and industrial, and other contractors
Nothing in section 202 shall—
(1)
adversely affect any protections for the environment, including the obligation of the Secretary of the Interior to make water available to managed wetlands pursuant to section 3406(d) of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (title XXXIV of Public Law 102–575; 106 Stat. 4722);
(2)
adversely affect any obligation of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce under the FWS Biological Opinion or the NOAA Biological Opinion;
(3)
modify any provision of a water service contract that addresses municipal or industrial water shortage policies of the Secretary of the Interior;
(4)
affect or limit the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to adopt or modify municipal and industrial water shortage policies;
(5)
constrain, govern, or affect, directly or indirectly, the operations of the American River division of the CVP or any deliveries from that division or a unit or facility of that division; or
(6)
affect any allocation to a CVP municipal or industrial water service contractor by increasing or decreasing allocations to the contractor, as compared to the allocation the contractor would have received absent section 202.
204.

Other contractors
Nothing in section 202 shall—
(1)
affect the priority of any individual or entity with a Sacramento River settlement contract over water service or repayment contractors;
(2)
affect the United States ability to deliver water to the San Joaquin River exchange contractors from the Sacramento River and the Delta via the Delta-Mendota Canal or modify or amend the rights and obligations under the Purchase Contract between Miller and Lux and the United States and the Second Amended Exchange Contract between the United States, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and Central California Irrigation District, San Luis Canal Company, Firebaugh Canal Water District and Columbia Canal Company;
(3)
affect the allocation of water to Friant division contractors of the CVP;
(4)
result in the involuntary reduction in contract water allocations to individuals or entities with contracts to receive water from the Friant division;
(5)
result in the involuntary reduction in water allocations to refuge contractors; or
(6)
authorize any actions inconsistent with State water rights law.
III

Infrastructure
301.

Shasta reservoir enlargement project
Section 40902(a)(2) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (B)—
(A)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “this Act, except for any project for which—” and inserting “this Act; or”; and
(B)
by striking clauses (i) and (ii); and
(2)
in subparagraph (C), by striking “(except that projects described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) shall not be eligible)”.
302.

Water supply plan; projects
(a)

Plan
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation shall develop a water deficit report, which shall identify—
(1)
projected water supply shortages in the State of California for irrigation water service, municipal and industrial water service, water supply for wildlife refuges supplied by the CVP or the SWP; and
(2)
infrastructure projects or actions which, if taken, would—
(A)
significantly reduce or eliminate the projected water supply shortage; or
(B)
fulfill water allocations consistent with agricultural, municipal and industrial contractors, water service or repayment contractors, water rights settlement contractors, exchange contractors, and SWP contractors with water delivery contractors on the CVP and SWP.
(b)

Report to congress
The Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation shall provide a report described in subsection (a) to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources upon its completion.
303.

Conservation fish hatcheries
Section 4010(b)(5) of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Public Law 114–322) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(D)

Semi-annual report
The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate semi-annual reports that detail activities carried out under this paragraph.”.
304.

Storage; duration
(a)

Storage
Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Public Law 114–322) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)(1), by striking “or any public agency organized pursuant to State law” and inserting “any public agency organized pursuant to State law, or any stakeholder”; and
(2)
in subsection (i), by striking “January 1, 2021” and inserting “January 1, 2028”.
(b)

Duration
Section 4013 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Public Law 114–322) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by striking “and”;
(2)
by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
(3)
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
“(2)
section 4007, which (except as provided in paragraph (3)), shall expire on December 31, 2028; and”.
305.

Shasta dam enlargement
(a)

Funding
In accordance with section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Public Law 114–322), and as recommended by the Secretary in letters dated February 13, 2019; June 22, 2020; and December 3, 2020; funds made available in the Water and Related Resources account for the Bureau of Reclamation in Acts of appropriation for fiscal years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 shall be made available to the Shasta Dam and Reservoir Enlargement Project.
(b)

Clarification
No provision of State law shall preclude or otherwise prevent any public water agency, including a public agency of the State, that contracts for the delivery of CVP water from assisting or cooperating with, whether by loan, grant, license, or otherwise, the planning and construction of any project undertaken by the Bureau of Reclamation to enlarge Shasta Dam.
IV

CVPIA Actions
401.

CVPIA restoration actions
(a)

Refuge water supply program
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall complete the refuge water supply program under section 3406(d) of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (title XXXIV of Public Law 102–575; 106 Stat. 4722) and shall, within that 2-year period, give priority to completing the refuge water supply program when making funding decisions from the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund established under section 3407 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (106 Stat. 4726), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–25), the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (Public Law 88–578), and other sources of funding.
(b)

Restoration actions deemed complete
Upon completion of the refuge water supply program pursuant to subsection (a), or September 30, 2025, whichever occurs first, the Secretary of the Interior shall deem complete the fish, wildlife, and habitat mitigation and restoration actions mandated under section 3406 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (title XXXIV of Public Law 102–575; 106 Stat. 4714).
V

Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act
501.

Short title
This title may be cited as the “Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act”.
502.

Definitions
In this title:
(1)

Bureau
The term Bureau means the Bureau of Reclamation.
(2)

Cooperating agencies
The term cooperating agency means a Federal agency with jurisdiction over a review, analysis, opinion, statement, permit, license, or other approval or decision required for a qualifying project under applicable Federal laws and regulations, or a State agency subject to section 503(c).
(3)

Qualifying projects
The term qualifying projects means new surface water storage projects in the States covered under the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, chapter 1093), and Acts supplemental to and amendatory of that Act (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.) constructed on lands administered by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture, exclusive of any easement, right-of-way, lease, or any private holding, if the project applicant or sponsor elects to participate in the process authorized by this title. Such term shall also include State-led projects (as defined in section 4007(a)(2) of the WIIN Act) for new surface water storage projects in the States covered under the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, chapter 1093), and Acts supplemental to and amendatory of that Act (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.) constructed on lands administered by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture, exclusive of any easement, right-of-way, lease, or any private holding, unless the project applicant elects not to participate in the process authorized by this title.
(4)

Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
503.

Establishment of lead agency and cooperating agencies
(a)

Establishment of lead agency
The Bureau is established as the lead agency for purposes of coordinating all reviews, analyses, opinions, statements, permits, licenses, or other approvals or decisions required under Federal law to construct qualifying projects.
(b)

Identification and establishment of cooperating agencies
The Commissioner of the Bureau shall—
(1)
identify, as early as practicable upon receipt of an application for a qualifying project, any Federal agency that may have jurisdiction over a review, analysis, opinion, statement, permit, license, approval, or decision required for a qualifying project under applicable Federal laws and regulations; and
(2)
notify any such agency, within a reasonable timeframe, that the agency has been designated as a cooperating agency in regards to the qualifying project unless that agency responds to the Bureau in writing, within a timeframe set forth by the Bureau, notifying the Bureau that the agency—
(A)
has no jurisdiction or authority with respect to the qualifying project;
(B)
has no expertise or information relevant to the qualifying project or any review, analysis, opinion, statement, permit, license, or other approval or decision associated therewith; or
(C)
does not intend to submit comments on the qualifying project or conduct any review of such a project or make any decision with respect to such project in a manner other than in cooperation with the Bureau.
(c)

State authority
A State in which a qualifying project is being considered may choose, consistent with State law—
(1)
to participate as a cooperating agency; and
(2)
to make subject to the processes of this title all State agencies that—
(A)
have jurisdiction over the qualifying project;
(B)
are required to conduct or issue a review, analysis, or opinion for the qualifying project; or
(C)
are required to make a determination on issuing a permit, license, or approval for the qualifying project.
504.

Bureau responsibilities
(a)

In general
The principal responsibilities of the Bureau under this title are—
(1)
to serve as the point of contact for applicants, State agencies, Indian Tribes, and others regarding proposed qualifying projects;
(2)
to coordinate preparation of unified environmental documentation that will serve as the basis for all Federal decisions necessary to authorize the use of Federal lands for qualifying projects; and
(3)
to coordinate all Federal agency reviews necessary for project development and construction of qualifying projects.
(b)

Coordination process
The Bureau shall have the following coordination responsibilities:
(1)

Preapplication coordination
Notify cooperating agencies of proposed qualifying projects not later than 30 days after receipt of a proposal and facilitate a preapplication meeting for prospective applicants, relevant Federal and State agencies, and Indian Tribes—
(A)
to explain applicable processes, data requirements, and applicant submissions necessary to complete the required Federal agency reviews within the timeframe established; and
(B)
to establish the schedule for the qualifying project.
(2)

Consultation with cooperating agencies
Consult with the cooperating agencies throughout the Federal agency review process, identify and obtain relevant data in a timely manner, and set necessary deadlines for cooperating agencies.
(3)

Schedule
Work with the qualifying project applicant and cooperating agencies to establish a project schedule. In establishing the schedule, the Bureau shall consider, among other factors—
(A)
the responsibilities of cooperating agencies under applicable laws and regulations;
(B)
the resources available to the cooperating agencies and the non-Federal qualifying project sponsor, as applicable;
(C)
the overall size and complexity of the qualifying project;
(D)
the overall schedule for and cost of the qualifying project; and
(E)
the sensitivity of the natural and historic resources that may be affected by the qualifying project.
(4)

Environmental compliance
Prepare a unified environmental review document for each qualifying project application, incorporating a single environmental record on which all cooperating agencies with authority to issue approvals for a given qualifying project shall base project approval decisions. Help ensure that cooperating agencies make necessary decisions, within their respective authorities, regarding Federal approvals in accordance with the following timelines:
(A)
Not later than 1 year after acceptance of a completed project application when an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact is determined to be the appropriate level of review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(B)
Not later than 1 year and 30 days after the close of the public comment period for a draft environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), when an environmental impact statement is required under the same.
(5)

Consolidated administrative record
Maintain a consolidated administrative record of the information assembled and used by the cooperating agencies as the basis for agency decisions.
(6)

Project data records
To the extent practicable and consistent with Federal law, ensure that all project data is submitted and maintained in generally accessible electronic format, compile, and where authorized under existing law, make available such project data to cooperating agencies, the qualifying project applicant, and to the public.
(7)

Project manager
Appoint a project manager for each qualifying project. The project manager shall have authority to oversee the project and to facilitate the issuance of the relevant final authorizing documents, and shall be responsible for ensuring fulfillment of all Bureau responsibilities set forth in this section and all cooperating agency responsibilities under section 505.
505.

Cooperating agency responsibilities
(a)

Adherence to bureau schedule
(1)

Timeframes
On notification of an application for a qualifying project, the head of each cooperating agency shall submit to the Bureau a timeframe under which the cooperating agency reasonably will be able to complete the authorizing responsibilities of the cooperating agency.
(2)

Schedule
(A)

Use of timeframes
The Bureau shall use the timeframes submitted under this subsection to establish the project schedule under section 504.
(B)

Adherence
Each cooperating agency shall adhere to the project schedule established by the Bureau under subparagraph (A).
(b)

Environmental record
The head of each cooperating agency shall submit to the Bureau all environmental review material produced or compiled in the course of carrying out activities required under Federal law, consistent with the project schedule established by the Bureau under subsection (a)(2).
(c)

Data submission
To the extent practicable and consistent with Federal law, the head of each cooperating agency shall submit all relevant project data to the Bureau in a generally accessible electronic format, subject to the project schedule established by the Bureau under subsection (a)(2).
506.

Funding to process permits
(a)

In general
The Secretary, after public notice in accordance with subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the “Administrative Procedure Act”), may accept and expend funds contributed by a non-Federal public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit of that entity related to a qualifying project.
(b)

Effect on permitting
(1)

Evaluation of permits
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the evaluation of permits carried out using funds accepted under this section shall—
(A)
be reviewed by the Regional Director of the Bureau of the region in which the qualifying project or activity is located (or a designee); and
(B)
use the same procedures for decisions that would otherwise be required for the evaluation of permits for similar projects or activities not carried out using funds authorized under this section.
(2)

Impartial decision making
In carrying out this section, the Secretary and the head of each cooperating agency receiving funds under this section for a qualifying project shall ensure that the use of the funds accepted under this section for the qualifying project shall not—
(A)
substantively or procedurally impact impartial decision making with respect to the issuance of permits; or
(B)
diminish, modify, or otherwise affect the statutory or regulatory authorities of the cooperating agency.
(c)

Limitation on use of funds
None of the funds accepted under this section shall be used to carry out a review of the evaluation of permits required under subsection (b)(1)(A).
(d)

Public availability
The Secretary shall ensure that all final permit decisions carried out using funds authorized under this section are made available to the public, including on the internet.
December 18, 2024
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed