[House Hearing, 119 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACTS IMPLE-
MENTATION: REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF
PAST PROVISIONS
=======================================================================
(119-29)
HEARING
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
__________
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available online at: https://www.govinfo.gov/committee/house-
transportation?path=/browsecommittee/chamber/house/committee/
transportation
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
64-440 PDF WASHINGTON : 2026
=======================================================================
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Sam Graves, Missouri, Chairman
Rick Larsen, Washington, Ranking Member
Eleanor Holmes Norton, Eric A. ``Rick'' Crawford,
District of Columbia Arkansas,
Jerrold Nadler, New York Vice Chairman
John Garamendi, California Daniel Webster, Florida
Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., Georgiaomas Massie, Kentucky
Andre Carson, Indiana Scott Perry, Pennsylvania
Dina Titus, Nevada Brian Babin, Texas
Jared Huffman, California David Rouzer, North Carolina
Julia Brownley, California Mike Bost, Illinois
Frederica S. Wilson, Florida Doug LaMalfa, California
Mark DeSaulnier, California Bruce Westerman, Arkansas
Salud O. Carbajal, California Brian J. Mast, Florida
Greg Stanton, Arizona Pete Stauber, Minnesota
Sharice Davids, Kansas Tim Burchett, Tennessee
Jesus G. ``Chuy'' Garcia, Illinois Dusty Johnson, South Dakota
Chris Pappas, New Hampshire Jefferson Van Drew, New Jersey
Seth Moulton, Massachusetts Troy E. Nehls, Texas
Marilyn Strickland, Washington Tracey Mann, Kansas
Patrick Ryan, New York Burgess Owens, Utah
Val T. Hoyle, Oregon Eric Burlison, Missouri
Emilia Strong Sykes, Ohio, Mike Collins, Georgia
Vice Ranking Member Mike Ezell, Mississippi
Hillary J. Scholten, Michigan Kevin Kiley, California
Valerie P. Foushee, North Carolina Vince Fong, California
Christopher R. Deluzio, Pennsylvania Tony Wied, Wisconsin
Robert Garcia, California Tom Barrett, Michigan
Nellie Pou, New Jersey Nicholas J. Begich III, Alaska
Kristen McDonald Rivet, Michigan Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.,
Laura Friedman, California Pennsylvania
Laura Gillen, New York Jeff Hurd, Colorado
Shomari Figures, Alabama Jefferson Shreve, Indiana
Vacancy Addison P. McDowell, North
Carolina
David J. Taylor, Ohio
Brad Knott, North Carolina
Kimberlyn King-Hinds,
Northern Mariana Islands
Mike Kennedy, Utah
Robert F. Onder, Jr., Missouri
Jimmy Patronis, Florida
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Mike Collins, Georgia, Chairman
Frederica S. Wilson, Florida, Ranking Member
John Garamendi, California Eric A. ``Rick'' Crawford,
Jared Huffman, California Arkansas
Patrick Ryan, New York Thomas Massie, Kentucky
Val T. Hoyle, Oregon Brian Babin, Texas
Emilia Strong Sykes, Ohio Mike Bost, Illinois
Laura Friedman, California Doug LaMalfa, California
Shomari Figures, Alabama Bruce Westerman, Arkansas
Julia Brownley, California Brian J. Mast, Florida
Mark DeSaulnier, California Tracey Mann, Kansas
Chris Pappas, New Hampshire Eric Burlison, Missouri
Hillary J. Scholten, Michigan, Kevin Kiley, California
Vice Ranking Member Vince Fong, California
Nellie Pou, New Jersey Tony Wied, Wisconsin
Laura Gillen, New York Jeff Hurd, Colorado
Eleanor Holmes Norton, David J. Taylor, Ohio, Vice
District of Columbia Chairman
Rick Larsen, Washington (Ex Officio) Brad Knott, North Carolina
Robert F. Onder, Jr., Missouri
Jimmy Patronis, Florida
Sam Graves, Missouri (Ex Officio)
CONTENTS
Page
Summary of Subject Matter........................................ vii
STATEMENTS OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Hon. Mike Collins, a Representative in Congress from the State of
Georgia, and Chairman, Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment, opening statement................................. 1
Prepared statement........................................... 3
Hon. Frederica S. Wilson, a Representative in Congress from the
State of Florida, and Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment, opening statement................... 4
Prepared statement........................................... 5
Hon. Rick Larsen, a Representative in Congress from the State of
Washington, and Ranking Member, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, opening statement.............................. 6
Prepared statement........................................... 7
WITNESSES
Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil
Works, Department of the Army, oral statement.................. 9
Prepared statement........................................... 11
Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief of
Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
oral statement................................................. 12
Prepared statement........................................... 13
APPENDIX
Questions to Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army
for Civil Works, Department of the Army, from:
Hon. Mike Collins............................................ 59
Hon. Brian Babin............................................. 60
Hon. Rick Larsen............................................. 60
Hon. Frederica S. Wilson..................................... 66
Hon. Hillary J. Scholten..................................... 66
Questions to Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr.,
Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, from:
Hon. Eric A. ``Rick'' Crawford............................... 67
Hon. David Rouzer............................................ 68
Hon. Rick Larsen............................................. 69
Hon. Frederica S. Wilson..................................... 70
Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton................................... 71
Questions to Both Witnesses--Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army,
and Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief
of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers--from:
Hon. Mike Collins............................................ 72
Hon. Eric A. ``Rick'' Crawford............................... 77
Hon. Bruce Westerman......................................... 79
Hon. Frederica S. Wilson..................................... 80
Hon. John Garamendi.......................................... 81
Hon. Greg Stanton............................................ 82
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
September 5, 2025
SUMMARY OF SUBJECT MATTER
TO: LMembers, Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment
FROM: LStaff, Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment
RE: LSubcommittee Hearing on ``Water Resources
Development Acts Implementation: Review and Oversight of Past
Provisions''
_______________________________________________________________________
I. PURPOSE
The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will meet on
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET in 2167 of the
Rayburn House Office Building to receive testimony at a hearing
entitled, ``Water Resources Development Acts Implementation:
Review and Oversight of Past Provisions.'' The hearing will
provide Members with an opportunity to review implementation of
United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects and
policies that were included in previous Water Resources
Development Acts (WRDAs), including WRDA 2024.
At the hearing, Members will receive testimony from the
Honorable Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil
Works) and Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham,
Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, United States Army
Corps of Engineers.
II. BACKGROUND
THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS_CIVIL WORKS
The Corps is the Federal Government's lead water resource
development and management agency, whose mission is to
``deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with
[their] partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy,
and reduce disaster risk.'' \1\ Its water resource program
dates back to 1824 when it was established for the purpose of
improving river navigation.\2\ The role of the Corps has
evolved and expanded since then to include other main water
resource responsibilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Corps, United States Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters
Website, (last accessed July 1, 2025), available at https://
www.usace.army.mil/.
\2\ Corps, About Corps Water Resources Planning, (last accessed
July 1, 2025), available at https://planning.erdc.dren.mil/toolbox/
guidance.cfm?Id=0&Option=Planning%20Fundamentals
&Type=About&List=Visitor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, the Corps' primary civil works responsibilities are
to support navigation, flood risk management, and aquatic
ecosystem restoration.\3\ Specifically, the Corps manages over
14,000 miles of levees, 740 dams, 12,000 miles of inland and
intracoastal waterways, and 218 lock chambers.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Anna Normand & Nicole Carter, Cong. Rsch. Serv. (IF113322),
Water Resources Development Acts: Primer and Action in the 118th
Congress, (Updated Jan. 14, 2025), available at https://www.crs.gov/
Reports/IF11322 [hereinafter IF113322].
\4\ Corps, Value to the Nation, (last accessed June 30, 2025),
available at https://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Value-to-the-
Nation/ [hereinafter Value to the Nation].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Corps also provides outdoor recreation opportunities,
offers water supply and conservation to state and local
partners, assists in emergency response, and is a leading
producer of hydropower in the United States. Many Corps
projects are multipurpose, incorporating navigation, flood risk
management, and/or ecosystem restoration in conjunction with
water supply and conservation, recreation, and/or hydropower
into their design, construction, and operation.\5\ The Corps,
at its sites, sees 269 million recreational visitors a year,
provides 25 percent of the country's hydropower output, and
manages 135 reservoirs with municipal and industrial water
supply.\6\ The Corps also provides support in responding to
natural disasters by supporting the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) when requested or through the Flood
Control and Coastal Emergencies program (often referred to as
``P.L. 84-99'').\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ IF113322, supra note 3.
\6\ Value to the Nation, supra note 4.
\7\ See Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Corps also administers certain water-related regulatory
authorities, such as Sections 9 and 10 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and
Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries
Act.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Corps, Federal Regulation, (last accessed July 1, 2025),
available at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/
Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/Federal-Regulation/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
IDENTIFYING WATER RESOURCES NEEDS
To achieve its civil works mission, the Corps plans,
designs, and constructs water resources development projects,
typically in partnership with, and utilizing the cost-shared,
financial support of, non-Federal interests. The Corps'
planning process requires that Federal water resources
investments reflect national priorities, encourage economic
development, and protect the environment, and that the Corps
seek to maximize net public benefits to society.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ 42 U.S.C. 1962-3; Title 33 CFR 234.4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Generally, the first step in developing a project through
the Corps is to study the feasibility of the proposed project,
which typically requires Congressional authorization. Once
authorized, the Corps enters into a cost-sharing agreement with
a non-Federal interest to initiate the feasibility study
process. The cost of a feasibility study is usually split
evenly between the Federal Government, which is subject to
appropriations, and the non-Federal interest.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ IF113322, supra note 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congress has directed that, to the maximum extent
practicable, feasibility studies should involve three levels of
Corps review (District, Division, Headquarters), be produced
within four years, and at a maximum cost of $5 million.\11\ For
project studies determined to be especially complex based on
size, scope, or significance, Congress has allowed for a waiver
process from these requirements.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ 33 U.S.C. 2282c.
\12\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the feasibility study phase, the Corps' district
office prepares a draft study report containing a detailed
analysis on the economic costs and benefits of carrying out the
project and identifies any associated environmental, social, or
cultural impacts. The feasibility study weighs the benefits and
costs of each project alternative being considered, and
identifies the engineering features, public acceptability, and
the purposes, scope, and scale of each.\13\ It also contains
the views of other Federal and non-Federal agencies on project
alternatives, a description of non-structural alternatives to
the recommended plans, and a description of the anticipated
Federal and non-Federal participation in the project.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ Id.
\14\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
After a full feasibility study is completed, the results
and recommendations of the study are submitted to Congress in
the form of a Report of the United States Army Corps of
Engineers Chief of Engineers (more commonly referred to as a
Chief's Report).\15\ If the results and recommendations on the
proposed project are favorable, then the next step is
Congressional authorization for construction of the project,
which is typically provided in a WRDA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ See e.g., Corps, Planner's Library, (last accessed July 1,
2025), available at https://planning.erdc.dren.mil/TOOLBOX/
library.cfm?Option=Listing&Type=Corps%20National
%20Libraries&Search=Library&Sort=Default.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL CORPS AUTHORITIES
Congress has granted the Corps programmatic authorities,
Continuing Authorities Programs (CAPs), that enable the Corps
to undertake small-scale projects with limited scope and cost
without requiring project-specific Congressional
authorization.\16\ These projects typically require a cost-
share with a non-Federal interest.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ See generally Anna Normand & Nicole Carter, Cong. Rsch. Serv.
(IF12635), Continuing Authorities Programs (CAPs) of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (updated Jan. 16, 2025), available at https://
www.crs.gov/Reports/IF12635.
\17\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
While there are also ongoing pilot CAPs, there are
currently ten codified CAP categories:
LStreambank erosion and shoreline protection; \18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ See Flood Control Act of 1946, 33 U.S.C. 701r Sec. 14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LBeach erosion control; \19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ See Act of August 13, 1946, 33 U.S.C. 426g Sec. 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LNavigation improvement; \20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ See River and Harbor Act of 1960, 33 U.S.C. 577 Sec. 107.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LMitigation of shore damage by Federal navigation
projects; \21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ See River and Harbor Act of 1968, 33 U.S.C. 426i Sec. 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRegional sediment management/beneficial use of
dredged material; \22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ See WRDA 1992, 33 U.S.C. 2326 Sec. 204.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LFlood control; \23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ See the Flood Control Act of 1948, 33 U.S.C. 701s Sec. 205.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAquatic ecosystem restoration; \24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ See the WRDA 1996, 33 U.S.C. 2330 Sec. 206.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRemoval of obstructions and clearing channels for
flood control; \25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ See the Act of August 28, 1937, 33 U.S.C. 701g Sec. 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LProject modifications for improvement of the
environment or drought resiliency; \26\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ See the WRDA 1986, 33 U.S.C. 2309a Sec. 1135.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LStormwater management projects.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ See section 1108 of the WRDA 2024, 33 U.S.C. 2289b.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACTS (WRDAs)
WRDA PROCESS
Congress generally authorizes Corps' studies, projects, and
programs and makes changes to agency policies through
legislation referred to as WRDAs. Congress has developed and
enacted WRDAs intermittently since the 1980s and has biennially
enacted a WRDA since 2014.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\28\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorizing provisions in WRDAs can be project-specific,
programmatic, or general policy directives for the Corps.
Project-specific authorizations most often fall into one of
three broad categories: project studies, construction projects,
or modifications to existing projects. Furthermore, water
resource projects typically require two types of Congressional
authorization: (1) authority to study the feasibility of the
project and (2) authority to construct (and operate and
maintain, as applicable) the project.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\29\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WRDA 2024
Most recently, WRDA 2024 was signed into law as Division A
of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024
(P.L. 118-272) in January 2025.\30\ WRDA 2024 authorized 17 new
construction projects, four project modifications, one project
for construction based on a feasibility study carried out by a
non-Federal interest, and over 200 new or modified feasibility
studies.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ WRDA 2024, Pub. L. 118-272, 138 Stat. 2996 [Hereinafter WRDA
2024].
\31\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WRDA 2024 made common sense policy reforms that empower the
non-Federal sponsors of projects, increase transparency, and
improve project delivery. For example, WRDA 2024 facilitated
the creation of a new pilot program CAP for alternative project
delivery and amended Sections 203 and 204 of WRDA 1986 to
clarify and enhance the responsibilities of non-Federal
interests in conducting studies and construction activities for
authorized projects.\32\ Additionally, WRDA 2024 improved
transparency and consistency to assist non-Federal entities
achieve compliance with the P.L. 84-99 program and the process
to modify existing projects under Section 408.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\32\ Id., at Sec. 1107(a), 1109, 1110.
\33\ Id., at Sec. 1105, 1146.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further, WRDA 2024 included the Grace F. Napolitano
Priority for Water Supply, Water Conservation, and Drought
Resiliency Act, which emphasizes the Corps' role in water
supply and water resiliency efforts.\34\ WRDA 2024 instructed
the Corps to prioritize and maximize water supply, water
conservation, and drought resiliency efforts that are in
alignment with the authorized purposes of water resources
development projects.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\34\ See Subtitle B, Title I, Division A of WRDA 2024, supra note
32.
\35\ Id., at Sec. 1161, 1162, 1108.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORPS IMPLEMENTATION OF WRDAS
In addition to WRDA 2024, the Corps continues to release
implementation guidance and implement provisions from prior
WRDAs. WRDA 2024 focused heavily on Congressional oversight,
directing the Corps to implement changes in policy based on
prior WRDAs more quickly and efficiently. For example, WRDA
2024 directed the Corps to develop a comprehensive plan to
implement WRDA 2024 and prior WRDAs, including by identifying
and addressing prior provisions that have not been fully
implemented and by establishing a WRDA implementation team.\36\
WRDA 2024 also required the Corps to report to Congress on the
status of reports the Corps was previously directed to complete
by WRDAs.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\36\ Id., at Sec. 1102.
\37\ Id., at Sec. 1150.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For WRDA 2024, the Corps held a series of listening
sessions and a 60-day public comment period on implementation,
which were completed by the end of April 2025.\38\ Through the
process, the Corps determined which provisions of WRDA 2024
require specific implementation guidance, and which provisions
may be implemented without specific guidance. As of September
5, 2025, the Corps has released implementation guidance for two
sections of WRDA 2024.\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\38\ See Corps, Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2024,
available at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Project-
Planning/Legislative-Links/wrda_2024/.
\39\ Once finalized, Implementation Guidance is posted at the site
above. The Corps maintains similar implementation guidance pages for
prior WRDAs, which can also be found on the Corps website.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. WITNESSES
LHon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary, United
States Army (Civil Works)
LLt. Gen. William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief
of Engineers and Commanding General, United States Army Corps
of Engineers
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACTS IMPLEMENTATION: REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT
OF PAST PROVISIONS
----------
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment,
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:01 a.m., in
Room 2167, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Mike Collins
(Chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
Mr. Collins. The Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment will come to order. I ask unanimous consent that
the chairman be authorized to declare a recess at any time
during today's hearing.
Without objection, so ordered.
I also ask unanimous consent that Members not on the
subcommittee be permitted to sit with the subcommittee at
today's hearing and ask questions.
Without objection, so ordered.
As a reminder, if Members wish to insert a document into
the record, please also email it to [email protected].
I now recognize myself for the purpose of an opening
statement for 5 minutes.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MIKE COLLINS OF GEORGIA, CHAIRMAN,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
Mr. Collins. I would like to thank Assistant Secretary
Telle and General Graham for joining us today as we review the
Corps' performance and implementation of recent Water Resources
Development Acts. I want to give special congratulations to
you, Assistant Secretary Telle, on your confirmation by the
Senate by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote just over a month
ago.
Based on the conversations we have had, I am confident that
you will provide much needed leadership to the Army Corps of
Engineers. I look forward to working with you to ensure the
Corps fulfills its critical missions. I know that you both
share the same goal as I do: to make the Corps act faster, more
efficiently, and more economically.
Unfortunately, Corps' project delivery often falls short of
where it should be. I have a background in the trucking
business where delivering on time is what keeps our doors open.
And my goal as chairman of the subcommittee is to get the Corps
to complete its protects on time, under budget, and correctly.
I understand some of the budgetary problems that the Corps
faces, but these are not excuses for study delays, years-long
dredging backlogs, and mismanagement of repairs to vital locks
and dams on our inland waterway system.
Earlier this year, I was able to visit Wilson and
Chickamauga locks in Alabama and Tennessee, which are crucial
assets that serve America's economic and national security by
ensuring two of our Nation's largest rivers are navigable to
the Gulf of America. These locks and dams are a testament to
the Corps' legacy of building America, but like so many other
inland waterway projects, they are past their prime, so,
rehabilitating and replacing them is taking too long and
costing taxpayers far more than it should.
We have a responsibility to invest and manage Americans'
hard-earned tax dollars wisely and efficiently. While these
projects are expensive, the Corps can and must do better. I am
hopeful that section 1126 of the WRDA 2024, which changed the
cost-share of these projects required to come from the Inland
Waterway Trust Fund, will help the Corps move these projects
along.
Another area where the Corps can improve is the consistent
dredging of America's harbors. My home State of Georgia's
economy relies heavily on the consistent dredging of the Ports
of Savannah and Brunswick. The year 2025 represented the
busiest year on record for the Port of Savannah, and the Port
of Brunswick recently became America's number one port for
automobiles.
Despite this incredible growth at Georgia's seaports, it
has been years since Brunswick Harbor had been dredged to its
federally authorized depth, leading to shoaling and threats of
ships grounding. While I am pleased that the Corps has made
Brunswick a priority this year, this vital port should not have
gone this long without routine maintenance. The challenge at
Brunswick is why I have made streamlining the Corps' dredging
processes, including contracting practices and environmental
windows that seem to prevent consistent maintenance of Federal
channels, a top priority.
WRDA 2024 and other recent WRDAs have also focused on
Corps' recreation projects. I look forward to the Corps'
implementation of these provisions to allow greater local
control of the Corps' recreation sites to ensure public access.
Recent failures by the Corps to manage and provide access
to recreation sites at Lake Lanier in Georgia were a wakeup
call that more needs to be done. Ultimately, I would like to
get the Corps out of the business of running campgrounds and
maintaining recreation sites so we can focus resources on
navigation and flood control.
Finally, I urge the Corps to prioritize implementation of
section 1315 of WRDA 2024 regarding the New Savannah Bluff Lock
and Dam in Georgia. This issue has been around for decades, and
section 1315 provides a clear legal guideline for the Corps to
follow, protecting the water supply behind the dam, providing
for rehabilitation of the lock and dam, and clarifying the
cost-sharing requirements.
The Corps must prioritize finalizing the engineering
necessary to complete the project and provide an accurate cost
estimate so that all parties involved understand the costs of
completing the project and can work to secure the
appropriations necessary to put the issue to rest once and for
all.
[Mr. Collins' prepared statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Mike Collins, a Representative in Congress
from the State of Georgia, and Chairman, Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment
I'd like to thank Assistant Secretary Telle and General Graham for
joining us today as we review the Corps' performance and implementation
of recent Water Resources Development Acts (WRDAs). I want to give
special congratulations to you, Assistant Secretary Telle, on your
confirmation by the Senate by an overwhelming bipartisan vote just over
a month ago.
Based on the conversations we've had, I am confident that you will
provide much-needed leadership to the Army Corps of Engineers. I look
forward to working with you to ensure the Corps fulfills its critical
missions. I know that you both share the same goal as I do: to make the
Corps act faster, more efficiently, and more economically.
Unfortunately, Corps project delivery often falls short of where it
should be.
I have a background in the trucking business, where delivering on
time is what keeps the doors open. My goal as Chairman of the
Subcommittee is to get the Corps to complete its projects on time,
under budget, and correctly. I understand some of the budgetary
problems the Corps faces, but these are not excuses for study delays,
years-long dredging backlogs, and mismanagement of repairs to vital
locks and dams on our inland waterway system.
Earlier this year, I was able to visit Wilson and Chickamauga Locks
in Alabama and Tennessee: crucial assets that serve America's economic
and national security by ensuring two of our nation's largest rivers
are navigable to the Gulf of America.
These locks and dams are a testament to the Corps' legacy of
building America, but like so many other inland waterway projects, they
are past their prime. Rehabilitating and replacing them is taking too
long and costing taxpayers far more than it should. We have a
responsibility to invest and manage Americans' hard-earned tax dollars
wisely and efficiently. While these projects are expensive, the Corps
can and must do better. I am hopeful that Section 1126 of WRDA 2024,
which changed the cost-share of these projects required to come from
the Inland Waterway Trust Fund, will help the Corps move these projects
along.
Another area where the Corps can improve is the consistent dredging
of America's harbors. My home state of Georgia's economy relies heavily
on consistent dredging of the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick. 2025
represented the busiest year on record for the Port of Savannah, and
the Port of Brunswick recently became America's number one port for
automobiles.
Despite this incredible growth at Georgia's sea ports, it has been
years since Brunswick Harbor had been dredged to its federally
authorized depth, leading to shoaling and threats of ship groundings.
While I am pleased that the Corps has made Brunswick a priority this
year, this vital port should not have gone this long without routine
maintenance. The challenge at Brunswick is why I've made streamlining
the Corps' dredging processes, including contracting practices and
environmental windows that seem to prevent consistent maintenance of
federal channels, a top priority.
WRDA 2024 and other recent WRDAs have also focused on Corps
recreation projects. I look forward to the Corps' implementation of
these provisions to allow greater local control of the Corps'
recreation sites to ensure public access.
Recent failures by the Corps to manage and provide access to
recreation sites at Lake Lanier in Georgia were a wakeup call that more
needs to be done. Ultimately, I would like to get the Corps out of the
business of running campgrounds and maintaining recreation sites so it
can focus resources on navigation and flood control.
Finally, I urge the Corps to prioritize implementation of Section
1315 of WRDA 2024 regarding the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam in
Georgia. This issue has been around for decades, and Section 1315
provides clear legal guidelines for the Corps to follow, protecting the
water supply behind the dam, providing for rehabilitation of the lock
and dam, and clarifying cost-share requirements.
The Corps must prioritize finalizing the engineering necessary to
complete the project and provide an accurate cost estimate so that all
parties involved understand the costs of completing the project and can
work to secure the appropriations necessary to put the issue to rest
once and for all.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. And I now recognize Ranking Member
Wilson for 5 minutes for an opening statement.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON OF FLORIDA,
RANKING MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
Ms. Wilson of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for hosting
this, the leadership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Corps plays a critical role for communities across the
country, especially in my home State of Florida. Our ports,
beaches, and hurricane preparedness depend on the Corps. We
also are home to the Corps' largest environmental restoration
endeavor in history, the restoration of the Florida Everglades.
Assistant Secretary Telle and Lieutenant General Graham,
you each carry a huge responsibility. However, I am concerned
with your ability to be successful given the conditions you are
facing.
In just 9 months, the Trump administration has put the
Corps under tremendous pressure. First, Corps funding and
budgets are getting slashed, with the President recommending
major cuts to the Corps' most essential missions.
Second, the Corps is losing thousands of seasoned
professionals through the deferred resignation programs, with
over 3,000 Corps employees leaving since the beginning of this
administration. Meanwhile, the Federal hiring freeze means
there is nobody new coming in to fill these roles.
Third, the administration is forcing the Corps' hand for
political gain by pushing for unscheduled water releases,
requiring legally questionable permit expedites, blocking
reasonable permit requests for renewable energy, and telling
them to look the other way while a detainment camp, Alligator
Alcatraz, is constructed in the middle of the Corps' largest
project, the Everglades Restoration.
Simply put, I question how the Corps is going to fulfill
its mandate to address the navigation, flood control, and
environmental restoration needs of our communities with too
little funding and too few Corps employees, and going against
its own careful science- and engineering-based practices.
Now that you have been confirmed, Secretary Telle, I hope
we can see better leadership and decisionmaking from the Corps.
The Corps needs consistent, robust funding to carry out its
mission. In the next budget request, I hope to see full
utilization of the available Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
dollars to keep our ports running efficiently and smoothly.
This is essential for our local and national economies.
I also hope to see funding for the environmental
infrastructure projects that have become extremely popular in
the last couple of WRDAs. There is a clear need and desire for
water infrastructure funding, especially for our Tribal and
minority communities facing affordability challenges.
Lastly, I need assurances that the Corps will stand up for
itself and not allow things like Alligator Alcatraz to be
constructed. I remain appalled that this detainment camp was
allowed to be expanded and operated in the heart of the
Everglades. The risk of disturbing the Everglades, and
therefore, reversing decades of Federal investment and progress
is far too high. The Corps simply cannot sit by idly when
something will have such a detrimental impact on the hard work
of the Corps.
And I will look for your commitment that no Federal
Everglades restoration funding will be spent to address any
lingering consequences of this hugely misguided decision.
Secretary Telle, I am glad that you are here and hope you
have been getting up to speed on all the critical projects that
I am sure my colleagues will be asking about. I look forward to
working with you and getting the Corps back on track. There is
a lot of work to be done, and our ports, our waterways, our
communities, and our ecosystems are counting on you. Both of
you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[Ms. Wilson of Florida's prepared statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Frederica S. Wilson, a Representative in
Congress from the State of Florida, and Ranking Member, Subcommittee on
Water Resources and Environment
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for hosting the leadership of the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers.
The Corps plays a critical role for communities across the country,
especially in my home state of Florida. Our ports, beaches and
hurricane preparedness depend on the Corps. We also are home to the
Corps' largest environmental restoration endeavor in history--the
restoration of the Florida Everglades.
Assistant Secretary Telle and Lieutenant General Graham, you each
carry a huge responsibility. However, I am concerned with your ability
to be successful given the conditions you are facing.
In just nine months, the Trump Administration has put the Corps
under tremendous pressure.
First, Corps funding and budgets are getting slashed, with the
President recommending major cuts to the Corps' most essential
missions.
Second, the Corps is losing thousands of seasoned professionals
through the deferred resignation programs, with over 3,000 Corps
employees leaving since the beginning of this administration.
Meanwhile, the federal hiring freeze means there is nobody new coming
in to fill these roles.
Third, the Administration is forcing the Corps' hand for political
gain by pushing for unscheduled water releases, requiring legally
questionable permit expedites, blocking reasonable permit requests for
renewable energy, and telling them to look the other way while a
detainment camp is constructed in the middle of the Corps largest
project, the Everglades Restoration.
Simply put, I question how the Corps is going to fulfil its mandate
to address the navigation, flood control and environmental restoration
needs of our communities with too little funding and too few Corps
employees, and going against its own careful, science- and engineering-
based practices.
Now that you have been confirmed, Secretary Telle, I hope we can
see better leadership and decision-making from the Corps.
The Corps needs consistent, robust funding to carry out its mission
areas. In the next Budget Request, I hope to see full utilization of
the available Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund dollars, to keep our ports
running efficiently and smoothly. This is essential for our local and
national economies.
I also hope to see funding for the Environmental Infrastructure
projects that have become extremely popular in the last couple WRDAs.
There is a clear need and desire for water infrastructure funding,
especially for our Tribal and minority communities facing affordability
challenges.
Lastly, I need assurances that the Corps will stand up for itself
and not allow things like ``Alligator Alcatraz'' to be constructed. I
remain appalled that this detainment camp was allowed to be expanded
and operated in the heart of the Everglades! The risk of disturbing the
Everglades, and therefore reversing decades of federal investment and
progress, is far too high.
The Corps simply cannot sit by idly when something will have such a
detrimental impact on the hard work of the Corps.
And I will look for your commitment that no federal Everglades
restoration funding will be spent to address any lingering consequences
of this misguided decision.
Secretary Telle, I am glad you are here and hope you have been
getting up to speed on all the critical projects that I'm sure my
colleagues will be asking about.
I look forward to working with you and getting the Corps back on
track. There is a lot of work to be done, and our ports, waterways,
communities, and ecosystems are counting on you.
Mr. Collins. I now recognize the ranking member of the full
committee, Mr. Larsen, for 5 minutes for an opening statement.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. RICK LARSEN OF WASHINGTON, RANKING
MEMBER, COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Mr. Larsen of Washington. Thank you, Chair Collins and
Ranking Member Wilson, for holding this hearing.
Congratulations to Secretary Telle on your confirmation
last month. I am happy to welcome you to the T&I Committee for
your first appearance at a hearing since your confirmation.
And, congratulations, Lieutenant General Graham, on your
promotion to Chief of Engineers. I know this isn't your first
time in front of the committee, but it is your first time as
Chief.
Since 2014, this committee has honored its commitment to
meet local water resources needs across the country through the
bipartisan and biennial enactment of the Water Resources
Development Act.
Predictable passage of WRDA bills support Corps' projects
while creating jobs in construction and the industries and
businesses that benefit directly from these projects.
Regular enactment of WRDA bills also allows for the timely
implementation of critical policy reforms that improve the
function and flexibility of the Corps to respond to local water
resources challenges.
WRDA 2024 built on the historic bipartisan success of this
committee. The law successfully authorized the construction of
21 new projects, covering every facet of the Corps' missions,
as well as over 150 new feasibility studies for future
projects.
WRDA 2024 also authorized more than $5 billion in
environmental infrastructure assistance for community-driven
projects, including $242 million for water and wastewater
infrastructure that local officials in western Washington State
requested.
These Federal, State, and local partnerships are critical
to help address the growing water and wastewater infrastructure
needs throughout the country.
Lastly, WRDA 2024 continued to expand America's
navigational capacity, strengthen its supply chains, ensure our
communities are resilient to the challenges posed by climate
change, and increase opportunities for the Corps to partner
with rural, Tribal, and economically disadvantaged communities
in addressing their unique needs.
However, authorization of projects or studies is only the
first step for communities to realize the benefits of water
resource improvements. The administration must request, and
Congress must provide, sufficient funding for project planning,
construction, and operation and maintenance to realize the
benefits of these authorized projects and activities.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was a great example of
how this should work. The BIL provided a large downpayment,
about $17 billion, for critical WRDA projects, making a
positive impact on communities and creating and supporting
good-paying American jobs and the U.S. economy.
Contrast that with the significant reductions in Corps
funding included in this administration's fiscal year 2026
budget request.
This 24-percent reduction in Corps funding will
significantly slow project delivery; delay the realization of
critical transportation, flood control, and environmental
benefits; worsen supply chain delivery challenges; and leave
communities vulnerable to extreme weather events.
The fiscal year 2026 budget also ignores the legal
requirements of WRDA to spend 100 percent of annual Harbor
Maintenance Trust Fund collections for critical port
maintenance work, as well as to dedicate 12 percent of those
expenditures to donor and energy transfer ports.
This $1 billion cut in maintenance and dredging work will
lead to more costly imports and exports, further increasing
costs for U.S. families and businesses. And this cut will
equally affect our largest container ports, such as Seattle-
Tacoma, Los Angeles-Long Beach, and New York-New Jersey, as
well as ports critical to domestic energy production, such as
Mobile, Houston, and New Orleans.
Robust and sustained Federal investment is necessary for
timely implementation of flood control, navigation,
environmental restoration, water supply, and other key
projects.
Cuts to Corps funding will lead to higher costs for
communities and families down the road. Deferred maintenance
becomes disaster recovery, preventable failures become national
emergencies.
So, I look forward to a continued partnership with Chair
Graves, Chair Collins, and Ranking Member Wilson in developing
a new, bipartisan WRDA 2026, and I welcome the leadership of
the Corps here today as part of that discussion. With that, I
yield back.
[Mr. Larsen of Washington's prepared statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Rick Larsen, a Representative in Congress
from the State of Washington, and Ranking Member, Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
Thank you, Chairman Collins and Ranking Member Wilson, for holding
this hearing.
Congratulations, Assistant Secretary Telle, on your confirmation
last month. I'm happy to welcome you to the T&I Committee for your
first appearance at a hearing since your confirmation.
Congratulations, Lieutenant General Graham, on your promotion to
Chief of Engineers. I know this is not your first time in front of the
Committee, but I believe it is your first as Chief.
Since 2014, this Committee has honored its commitment to meet local
water resources needs across the country through the bipartisan and
biennial enactment of Water Resources Development Acts (WRDAs).
Predictable passage of WRDAs support Corps projects while creating
jobs in construction and the industries and businesses that benefit
directly from these projects.
Regular enactment of WRDA bills also allows for the timely
implementation of critical policy reforms that improve the function and
flexibility of the Corps to respond to local water resources
challenges.
WRDA 2024 builds on the historic bipartisan success of this
Committee. This law successfully authorized the construction of 21 new
projects, covering every facet of the Corps' missions, as well as over
150 new feasibility studies for future water resources development
projects.
WRDA 2024 also authorized more than $5 billion in environmental
infrastructure assistance for community-driven projects, including $242
million for water and wastewater infrastructure requested by local
officials in western Washington state.
These federal, state and local partnerships are critical to help
address the growing water and wastewater infrastructure needs
throughout the country.
Lastly, WRDA 2024 continued to expand America's navigational
capacity, strengthen its supply chains, ensure our communities are
resilient to the challenges posed by climate change and increase
opportunities for the Corps to partner with rural, Tribal and
economically disadvantaged communities in addressing their unique
needs.
However, the authorization of projects or studies is only the first
step for communities to realize the benefits of water resource
improvements.
The Administration must request, and Congress must provide,
sufficient funding for project planning, construction and operation and
maintenance to realize the benefits of authorized Corps' projects and
activities.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was a great example of how this
should work. The BIL provided a large downpayment--about $17 billion--
for critical WRDA projects, making a positive impact on communities and
creating and supporting good-paying American jobs and the U.S. economy.
Contrast that with the significant reductions in Corps' funding
included in this Administration's fiscal year 2026 budget request.
This 24 percent reduction in Corps funding will significantly slow
project delivery, delay the realization of critical transportation,
flood control and environmental benefits, worsen supply chain delivery
challenges and leave communities vulnerable to extreme weather events.
The FY2026 budget also ignores the legal requirements of WRDA to
spend 100 percent of annual Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF)
collections for critical port maintenance work, as well as to dedicate
12 percent of expenditures to donor and energy transfer ports.
This $1 billion cut in maintenance and dredging work will lead to
more costly imports and exports, further increasing costs for U.S.
families and businesses.
And this cut will equally affect our largest container ports, such
as Seattle/Tacoma, Los Angeles/Long Beach and New York/New Jersey, as
well as the ports critical to domestic energy production, such as
Mobile, Alabama; Houston, Texas; and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Robust and sustained federal investment is necessary for timely
implementation of flood control, navigation, environmental restoration,
water supply and other water resources development projects.
Cuts to Corps funding will lead to higher costs for communities and
families down the road.
Deferred maintenance becomes disaster recovery; preventable
failures become national emergencies.
I look forward to a continued partnership with Chairman Graves,
Chairman Collins and Ranking Member Wilson in developing a new,
bipartisan WRDA 2026 and welcome the leadership of the Corps here today
as part of that discussion.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. I would now like to welcome our
witnesses and thank them for being here today. Briefly, I would
like to take a moment to explain our lighting system to our
witnesses. There are three lights in front of you. Green light
means go; yellow light means you are running out of time; and
red means to please conclude your remarks.
I ask unanimous consent that the witnesses' full statements
be included in the record.
Without objection, so ordered.
I also ask unanimous consent that the record of today's
hearing remain open until such time as our witnesses have
provided answers to any questions that may be submitted to them
in writing.
Without objection, so ordered.
I also ask unanimous consent that the record remain open
for 15 days for any additional comments and information
submitted by Members or witnesses to be included in the record
of today's hearing.
Without objection, so ordered.
As your written testimony has been made a part of the
record, the subcommittee asks that you limit your oral remarks
to 5 minutes.
With that, Assistant Secretary Telle, you are recognized
for 5 minutes for your testimony.
TESTIMONY OF HON. ADAM R. TELLE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE
ARMY FOR CIVIL WORKS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY; AND LIEUTENANT
GENERAL WILLIAM H. ``BUTCH'' GRAHAM, JR., CHIEF OF ENGINEERS
AND COMMANDING GENERAL, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
TESTIMONY OF HON. ADAM R. TELLE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE
ARMY FOR CIVIL WORKS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Mr. Telle. Thank you, Chairman Collins. Chairman Collins,
Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Wilson, Ranking Member Larsen,
and distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the
opportunity to be here today to discuss the Army Civil Works
program and implementation of the Water Resources Development
Acts.
My name is Adam Telle, and I am honored to serve as the
14th Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and as
President Trump's, Secretary Hegseth's, and Secretary
Driscoll's top official responsible for overseeing the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works mission.
I was nominated by President Trump on March 24th of this
year, and I was confirmed by the Senate on August 2nd. I began
working this role immediately and have been on the job for 5\1/
2\ weeks. During this time, I have been working alongside
General Graham and his team to ensure that the Army Civil Works
program is positioned to deliver on President Trump's vision
for our country and on its critical mission, which this
committee has had an important role in defining.
I will say that I am pleased that I was able to spend a
significant amount of time with the Senate during the
confirmation process and throughout my career, but I am very
honored to be here in front of the House of Representatives
today. And I would just like to compliment the chairman of this
subcommittee, Chairman Collins; he is someone who understands
this mission. He understands the efficiencies we need to drive,
and I believe, under his leadership, he and I will be able to
accomplish much together during our time in these roles.
When I moved to Washington in 2005, I worked as a staff
member in the United States Senate. I took that job because I
believed I could make a difference in helping to represent the
views and interests of the Americans I grew up with who often
felt ignored or forgotten by important people in Washington.
This is the reason I am honored to be part of the Army
Civil Work's mission. It touches large and small communities
every single day in communities across the country. Very few
Government agencies' missions capture the interests of American
citizens, landowners, communities, States, job creators, and
their Representatives here in Washington quite like this one.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers originated in 1775, 250
years ago. The America we know today is the result of the work
of the Corps. Congress has given the Corps missions in addition
to its original navigation mission, including flood control,
and ensuring the future availability of our natural resources.
Because this mission is important to the American public
and elected Representatives here in Washington, during my first
weeks, I have been working to establish greater consistency and
accountability across the four layers of this enterprise, which
include my office and the Corps headquarters, divisions, and
districts. It is my mission to deliver navigation, flood
control, disaster response, and stewardship of our natural
resources to the American public as effectively as possible, as
quickly as possible, and as cost efficiently as possible. We
must optimize our program for quality, speed, and cost if we
want to do our part to protect lives and commerce as President
Trump is delivering on his vision to ensure the United States
remains the greatest Nation in the history of the world during
the 21st century.
Our partners here on Capitol Hill, and particularly on this
committee, have been pivotal in supporting this enterprise, and
I request your partnership as I work with General Graham to
ensure the Civil Works enterprise evolves to be more efficient
and consistent to meet our modern demands.
And the demand for the Corps' work continues to grow. To
deliver against that workload, we must work in partnership with
Congress throughout the executive branch and with our
stakeholders to drive efficiency, collaboration, and results in
an environment that is necessarily resource constrained.
In addition to driving more efficiency into the Civil Works
program, we must continue to lift the Federal regulatory burden
on local sponsors. This administration is committed to ending
the last five decades of confusing and ever-changing
definitions of the term ``waters of the United States''
pursuant to the Clean Water Act of 1972.
Together with Administrator Zeldin and President Trump's
Environmental Protection Agency, the Army has already issued
interim guidance that follows the Supreme Court's Sackett
decision, and we will move quickly to ensure that a permanent
definition that follows the post-Sackett law of the land cuts
redtape, cuts overall permitting costs, lowers the cost of
doing business in communities across the country, and continues
to protect America's waters.
In July, my office made much needed changes to our National
Environmental Policy Act implementing procedures that will
reform, modernize, and expedite the Corps' environmental
reviews; eliminate unnecessary delays; and help ensure the
growth of highly cost-effective and reliable infrastructure
across the Nation.
We also recognize the opportunities provided through WRDA
2024 to address navigation, reservoir management, and
beneficial use of dredged material.
As we spend time today reviewing WRDA 2024, I look forward
to getting insight about your views and interests so that
together we can serve America's vital infrastructure interests.
Finally, I would like to take a brief moment to recognize
my father, Whitney Royce Telle, who passed away this past
Friday at age 73. He was a brilliant geologist, a passionate
historian, a faithful husband to my wonderful mom, Rita, and a
great American. He was the type of man our country needs, and
the type of father I hope to be. Thank you, Dad. We miss you.
Thank you, Chairman Collins, Ranking Member Wilson, and
members of this committee. I look forward to any questions you
may have.
[Mr. Telle's prepared statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the
Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army
Chairman Collins, Ranking Member Wilson, and distinguished members
of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to be here today to
discuss the implementation of the Water Resources Development Acts
(WRDA).
My name is Adam Telle, and I am honored to serve as the fourteenth
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works and as President
Trump's, Secretary Hegseth's, and Secretary Driscoll's top official
responsible for overseeing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' civil
works mission. I was nominated by President Trump on March 24, 2025,
and confirmed by the Senate on August 2, 2025. I began work in this
role immediately and have been on the job for five-and-a-half weeks.
During this time, I have been working alongside General Graham and his
team to ensure that the Army Civil Works program is positioned to
deliver on its critical mission, which this Committee has had an
important role in defining, and on President Trump's vision for our
country.
When I moved to Washington in 2005, I worked as a staff member in
the United States Senate. I believed that I could make a difference
helping to represent the views and interests of the Americans I grew up
with who often felt ignored or forgotten by important people in
Washington. This is the reason I am honored to be a part of the Army
Civil Works mission. It touches small and large communities and
everyday Americans across the country. Few government agencies'
missions capture the interests of American citizens, landowners,
communities, states, job creators and their representatives here in
Washington quite like this one.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers originated in 1775, before the
Declaration of Independence. The America we know today is a result of
the work of the Corps. Congress has given the Corps missions in
addition to its original navigation mission: flood control, flood
fighting, enabling commerce and critical supply chains through
dredging, and ensuring the future availability of our aquatic ecosystem
resources. These missions are also important to our current President.
Because this mission is also important to the American public and
their elected representatives here in Washington, during my first
weeks, I have been working to establish greater consistency and
accountability across the four layers of this enterprise: My office,
and the Corps of Engineers' headquarters, divisions and districts. The
Corps supports commercial navigation, helps reduce flood risks,
restores aquatic ecosystems, and provides stewardship of the natural
resources on Corps lands to benefit the American public as effectively
as possible, as quickly as possible, and as cost-effectively as
possible. We must optimize our program for quality, speed, and cost if
we want to do our part to protect lives and commerce as President Trump
is delivering on his vision to ensure that our United States remains
the greatest Nation in the history of the world during the 21st
century.
Our partners here on Capitol Hill, and particularly on this
Subcommittee have been pivotal to supporting this enterprise, and I
request your partnership as I work with General Graham to ensure the
Civil Works enterprise evolves to become more efficient and consistent
and meet our modern demands. And the demand for the Corps of Engineers'
work continues to grow. To deliver against that workload, we must work
in partnership with the Congress, throughout the Executive Branch, and
with our stakeholders to drive efficiency, collaboration, and results
in an environment that is necessarily resource constrained.
In addition to driving more efficiency into the Civil Works
program, we must continue to lift the federal regulatory burden on
local sponsors. This Administration is committed to ending the last
five decades of confusing and ever-changing definitions of the term
``waters of the United States'' in the Clean Water Act of 1972.
Together with Administrator Zeldin and President Trump's Environmental
Protection Agency, the Army has already issued interim guidance that
follows the Sackett decision, and we will move quickly to issue a
permanent definition that follows the post-Sackett law of the land,
reduces red-tape, cuts overall permitting costs, lowers the cost of
doing business in communities across the country, and protects
America's waters.
In July, my office made much-needed changes to our National
Environmental Policy Act implementing procedures that will reform,
modernize, and expedite the Corps' environmental reviews, eliminate
unnecessary delays, and help ensure the growth of highly cost
effective, reliable infrastructure projects across the Nation.
We also recognize the opportunities, provided through WRDA 2024, to
address navigation, reservoir management, and beneficial use of dredged
material.
As we spend time today reviewing WRDA 2024, I look forward to
gaining insight about your views and interests so that, together, we
can serve America's vital infrastructure interests.
Thank you, Chairman Collins, Ranking Member Wilson and Committee
Members. I look forward to answering any questions you or other Members
of the Committee may have.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. Next, General Graham, you are
recognized for 5 minutes for your testimony.
TESTIMONY OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM H. ``BUTCH'' GRAHAM,
JR., CHIEF OF ENGINEERS AND COMMANDING GENERAL, U.S. ARMY CORPS
OF ENGINEERS
General Graham. Chairman Collins, Ranking Member Wilson,
Ranking Member Larsen, members of the subcommittee, I am
honored to testify before you today in regard to the
implementation of the Water Resources Development Acts.
Through the Civil Works program, the Army Corps works with
our partners to study, build, and operate water resource
projects focusing on our three main mission areas of commercial
navigation, flood and storm damage reduction, and aquatic
ecosystem restoration.
Breaking those down. The navigation program, which consists
of our coastal, Great Lakes, channels, as well as the inland
rivers and intercostal waterways, underpins much of the
national economy, and it ensures that commodities can move
reliably and efficiently.
Our flood and storm damage reduction program maintains 746
dams, over 13,000 miles of Federal levees, and 450 miles of
shore protection. That system provides on average $200 billion
per year--$200 billion per year--in flood damages avoided.
To continuously maintain and improve these mission areas, I
want to thank this subcommittee for supporting the Corps' Civil
Works program. As you heard from Ranking Member Larsen, your
commitment since 2014 to pass biennial Water Resources
Development Acts has provided the Corps with the authorities
necessary to address the changing needs of the Nation's water
resources infrastructure.
In WRDA 2024, Congress authorized new construction
projects, new feasibility studies, and new environmental
infrastructure projects. These studies and projects, when
funded, will strengthen the supply chain, better protect
Americans from flooding, and improve degraded aquatic
environments. We deeply value the authorities you have
entrusted to us, and our pledge is to put them to work to
deliver for the American people.
To that end, the Army Corps' objective every day is to
safely deliver quality studies and projects on schedule and
within budget. To this end, and I spent 4 hours with the team
yesterday looking at this, our current on-schedule rate across
the Civil Works portfolio is 80.1 percent. That is a low, low
``B,'' and that is unacceptable. This performance is influenced
by factors that we can control and we can't control.
Focusing on those things we can control, the Corps is
absolutely committed to procedural improvements in the
following three areas. First, get the engineering right. The
focus here is on the maturity of our designs. We are not to
request project authorization unless the design is advanced
enough that we truly understand what it is that we are
proposing to build. That threshold is usually around the 35-
percent level. There are some nuances that we need to work
through with Congress on this regarding the complexities of
cost share and how to break down large, complex projects, but
fundamentally, fundamentally, we need to better understand what
it is we are proposing to build before we request that you
authorize us to build it.
Second thing we need to improve upon is getting the project
management right. The focus here is on crafting logical, fully
resourced schedules and sticking dogmatically to them, ensuring
that we are delivering these important projects with a great
sense of urgency.
Finally, the third thing is to get the team right. We are
striving to bring together the right mix of talent, either
onboard manning, or by leveraging the incredible talents of the
private-sector firms.
So, in closing, the path to successful delivery is clear:
plan projects thoroughly and then build them rapidly with the
right team of master craftsmen.
I look forward to working with this committee to stay on
that path. Thank you, again, Chairman, for the opportunity to
testify, and I look forward to addressing your questions.
[General Graham's prepared statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham,
Jr., Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
Chairman Collins, Ranking Member Wilson, and Members of the
Subcommittee:
I am honored to testify before your committee today, along with Mr.
Adam Telle, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, in
regard to implementation of Water Resources Development Acts, including
review and oversight of past provisions. I look forward to continuing
to work with this committee, the Congress, and the Administration to
help address the Nation's water resources challenges.
Through the Civil Works Program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) works with other Federal agencies, and with state, Tribal, and
local agencies and others, to develop, manage, restore, and protect
water resources, primarily through the construction, operation and
maintenance, and study of water-related infrastructure projects. The
Corps focuses on work that provides high economic, environmental, and
public safety returns to the Nation. The Corps also regulates
development in waters of the United States and works with other Federal
agencies to help communities respond to, and recover from, floods and
other natural disasters.
The authorizations and funding provided to the Corps by Congress
allow us to advance our three main missions of commercial navigation,
flood and storm damage reduction, and aquatic ecosystem restoration, as
well as support related project purposes, such as water supply,
hydropower, and recreation. The Civil Works program is performance-
based and focuses on high-performing projects and programs within these
three main mission areas. The Corps uses its engineering expertise and
relationships with project sponsors and other stakeholders to develop
innovative approaches to address some of the most pressing water
resources challenges facing the Nation. Since 2014, the Congress has
passed a WRDA bill every two years to address evolving water resources
issues.
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 advances the
Corps principal Civil Works missions by authorizing new navigation,
flood risk management, coastal storm risk management, and aquatic
ecosystem restoration projects and studies across the country. The
legislation reinforces the Corps' partnership with non-federal sponsors
by reauthorizing and refining existing programs, while introducing new
tools to enhance coordination with non-federal partners, improve
project delivery, and address evolving national priorities. WRDA 2024
also formalizes the creation of an implementation planning team to
track the status of implementation of prior WRDAs.
To promote long-term infrastructure resilience and to support
coastal and riverine communities, WRDA 2024 provides expanded authority
for forecast-informed reservoir operations and supports beneficial use
of dredged material for shoreline restoration and flood risk reduction.
It also authorizes recurring coastal mapping activities to ensure
timely data for navigation safety and storm preparedness. Across all
mission areas, WRDA 2024 includes provisions to streamline project
implementation, facilitate crediting for non-federal contributions such
as technical models, and improve transparency in project
prioritization, strengthening the Corps ability to deliver safe, high-
quality water resources infrastructure that supports both local
communities and national economic interests.
My top priorities include identifying the highest priority
potential investments for the Army Civil Works Program, starting with
the maintenance of our existing infrastructure, and ensuring that we
deliver studies and finish quality projects safely, on time, and within
budget. I remain focused on implementing strategies to enhance project
delivery efficiency and cost predictability. By strengthening
feasibility study and preconstruction engineering and design (PED)
requirements, and by using risk management principles, the Corps is
working to improve cost and schedule accuracy. Increased industry
engagement, including early contractor involvement and market research
initiatives, is helping to align expectations and ensure more
competitive bids.
A sustainable Civil Works program requires effective project
delivery methods, and strong partnerships with federal, state, Tribal,
and local stakeholders. By enhancing early-stage project development,
and proactively managing risks, the Corps is working to ensure that its
infrastructure investments will continue to provide the greatest return
on investment to the Nation at a reasonable cost. These priorities will
ensure a better return on taxpayer investment and improve the lives of
all Americans.
Thank you, Chairman Collins, Ranking Member Wilson, and Members of
the Subcommittee. This concludes my statement. I look forward to
answering any questions you or other Members of the Subcommittee may
have.
Mr. Collins. Thank you all for your testimony. We will now
turn to questions from the panel, and I will recognize myself
for 5 minutes for questions.
As I mentioned in my statement, I am concerned about
dredging backlogs. In my home State of Georgia, the Port of
Brunswick went years without being dredged to its authorized
depth, which led to multiple ship groundings and hurting our
supply chain.
Unfortunately, this is due to multiple bureaucratic issues
within the Federal Government, including antiquated contracting
processes, nonsensical environmental windows, and budgeting
that doesn't make sense in the real world.
For either of you, can you briefly describe how the Corps
is improving its dredging processes to ensure that the ports
throughout the country get dredged when they need to?
Mr. Telle. Chairman Collins, thank you for the question.
Dredging capacity is critically important to our ability to be
competitive in the 21st century. This is a time when others
across the globe are trying to displace the United States of
America as the greatest nation in the history of the world. And
if we can't open our ports and harbors via regular dredging, we
are not going to be as competitive as we enter this global
competition.
You specifically raised issues around contracting; I think
you are right. I think we have to take a very hard look at how
we are contracting, looking at the capacity that exists out
there in the private sector.
You mentioned environmental windows; this is a critically
important challenge because our ability to dredge is
constrained by these environmental windows quite often. There
are ways that we are researching right now to expand those
environmental windows, and I will let General Graham expand on
that if he would like.
And then there is also a need to recapitalize assets that
are native to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. If we do all of
these things, we have the potential to increase our dredging
capacity at a time when our Nation desperately needs it. Your
port in your State is critically important to our Nation. And I
have heard this throughout, on both sides of the aisle and in
both Houses of Congress, that this is critically important to
the Nation and to the Members of Congress and the Senate. So, I
look forward to working with General Graham to help get this
right.
General Graham, I will defer to you for any additional
comments you may have.
General Graham. Chairman, we have got many members of the
dredging industry with us today, and so, I am pleased to say
that we are working collaboratively within the industry to
bring capacity on board. And I am delighted to see the progress
that has been made.
I think, with the pipeline dredges, there is good capacity
out there right now, and industry is working to bring more of
the oceangoing hopper dredges. As Mr. Telle spoke to, by 2027,
we should have a replacement for the Corps' east coast hopper
dredge, which will be known as the Donnelly, to backstop where
industry capacity falls short.
Where I am most concerned right now is dredging capacity up
on the Great Lakes, and so, that has our full interest.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. I am also concerned about the
Corps' involvement in recreation at its sites. Earlier this
year, multiple recreation sites in Georgia and around the
country were shut down because there were no Corps personnel
there to run them. However, it seems to me that some of these
responsibilities don't need to fall on the Corps.
For either of you, what opportunities exist to either
transfer ownership of the Corps' recreational assets to locals
or to hand over the responsibility to locals at the Corps' own
recreation sites?
Mr. Telle. Chairman Collins, thank you for the question.
And, as you importantly point out, one of the ancillary
benefits of the Corps' work is that it often provides
opportunities for Americans to enjoy recreational opportunities
on lands owned by the Corps of Engineers. Unfortunately, the
recreational workforce is a seasonal one, and I would say that
there were some shortages in the workforce this spring that
frustrated many Americans who enjoy Corps of Engineers'
facilities, frustrated many Members of Congress who represent
those Americans. It is unacceptable.
But I will say that President Trump's administration
recognized this problem very early and worked very quickly to
begin rehiring these folks, which is largely seasonal
workforce, to restore recreation this summer. And I will assure
you, Chairman Collins, that we will get this issue fixed before
next summer's recreational season begins.
With regard to transferring responsibility to local
entities, I am a believer across the board that the more we can
delegate our authorities and our responsibilities to State and
local partners, the better off we are going to be. They can do
things more efficiently, quite often, and more cost effectively
than we can here in Washington. And so, I am looking forward to
working with you and with General Graham to ensure that we are
able to delegate as much of that responsibility as we can so we
can get it right for the American public.
Mr. Collins. I had one more thing I wanted to run by,
unless you want to add to it, General. I wanted to ask you
about the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. When are you going
to be able to release the implementation guidance for the WRDA
2024, and have you got a cost estimate?
General Graham. Chairman, thank you for that question. On
the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, we are working with the
Assistant Secretary's office on that implementation guidance,
but we are not sitting still. We are working right now on doing
a structural assessment of the dam and the lock to make sure
that we know the shape that that's in. That should take about a
year to do that work, and then we will be prepared to ensure
that that pull stays stable, and we will be able to comply with
the guidance we have been given in WRDA 2024.
Mr. Collins. Is that a year from today, or is that a year
from when you started, or is that early next year?
General Graham. That would be--Chairman, let me get back to
you with a full answer on an exact date when we are going to
finish.
Mr. Collins. All right. Well, I would appreciate that. With
that, I yield 5 minutes to the ranking member, Ms. Wilson.
Ms. Wilson of Florida. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Honorable Telle, Adam Telle, how are you?
Mr. Telle. Good ma'am, thank you.
Ms. Wilson of Florida. Good, welcome.
Section 2019 authorizations for Miami-Dade have grown to
over $190 million, and Broward County received a $50 million
authorization in WRDA 2024. Secretary Telle, what is your plan
to deliver these projects efficiently, and will you commit to
putting in priority order section 2019 projects for
historically underserved neighborhoods in Miami-Dade that face
the most severe flooding and water quality issues?
Mr. Telle. Ranking Member Wilson, thank you for the
question. In a necessarily resource-constrained environment, I
am focused on ensuring that the Corps of Engineers is focused
on its core, c-o-r-e, missions, which include navigation, flood
control, and aquatic ecosystem restoration.
With that said, Congress has often called on the Corps of
Engineers to take on municipal water supply that has
traditionally been the responsibility of State or local
governments. And, in places like your district, where the law
says that we ought to prioritize these efforts to help local
communities access reliable and safe drinking water, we are
committed to following the law, and I absolutely look forward
to working with you to make sure that the communities within
your district that are most in need of this are benefited by
the laws that this committee has helped enact.
Ms. Wilson of Florida. Thank you.
And, General Graham, as the Corps' top engineer, what
specific operational steps are being taken to ensure that
timely progress on the comprehensive Everglades restoration
plan?
General Graham. Ranking Member Wilson, thank you for that
question. We are working collaboratively with the State of
Florida right now to ensure that we are focusing on the end
result, on restoring those Everglades as fast as possible. And
whoever is in the best position to do that is who we are going
to--basically we are going to turn to them to do the work. And
we have got a great governance infrastructure in place right
now, met this week, to ensure that that team has the proper
oversight and we deliver efficiently.
Ms. Wilson of Florida. So, tell me this, workforce losses
under the Federal hiring freeze threaten Corps capacity; so,
how are you ensuring that the Corps maintains the technical--
technical--expertise necessary to deliver their complex
projects like Everglades restoration?
General Graham. Ranking Member Wilson, again, thank you for
that question. We are continuously--we go through about--our
annual attrition rate is around 12 percent. So, for an
organization, I will just round up to 40,000 people, that is
around 4,000 folks that we have to replace every year. And so,
we continuously are on a hunt for talent to bring new people in
and train them up.
Optimizing the workforce under the guidance of Assistant
Secretary Telle is paramount, imperative for us. So, we are
working to make sure that the workforce is at the right size to
deliver on the work and that they have the right talents, and I
am confident that we will be able to do that.
Ms. Wilson of Florida. You are confident that you will be
able to do that?
General Graham. I am.
Ms. Wilson of Florida. Okay. So, Secretary Telle, the Back
Bay study has been elevated as a priority for addressing storm
surge and sea level rise in Miami-Dade County. How will you
ensure sustained Federal leadership and funding so that Back
Bay study's recommendations are implemented on schedule and
equitably benefit the most vulnerable communities? Do you have
a plan in place?
Mr. Telle. Ranking Member Wilson, thank you for the
question. And you have identified an issue that is important in
your district and throughout the country. In the deep history
of the Corps of Engineers, the focus on flood control related
to riverine systems where the flooding was relatively
predictable and that it happened on an annual basis, generally
during the wet season or during snow melt or during the spring.
Riverine systems are more easy to engineer against flood
protection than our coastal systems.
In recent years, the Congress and various administrations
have worked to try to get our hands around how we can protect
coastal areas better, and it is a big challenge. And many of
these projects are regional in scope. They are complex. They
have many different--they are systems of systems that all
depend on the other.
And General Graham and I have spoken many times in my short
time in this office and will continue to work to ensure that we
need to have these large complex regional projects, that we
need to provide you here in the Congress with elements of those
projects that are budgetable, actionable, and separable, which
means the Congress can make investments in those projects in a
way that allows General Graham and his team to deliver on
pieces of them and provide flood protection to communities like
yours without studying it forever and to actually build things.
And so, that is one of the strategies, there are many more, and
I look forward to working with you on getting this right.
Ms. Wilson of Florida. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. I now recognize Mr. Bost for 5
minutes.
Mr. Bost. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And I want to thank the witnesses for being here. Mr.
Telle, the levee maintenance and oversight in my district is
vitally important since I have three navigable waterways with
the Mississippi, the Ohio, and the Kaskaskia River, and one bad
flood can lead to hundreds of acres of farmlands, homes,
historical properties, and livelihoods lost in an instant.
Mr. Telle, I mentioned in our call last week I was
concerned about a scour hole that continues to grow next to the
levee in Monroe County, Illinois, and how dangerous it could be
if the Mississippi floods.
Can you speak to how the Corps keeps track of threats of
levees, like the scour hole, and when you know to step in, and,
also, how are you working to streamline the levee maintenance
process and your communication efforts with stakeholders?
Mr. Telle. Congressman Bost, thank you for the question,
and thank you for the job you do representing a very important
part of our country in southern Illinois where two of our
Nation's most important rivers converge. You mentioned the Ohio
and the Mississippi.
It is very important that we get levee safety right, and
levee maintenance right. And so I would defer to General Graham
on the inventory process that he uses to help advise us on
which levees need our most rapid attention. But I will say that
one of my priorities in this role is to work to make sure the
four layers of the organization that I mentioned in my opening
statement, my office, the Assistant Secretary's office, General
Graham's headquarters, our divisions, our 9 divisions and our
39 districts, and I believe that your district is under the
jurisdiction of a multiple of those districts, are working in a
harmonious way that measures priorities across the Nation in a
consistent way, and delivers the results that you and the
taxpayers expect from our United States Army Corps of
Engineers.
I will let General Graham address the question of the
inventory of our flood control infrastructure.
General Graham. Representative Bost, as the Assistant
Secretary mentioned, communication is absolutely key, with the
local levee sponsors through the local district to make sure
that we truly understand the status of those levees. So our
commitment to you is to ensure that the team is prepared and
ready to have the dialogue as Mother Nature votes and puts
water up on those levees, and we have a slide or a damage, and
then can get that rapidly into a funding package and up here
for Congress.
Mr. Bost. Well, it kind of goes to my next question. Can
you, and I think it is probably for you, General Graham, can
you provide an update on the Corps' construction and
maintenance backlog and any status update on when we will see a
report detailing the projects, because when we did the 2018
WRDA, there was a part of that that asked for a report to be
done by the Corps and delivered to us by--it was due in 2020,
and we still don't have that.
General Graham. Representative Bost, I will check on the
status of where that report is and will get back to you.
Mr. Bost. Okay. It is vitally important that we work
together. And, as was mentioned, I do have three Corps that
touch my district, and they all try to do a good job, but
sometimes we run into--and this is--what we get is, we get a
tremendous amount of these questions prepared by staff. This is
my question, though.
So, since being in Congress, I have dealt with what was
known as the Len Small levee. It was not a Federal levee. It
was a State levee. But it was a 5-year levee. When it blew in
the holiday flood, which was no holiday, in 2015, it actually
started trying to cut through and--actually, Dogtooth Bend in
the State of Illinois, that is not just a redneck statement;
that is what it is actually called. Okay. And it tried to cut
through, and it is still trying to cut through. And I know we
are doing a lot with riprap and everything there. They are not
going to--they are not bringing the farmland back. It has now
all been put in reserve and everything like that. But, if you
would, could you keep us informed on what your St. Louis Corps
continues to see because originally it wasn't a navigable
problem, which is kind of embarrassing when they say that and
then all of a sudden a barge ends up in a farmland. So, it is a
very, very, very, very important issue to the district. Can't
get the farmland back for the people that lost it when that
levee gave way, but it is something, if you could, I would like
you to keep an eye on.
General Graham. Representative Bost, the bank stabilization
mission along all of our rivers, in particular, the mighty
Mississippi, is critical to us. Dogtooth Bend, we are tracking
the stability of that bank.
Mr. Bost. Thank you.
I yield back.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back.
I now recognize Mr. Larsen for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Larsen of Washington. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Telle, in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress made
investments in the Corps, the $17 billion. You discussed
approaches for speeding up delivery. There is another approach
as well, and that is the robust and consistent funding. The
Corps' current construction backlog is close to $100 billion,
including $7.5 billion in new projects that we authorized, but
there is a roughly 27-percent cut to the Corps' construction
account in the budget request. So, it doesn't help close the
gap. Can you help us understand this relationship between the
construction backlog and the President's proposed budget that
does not come close to helping us close that gap?
Mr. Telle. Ranking Member Larsen, thank you for the
question, and it is an important one. To put a finer point on
the point you made, there is $78 billion worth of projects that
have been authorized but for which Congress has not yet
appropriated funding. There is $44 billion worth of work for
which Congress has appropriated money, but the money has not
been executed. Of that $44 billion, $12 billion of that is
greater than 5 years old.
I say that to say that the demand for the Corps' services
far outpaces the supply. And, even under the most optimistic
projections about the ability of Congress to deliver against
that work, it is still going to be small in comparison to the
demand. And that is when we have to get smarter.
One of the things that I have learned that I am going to be
working with Chairman Collins and the rest of the committee on
is that--and these are rough numbers--but my preliminary work
shows that, for every dollar that Congress appropriates to the
Corps of Engineers, only about one-third of it actually goes to
build or maintain things. One-third of it goes to land
acquisition. One-third of it goes to construction, as I
mentioned. And one-third of it goes, for each project, goes to
employees within the districts at the Corps of Engineers.
And so, one of the things I am going to be working with
General Graham and this committee on is better understanding
how the unique budget structure of the Corps of Engineers,
which includes project-based budgeting, like I said, it is
delivering about, in that one-third/one-third/one-third
breakdown, how that creates incentives throughout the
organization that may or may not align with the incentives of
the American taxpayer.
And so, I look forward to working with you, whatever the
appropriated amount is, to deliver the most for the taxpayer
dollar.
Mr. Larsen of Washington. All right, thanks. Second, this
might be a little easier because we directed the
administration, any administration, in WRDA 2024, to obligate
100 percent of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, as well as to
the donor and energy transfer ports, 12-percent set-aside, and
yet the budget just clearly does not do that, even though we
said do that.
Can you commit to following the Harbor Maintenance Trust
Fund spending allocations of funding targets that are required
by law?
Mr. Telle. Ranking Member Larsen, we do commit to follow
the law. And, as it relates to donor and energy ports, these
are projects which this committee has determined contribute
more to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund than they receive in
return. And, while we are focused on making sure that we have
access to our ports, this program seeks to provide closer to
the shore infrastructure to those ports.
I will say that the 2025 work plan and the fiscal year 2026
President's budget does not preclude investments in these
activities, even if it doesn't specifically call them out.
Mr. Larsen of Washington. Doesn't preclude it, but the law
says what to do, so. A little closer to my State, can you help
us with the status of the salmon recovery continuing authority
program?
Mr. Telle. I am sorry, sir, could you repeat the question?
Mr. Larsen of Washington. What is the status of the salmon
recovery continuing authority program?
Mr. Telle. Ranking Member Larsen, I will defer to General
Graham on the specifics, but what I can say is we are seeing in
the continuing authorities program as we enter the end of the
fiscal year and into the next fiscal year, there has been some
carryover, meaning that there are balances that exist there.
And so, we are working with General Graham's team to ensure
that we liquidate as many of those balances as we can
efficiently, but there may be some carryover into the next
fiscal year.
Mr. Larsen of Washington. Rather than have General Graham
answer that, we will follow up with him, because I also want to
be sure that I understand the WRDA 2024 created a pilot program
within the Tribal Partnership Program for five projects in my
State that were to be carried out off Tribal lands. Is that
pilot program ready?
Mr. Telle. I will have to get back to you on how ready it
is, but I will say that we respect the role that the Tribes
play here and the Tribal Partnership Program, which this
committee has placed into law. We look forward to working with
you to make sure that gets implemented among the 180 provisions
that were included in WRDA 2024.
Mr. Larsen of Washington. Just one more thing, Mr. Chair,
if I may, just a request. So, I sent earlier, the Democrats
sent earlier to your office our priorities for the WRDA 2024
implementation committee, and we did that in February. I
understand you weren't there then. Maybe it is still sitting
there, but that request, appreciate if you ensure that each of
those priorities is implemented swiftly.
Mr. Telle. Yes, Mr. Ranking Member.
Mr. Larsen of Washington. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Collins. Thank you.
The gentleman yields back.
And I recognize Mr. Taylor for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Taylor. Thank you, Chairman Collins and Ranking Member
Wilson, for holding this hearing today, and thank you to our
witnesses for taking the time and making the sacrifices
necessary to be here to speak to us, and thank you all for your
service.
As we begin the next WRDA reauthorization, with the Ohio
River running along my district, we need to ensure that the
Army Corps implements policies that utilize the river's
resources to create economic activity in the Appalachian
region. My district is essentially all Appalachian.
The Ohio River continues to be a vital shipping route,
transporting over 200 million tons of cargo yearly. Farmers and
businesses rely on the locks and dams along the Ohio River to
ship their products with minimal delays.
With the ongoing maintenance on the Captain Anthony Meldahl
locks and dam, commerce and recreation along the Ohio River
could be affected.
General, what steps does the Army Corps take when
undergoing maintenance like this on locks and dams to ensure
that navigation can continue?
General Graham. Representative Taylor, thanks. Having grown
up in Pittsburgh, at the beginning of the Ohio River, I have a
great love and affection for that river system. It is a slack
water system. It is all confined by locks and dams, and so, the
maintenance of those is absolutely critical. Delighted to see
the recapitalization of a lot of those facilities, as well as
commitments to the long-term maintenance, particularly on the
main stem of the Ohio that you spoke to.
We work hand in glove with industry and the Inland
Waterways Users Board to make sure that we look well in advance
on when we are going to take down any main chambers. The good
news on the Ohio River is that there is always a backup chamber
with its auxiliary chamber. We understand that that's a great
inconvenience to and delay to industry when you go from 1,200-
foot down to a 700-foot chamber.
So, the key there is to provide the navigation industry a
reliable transportation system. It is unscheduled outages that
are the bane to their industry, and that is our commitment, is
to ideally do away with any unscheduled outages and stay ahead
of maintenance.
Mr. Taylor. Thank you, General.
I have been proud of this administration's priority to
ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively.
Unfortunately, there was a project in my district that faced
significant delays and rising costs because of the actions of a
third party and was not the fault of the Army Corps. Delays in
vital flood provision and infrastructure can cause potential
harm to local communities.
General, when the Army Corps faces challenges of
contractors and other third parties, what steps do you take to
ensure that instances like this are prevented in the future?
General Graham. Congressman Taylor, so, we have a tracking
system where we basically give a grade on how that contractor
performs. And, if the contractor performed unsatisfactorily or
if they were unsafe, we don't want to do business with them
again. As we see that they are starting to fail in their
performance, our commitment is to work hand in glove with them
to make them successful. But, if they prove themselves not to
be a successful contractor--they can't deliver for us--then we
do our best not to work with them again.
Mr. Taylor. That makes sense. And, when you are choosing a
contractor, does their past performance, your ability----
General Graham [interposing]. Absolutely.
Mr. Taylor. Their past performance is taken into account
even if it is not necessarily the best price?
General Graham. Absolutely. Their past performance is one
of the main factors we look at.
Mr. Taylor. Okay. In April, the Ohio River reached over 60
feet, the highest in more than 28 years, causing massive
flooding in Cincinnati. While this is a rare occurrence, it is
imperative that the Federal Government and its agencies prepare
for potential floods to protect its citizens and mitigate
damage.
General, following flooding, how does the Army Corps work
with State and local leaders and their flood risk management
plan to prepare for potential tragedies in the future?
General Graham. Representative Taylor, thank you for that
question. Immediately after a storm happens, we have
authorities, Public Law 84-99, that allow us to responsively
work with local communities to immediately repair that damage
where we can.
We also have a planning assistance to State continuing
authority that allows us to assist them to look at that
watershed on what just happened and start to look at options to
make that community more resilient to flooding in the future,
and then that could spin off into future feasibility studies
with us.
Mr. Taylor. Thank you both, again, for being here today,
and I yield back, Chairman.
Mr. Collins. Thank you.
The gentleman yields back.
I now recognize Mr. Garamendi for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Garamendi. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Telle, sorry about the loss of your dad. And so, I am
going to kind of back down here a little bit. But you have an
extremely important job, as you know. In your testimony, you
said that few Government agencies capture the interests of the
American citizens, landowners, communities and States, job
creators, like the Corps of Engineers. And you went on to say
the Corps supports commercial navigation, flood risks,
restoration of aquatic systems, and stewardship of our natural
resources.
Your words, your task. You have got a very, very important
task ahead of you. However, you are faced with a very, very
difficult situation, as is the General, one in which the
administration has decided to go after the Corps of Engineers
and significantly reduce the funding and the staff: 3,000
employees are gone.
And, General, you say you can figure out how to do this. I
would love to see it, because I would like to see that 2026
work plan. That will tell us how you intend to implement the
terrible cuts that have been made by this administration to the
Corps of Engineers' critical functions to carry out Assistant
Secretary Telle's stated tasks and goals. How are you going to
do it?
You are looking at a 30-percent reduction in operation and
maintenance. You have already heard from several members of
this committee, and you will hear even more. Operation and
maintenance is flood control. It is also the dredging. And, by
the way, you better obey the law, which requires 100 percent of
the money available through the programs where we tax incoming
shipments; 100 percent of that must be spent for the Harbor
Maintenance Fund. Apparently, you are going to have to stretch
to do that if you have a 30-percent reduction in O&M.
You have a very difficult plan, and apparently you are
totally ignoring the 1 year of work done by Democrats and
Republicans on this committee putting together the 2024 WRDA
plan. It is detail. We are not going to get the detail from you
today, because you are not giving us the work plan. But you
better get it to us quick, because by the end of this month, we
will be dealing with the 2026 budget, and I will guarantee you
and anybody else that cares to listen, you will not have my
vote for that 2026 work plan unless these issues are addressed,
including how you intend to obey the law.
WRDA is not just a bunch of words. It is the law. And you
are required to carry it out. And, unfortunately, you have been
dealt a terrible hand by the President as he carries out the
2025 goals.
So, where are we? You are in one serious mess. And I will
guarantee you this: this is not one-half of what I intend to
lay on both of you when you come back here with that work plan.
And it had better carry out the law. One hundred percent harbor
maintenance, the programs that were authorized, and the work
plan that was developed last year; is it going to be carried
out, or where are the cuts going to occur?
We do know that, in the early days of this administration,
you decided, the administration decided to take it out on the
blue States on the west coast, and so $200-plus million of
necessary programs, a dam in Washington that had to be replaced
will not be upgraded and replaced as a result of a decision
that was made to take money away from blue State Washington and
a smaller but necessary amount of money from California. Will
you restore that?
If I give you a few minutes, you would probably say, ``We
will do our best.'' Well, your best isn't enough. The law is
the law. WRDA is the law of the land, and you are required,
this administration is required to carry out the law and not to
write their own version of it.
So, I will see you next time around, and you better have
answers for all of these things. Otherwise, I will unload on
you then. This is just a touch.
I yield back.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize Mr. Mann for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Mann. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you both for being
here today. Thank you for your service to the country. I
represent the Big First district of Kansas, which is mostly the
western two-thirds of the State of Kansas, except for the area
around Wichita. Our water in Kansas comes from, of course,
rivers and lakes, but we also have the Ogallala aquifer, which
is a big priority for us and our agriculture as well.
WRDA 2024 made several commonsense policy reforms to
improve project delivery and identify areas of focus for the
Corps to maximize public benefits. For Kansas, it is vitally
important that the Corps is able to quickly and officially
implement guidance and provisions from WRDA 2024 and previous
WRDAs. I look forward to hearing from you today on ways
Congress can work with you to help to achieve this.
Just a handful of questions. First off, how will the Corps
work with the EPA and the Trump administration to provide a
definition of ``WOTUS'' that adheres to the precedent
established in the Sackett decision? I know you referenced that
in your testimony, but what is the latest there and when do you
anticipate a definition coming out and what does that look
like?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, thank you for the question, and you
have identified a critically important issue. The term ``waters
of the United States'' was included as the jurisdiction of the
Clean Water Act as it relates to section 404 in 1972, and since
that time, there has been a lack of certainty and clarity about
what that term means, and the Sackett decision by the Supreme
Court in 2023 provides a law of the land that provides as much
clarity as we have had since 1972 about that. This is an
important issue for farmers and landowners in your State, and I
would just say that we have taken action, President Trump's
administration has taken action.
In March, we issued interim guidance to adhere to the
Sackett decision as the Corps of Engineers goes about doing its
work in partnership with the EPA. We are in the process of
issuing a proposed rule that will permanently enshrine the
Sackett decision in the way that the Corps and EPA go about
carrying out their responsibilities, and so, I look forward to
this action providing clarity and understanding to stakeholders
across the country so that we can get to work, we can provide
liberty and freedom to Americans as they go about doing what
they do best, which is innovate and deliver on the economy.
Mr. Mann. I wholeheartedly agree. I appreciate your work
and efforts on that. It impacts our farmers, our oil and gas
producers, manufacturers, a lot of folks as well, so, thank
you.
Second question, what is the status of implementing
subtitle B of WRDA 2024 to elevate water supply as a primary
mission of the Corps?
Mr. Telle. Thank you for the question, sir. As you
identify, the three core missions of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers have been navigation, flood risk mitigation, and
aquatic ecosystem restoration. Water supply winds up being a
very important, especially in the western part of our country,
an important part of the Corps' mission, and we have to work
very closely with our partners at the Bureau of Reclamation
within the States to make sure that we are keeping a close eye
on water supply as we think about ensuring that communities
don't experience floods and that we can quite often respond to
natural disasters. And so, water supply is already an important
part of what General Graham considers as he is allocating
resources that are held in reservoirs, and it is something that
we will continue. We have been focused on and will continue to
focus on in light of WRDA 2024.
Mr. Mann. Great. And then last question, what is the update
on the Corps' construction and maintenance backlog? Are there
specific categories or projects contributing to the backlog
more than others?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, I ran through the numbers of the
authorized but unappropriated and appropriated but unexpended,
and I would say that all categories, feasibility studies,
construction, project engineering and design, construction, and
maintenance all have issues, and these things take far too
long. They cost far too much. And I am committed to working
with this committee and with General Graham and his team at the
Corps to get at that problem. We can deliver more flood
control, more water supply, more navigation for the country for
less money and more quickly if we work closely together, and
so, I am committed to that, sir.
Mr. Mann. I agree. Thank you both, again, for being here,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back, and I
recognize Mr. Ryan for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Ryan. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you both for being
here.
Mr. Telle, I want to join in expressing condolences not
just from me, but from my constituents, for your loss.
I want to take the few minutes I have to highlight my
district and an important priority in my community, which is
experiencing a major drinking water crisis and ask for your
help and your commitment to work with me on that, which you
have already been doing a great effect.
The village of Kiryas Joel is one of the youngest and
fastest growing communities in the Nation. It is also the
largest municipality in my district, and the average size of
family there is 5.37 people, which is double the national
average. The village has experienced continued rapid population
growth since 1990. It has 4X increased as the community has
grown, which is a great thing.
Because of this, the village has been working really hard
to ensure it has infrastructure it needs across the board to
support this growth. In particular, though, the current water
infrastructure is at an incredibly dangerous point where they
have literally had to truck in water at peak demand points
because they just have not been able to keep up, and to be
clear, they have a great plan that they have been executing for
decades now. It is just, as we all know, things move too slow,
and as that escalates, they are in a critical situation, so
that is why we are specifically asking your help. I know this
is something that the Corps has taken on in moments of critical
need.
Specifically, Kiryas Joel has been working on the fifth and
final component of a multiphase project more than 20 years in
the making called the Catskill aqueduct connection project. It
basically runs a 13-mile pipeline from the Catskill aqueduct,
which is the water supply for New York City, actually, and
connects this community into that supply. It is a great
approach and idea that is very synergistic for not only Kiryas
Joel, but many other surrounding communities.
The current and final stage of the project is a water
filtration and treatment plant that will treat around 2 million
gallons of water per day. I have been working really close with
the village on the project since I have been in office. We got
an initial million dollars in community project funding, but we
certainly need a lot more. The project was included in section
219 of the environmental infrastructure project going back to
2007, and then in 2024, I was able to 5X that to $25 million
authorized with the help of my colleagues on the committee.
General Graham, I want to commend you and your team.
Colonel Young from the New York District has been phenomenal,
and the whole team. They just did a site visit with myself and
the village leadership earlier this year. We were able to show
them the project. They spent several hours with us and
committed at a broad level to continue to support the project
working with the State, New York State, as well.
So, I just want to flag that for you both, ask your help,
and specifically ask if General Graham, and of course we would
invite you as well, Assistant Secretary, if you would sit with
me to just talk a little bit more about this project to figure
out how we can get it moving, because we are just--I mean, we
are really running out of time and just would ask your help on
that and any thoughts you have on that starting with you,
General Graham.
General Graham. Representative Ryan, we are certainly
tracking the aqueduct connection that the village is working to
make, and subject to funding on the 219 program, we're prepared
to assist them.
Mr. Telle. Congressman, happy to visit with you at any
point and learn more about this project and see how we can be
of help to you.
Mr. Ryan. Appreciate that. We would love to follow up with
you on that and understand amidst all the priorities that you
all have on your priorities list what we can be doing to make
sure that this is seen as it is, because it is reaching an
existential situation. That is the main question I have, and
again, I just want to, as a former Army guy, it is good to have
Army folks in this committee as well. Appreciate the service
you are both doing for our Nation, and I yield back, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back, and I
now recognize Mr. Fong for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Fong. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you both for being here. To the Assistant Secretary,
my condolences to you and your family on your loss. I wanted to
also move on to thanking the President for his leadership on
California water. We haven't had a President focus on our water
policies in California in a very long time, and the fact that
he signed two Executive orders, one on the first day he was
inaugurated, certainly signifies the importance he takes to our
needs in California.
President Trump's Executive Order titled ``Emergency
Measures To Provide Water Resources in California'' directs
Federal agencies like the Army Corps to take emergency measures
and to streamline policies constricting water infrastructure
construction in California while maximizing water delivery. The
Redbank and Fancher Creek Dams that service my district are
authorized as single purpose flood control facilities. Army
Corps studies will analyze modifying existing infrastructure
like these that increase water storage that will directly be
used and manage groundwater recharge in California.
I wanted to ask both of you, maybe first to the Assistant
Secretary, how does the Army Corps plan to streamline his
policies to prioritize review and approval of water projects
like Redbank and Fancher Creek which will meaningfully impact
water supply in agricultural regions like my district?
Mr. Telle. Congressman Fong, thank you for the question,
and I would just agree with you wholeheartedly about President
Trump's commitment to water supply in California. We are very
fortunate to have a President who is so focused on water issues
in your State and throughout the country, and I would also
compliment the California congressional delegation, Congressman
LaMalfa and Congressman Kiley on this committee, for your
expertise on this issue that is very important to your State.
As you have conveyed to me and your colleagues have
conveyed to me, we can make the pie bigger in terms of water
supply in California if we are willing to do what it takes to
optimize the use of the reservoirs there to keep this precious
resource available. That is in the form of water control
manuals using forecast-informed reservoir operations. These are
all activities that we are focused on throughout your State,
and if we increase that water supply in California, we are
going to be able to deliver on the needs of farmers in your
State, the municipalities in your State, and when disaster
strikes, we are going to have more water to be responsive to
it. And so, I look forward to working with you and Members of
the California delegation under President Trump's leadership to
deliver on that hope.
Mr. Fong. Thank you. Also, thank you for that, and I want
to mention two other projects. As you know, for several years,
my community has been working with the Corps to initiate a
feasibility study to raise Pine Flat Dam in my district. We
talked about that as well when you were generous enough to
offer some time. This project has brought bipartisan support
since it adds critical flood protection needed to prevent the
kind of devastation we saw in the Central Valley during the
flooding events of 2023. Look forward to working with you on
how we can commence work on some of the requirements for
feasibility determinations so that we can move through the
process quicker.
And then the Success Reservoir enlargement project
provides, again, more significant flood protection for our
communities and farms in my district. Once completed, this
project will more than double flood protection creating over
28,000 acre-feet of new water storage. There is $15 million
remaining to close out this major project, so, certainly look
forward to the partnership to funding this project, complete
the Lake Success project to ensure that this project becomes
operational as quickly as possible.
I do want to end my opportunity to chat with you both about
the use of advanced forecasting technologies like ASO and FIRO
that allows us to better map and predict snowpack and watershed
levels. How does the Corps plan to incorporate a greater use of
available technology to better manage watersheds, snowpack so
that our existing infrastructure can better protect communities
from floods while also increasing water supply levels? That
goes to either one of you.
Mr. Telle. Congressman Fong, you have identified a critical
issue, which is to optimize the use of our existing
infrastructure. We are able to use things like forecast-
informed reservoir operations to update water control manuals
that may not have been updated since the 1970s. We can use all
of the sensing and data capabilities that we have developed in
the interim to store more water, provide more water, take
smarter risks when necessary without really spending a single
dollar on new infrastructure. So, you have identified a
critical area where we can do more and better, and I will defer
to General Graham on any of the specifics if you would like
to----
General Graham [interrupting]. I cannot really say much
more than that. Secretary Telle. Bringing the maximum value we
can out of all of the projects around the Central Valley is
absolutely key, and so, we are delighted to see Lake Mendocino
and its new water control manual coming online this month, and
that is the first of the FIRO, forecast-informed reservoir
operations, water control manuals that we will be able to put
into operation, and we are continuing to work on the additional
ones.
Mr. Fong. Thank you. I have run out of time, but water is
life for us in the Central Valley in California. We are the
food production capital of our State, and I look forward to
partnering with both of you. Thank you. I yield back.
Mr. Collins. The gentleman yields back. I now recognize Mr.
Pappas for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Pappas. Thanks very much, Mr. Chairman, thanks to you
and the ranking member for holding this session. I want to
thank our witnesses, Assistant Secretary Telle and Lieutenant
General Graham. We appreciate all your hard work, and I can
attest to the significance of the Corps in terms of New
Hampshire and projects that we have seen undertaken over the
last several years. We are really grateful for your attention
to a number of initiatives.
I wanted to build on what the chairman was asking you
about, Mr. Assistant Secretary, around recreation, an issue
that is top of mind to a lot of folks in New Hampshire, where
our communities are really rooted in access to the wilderness
and the outdoors.
As you know, the Army Corps has been subject to a hiring
freeze imposed by the administration. It has impacted the New
England District recreation areas. It has left recreation areas
in New Hampshire unable to hire summer rangers at all who serve
in essential roles and keep those areas open and safe and
accessible for individuals and families to enjoy.
Without summer rangers, recreation areas in New Hampshire
where people boat, swim, fish, and hike experienced reduced
hours, limited access to facilities, and significantly reduced
services throughout this past summer. So, I share those
concerns, and I would love to hear a little bit more about an
action plan to address this, but I just want to add that it is
not just the summer months. It is all year round in New
Hampshire in terms of our outdoor recreation opportunities, and
it is connected to our economy.
The outdoor economy represents a major sector in New
Hampshire, employs tens of thousands of people. We are among
the top 10 States nationwide in terms of proportion of GDP that
is generated based on outdoor recreation.
So, whether it's activities in the summer, access to lakes
and ponds in the winter for ice fishing, hiking, and hunting,
this goes 365 days throughout the year, so I am wondering if
you can expand a little bit more on access to outdoor
recreation, how we can get more people out there to make sure
that we are not compromising not only access, but economic
opportunities, and I will just add that I think the notion that
this could somehow be shifted to other agencies or to State and
local taxpayers, that is not something that folks in New
Hampshire I know would support.
So, I would love to hear a little bit more about how we can
improve this, and I think people at the local level have great
urgency around wanting to see some action.
Mr. Telle. Congressman, thank you for the question and
thank you for astutely pointing out that the Corps of Engineers
facilities do--many of them do attract visitors throughout the
year. With regard to the workforce that supports the
recreational activities of the Corps of Engineers, this is an
area that the Trump administration identified very early on as
a challenge and instituted a program to hire these folks as
quickly as possible, and we have already made significant
progress against that goal.
We are tracking it every single day in cooperation with
General Graham, and it is something that we intend to have
fixed. We already addressed over the course of this summer
heading into the winter months and into next summer. I am
confident that we will have a workforce that meets the needs of
the American public as it relates to using Corps of Engineers
facilities for recreation.
Mr. Pappas. Well, we are hoping we can continue to
communicate with you on this. It is important, and where there
are exemptions needed from the hiring freeze, I think we
absolutely should be looking for maximum capabilities from the
Corps to be able to fill these positions.
Mr. Telle. Congressman, we are aggressively hiring today
against these needs and look forward to working with you and
giving you more information about that.
Mr. Pappas. Thank you. Additional question for you, Mr.
Assistant Secretary. A key priority of mine in the last WRDA
was language encouraging the Secretary to coordinate with
apprenticeship programs when conducting corrosion prevention
activities as well as the use of industry recognized standards
and best practices. This will enhance the quality and
effectiveness of corrosion prevention measures through
certified training programs, ensuring the integrity of our
infrastructure over the long term, so I was pleased with its
inclusion in the legislation.
I am wondering if you can talk about any coordination with
apprenticeship programs, whether it is on corrosion prevention
or other things that will help support the needs of our
infrastructure.
Mr. Telle. Congressman, corrosion is an important issue
when it comes to our Nation's water infrastructure. When water
and metal and oxygen touch, corrosion occurs, and much of our
infrastructure is far too old, and so, anything we can do to
get against the corrosion challenge on our Nation's
infrastructure, locks and dams, and other infrastructure
related to the United States Army Corps of Engineers' mission
is something we ought to take a close look at, and I
congratulate you on your leadership in that area.
Mr. Pappas. Thank you. There are apprenticeships out there
that are the gold standard that ensure that workers are skilled
and that they are using best practices, so I hope that the
Corps can continue to benefit from those types of programs.
With that, I yield back.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize Mr. Mast for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Mast. Thank you, Chairman. Appreciate it.
Secretary, General, nice to see you both. You guys are a
pretty new team. Working together, getting along well?
Secretary, appreciate you coming in the other day. It was a
great conversation. Appreciate your work on the issues. I know
you bring a wealth of knowledge having been working for a
number of Senators. Now you are getting your Ph.D. and
everything, but I know you have had a lot of exposure to
everything, so, I am glad to see you both in here.
I just want to have a little conversation about something I
frequently do, Lake Okeechobee. It is the biggest thing that
affects me as it relates to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
and I would frame the conversation in this way. Corps of
Engineers does not like to deal with issues of, quote, ``water
quality,'' but water quality affects us all. You guys have to
move waters of different levels of quality. You have to manage
water standards in different parts for the outlets of Lake
Okeechobee.
The water quality standards for what goes south into the
Everglades are not what the east and west coasts of Florida get
to have in terms of eight parts per billion. Eight parts per
billion is the standard that the EPA set for what is toxic
algal blooms. Ten parts per billion for water going down to the
Everglades, for phosphorous. We don't have those kinds of
standards to the east and west, but we have a lot of toxic
algal blooms on Lake Okeechobee.
That affects your people. The water quality affects your
people. I don't know, have either of you had to be on top of
the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam with algal blooms measuring 100,
200, 300 parts per billion microcystin? Have you done that yet?
Mr. Telle. I haven't had a chance to do that yet.
Mr. Mast. General?
General Graham. So, Congressman Mast, I think the last time
I met you was out in the field with your son at Port Mayaca
when there was an algal bloom going on.
Mr. Mast. So, you know what that is like.
General Graham. Absolutely. I think your son walked out of
the car and said, ``Dad, this place stinks,'' and he was
absolutely right.
Mr. Mast. And so, the point is that quality, your people
have to stand on that how many hours a day? Eight, ten hours a
day breathing those things in. It is serious. And just as much
as it is serious for your people in uniform out there working
daily, weekly, monthly on top of that, it is the same level of
seriousness for our people that have that discharge to them.
So, the point of the conversation I just want to have for a
couple minutes, you guys are a new team coming in. What do you
feel like we can do to protect my people on the east coast that
get that dumped on them when we don't receive any benefits? The
people on the west coast that get them dumped on them, even
though they want a minimum level of water flowing to them
because they have a natural connection. We have an unnatural
connection. And your people that have to sit on top of this and
work every day, what can we do to work on this?
Mr. Telle. Congressman Mast, thank you for being on top of
this issue. You have helped me as I have gotten up to speed on
this issue. I have been down to Lake Okeechobee already. You
have been a tireless advocate for your constituents along the
St. Lucie River. The Corps of Engineers under General Graham's
leadership has already taken action to update the water control
manual of Lake Okeechobee to ensure that we are not having
unnecessary discharges into the St. Lucie River, the
Caloosahatchee River.
You have been at the forefront of making that happen. There
is still more that we can do to ensure that we provide for the
Everglades restoration project and we provide for flood control
throughout central and south Florida without negatively
affecting your constituents, and so, I look forward to working
on this with you.
Mr. Mast. You as well.
Mr. Telle. You have been an incredible advocate for the
interest of your constituents.
Mr. Mast. Look forward to working with you also.
General, anything to----
General Graham [interrupting]. One piece I would add,
Congressman Mast. I know you have been a great support of this
is research and development that we can do when the harmful
algal blooms erupt, that we have a tool to combat that. South
Florida Water Management District has some pretty good tools
that we have used.
We will continue that research and development. At the end
of the day, the root cause of this is the nutrients that are
causing this to begin with, and we will work hand in glove with
the State of Florida to improve that.
Mr. Mast. And the water quality standards that I started to
speak about, those are related to nutrients. That is not even
related to are we moving toxic pollutants like microcystin that
the EPA says, hey, if you are a human being, don't come in
contact with this at 8 parts per billion, much less 800 parts
per billion, right?
So, I hope there is a place that we can work together to
rightsize that there are not different water quality standards
for water that goes south than the water that comes to these
epicenters of people across the State. It doesn't make sense. I
am sure you could agree, General, it wouldn't make sense to
have a water quality standard for the water that goes to one
housing development, Normandy at Fort Bragg, then goes to a
different housing development somewhere else on Fort Bragg. It
wouldn't make any sense.
That is basically what we have going on with Lake
Okeechobee, and it is those inputs of those nutrients that
allow our coastal estuaries that are otherwise Bahama blue to
be turned into something that looks like your uniforms, which
are great uniforms, but it is not how we want our water to
look. So, with that, my time is about expired. I look forward
to working with both of you.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize Ms. Friedman for 5 minutes of questions.
Ms. Friedman. Thank you very much.
Mr. Telle, my condolences on your loss.
I don't need to tell anyone here today how important the
WRDA funded projects are. We have heard about a lot of them
today, and I wanted to highlight the need to continue to invest
in water resource projects that reduce flood and storm damage,
support water supply and drought resiliency, and restore
ecosystems by focusing on a very important project in my
district.
We have a project that was authorized under the most recent
WRDA bill, the L.A. River restoration project, and if you are
listening to this, you might think you don't know the L.A.
River, but you do, because you saw ``Grease'' and you saw the
cars racing in what may have looked like a giant drainage
ditch, but that is actually the L.A. River, which in recent
years has really captured the imagination of the public as we
think about what that river could be to Los Angeles.
In fact, I toured this project recently with Ranking Member
Larsen, and he was amazed at what has already been accomplished
and how many people midweek are using the bike paths that now
go along a lot of the river and talking to him about the parks
that are going to be created and the areas, some of which are
fairly blighted around the L.A. River, but looking forward to a
complete economic revitalization as we reclaim this amenity.
As you know, this project is a major investment that
requires close collaboration between the city of L.A. and the
Corps, and the Corps has been working with L.A. for a number of
years on the L.A. River. Now, it is my understanding that the
L.A. River ecosystem restoration project will require a section
902 adjustment along with a Post-Authorization Change Report
since project costs have naturally increased. Congressional
authorization by our WRDA is needed to increase authorization
of appropriations for this project which has been undergoing
for a number of years.
In order to increase authorization of appropriations, a
complete PACR is needed, and it is my understanding that the
current targeted date for completion of this PACR is July of
2026. My constituents are relying on this project being
completed, and to be clear, this project does go through part
of my district.
And I am worried that any delay in completion of the PACR
won't allow the committee to complete the review in time for
WRDA in 2026, leaving our taxpayers to pick up the tab at a
time when we are already overburdened because of the L.A. fires
nearby in the county.
So, I don't know which of you wants to answer this
question, but my question is, what we can do to speed up
completion of the PACR process to ensure that it is completed
in time for the committee to consider ahead of next year's
WRDA, and how can I be helpful in that process?
Mr. Telle. Congresswoman, thank you for the question, and I
will just say before I turn it over to General Graham, Los
Angeles is one America's great cities, and it is going to be on
the world stage soon.
It is important that the Corps of Engineers do what it can
to support the citizens of Los Angeles and the Greater Los
Angeles area, including with the L.A. River, which is an
important part of that ecosystem. So I look forward to working
with you and learning more about this project and hopefully
getting out to L.A. very soon.
General Graham.
General Graham. We are committed to deliver that PACR to
this committee in time for WRDA 2026. The cutoff point I
usually set for the districts is the end of May. Never know
when the next WRDA might get put together, so, I am a little
concerned that the district right now plans to finish that in
July, and we are working with the district to see, one, to make
sure that we maintain it on track to deliver it by July, but I
would like to see it moved towards the end of May, and that,
right now, is our goal.
We are also working collaboratively with the County of Los
Angeles Department of Public Works for the entire system. This
committee has authorized some deauthorization or transfer of
some of the features of the entire L.A. County Drainage
District and there is no better partner we have than the L.A.
County DPW and Mark Pestrella, so, we are absolutely committed
to continue to work collaboratively with them to make sure that
that system provides tremendous protection to your citizens.
Ms. Friedman. Thank you. We have heard that there has been
good coordination. I really appreciate that. And along with the
L.A. River project, there are several bridges that are going to
be built, because we have got parks like Griffith Park and
Elysian Park where right now it is very hard for people on the
other side of the river to access those amenities, and these
are some park poor areas, and I know that they have been
working closely with the Corps on making sure that they can
expedite or move the approvals of those bridges through.
But, Mr. Telle, I would love for you to come to Los
Angeles. I would love to walk you through some of this project
area and show you how it is going to take what is already a
great city but really move it up to the next level, and this is
a major piece of infrastructure for Los Angeles to help with
flood control, but also bring a lot more recreation to Los
Angeles, so, thank you.
Mr. Telle. Thank you.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentlelady yields back, and I
recognize Mr. Onder for 5 minutes for questions.
Dr. Onder. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our
witnesses today.
Back home in my district in Missouri, I hear the same
concerns time and again from farmers and river communities,
local officials. They depend on reliable levees, timely
dredging, and flood protection to keep their families, their
lands, and their neighborhoods safe. Yet, too often, we see
these projects bogged down by multiyear studies, by shifting
regulatory definitions and ballooning costs, but the
floodwaters don't wait for Washington's bureaucracy.
A good example is the Lower Missouri River Basin flood risk
and resiliency study. It was authorized under WRDA, yet the
interim report wasn't expected until December 2023, and its
final completion is not scheduled until March of 2027. This
means the region won't experience tangible improvement until
nearly 8 years after authorization.
In the meantime, the rivers may overtop flawed levees and
my constituents pay the price in anxiety, risk, and economic
damage. That is why today's hearing is so important:
translating WRDA mandates into timely action, minimizing
bureaucratic drag, restoring discipline and accountability to
protect local communities. Despite Congress' clear direction,
bureaucracy continues to slow things down, and I would like to
explore opportunities to make a difference here.
Secretary Telle, the Lower Mississippi River Basin flood
risk and resiliency study highlights how nearly 8 years can
pass between authorization and real results. What specific
reforms are you implementing to cut down on these study
timelines and deliver protections to our communities faster?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, thank you for the question. You are
absolutely right. It is unacceptable that these projects take
so long and cost so much. I think we have an opportunity under
the leadership of Chairman Collins and President Trump to get
after this program in a way that will help the entire country,
and especially areas like yours that have multiple big rivers
all coming together.
In terms of specific reforms, it is important to me that
the United States Army Corps of Engineers is an organization
that from my office to the headquarters to the 9 divisions to
the 39 districts, that we deliver policies and standards that
you can count on, whether you are in the St. Louis District or
the Kansas City District, and I think that that's something
that General Graham and I have worked diligently on.
Another one that I mentioned already is looking at the
project-based budgeting and what that means in terms of the
incentives it creates throughout the system. The United States
Army Corps of Engineers is virtually the only agency within the
Federal Government that budgets in this manner, and there are
advantages to budgeting that way, but there are also potential
perverse incentives in terms of delivering low cost and
quickly. And so, I look forward to working with you and with
Chairman Collins, Ranking Member Wilson to really explore how
we can get serious about reducing schedule and cost on these
projects.
The American public can't wait for, like you said, for us
here in Washington, and I think the benefit of harmony across
the Corps of Engineers enterprise is perhaps we can reduce the
wait times at the different levels of paperwork. And I know you
agree with this, sir, which is that you expect the Corps of
Engineers to build infrastructure, not build paperwork, and I
am committed to helping work through that with General Graham's
partnership.
Dr. Onder. You have committed to reducing regulatory
burdens and aligning with the Sackett decision. When will we
see clear final definition of ``waters of the U.S.'' that
removes uncertainty for landowners and farmers?
Mr. Telle. Thank you, sir. As I mentioned earlier, we have
already published interim guidance that is implementing that
decision now, and one of the challenges is making sure that all
of our districts all the way down the line understand that
guidance and are implementing it, so if you hear of anybody who
is not implementing the Sackett decision within your districts,
please let us know.
In the meantime, we are also expecting by the end of this
year to publish a proposed rule that would provide permanent
clarity in response to the Sackett decision and give much
needed relief to Americans who are experiencing the regulatory
burden of Washington.
Dr. Onder. I appreciate it. Thank you. I yield back.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize Mr. Figures for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Figures. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you both for being here today and sitting through
this grilling, as they call it, and Mr. Telle, I want to extend
my condolences to you on your father. I lost my father, it will
be 29 years ago in a couple days here, in 3 days. But I want to
thank you for still being here and showing up despite that,
because I know it is tough, man, so I appreciate that.
I want to start by acknowledging that I have the proud
honor of representing the area that will soon be the deepest
port in the gulf from Panama as I understand it, from the
Panama Canal all the way up to Charleston, South Carolina. That
is the Port of Mobile. When they are done with the dredging
here in a few weeks, we keep hearing the date get shifted and
shifted, but nevertheless, they are fast approaching completion
of that.
And the Corps, I want to thank you guys for your
cooperation in getting us to that point, and I also want to
extend an invitation to both of you to come down to celebrate
our new distinction, which will incidentally be on what would
have been my father's 78th birthday on October 13th. If either
of you are available, we would love to have you down in Mobile
to celebrate that. It is a significant accomplishment for a lot
of parties involved, and we are really looking forward to the
impact that that's going to have in the future.
That being said, 24-percent funding cuts makes it tough to
ensure that we are doing what we need to do to keep that port
in a position that is not like my colleague from Georgia was
mentioning earlier and having issues with the regular
maintenance dredging, and so, can you guys discuss what impact
the budget proposal would have on your ability to be able to
sufficiently perform the maintenance dredging that is necessary
to keep the Port of Mobile open at its new depth?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, thank you for your advocacy for
that important project, and I hope I am not giving away too
much about my schedule here, but I do plan to be in Mobile and
Baldwin Counties on the 14th of October, so, we will see about
the 13th.
Mr. Figures. We don't worry about Baldwin County. That's
[inaudible].
[Laughter.]
Mr. Telle. Okay. Yes, sir. Look, General Graham and I are
committed to ensure that we perform critical maintenance of our
dams and our ports, critical ports like the Port of Mobile,
with the resources contained within the President's budget
request, and so, we are working hard to make sure that happens.
As I have said multiple times during this hearing, our
ability to compete in the 21st century is dependent on our
ability to have port facilities that allow us to open up our
country, our coastal areas, and our inland areas to the global
commerce. And dredging and maintenance is part of that, and so,
you have my commitment that we are going to do everything we
can to maintain our ports, keep our channels dredged, and open
America in important places like Mobile to the rest of the
world.
Mr. Figures. I appreciate that. I also encourage you to
come down and visit it, because I am pretty sure we have the
newest Army Corps of Engineers facility in the Nation, so, you
should also take a look at that. And I have had the privilege
to meet the newly installed Colonel Kelcey Shaw and have full
confidence in his ability. Very impressive guy. He is an alumni
of Tuskegee University, which is also in the district, and so,
looking forward to working with him over the next several
years.
Beneficial use of the dredging material is a huge deal back
home in Mobile. As you know, your predecessor issued a
directive, I think, requiring 70 percent of dredging sediment
to be used for beneficial use. This is something we want to
ensure can continue to happen.
These are sentiments that are echoed by my colleague over
in the Senate, Senator Britt. This is a very important issue to
make sure that we are exploring all beneficial use options for
the sediment dredging material for wildlife reasons, for
recreation reasons, and just general good housekeeping reasons,
and so, do we still have that commitment from you guys to
enforce that threshold and do everything you can to ensure that
the sediment that is being dredged out of these ports is being
prioritized for beneficial use?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, I will say without commenting on
the 70-percent threshold as I will need to look into that, but
I will just say that when we can use dredge material for
beneficial use, whether it is restoring a shoreline or
restoring barrier islands, or renourishing beaches, that's a
win-win for the taxpayers and for the ecosystem.
And so, in general, I would just say that the use of
beneficial use material as we call it within the Corps of
Engineers is important, and you are correct that Senator Britt
has been advocating to me the importance of ensuring that the
dredge material from the Mobile Port channel is used in a way
that is a benefit to Alabamians.
Mr. Figures. Thank you. We look forward to seeing you guys
on October 13th, and I yield back.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back, and I
recognize Mr. Patronis for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Patronis. Gentlemen, good morning. Thank you for being
here. My district is northwest Florida. Secretary, you know
where that is. You know where the Gulf of America is. Even
though I am the lowest ranking Member, I have been in
Government a long time, and I have dealt with the Corps on a
lot of issues, some of which are totally revolutionary, can't
believe we are able to make some of these transformational
permits in the case of a real significant out-of-the-box
thinking project that exists in the State of Florida, and then
sometimes I scratch my head about why in the hell is the Corps
even looking into what I am asking you all to look into.
And I am not saying this is something that you are going to
fix today, but I am going to--I am a big believer in going
through the chain of command. I am a rule follower. You know
what? And so, now I am going to look past you. I am going to
look at your staff, because I am not going to ask for the
Secretary or the general's phone number in this public meeting,
but I will be happy to give you mine, but I am looking at your
staff behind and I am going to ask you in the next 30 days to
come schedule an appointment with my office so we can go
through some permits.
I am not going to ask you for a single dollar. I am not
going to ask you to spend a single bit of your resources that
are so important to everything else you have heard today, but I
am going to tell you that the most precious thing that we have
in life is time. I would love to have more time with my family.
I would love to have more time enjoying life. But when things
get clogged up in your system, that is eliminating precious
access to time and resources that, I'm sorry, I just can't
tolerate.
I am going to give you two examples of issues. I am not
going to use names, we will talk about this when your team
shows up. But I have got a land swap happening that has been
waiting for years to take place. Every time a land swap takes
place, we have to get a new appraisal. After we get a new
appraisal, appraisals are perishable. They are only valuable
for so long a period of time. This particular land swap has
been approved at the district, in Atlanta, immediate
headquarters, and DC headquarters, yet it cannot get approved
and the appraisals continue to get neglected and the appraisals
have to start all over again, so we will go into details of
that when your staff shows up.
The second, again, scratching my head. I don't know why I
am even talking to you all about this. Okay? I have got a
constituent who has been waiting more than a year to put in a
floating dock at an existing marina. Why is this even an
interest of the Corps of Engineers? It just scratches my head.
I think one of the greatest things we have got is the Gulf of
America, I want people to enjoy it, I want people to spend
money and enjoy it with their family, I want those tourists to
come down and enjoy northwest Florida, but why does the Corps
even care about an 80-foot floating dock? It makes no sense.
What are we going to have? Maybe two pylons in the water,
maybe four pylons on an 80-foot, maybe six pylons. Okay? DEP
has approved it, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
has already approved it. They care about the sea grasses. They
do all that. Why does the Corps care? Again, these are things
that you all have got bigger fish to fry. Why are we even
talking to you about this, and why couldn't it be off your desk
already?
So, I want to work on these things. Like I said, I want to
praise you, I want to support you, I want to give you your
resources, but also I want to get these problem children that
are buried in somebody's desk, because I know you get
overwhelmed with some of the types of things that shouldn't be
there, just like an 80-foot floating dock, and I just want to
make your life a little bit easier.
I told people, I was back in Florida, I said, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection is the greatest freedom
agency in the State of Florida. It can take your freedom away
or it can give you freedom. And you all are in a very similar
category. I had somebody the other day that I was talking to in
Jacksonville and they were going through some permitting on
some dredging. I said, do you want me to reach out to the Corps
for you? No, no, no, we have got a great relationship with the
Corps, they treat us great, we are very happy. Again, where
praise is due, I am going to share it with you, and it was
great hearing that.
But then I hear other folks just like these here that make
no sense whatsoever. And, again, I am not thinking this is
somebody's personal agenda, but you know what? I have seen
people at DEP that just--I think it is their mission in life
just to make sure that nothing ever gets out of their office.
And unfortunately, we are humans and sometimes we just have
those agendas sometimes embedded in us.
So, I don't really have a lot to ask you, other than thank
you for your service. I look forward to working with you, and I
hope to be an advocate for the good that you all do.
Mr. Chairman, I yield.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize Ms. Pou for 5 minutes for questions.
Ms. Pou. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, let me
begin by saying that I absolutely want to thank Assistant
Secretary Telle and Lieutenant General Graham for joining us
today. Thank you so very much, gentlemen.
Last week, I met with mayors from across my district. The
issue I heard over and over again was concern with the water
management, so I wanted to just address something. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers has been a lifeline for our district
which faces repeated severe flooding. I am grateful to the Army
Corps for recently meeting with our local officials in Clifton
to discuss a critical mitigation project study to address the
chronic flooding from the Third River. I want to work with each
and every one of you, but I want to work with you to ensure
that this project gets the resources that it needs under the
continuing authorities program to advance to the next phase.
I also look forward to reviewing the results of the New
York Harbor and tributaries coastal storm risk management study
to better prevent devastating losses from hurricanes.
Information like this is sorely needed to support areas like my
district that are at risk from superstorms.
In our district, the Lower Saddle River Basin has faced
repeated flooding for decades impacting at least eight cities
and towns, including Lodi, Garfield, and in response, Congress
authorized the Lower Saddle River flood protection project,
ladies and gentlemen, back in 1986. Now, that is almost 40
years, 39 plus, literally 40 years ago.
However, the basin contains known contaminated sites, areas
with heavy pollution. The presence of these sites means that if
the Army Corps begins construction, they risk the legal and
financial consequences as well as decades of bureaucratic
inaction and stalled progress. So to the both of you, please
help me to understand, and I understand that the Army Corps has
been involved with contamination radiation at other projects.
How does that presence of that contamination impact the Corps'
ability to complete necessary work at this particular site?
Mr. Telle. Congresswoman, thank you for bringing these
issues to our attention. One of the things that I didn't fully
appreciate until I was confirmed for this role was the work
that General Graham's team does falls into two categories that
you are talking about.
If it's a former defense site, it falls under the FUDS
program, which is under the military program side of General
Graham's work, and if it's a former Department of Energy site,
it falls under the FUSRAP program, which is under the Civil
Works portion of General Graham's portfolio, and so, I will
defer to him to make sure we fully understand in the case of
your area which it is.
Ms. Pou. Lieutenant General, let me just ask, though, as
you are thinking about answering the question, I specifically
would like to have you speak with the contaminated areas of the
Lower Saddle River and what steps are needed to get that
project off the ground. Since we have been literally waiting 40
years, I don't want to have to wait another 40 years.
General Graham. Representative Pou, thank you again for
that question, and it is a big challenge on many of our
waterways. They were used as open sewers and just disposal
areas in the past, and we do a lot of cleanup work as the
Assistant Secretary mentioned. We also do some cleanup work
under the Environmental Protection Agency.
I think probably in this case, and we will check on the
specifics, it is we are working to find out who put that
contamination in there and hold them responsible. Understand
that that is usually where this gets stuck is finding that out.
And then where that is not feasible, then it will go into
the EPA program, and oftentimes they will hire us. They will
bring us in to then do the actual engineering and cleanup work.
And we will get back with you on the exact status of this
particular issue, and we will collaboratively work with you to
see if we can get a path forward. WRDA 1986 was a long time
ago.
Ms. Pou. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know my time is up, so I really
appreciate it. I yield back. Thank you, gentlemen.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentlelady yields back. I now
recognize Mr. Hurd for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Hurd of Colorado. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Gentlemen, good morning. Thanks for being here. I represent
Colorado's Third District, which is--Colorado's a headwater
State. We are the only State in the continental U.S. where all
the water flows out. And the Colorado River Basin is an
important issue not only for the constituents that I represent,
but also for the 40 million-plus citizens who live in the
Colorado River Basin and our down basin cousins as well.
This year has been a very difficult year in Colorado when
it comes to snowpack and moisture, and I am concerned what that
means for us in Colorado as well as our fellow Colorado River
Basin States. I understand that section 208 of WRDA directs the
Secretary of the Army to assess potential applications of
forecast-informed reservoir operations in the Colorado River
Basin, and provided there are sufficient resources to do so,
the Secretary can facilitate smarter water storage and release
programs.
Mr. Telle and General Graham, can you speak about the
implementation of this provision, potential implementation of
this provision, and have there been any lessons learned from
forecast-informed reservoir operations in the past in terms of
how we can be better prepared and more resilient when it comes
to drought related challenges?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, thank you for the question, and you
and other of your colleagues have pointed out the importance of
forecast-informed reservoir operations and other technology
enabled methods to make the best use of scarce water resources.
The Colorado River winds up being the source of water for a
great portion of the Southwestern United States, and I think
the disputes between the States over the Colorado River water
supply are historic and challenging, and so that speaks to the
importance of using every tool in our toolkit to better
optimize the way that we manage the system, and General Graham
is on top of that, and I would defer to him in terms of
implementation of section 208 as it relates to this specific
basin.
General Graham. Representative Hurd, taking the lessons we
are learning right now on forecast-informed reservoir
operations, putting those into practice with water control
manuals out in California and Lake Mendocino, we certainly want
to continue to deploy that technology throughout the country.
You say, well, maybe that is only for California; we can
see the atmospheric rivers coming. But I talked to some of the
scientists and engineers before they even were talking--places
like New Jersey might be capable of it. That, as the Assistant
Secretary has said, his guidance is to make sure wringing every
ounce of value we can from these facilities. We just operate
them differently. We don't have to build anything new. So, our
commitment to you is to take a look at all of the watersheds,
the headwaters of the Rio Grande, the Arkansas River and the
Colorado to make sure that if this technology or this--yes, I
will call it a technology, it is a different way of looking at
managing water--is applicable here, we absolutely want to apply
it.
Mr. Hurd of Colorado. General, can you think of any
additional resources or authority that would help accelerated
option of forecast-informed reservoir operations?
General Graham. I am sorry, I missed the question.
Mr. Hurd of Colorado. Can you think of any additional
resources or authorities that would help accelerated option of
the forecast-informed reservoir operations? Can we do it
better? How can we do it better?
General Graham. Scaling up from we are, kind of--if you--as
we branch out from getting it started in California, we want to
continue to train our staff and to bring in additional staff,
so, I think it will start to expand out our capabilities. We
are also working not only with our researchers at our Engineer
Research and Development Center, but also to bring in private-
sector organizations, colleges, and universities so that we can
expand this capacity.
Mr. Hurd of Colorado. Thank you.
Were you going to say something, Mr. Telle?
Mr. Telle. Sir, I was just going to mention that one of the
ways that we can achieve the scale that General Graham
references and that you are seeking is by making sure that we
are taking district employees who have expertise and experience
in these new methods of controlling water reserves and making
them available to other districts and regions throughout the
country, potentially making sure that we take advantage of our
expertise across the country and potentially creating centers
of excellence, which is something that General Graham and his
team have done a really good job of to eliminate duplication
within the districts and focus expertise in one or two areas in
the country, so I would just say as forecast-informed reservoir
operations becomes more and more prevalent, we look forward to
working with you on helping stand up that capability.
Mr. Hurd of Colorado. Thank you very much, gentlemen. I see
my time is almost expired.
Mr. Chairman, I yield the remainder of my time back.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize Ms. Gillen for 5 minutes for questions.
Ms. Gillen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, gentlemen, for taking the time to appear before
us today, and thank you for your service to our country. I
represent New York's Fourth Congressional District, which is
contained entirely on the South Shore of Nassau County on Long
Island. We are the home to many coastal communities and many
beautiful beaches.
I, in my prior role in local government, had the privilege
of working with the Army Corps to ameliorate some of the
effects that were still lingering from Superstorm Sandy, which
was devastating to my district, and other hurricanes that
happened after that and really worked productively with you,
so, I thank you for that.
So, my district contains two Federal navigation channels,
the East Rockaway Inlet and the Jones Beach Inlet, and due to
shoaling, the depths of the navigable channel in these
waterways are often reduced, which poses a real threat to
safety, especially during rough weather. I have heard from many
in our maritime trades and recreational boaters as well about
the need to regularly maintain and dredge these two inlets to
keep boaters safe.
So, I guess, Lieutenant General Graham, could the Army
Corps, and perhaps your staff can follow up with me, provide my
office with an update on plans to conduct dredging at both East
Rockaway and the Jones Beach Inlet? East Rockaway was last
dredged in 2022, and Jones was last dredged in 2023. Thank you.
And I am also asking if Congress can do something to help
New York reduce the delays and increase the frequency of
maintenance dredging on inlets such as this and perhaps look at
ways, particularly with respect to the East Rockaway and the
Jones Beach Inlet. If we could look at ways where we might be
able to do some studies, perhaps working with our local
governments on alternate locations to place some of the
dredging materials so this problem doesn't keep occurring every
year. Do you think that is something that we could look at
together?
General Graham. Representative, absolutely.
Ms. Gillen. Excellent. Thank you. So, again, I mentioned
working together with the Army Corps on addressing erosion
after Superstorm Sandy and the beautiful beaches that serve our
community are not only a great source of recreation, they are a
great source of natural beauty. They're a really important
resource for my district. But erosion remains a continuous
problem with these beaches having to rebuild our dunes, having
to restore our shoreline.
So, there is new technology available, gentlemen. There are
reusable plastic grids, which are also known as cliff
stabilizers, and they can be driven into sand to protect
against beach--dune, rather, erosion. So, Assistant Secretary
Telle, would you and the Army Corps be willing to work with my
office and the committee to explore potential applications of
this technology to prevent future coastal erosion and also
reduce the burden that you might have to come back and
replenish those beaches?
Mr. Telle. Congresswoman, thank you, and yes, there are
technologies out there that help reduce beach erosion. Some of
them are already deployed in different parts of our country.
General Graham recently mentioned the Engineer Research and
Development Center, which is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
R&D component, and we would be happy to put you in touch with
the appropriate folks there to see what this technology might
be able to provide to the Nation in terms of reducing beach
erosion.
Ms. Gillen. Excellent. Thank you. Anything else, Lieutenant
General?
General Graham. We are always looking, as the Assistant
Secretary said, to innovate as a tremendous amount of funds,
but the amount of funds we have for the coastal storm risk
management system is certainly insufficient to deal with the
needs that are out there, so stretching every dollar, doing
more with this is certainly our commitment to you, and so, if
there are new technologies, always happy to spend some time up
on Long Island.
Ms. Gillen. Excellent. Thank you. We welcome you anytime to
come visit, and my office will follow up with you about the two
points we discussed. Thank you, gentlemen.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentlelady yields back. I now
recognize Mr. Burlison for 5 minutes to ask questions.
Mr. Burlison. Thank you, Secretary Telle. Thank you,
General Graham, for being here today. I really appreciate your
service to our country. And I am sorry to hear about the loss
of your father. I am sure he was very proud to see you become
Secretary.
And I want to say thank you for coming to my office last
week and visiting. I greatly appreciated that meeting, and it
gave me hope that we will be able to resolve some issues
together.
As you know, Table Rock Lake, which is located in my
district, is more than just a body of water. It is a cherished
landmark of southwest Missouri, and it is really a crown jewel
for the whole State.
Some property owners, through no fault of their own, as we
discussed, have structural encroachments, much of which
happened when surveys were confused, or plot lines were
confused. Many of these individuals didn't build the structure,
they just bought a home and--their retirement dream home,
right, only to find out that there is an encroachment that
requires them to remove their septic tank, or some structure,
or sometimes a retaining wall that is holding back dirt from
flooding their home.
And so, I want to just kind of get an update from you after
that meeting, any followup that you have.
Mr. Telle. Congressman Burlison, thank you for being an
advocate for your constituents on this issue. It is one that my
office and General Graham's operation are tracking very
closely.
We let you know last week that we had paused all
enforcement actions on residents around Table Rock Lake, which,
as I conveyed to you last week, I understand personally the
lake culture that exists throughout much of middle America,
including places like your district. You and I talked about
visiting southwest Missouri, which I intend to do, and the
Little Rock District as well.
And so, what I will say to those constituents of yours who
you have advocated for around Table Rock Lake is that we are
working every single day to deliver a commonsense and fair
outcome to this solution. There is no place for the Government
to inappropriately infringe on individual property rights, but
there is a flood control mission there. And so, we are going to
have to balance the flood control mission against the property
issues. But I see no reason that we shouldn't be able to solve
this in a fair and commonsense way that produces a good outcome
for your constituents.
Mr. Burlison. Thank you. After our meeting, a couple of
days later, I got a call from my Aunt Bonnie who lives on Table
Rock Lake, and she said, the Corps has gone crazy; they are
telling us that we have to remove our flowerpots off of our
docks, and that they are not allowing pizza to be delivered.
I didn't realize pizza could be delivered by boat on Table
Rock Lake, but that's pretty awesome.
And so, I get those kinds of phone calls all the time. And
so, one has to scratch their head and wonder, Don't they have
something better to be focused on than the flowerpots that my
Aunt Bonnie has on her docks? Right?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, I hope that that's not true. If it
is, I know General Graham and I will look into it with the
Little Rock District and see what we can do to make sure that
we are being reasonable in enforcing our mission of flood
control in that area.
Mr. Burlison. Thank you. And I want you guys to mark on
your calendar November the 9th. Each year, we have a veterans
fishing charity event, we provide free fishing guides to area
veterans. It is one of the most beautiful, patriotic American
things you could ever see, and on the most beautiful lake in
the country, and I would love for you both to attend November
9th if you could make that available.
Mr. Telle. Thank you, Congressman.
Mr. Burlison. And then I have a last question, General
Graham, and this is a strange question, I know. But in an
interview with Tucker Carlson, former Assistant Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development Catherine Austin Fitts reported
that there were secret underground military bases and bunkers
that were built. She said that the United States Government has
diverted $21 trillion to build a network of underground
military bases, a vast--almost like a city-type structure with
transportation in between. Are you aware of that claim that she
made, and is there any validity to it? You can't comment?
General Graham. Congressman, I don't have any knowledge of
any of that.
Mr. Burlison. Okay. All right. Thank you. I yield back.
Mr. Collins. The gentleman yields back. I now recognize the
gentlelady, Ms. Sykes, for 5 minutes for questions.
Mrs. Sykes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, gentlemen,
for being here. I have quite a bit to get through, but I also
want to join my colleagues in expressing my condolences, and
thank you for being here to share.
Water is certainly a very important topic all across this
country, and my district is no different. So I want to direct
your attention to Ohio's 13th Congressional District,
particularly the city of Massillon. The Corps' work has been
benefiting a lot of my communities, but Massillon, in
particular, needs and wants some help from the Corps.
Last term, the Corps wrapped up a $22 million levee safety
investment at the dam there that will help keep our community
safe from flooding for years to come, so thank you for that.
When we discovered that the Corps couldn't help us fund a
sluice gate replacement for the dam, we were a little
concerned. Part of this was because we were told you a need
contract with the city and the Corps with the operations and
maintenance funding, but it was my understanding that WRDA in
2022 gave you the authority to do this.
We used as one of our CPF funding projects, my first term,
this project to help the city cover this gap, but it was
rejected.
And the last time we had a hearing in this committee in
2023, I asked about guidance related to this new authority in
section 8152. As of today, my office has since received this
guidance, so we just got this today. So I know that was not
your administration, but now we have it. But, however, it
doesn't appear on the Corps website, and the individuals in my
community were not communicated with.
So Secretary Telle, while we work with Massillon to work on
this rehabilitation, could you share how the Corps intends to
share new implementation guidance with regional offices and
relevant project partners?
Mr. Telle. Congresswoman Sykes, thank you for the question.
We take very seriously the Water Resources Development Act
enacted by Congress and signed by the President and following
that law. The approximately 180 provisions contained in the
2024 WRDA, just to give you an idea of the process that we go
through as we implement----
Mrs. Sykes [interrupting]. Mr. Secretary, this is from
2022, not----
Mr. Telle [interrupting]. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Apologies
for that. In general, when we receive WRDAs, the way that we
implement them is, some of the provisions are simple enough
that they can be implemented right away and they sort of speak
for themselves.
Others of them are very complex, and as you mentioned,
require implementation guidance. It is a minority of the
provisions that require that type of guidance, but that type of
guidance means that we have to get into much more detailed
level of specificity in how we are going to carry out the laws
that Congress passes and that----
Mrs. Sykes [interrupting]. I hate to interrupt you, but I
have a couple more, but can I just count on your support to
work with the city of Massillon to figure this out? We are now
3 years into this, and they could use that help. There are over
22 gates they need to deal with.
Mr. Telle. Absolutely.
Mrs. Sykes. And we have do two at a time. Thank you so
much. And since you were talking about WRDA, I think many of my
colleagues were disappointed with the appropriation of WRDA for
the 2024 that you just referenced. We have significant
authorities, large authorities to deal with so many projects in
our area across the district from Akron, Canton, New Franklin,
Barberton, Fairlawn and more, but what do you do when you are
not appropriated the money, but these projects still need to be
done? I know you don't appropriate funds, that is not your
role, that is ours, but what do you do with the authorities
that are not funded?
Mr. Telle. Congresswoman, we keep very close track of all
projects that have been authorized by Congress, all projects
that could be authorized by Congress, and all projects for
which appropriations have been received from Congress. We keep
very close track of all of that. As I mentioned earlier in this
hearing, there are some $78 billion worth of projects that have
been authorized, but we haven't received appropriations. There
are some $44 billion worth of projects that we have received
appropriations for, but that funding has not been expended. And
all of this is to say, the demand for Corps of Engineers'
services is greater than the supply.
And if we are going to get after the challenges that exist
in your State, and exist throughout the country, this is a
massive undertaking, we have got to be more efficient and
smarter. It is not just about more resources. We have to
deliver more with the resources that we have if we are ever
going to get at this challenge. And General Graham and I are
working together every day to try to ensure that that happens.
Mrs. Sykes. Thank you. I appreciate you talking about
efficiency and working smarter. I do want to thank you,
although not funded, you have been working with the city of
Cuyahoga Falls on giving some technical assistance in removing
the Gorge Dam, which will be incredible. I actually texted the
mayor because he had some interesting comments, and he said
that the removal of those dams opened up about 1 to 2 miles of
challenging white water for the experienced kayaker, and then
when it is removed, it will open up 2 to 2\1/2\ miles of white
water, which is not available anywhere east of the Mississippi.
Going back to your conversation on efficiency, last month,
the Secret Service directed the Army Corps to change the
outflow of Ohio's Caeser Creek Lake to accommodate a kayaking
trip for the Vice President, JD Vance. In terms of efficiency,
it seems like this was probably not an efficient use of
resources.
So I do want to ask you, how much did this cost, and if you
are concerned about efficiency, please explain how this action
contributed towards the safety and efficiency of the Army Corps
to have an escapade, if you will, kayaking for the Vice
President.
Mr. Telle. Ma'am, thank you for the question. The water
level in the lower Miami River was requested to be increased by
the Secret Service who was on a mission to protect the Vice
President. Within the past year, or within--in 2024, we
experienced two attempts on the President's life. When the
State of Ohio contacted the Louisville District and asked them
to raise the water level in that tributary to accommodate the
Secret Service's patrol boats, they did so to ensure that the
Vice President wasn't under threat. And none of the operations
to increase the level of that river did anything to affect--it
was all within the water control manual, and none of it did
anything to affect the operations of that river. All those
downstream of it were notified promptly, and it was a
successful use of our water resources to ensure that we protect
a Secret Service protectee.
Mrs. Sykes. Thank you, sir. And I am not sure about the
time, because I have seen a lot of different numbers here, Mr.
Chair, but I appreciate your answer for that. It is not
satisfactory, in my estimation. And certainly, we do want to
keep the Vice President safe, as well as all of our elected
officials----
Mr. Collins [interrupting]. The gentlelady's time is----
Mrs. Sykes [continuing]. But this is not something that is
made eligible for everyone, and I just did not----
Mr. Collins [interrupting]. The Chair----
Mrs. Sykes [interrupting]. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The Chair now recognizes Mr. Babin
for 5 minutes for questions.
Dr. Babin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, very much. I want to
thank Lieutenant General Graham and Assistant Secretary Telle
for being here today. It is good to see both of you. As you
know, our district in Texas has several critical projects
underway along the Texas coast, including the Cedar Bayou
channel improvement, the Houston Ship Channel expansion, and
the Ike Dike. These projects are essential to keeping America
moving forward and strengthening our economy, and the Gulf of
America serves as a central hub for energy, trade, and commerce
driving growth for not only our region, but for the entire
Nation.
And Mr. Telle, we discussed these projects in our meeting
last week. Thank you so very much for being there. I really
appreciate your cooperation with me and my office in completing
them. Especially during hurricane season, which we are now in,
and preparedness and timely action are more important than ever
before.
Will you direct your team to provide my staff with status
updates on these projects and the other Corps projects in our
district?
Mr. Telle. Congressman Babin, the answer is yes. This is
one of the most complex series of projects in the United States
of America right now. It is a large system of systems in an
area that is vulnerable to natural disaster, as you know very
well.
Dr. Babin. Yes, sir.
Mr. Telle. So it is important that we keep on track and
that we keep you updated.
Dr. Babin. Absolutely. I have a couple more questions for
you. Building on your plans to revamp the Civil Works division,
how do you plan to streamline communication between USACE's
headquarters and the individual districts to make sure that
Members of Congress and local stakeholders are kept up to date
on project developments?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, we are very fortunate. The United
States Army Corps of Engineers has 39 districts across our
country, and those 39 districts generally have positive
relationships with the locally elected officials and Members of
Congress.
What we could use some work on is making sure that the
communication from the district level, to the division level,
to General Graham's level, to my level and down, up and down
that chain is more efficient and is more responsive to the
needs of the stakeholders like you. So we are going to work
together on that.
Dr. Babin. Absolutely. I thank you both very much. And one
more question, Mr. Telle, under its flood control and coastal
emergencies authority, or FCCE, the Corps provides much needed
post-disaster assistance to impacted communities, supports
recoveries, and requires infrastructure that the Corps is
responsible for maintaining. Has the Corps conducted any
analysis of what resources and authorities are needed to
respond to future disasters?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, thank you for the question, and
thank you for recognizing our organization's contribution to
disaster response here in the United States. We are part of
that disaster response framework, and we activate, primarily on
debris removal, but other activities when called upon by the
inner agency. And I will just say how proud--I would like to
express how proud I am to be affiliated with this organization
which was one of the first and most aggressive organizations
when Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, east
Tennessee, and other parts of Appalachia, recently with the Los
Angeles wildfires, and with the Juneau glacial outburst
flooding. These are places that in many cases the Corps of
Engineers doesn't get the credit that it deserves, but our U.S.
Army is on the ground helping Americans every single day as
disasters approach, and I am very proud of that.
Dr. Babin. Amen. Thank you so very much. I appreciate and
am proud of USACE and both of your service to our country.
One last one. Do you believe, Mr. Telle, that the Corps'
current FCCE authorities are sufficient, and if not, please
explain.
Mr. Telle. Congressman Babin, thank you for that question.
I will get back to you if there are any authorities that I feel
like we don't have, but currently, our FCCE authorities do
allow us to do the minimal things we need to do to prepare and
get in place and provide mitigation against looming disasters.
In cases where FCCE is not sufficient, we have a very well-
oiled relationship with the inner agency that allows us to
activate and provide the United States Army Corps of Engineers
expertise and human capital to respond to disasters using
funding and authorities derived from other agencies.
Dr. Babin. Absolutely. Well, thank you, and that will
conclude my questioning. I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize Mr. Stanton for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. Stanton. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for holding
this hearing on the Water Resources Development Act, WRDA, and
for the Army Corps and Civil Works for coming to testify today.
And I was informed, Assistant Secretary Telle, about the
passing of your father last week. I want to pass on my
sympathies, and thank you for being here, it has got to be very
tough.
A major component of recent WRDA bills has been
authorization for environmental infrastructure assistance, the
EI program, including in my State of Arizona. Section 595 funds
for Arizona were originally put in the statute in 2020. In last
year's WRDA of 2024, this very committee increased authorizing
by $50 million, up to $250 million total. That is more money
going back into local communities to meet their infrastructure
needs and protect water supplies.
In Arizona, nearly $50 million of EI funds have been
delivered to projects to help our communities and Tribal
nations use wastewater more efficiently, recharge area
aquifers, and improve water delivery and conservation through
new wells and pipelines. We anticipate more projects to be
funded in 2026.
Just this week, we will be celebrating the first
groundbreaking in Arizona with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe's
project. This key milestone will bring in nonpotable water for
irrigation of landscaping, parks, and fields, and leave potable
water for use by Tribal members in the future.
But there is more work to be done. Building resilient water
infrastructure is paramount in Arizona. It is no exaggeration
to say that the future of Arizona and the entire American
Southwest depends on how we respond to the historic drought in
the Colorado River Basin. Arizona's communities are doing their
part to conserve water, but we are going to need the Federal
Government to do more to step in.
Arizona will have more than $15 billion in drinking water
and wastewater infrastructure needs over the next two decades
according to the Arizona Society of Civil Engineers. This is
any range of projects, including Goodyear's soil aquifer
treatment site to increase recharge capacity, or Santa Cruz
County's reconstruction of the Nogales Wash line channel.
Right now, there is $9 million additional environmental
infrastructure funding for projects that would be chosen by the
administration in the energy and water bill that past the
House.
Pending that we keep some sort of funding upon passage of a
Government funding bill, Lieutenant General Graham, my question
is this, How will the Army Corps prioritize these environmental
infrastructure dollars?
General Graham. Representative Stanton, thank you. First
off, I think the L.A. District has vastly improved its
coordination with your constituents, with your office, and so,
I would be glad to get your thoughts on that, but my report----
Mr. Stanton [interrupting]. That is correct.
General Graham. Okay. So, I am delighted that we are on the
same sheet there. Thank you for bringing that to our attention.
The district is committed to delivering for the State, and we
will continue to make our best technical recommendation on
these, as you laid out, very valuable projects.
Mr. Stanton. Infrastructure takes time, as we all know, and
there are ways to move the needle faster. Recently, the city of
Flagstaff was not able to wait for EI money that was allocated
through the Corps' IIJA work plan in 2022 due to the length of
time to complete the environmental review for a simple flood
mitigation project. As a result, the city will now construct
the project with its own funding, obviously taking away from
other projects that they could do in that important city.
We also heard from the city of Buckeye west of Phoenix who
received $2.25 million to update the wastewater treatment
process at its central wastewater reclamation facility
experienced a delay due to an environmental assessment.
Moreover, when these EI projects broadly happen in an
existing facility, it would move things along faster if CE is
allowed.
So Lieutenant General Graham, my final question is this,
What is the Army Corps doing to expand the use of CE on EI
projects, categorical exclusion, obviously, to get them under
construction more quickly, and are there other ways to
streamline the process to get the water infrastructure projects
built faster?
General Graham. I think this is certainly where President
Trump has asked us to go, which is to take a look at the
environmental rules, to continue to streamline those, and if
there are categorical exclusions, to use those.
Like in this instance, as we are relooking at the NEPA
rules, we are working within the Department of Defense, and
they have more categorical exclusions, so I think that would be
an advantage of the environmental infrastructure program.
Mr. Stanton. Okay. Assistant Secretary, anything to add?
Mr. Telle. No, the general covered it, which is there have
been actions taken, significant actions to date during the
Trump administration to reduce the burden of Federal
regulations without compromising our environmental quality. And
so, nationwide permits under section 404 of the Clean Water Act
is another one that we have talked about here, something that
comes due in March, and we are committed to renewing those as
they are an important tool that actually provides for some
50,000 annual 404 permits, which is over half. And so, that is
a critical tool that provides transparency to the public and
enables fast action when a member of the public seeks to take
action.
Mr. Stanton. Thank you very much. I look forward to working
with you on that, and I yield back.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields. I now
recognize Ms. King-Hinds for 5 minutes for questions.
Ms. King-Hinds. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for
allowing me to sit in today, and thank you very much, Assistant
Secretary Telle and General Graham, for being very gracious
with your time today.
So, I represent the Northern Mariana Islands, it is a chain
of islands, and each of the islands has very different
challenges.
And I want to start, and I don't really have any questions,
I just wanted to be able to have a conversation with you this
morning to elevate some of the concerns with regard to the
challenges that we are having.
So I am going to start off with the island of Saipan, which
is our capital island; our biggest challenge is shoreline
erosion. So recently, we had a tropical storm sometime in July
that exacerbated the issue. The wave action was so bad that it
unearthed unexploded ordnance on the shoreline, which consisted
of landmines, hand grenades, and just different types of
artillery. And this 4,000-foot-stretch beach sits adjacent to a
publicly owned--actually, to the American Memorial Park, and we
are working to fix the issue, but obviously, permitting and
technical support are very much needed from the Army Corps.
And in recent conversations, one of the challenges that has
been raised is the request for technical support from the Corps
has been denied, so I am looking for the opportunity to be able
to collaborate with you to figure out how to provide that
assistance to our community.
In addition, we also continue to face challenges with
sediment removal in our primary marina where our boaters dock.
Dredging there is very urgently needed, but the issue is
delayed in permitting. We have been working with everybody, to
include the Seabees, to figure out how to help and expedite
that process, but the issue really is permitting, and getting
the technical guidance from the Army Corps is an issue.
Another issue that I want to raise, a couple of years ago--
actually, more than 10 years ago, we paid the Army Corps to do
a study to figure out, basically, if the islands of Tinian and
Rota could be eligible for the safe and subsistence--I think it
is the remote and subsistence--section 206, remote and
subsistence harbors funding through WRDA. We spent a couple
million on that study only to find out that we weren't eligible
because of Army Corps interpretation of specific language with
regards to eligibility requirements. And I want to be able to
work with you to be able to figure out how do we get,
especially the island of Rota, qualified. So, as we all know,
having viable ports is very critical to having an economy.
Fortunately, for the island of Tinian, we do have a lot of
Department of Defense activities happening there, and so, DoD
is working to improve the harbor and the breakwater there on
the island of Tinian. But for the island of Rota, funding is
very--it is very challenging, and it doesn't have the same
activities there.
And so, I am looking forward to being able to work with
you. I just wanted to be here to elevate those issues. We will
be following up with a letter shortly here kind of outlining
what I just discussed. And I also want to take this opportunity
to invite the two of you to the Marianas so that you can see
exactly what it is that I am talking about. Thank you very
much.
General Graham. Ma'am, you absolutely have our commitment
to work with you on those issues. Many of those I am tracking
right now. The entire region is tremendously important
certainly, as you mentioned, to the Department of Defense, and
to the Nation as a whole.
I am happy to take our general in the Pacific and send him
out to meet with you as soon as possible. And then if possible,
I would like to also have the opportunity to meet you out
there. I mean, that is the importance of the Territory.
Ms. King-Hinds. Yes. I mean, there is no better way than
just laying eyes on it, right? So, looking forward to that
happening. Thank you so much.
General Graham. Since you threw the gauntlet down on what
the Seabees were doing, we are going to have to show up.
Ms. King-Hinds. Yes, for sure. I yield my time.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentlelady yields. I now
recognize Mr. LaMalfa for 5 minutes for questions.
Mr. LaMalfa. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you,
panelists, for being here. And sorry I am last second at the
meeting here. Three committees at the same time doesn't help
you do a great job sometimes, so, anyway.
Assistant Secretary Telle, my understanding is mourning in
your family there, so God bless you. Our hearts are with you,
sir. Thank you. Thank you for soldiering through today.
It is a business here. I appreciate the opportunity to
speak with you a little bit earlier. In northern California
where I represent, it is the Sacramento District office
primarily the one overseeing the operations in my district
here, so a question for both Assistant Secretary Telle and
Lieutenant General Graham. In your roles, what could we do to
help with the staffing situation in the Sacramento District
that seems to just put us so far behind on projects, because we
have important things we are trying to get done that has to do
with water, water supply and like that? What could we touch on
to have the staff situation be able to work, move people around
that maybe are less occupied and into a position where they can
help move pretty important water projects and water-related
issues?
Mr. Telle. Congressman LaMalfa, thank you for visiting with
me last week, and thank you for the expertise you bring to the
complicated conversation that is California water.
I would just say that one of the things that General Graham
and I are working on every day is to make sure we are
optimizing the workforce across the districts. And we have done
a lot of discussion here today about forecast-informed
reservoir operations, which I know is important to you as it
relates to the Shasta Dam, which is really the headwaters, you
might say, for all of California's water, and important to the
agricultural interests in your district.
And so, I would say that General Graham and I are committed
to try to deliver expertise from across the enterprise to
districts that are busy, from districts that may be less busy
and that have expertise for districts that may not. And in the
case of the Sacramento District, I look forward to working with
General Graham and with you to see what we may do to accelerate
the update of some of the water control manuals in your
district.
As you discussed here today, this is a low-cost way to
utilize existing infrastructure and optimize water supply for
the variety of purposes it is needed in places like California.
Mr. LaMalfa. Thank you. Lieutenant General.
General Graham. Representative LaMalfa, absolutely,
bringing all of the possible value we can out of those
facilities, and ones that we work in collaboration with, like
the aforementioned Lake Shasta with Bureau of Reclamation in
Oroville with the State of California. Absolutely.
So, delighted to see Lake Mendocino's water control manual
go into operation, and our ability to continue to take a look
at those facilities, get the assessments done on whether or not
forecast-informed reservoir operations is applicable here, and
then move that rapidly into an update to the water control
manual. That is our pledge to you is to do that and optimize in
an efficient way.
Mr. LaMalfa. Given the size of Lake Shasta being 4\1/2\
million acre-feet and the largest project in the States in
Federal purview there, and then the possibility of a dam raise
there of another 600,000 acre-feet combined with this work on
the manuals, the FIRO, the forecast-informed reservoir
operations, would be--certainly make a lot of sense to me
instead of older manuals that--because I believe, as I was
watching water flooding out Glenn County from releases in
February or March this year, that with FIRO, just with that
forecast ability to see what the weather is going to be for a
few weeks at a time, perhaps offshore fronts and such, that we
could have probably conserved a couple hundred thousand more
acre-feet of water by adjusting that to the timeline for
conservation.
So, we have that opportunity, again, we have the raise
itself that we need to be sure we can engineer, move that
along. And as we talked about, too, the assessment of the Black
Butte Lake there in Glenn County, which needs to finish a
review on dam safety, but, also, incorporate it, hopefully at
the same time, this is what we got an amendment built into
legislation here recently on both those items, the FIRO and
Black Butte, installing gates there that could raise the
capacity safely just by having the ability to regulate the
spillway there. Those are two very important projects tied in
with two other study aspects, really four things simultaneously
we need to get done, and at pretty low cost, really, and
enhanced water supplies.
So, we have seen in the west side of the valley there in
the year 2022 the devastation by water supply, 250,000 acres of
rice just left out. And drought is drought, but if we manage
water and stretch it farther into upcoming years, then we will
get a lot more yield.
So, with that, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize the chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation, Mr. Ezell, for 5 minutes of questions.
Mr. Ezell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you guys for
both being here today. Congratulations on your new job. I look
forward to working with both of you in the future. And
condolences to you about your father.
Since I have been in the Congress, it hasn't been too many
weeks that have gone by that I hadn't had some kind of call
about the Army Corps of Engineers. It was kind of like when I
was sheriff, some deputy was always doing something that he
wasn't supposed to. But I do get quite a few calls, various
complaints.
But, I know that some of the main issues that we have dealt
with and worked tirelessly to address, the Bonnet Carre
spillway issue on the Mississippi River. I am sure both of you
are aware that the Mississippi River and its infrastructure are
outdated in comparison to some of the technology that is
available today. Levees, chemicals, runoff, drainage issues,
outdated processes and more, plague our management of the
Mississippi resulting in a dead zone nearly the size of
Connecticut out there in the Gulf of America.
We have to get together to find a solution that works for
both Mississippi and Louisiana. That is just something we have
got to do. And I look forward to working with both of you and
the opportunity in speaking with you and getting this thing
done.
But General Graham, I have got a vital port in my district
that is currently undergoing a dredging process. Given the time
that has already elapsed, I am hopeful that it will soon
transition from a study to actually moving some mud.
Can you provide me with an update on the dredge capacity
report required by section 8205 of WRDA 2022? When do you
expect it to be available for public comment? It has almost
been 3 years.
General Graham. Thank you for that question. And that
report is under administration review.
Mr. Ezell. Okay. And I want to, General, ask you about
beneficial reuse, which is--and I heard somebody say something
about that earlier, implemented in the 2016 WRDA section 1122,
and, again, in WRDA 2022. It has been 10 years since the pilot
program was first implemented, when do you expect the pilot
program to be ready for use?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, I will defer to General Graham on
the timeline there. But as you say, beneficial use material,
dredge material has been, especially in your district where the
barrier islands were restored, or partially restored post-
Hurricane Katrina. And I would just like to recognize the 20th
anniversary of that event, which your citizens in your district
did a tremendous job persevering through and rebuilding, so,
congratulations to you and to them.
But the beneficial use program is important to preventing
future storms.
General Graham. It absolutely is. And looking at, just like
its name implies, is that dredge material isn't a waste
byproduct. It is actually a commodity we want to maximize. So,
we will get back with your office on the exact status of those
pilots.
Mr. Ezell. Can you give me any idea about what is holding
this thing up?
General Graham. We will get back to your staff with that.
Mr. Ezell. I get it. General Graham, there are roughly 18
strategic seaports in the United States that work with DoD for
preparedness and general transportation of equipment. The
result is numerous acres set aside that ports cannot use. The
extensive labor and cost associated with these agreements
ensure that the country's military can deploy at a rapid pace
if needed.
General, do you think ports that have these obligations
should see this obligation incorporated into the benefit-to-
cost ratio in some way?
General Graham. Congressman, I have not come across that
ask before, but I will certainly go back to the staff and take
a look at that.
Mr. Ezell. Okay.
Mr. Telle. Congressman, I would just say is we calculate
the benefits of a project, General Graham and I are stretching
to make sure we are being holistic in that calculation to
account for monetary and nonmonetary benefits. And I know the
Port of Gulfport in your district is a major mobilization point
for Camp Shelby, and the Army National Guard has that
designation, and it is something that we will try to take into
account as we look into that project.
Mr. Ezell. Very good. I am proud to have somebody from
Mississippi with some ties to the Army Corps here with us.
Thank you, sir. Given your career up to this point, I am sure
that you are aware of the issues we face down on the gulf
coast.
Mr. Secretary, can you give me some of the priorities of
the Army Corps of Engineers, and how can WRDA be a resource to
you?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, thank you for the question. And I
will just say, I don't have much free time, but what free time
I do have I generally spend it in your district, so----
Mr. Ezell [interrupting]. Thank you.
Mr. Telle. Thank you. There is a lot that can--this applies
to the entire coast of the Gulf of America, which is such as
important part of our country, Mississippi is no exception to
that, it is a wonderful place, and I think one of the things
that I hear when I visited your district is the importance of
the operations on the Mississippi River that you referenced.
And I would just commend our New Orleans District, during
the spring floods this year of the Mississippi River, for
really holding off on opening the Bonnet Carre spillway. They
had a very precise understanding of when that would be needed,
and fortunately in this year's flood, it was not needed. And
they are going to take that thing right up to the limit to
preserve the quality of the water in the Mississippi Sound. And
so, I would just like to commend the New Orleans District, the
commander down there.
Mr. Ezell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize the chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and
Transit, Mr. Rouzer, for 5 minutes.
Mr. Rouzer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, so
sorry to hear of your loss. Certainly going to be in our
thoughts and prayers.
This is to both of you, but probably more predominantly
General Graham. You are aware, I am sure, of the Surf City,
North Carolina, coastal storm risk management project which has
advanced through key milestones with a committed non-Federal
sponsor. A signed Chief's Report has been issued, but I
understand there are some outstanding technicalities that must
be resolved in the Chief's Report package. How quickly can that
be resolved, can that be accomplished?
General Graham. It was great to get down there and meet
with that team. I got a Ph.D. dissertation on turtles from the
team down there, and they are phenomenal non-Federal sponsors.
That study went through, or that project went through some
challenges with, I believe it was North Topsail pulling out,
but we are committed, signed that one immediately. The
technical challenges that we are working through, I don't
expect them to take long, and we will get it so that it will be
over here ready to go.
Mr. Rouzer. Okay. When you say ``don't take long,'' is that
a month, is that 2 months or----
General Graham [interrupting]. Sir, I will get back with
you with an exact timeline.
Mr. Rouzer. Okay. That would be wonderful. So, you don't
see any problems pertaining to the project thereafter?
General Graham. No critical flaws have been brought to my
attention.
Mr. Rouzer. Very good. The North Carolina Ports Authority
completed a section 203 study for the Wilmington Harbor channel
improvement project, which was contingently authorized in WRDA
2020. It took nearly 2 years to reach a cost-share agreement
for the project. Is there a good reason for that? It just seems
like this has dragged on a little too long.
Mr. Telle. Congressman, I will defer to General Graham on
the specifics of that project, but you raise a really important
question here, which is the length of time these projects take.
And you also referenced cost-share agreements. Because the
cost-share agreements with Corps' projects have robust non-
Federal sponsor commitments, and they often deal with real
estate acquisition, which is complicated, especially in coastal
communities and riverine communities, getting an agreement
between the Federal Government and a non-Federal sponsor can
take a significant amount of time. And we need to work with
this committee to address that timeline.
Quite often, the non-Federal sponsor can be a better
acquirer of real estate than the Federal Government, and so,
that is one key way in these project partnership agreements
that we can deliver better results for the taxpayer.
Mr. Rouzer. Well, this is deepening of that harbor.
Obviously ports are critically important to the economy, and in
North Carolina, we have two that service the economy in
exceptional ways. And improvements of those ports are
necessary. And the whole purpose of this, of the program was to
expedite, not to slow anything down, and to have good non-
Federal partners that could take the lead, and not only share
in the cost, but help to move things along. It just doesn't
seem to have worked out that way.
Mr. Telle. We look forward to working with you to get this
right. I agree with you, this is critically important, and we
have to get it done.
Mr. Rouzer. One other item I want to mention before my time
runs out. We have a lot of beautiful beaches in North Carolina,
as you know. A number of them are federally authorized, and it
is important, that continual renourishment cycle is important
in terms of protecting the infrastructure property. The money
that is invested upfront saves the taxpayer a whole lot of
money on the back end once a storm comes through.
You can go to the beaches that aren't well renourished and
see the damage that's done, and it's lasting and forever. And
then you can go to the ones that have a good renourishment
program, and you would never know a storm ever came through
there, in large part because so much of that property was
protected from the storm, and the infrastructure as well. So,
it saves the taxpayer money on multiple fronts, National Flood
Insurance Program, insurance costs, you name it.
And so, I just want to reiterate the importance, and
underscore the importance of beach renourishment. I assume the
administration and the Corps specifically is still very much
committed to that process.
Mr. Telle. Congressman, you are correct, in many coastal
communities, beach renourishment is the best way to prevent
storm surge flooding and other types of flooding, and that is
true in your State, and it is true in many others.
Mr. Rouzer. Thank you very much. With that, I yield back.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. I now
recognize Mr. Bresnahan for 5 minutes for questioning.
Mr. Bresnahan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My district is
northeastern Pennsylvania, which is no stranger to flooding and
natural disasters. Over time, the Wyoming Valley has seen more
frequent and more severe flooding and storm events.
Yesterday was the 14th anniversary of the 2011 floods,
which nearly broke the Wilkes-Barre levee. During the storm,
the Susquehanna River hit a record of 42.66 feet against a
levee that is designed for 41 feet of water.
Families in West Pittston, Plains, West Nanticoke,
Shickshinny, and Edwardsville either lost their homes or spent
thousands rebuilding, including my own grandparents' home that
is on the Susquehanna River banks.
Couple this with Hurricane Agnes in 1972, and the September
2023 floods, and you can see why flood mitigation efforts are
so important to my district. They are literally life-saving
measures.
My district has the second lowest median income in
Pennsylvania with a median household income of $61,140, and my
constituents cannot afford to keep rebuilding year after year,
and we don't have the tax base to build our own levees without
Federal support.
Since 1996, the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority
has been working with the Army Corps on mitigation efforts
which cover 5 counties and 52 municipalities over a 16-mile
span, including Pennsylvania's Ninth Congressional District,
which is represented by my colleague, Congressman Dan Meuser.
Unfortunately, these efforts have stalled on the project, and
it has been drawn out since 2009. With each passing year,
project costs increase, and with each year without mitigation
efforts moving forward, my constituents live and properties are
at risk.
The cancellation of FEMA's BRIC program has cost my
district at least $22 million for property buyouts and levee
projects.
So, here is the catch-22. The Army Corps has said that for
local authorities to be reimbursed, it can only be for a fully
functioning project. The Army Corps conditionally approved the
Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority mitigation projects
with the stipulation they be design-only phase. So, now these
projects are tied up in design-only phase since BRIC funding
was canceled. So, we can't complete a fully functioning project
since BRIC funding was canceled.
So, what my district needs from the Army Corps is to review
the requirement change for design-only projects to be advanced
so our local flood authority can be reimbursed, and for the
Army Corps to move this project off the back burner and to the
top of the priority list.
So, perhaps maybe that was just a long-winded way of saying
we need help. And perhaps over the next few weeks, you can
commit to coming out to northeastern Pennsylvania to visit and
meet with our local flood authority to discuss a plan, which
was first developed in 1996. Is that something that we can
perhaps work together on?
Mr. Telle. Congressman, I would enjoy visiting your
district, and I am happy to do that. And I know we have a
native Pennsylvanian here next to me who may have the ability
to do that as well.
General Graham. This is what we are built for, and we will
look with the Baltimore District to see what the challenges are
up in Luzerne County, the management working in conjunction
with the Potomac River Authority is really--I'm sorry----
Mr. Bresnahan [interrupting]. Susquehanna.
General Graham. Susquehanna--is really important. So,
absolutely agree to meet with you and your team.
Mr. Bresnahan. I think it's a very notable moment when you
smell flood mud for the first time. It was in 2011, I was
actually helping my grandparents and other neighbors sandbag
and when--actually, we were flooded from the rear through the
sewer systems, first, before the actual river toppled over its
banks. And everybody--1972 was slightly before my time, but
everyone remembers Hurricane Agnes and how close in 2011 we
actually came to disaster, again. I mean, we were within
centimeters with a levee that, really, we got very lucky on
many different fronts.
So, I look forward to having you come up to visit
Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional District, to walk the banks
of the Susquehanna, and hopefully be able to move this ball
forward and come up with a finite solution so our friends and
family and neighbors can sleep well at night. So, thank you.
Mr. Telle. Thank you.
Mr. Collins. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. Are
there any further questions from any members of the
subcommittee who have not been recognized?
Seeing none. Before we conclude, I just, also, Secretary, I
want to extend my condolences. I am sorry for your loss. And
you don't know how much it means for you to show up today.
Thank you very much.
General Graham, good to see you, again. Thanks for your
time today. It went a little bit over, but I appreciate you all
coming.
And, you know, it is hard for this old Georgia Bulldog to
put good praise and Alabama in the same sentence, but I want to
try to make an effort myself to get down on the 13th of October
to Mobile as that pilot project that Congressman Figures was
talking about came in under budget and ahead of schedule, and I
think that could be a good example going forward of how we
could improve efficiency and productivity within the Army
Corps' projects.
So, thank you for being here. And with that, this
subcommittee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 12:48 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]
Appendix
----------
Questions to Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Civil Works, Department of the Army, from Hon. Mike Collins
Question 1. The Jacksonville District of the Army Corps is
stretched to its limit on resources. The district cannot keep up with
permitting and enforcement. The State of Florida acquired the authority
to administer Clean Water Act Section 404 wetlands permits, but that
authority was revoked by a Federal court and returned to Jacksonville.
If that permitting authority were returned to the State, would that
free up the Army Corps to work on projects that are important for the
safety and economic security of our local communities?
Answer. Yes, returning certain Clean Water Act Section 404
permitting authorities to the State of Florida would reduce the
Jacksonville District's regulatory workload.
Question 2.a. Since your confirmation, what more have you been able
to learn about the Corps' winter release plan at Gavins Point Dam and
whether updates to the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System Master
Water Control Manual are warranted?
Question 2.b. What operational adjustments can the Corps take at
the Gavins Point Dam, consistent with existing legal authorities,
authorized project purposes, and seasonal water conditions to support
the Nation's energy supply consistent with Section 4 of the President's
Executive Order ``Declaring a National Energy Emergency''?
Answer to questions 2.a. & 2.b. The Corps monitors weather and
river conditions within the basin, including the reach below Gavins
Point Dam. When the weather forecast indicates an increased possibility
of rapid ice formation, releases can, and have historically been,
increased slightly to mitigate some of the effects of ice formation.
Large or rapid increases in releases increase the risk of ice jams,
which represents an even greater risk for water intakes in the lower
river.
Question 3. The Corps' Cold Regions Research and Engineering
Laboratory can support monitoring, modeling, and information-sharing
efforts to better understand the conditions that lead to ice jam
formation and their impacts on public infrastructure.
To expand collaboration with affected communities and
infrastructure owners and identify practical mitigation measures and
improve preparedness for ice-related events, would you be willing to
both meet with stakeholders and visit these communities along the
Missouri River to better understand the potential consequences of
reduced winter release levels from Gavins Point Dam?
Answer. Yes, I am willing to meet with stakeholders. In addition,
Northwestern Division will be hosting in-person and virtual water
management meetings in the Missouri River Basin this fall. In addition,
Northwestern Division plans to host in-person and virtual water
management meeting in the Missouri River Basin this fall. The meeting
times and venues are on the Missouri River Water Management website.
These meetings are an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss their
concerns with planned releases.
Questions to Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Civil Works, Department of the Army, from Hon. Brian Babin
Question 1. The Galveston District awarded its $7 billion
Horizontal Construction Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) in
April to 15 firms. Beyond the initial seed project award of $400M
(which was the only project included in the MATOC solicitation),
subcontractors and the awardees themselves have had little to no
information on the work forecasted to be issued as task orders under
the MATOC. Can USACE commit to providing more information to the
construction industry on funding availability and timing of upcoming
task orders under this MATOC?
Answer. As the Corps identifies work that would be suitable for
this MATOC, it will inform the firms qualified as bidders of the
proposed work.
Question 2. Given the significant backlog of required mitigation
across the Corps' portfolio, can USACE commit to ensuring that
mitigation measures are implemented prior to or concurrently with
construction on new civil works projects, rather than years after
project completion? What specific steps is the Corps taking to
integrate mitigation into project delivery schedules to avoid further
compounding the backlog?
Answer. The Corps works to ensure that implementation of mitigation
features of water resources projects occurs prior to, or concurrently
with, construction activities as required by section 906 of WRDA 1986,
as amended. Project implementation and the estimated costs for
construction, including any required mitigation, are specified in the
feasibility report. Mitigation features are tracked across all
construction projects and reported annually to Congress, which supports
accountability for mitigation work.
Questions to Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Civil Works, Department of the Army, from Hon. Rick Larsen
Question 1. What is the status of implementation for the amendments
to the continuing authority for aquatic ecosystem restoration projects
(enacted by section 206 of WRDA 1996), especially as they related to
cost share for projects for habitat or passage of anadromous fish (see
section 1107(e) of WRDA 2024)?
Question 1.a. The Corps has informed me that it is actively working
implementation guidance for this section of WRDA 2024. This new
guidance will address the revised cost share as well as language tied
to drought resilience and the federal per project limits. The Corps
says a draft of this implementation guidance should be ready for
ASA(CW) review by the end of September. When will your review of this
implementation guidance be complete, so these changes may go into
effect as soon as possible?
Answer to questions 1 & 1.a. Implementation guidance is being
drafted.
Question 1.b. How will interested non-federal interests identify
their desire to utilize this new cost share for aquatic ecosystem
restoration projects for habitat or passage for anadromous fish?
Answer. The non-federal sponsor will not need to request to use the
new cost share percentage. The Implementation Guidance will define how
projects qualify.
Question 2. What is the status of implementation for the amendments
to the tribal partnership program (TPP) (enacted by section 203 of WRDA
2000), especially the pilot program for water-related planning
activities or activities relating to the study, design, and
construction of water resources development projects in proximity to a
river system or other aquatic habitat within the State of Washington
with respect to which an Indian Tribe, an inter-tribal consortium, or a
Tribal organization has Tribal treaty rights (see section 1140 of WRDA
2024)?
Answer. We are incorporating the changes from Section 1140 of WRDA
2024 into existing guidance on the Tribal Partnership Program and
determining if additional guidance is needed.
Question 2.a. The intent of this change was to allow Tribal
partners to utilize the TPP authority for project-related activities on
lands within Washington State that are not otherwise ``located
primarily within Indian country,'' provided those lands are located
``in proximity to a river system or other aquatic habitat within the
State of Washington with respect to which an Indian Tribe, an inter-
tribal consortium, or a Tribal organization has Tribal treaty rights.''
The Corps has informed me that utilization of this new pilot program
would proceed according to the standing TPP laws/guidance. Does the ASA
(CW) office concur with this understanding?
Answer. Yes.
Question 2.b. How will the Corps determine whether projects meet
the revised scope of section 203(e)(2)(C) of the WRDA 2000 (33 U.S.C.
2269)?
Answer. Prospective new start feasibility studies will be evaluated
case-by-case to ensure they meet the two criteria in section
203(e)(2)(C): (1) Proximity to river system or aquatic habitat within
exterior bounds of Washington State, and (2) the NFS is a Tribe/Tribal
organization with treaty rights applicable to the river system or
aquatic habitat where the proposed project occurs.
Question 2.c. How will the Corps provide outreach to potentially
eligible Tribal consortiums, commissions, and communities in the State
of Washington to make sure they are aware of this new authority?
Answer. The district's Tribal Liaisons continue to share updates to
the Tribal Partnership Program with Tribal leadership and staff, Tribal
consortiums and other organizations with Tribal treaty rights in
Washington State. The regional leadership also leverages routine
leadership engagements at events such as the Affiliated Tribes of the
Northwest Indians and other meetings between eligible federally
recognized Tribes. These include engagements with organizations such as
the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission and the Northwest Indian
Fish Commission.
Question 2.d. How will interested Tribal communities identify their
desire to utilize this new authority for eligible TPP projects?
Answer. Interested Tribal Nations or Tribal organizations should
contact their local Corps district or division office and provide a
letter of interest for initiating a feasibility study under new
provisions of the Tribal Partnership Program.
Question 3. In February, I joined with Subcommittee Ranking Member
Wilson (FL) in a letter to the Corps and the Office of the Assistant
Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) outlining several priority
provisions within WRDA 2024 that we urge for immediate implementation.
Can you provide a detailed account of each provision outlined in
that letter (attached), including whether implementation guidance will
be required to implement each provision, and if so, when this guidance
will be completed?
Letter referenced by Hon. Larsen in question 3 above:
__________
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC 20515,
February 4, 2025.
Robyn Colosimo, P.E.,
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of the
Army for Civil Works,
Department of the Army, 108 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0108.
Lieutenant General William H. Graham, Jr.,
Chief of Engineers and Commanding General,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 441 G Street NW, Attn: CECS-C,
Washington, DC 20314.
Dear Ms. Colosimo and Lieutenant General Graham:
As you proceed with implementation of the Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, we write to highlight several priority
provisions on which we urge immediate implementation. Swift action on
these items will advance the work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) to improve our nation's water resources, maintain our global
economic competitiveness, and speed up project delivery timelines for
communities nationwide.
WRDA 2024 was enacted into law on January 4, 2025, as Division A of
the Thomas R. Carper Water Resource Development Act of 2024 (Pub. L.
118-272). WRDA 2024 is the sixth biennial and bipartisan WRDA in a row
and maintains the tradition of the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee to create jobs and improve the efficiency and effectiveness
of the nation's ports, harbors and inland waterways.
Attached is a list of provisions that address priorities identified
by Members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that
were enacted in this legislation. These priorities include confronting
the challenges of extreme weather and violent storms; addressing the
water supply, water conservation, and drought resiliency needs of the
nation; enhancing project delivery; and supporting critical Corps'
responsibilities for dredging and maintenance at our ports, harbors,
and inland waterways. As Members of the House Committee and
Subcommittee charged with Congressional oversight responsibility for
the Corps, we urge you to prioritize your implementation efforts on
these areas, including, where necessary, federal financing of these
critical provisions.
Similarly, we urge this administration's continued support for
sufficient budgetary resources necessary for efficient and expeditious
implementation of all authorized water resources development projects
contained in this, or previous, WRDA bills.
Finally, Section 1102 of the bill requires the development of a
plan to implement each provision in the bill, as well as provisions of
prior WRDA bills. We look forward to the transmittal of this plan as
required, as well as required updates on implementation status, project
timelines, and updates on provisions from previous WRDA bills that
still await full implementation. Efficient and timely implementation of
these legally-required authorities is essential to meeting the water
resources challenges facing our local communities.
Thank you for your attention to addressing the water resource needs
of this nation.
Sincerely,
Rick Larsen,
Ranking Member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Frederica S. Wilson,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Attachment
Attachment
Maintaining Our Economic Edge:
WRDA 2024 builds upon the Corps' critical responsibilities for
constructing and maintaining our ports, harbors and inland waterways.
This work is critical to supporting our economy, our businesses and
industry, and alleviating supply chain issues. WRDA 2024 included
several provisions to ensure this core mission work is as successful as
possible.
Sec. 1117, entitled Harbor Deepening, modifies the depth
at which Federal ports and harbors projects can receive Federal
assistance for construction and operation and maintenance. This
provision will ensure our ports to be prepared to receive post-Panamax-
sized ships and keep our supply chains strong.
Sec. 1126, entitled Inland Waterway Projects, adjusts the
share of costs derived from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund for
navigation projects on the inland waterways. This shift will support
the upgrades and modernization needed at our waterway connections to
support domestic goods movement and exportation.
Sec. 1129, entitled Emerging Harbors, requires the
Secretary to issue guidance and to develop a mechanism to accept funds
from a non-Federal interest for the purpose of maintenance dredging.
When this program is fully implemented, it will support local economies
while ensuring smart and efficient use of federal resources.
Sec. 1130, entitled Maximization of Beneficial Use,
encourages additional beneficial reuse of dredged materials through
several means, reducing federal costs for projects, allowing critical
reuse of clean dredged material for complementary projects, and
creating cost-savings for the Corps and its partners.
Sec. 1136, entitled Federal Breakwaters and Jetties,
further clarifies the scope of navigation repair and replacement work
that falls within the scope of operation and maintenance activities at
federal harbors.
Sec. 1147, entitled Remote and Subsistence Harbors,
promotes projects that support remote and subsistence harbors. These
harbors support national defense locations and support global commerce
and imports critical to the contiguous United States.
Sec. 1206, entitled Annual Report on Harbor Maintenance
Needs and Trust Fund Expenditures, provides greater transparency on the
legally-required distribution of operation and maintenance funds from
the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to our harbors.
Sec. 1356, entitled Additional Projects for Underserved
Community Harbors, directs the Corps to assist to underserved community
harbor projects, supporting local economies while ensuring smart and
efficient use of federal resources.
Sec. 1364, entitled Maintenance of Navigation Channels,
encourages the utilization of additional private sector resources for
the construction of coastal navigation projects, boosting the nation's
our capacity for the movement of goods and support our global
competitiveness.
Job Creation and Supporting Local Economies:
WRDA 2024 created and modifies several Corps authorities aimed at
benefiting local economies and boosting job creation and training.
Economic development in small communities is critical to supporting our
national economy and ensuring American prosperity.
Sec. 1105, entitled Review Process, directs the Secretary
to provide clear guidance and technical assistance for modifications of
Corps-built structures by non-Federal entities. Local efforts to
maintain or modify their infrastructure can bring jobs and critical
investment to communities; this provision will allow better
facilitation of that process.
Sec. 1115, entitled Support of the Army Civil Works
Mission, directs the Corps to partner with designated, local
educational institutions on shared research goals that will support
future water resources development projects.
Sec. 1121, entitled Databases of Corps Recreational
Sites, directs the Secretary to regularly update publicly available
databases with information about Corps recreational sites, many of
which are critical to local economies.
Sec. 1135, entitled Corrosion Prevention, requires
coordination with apprenticeship programs and implementing national
standard best practices when conducting corrosion prevention
activities, providing a stronger workforce and smarter construction
decisions.
Sec. 1149, entitled Remote Operations at Corps Dams,
prevents the use of remote operation activities at Corps navigational
lock and dam sites and hydroelectric dams that result in job
displacement or that have not addressed cyber and physical security
vulnerabilities.
Sec. 1153, entitled Challenge Cost-Sharing Program for
Management of Recreation Facilities, authorizes a private non-profit
entity to partner with the Corps on the operation and management of a
Corps' recreation facility, supporting greater use of local expertise,
and increasing cohesion between local businesses and the Corps.
Sec. 1154, entitled Retention of Recreation Fees,
authorizes Corps' recreation facilities to retain additional recreation
fees collected at that site. This will ensure that users of recreation
facilities reap the benefits of their payments, ensuring local support
and providing funding for the sites by local use, not top-down
decisions.
Title III of the bill includes several provisions which
direct the Corps to divest certain federal assets through conveyances,
deauthorizations, and land transfers. Their immediate implementation
and finalization are strongly in the federal interest, as these
provisions generally transfer financial responsibility from the Corps
to local government, while boosting local economies and supporting
local control.
Addressing Water Supply and Water Conservation Needs:
WRDA 2024 includes several provisions augmenting the Corps'
authority to address the water supply and water conservation needs of
the nation, especially in those regions of the country experiencing
periods of prolonged drought. Swift implementation and robust funding
of these provisions will ensure local communities are adequately
prepared to sustain their economies and their quality of life, and to
address the public health and safety threats posed by water scarcity.
Section 1161, entitled Declaration of Policy, establishes
national policy for the Corps to maximize opportunities to utilize the
water supply-related authorities of the Corps, and to give full
consideration of water supply projects, water conservation measures,
and drought resiliency measures at, or in operating, water resource
projects. Immediate implementation of this section is critical to allow
non-Federal interests to undertake water supply conservation measures
to augment local water supplies and to reduce future drought risk.
Section 1162, entitled Forecast-Informed Reservoir
Operations, directs the Corps to further encourage the use of forecast-
informed reservoir operations and related technologies to ensure smart
local water management decision-making and provide significant federal
and local cost savings, including for disaster prevention.
Section 1163, entitled Updates to Certain Water Control
Manuals, directs the Secretary to prioritize the update of water
control manuals that incorporate the use of forecast informed reservoir
operations. Swift implementation of this provision is likely to result
in significant, long-term cost savings while also decreasing threats to
human health and safety.
Section 1164, entitled Emergency Drought Operations Pilot
Program, establishes a pilot program for emergency drought operations
in certain states, which provides the Corps with increased flexibility
to maximize critical local water supplies and better prepare for
drought emergencies.
Addressing the Unique Needs of Communities:
WRDA 2024 contains several provisions to address the specific and
unique needs of various communities nationwide. Full implementation and
robust funding of these provisions is critical to addressing legacy
challenges faced in communities seeking to partner with the Corps to
address local water resources challenges.
Sec. 1101, entitled Outreach and Access, directs the
Corps to better assist locals in accessing federal resources and
expertise related to water resources development projects, boosting
infrastructure investment and protecting more communities.
Sec. 1103, entitled Vertical Integration and Acceleration
of Studies, allows greater flexibility in the development of
feasibilities studies. This provision removes unnecessary bureaucratic
restrictions while ensuring projects of higher quality or broader
benefits.
Sec. 1104, entitled Minimum Real Estate Interest,
provides more flexibility for the Corps to handle easement and access
issues. Implementing this additional flexibility will allow the Corps
to meet the needs of our communities and the abilities of non-federal
partners to deliver any land requirements.
Sec. 1107(e), entitled Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration,
enhances initiatives for aquatic ecosystem restoration. Implementation
of this program will provide benefits to local and Tribal economies.
Sec. 1124, entitled Removal of Abandoned Vessels,
authorizes the Corps to remove abandoned and derelict vessels that do
not impede navigation.
Sec. 1132, entitled Improvements to National Dam Safety
Program, makes several amendments to the National Dam Safety Program
Act. Implementing these changes will help communities to address local
needs in training, staffing needs, emergency planning, and dam
inspection and monitoring activities. This provision will help smaller
communities have access to the program for their repair needs.
Sec. 1134, entitled Harmful Algal Bloom Demonstration
Program, directs the Secretary to prioritize program activities that
reduce nutrient pollution, utilize natural and nature-based approaches,
protect wetlands, develop technologies for detecting harmful algal
blooms, and combine removal with beneficial uses. Harmful algal blooms
devastate local tourism and recreation economies and threaten local
water resource needs, including drinking water supplies.
Sec. 1139, entitled Ability to Pay, clarifies the
Secretary's authority to assess the ability of non-Federal interests to
cost-share projects and requires the Secretary to report to Congress on
these determinations. Implementing this provision will provide greater
flexibility to the Corps and to local communities as they work to
address their water resource challenges.
Sec. 1140, entitled Tribal Partnership Program, expands
the ability of the Corps to partner with Indian Tribes to address local
water resources challenges.
Sec. 1152, entitled Columbia River Basin, provides
authorization for interim pre-planned flood storage to minimize the
flood risk in the Columbia River Basin during continued renegotiation
of the Columbia River Treaty with Canada.
Sec. 1237, entitled Examination of Reduction of
Microplastics, proscribes additional Corps authority to reduce the
release of microplastics into the environment.
Sec. 1303(h), entitled Pilot Programs on the Formulation
of Corps of Engineers Projects in Rural Communities and Economically
Disadvantaged Communities, extends a pilot program for certain
communities that allows a higher federal cost share for such
communities.
Sec. 1305, entitled Environmental Infrastructure Pilot
Program, establishes a pilot program for environmental infrastructure
projects meeting certain requirements. This investment supports healthy
communities, while creating local jobs and boosting economic growth in
small, rural, and economically disadvantaged localities.
Sec. 1361, entitled Expenses for Control of Aquatic Plant
Growths and Invasive Species, allows greater investment in watercraft
inspection and decontamination stations, preventing the spread of
aquatic invasive species that can eviscerate local businesses and
recreational economies.
Project Delivery and Acceleration:
WRDA 2024 includes several provisions that intend to deliver more
projects for communities with improved project delivery timelines.
These provisions provide alternative routes to water resources
development projects while still ensuring Corps' expertise and
engineering quality.
Sec. 1107, entitled Continuing Authority Programs, makes
several changes to existing Corps' continuing authority programs
(CAPs), allowing more communities to reap the benefits of these small-
scale project authorities and address simple water resources issues
quickly.
Sec. 1108, entitled Stormwater Management Projects,
authorizes the Corps to partner with communities to address local
stormwater challenges. This provision will deliver expedited stormwater
projects for communities, while also providing them with cost savings
in water supply and availability.
Sec. 1109, entitled Study of Water Resources Development
Projects by Non-Federal Interests, provides non-federal entities with
additional authority to assist the Corps in delivering water resources
development projects, potentially saving federal dollars and improving
the speed of project delivery.
Sec. 1142, entitled Federal Interest Determinations,
clarifies the existing federal interest determinations authority for
feasibility studies. Integrating this provision provides better
transparency and smarter federal investment in potential projects.
__________
Answer. Completed implementation guidance is posted to our public
website. Not all provisions required implementation guidance; most
provisions can be implemented as written in WRDA 2024. Some Engineering
Regulations or other guidance documents are also undergoing revisions.
In addition, some provisions will require appropriations prior to
OASA(CW) and the Corps taking any action.
Question 4. Assistant Secretary Telle, according to information
provided by the Corps prior to the hearing, 3,016 USACE employees have
signed deferred resignation program (DRP) agreements, (excluding Army
Fellows assigned to USACE). Of these, approximately 1,048 have utilized
the Office of Personnel Management DRP, and 1,968 have utilized the
Department of Defense DRP. During the Q&A period, you responded to a
question by saying that Corps is ``aggressively'' hiring people to
address Corps' responsibilities. However, according to a news report on
the hearing,\1\ Army Corps spokesperson Gene Pawlik said in an email
that the agency is still under a hiring freeze and that the agency has
only hired staff ``on a very limited basis,'' in accordance with
allowable exemptions.
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\1\ See https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2025/09/
11/army-corps-chief-defends-vance-boating-trip-budget-cuts-00556554
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Question 4.a. Mr. Telle, is the Corps still under a hiring freeze?
Answer. Yes, the Corps is following Department of the Army Civilian
Hiring Freeze guidance issued by the Secretary of the Army on August
14, 2025.
Question 4.b. What are the ``allowable exemptions'' from this
hiring freeze, and where, specifically, has the Corps utilized these
exemptions for hiring new personnel to perform Corps' responsibilities?
Answer. The Corps has requested and received approximately 1470
exemptions, which were evaluated based on immediate compelling resource
needs, criticality of the function to the Army's core mission, and the
command's achievement of their FY 2026 reduction objectives. The Corps
is aggressively hiring for these positions, consistent with the
exemption.
Question 4.c. Having lost 3,000 employees, including their
institutional knowledge and subject-matter expertise, how will the
Corps ensure that it will meet your stated goal of optimizing the
quality, speed, and cost of implementing the Corps' civil works
missions and responsibilities?
Answer. The Corps is committed to recruiting and retaining top
talent and is optimizing our workforce to safely deliver quality
projects on time and within budget. The Corps will continue to leverage
technical training and leader development programs to build the next
generation of leaders who understand the business imperatives of
quality, speed, and cost.
Question to Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Civil Works, Department of the Army, from Hon. Frederica S. Wilson
Question 1. Assistant Secretary Telle, a recent report valued the
Everglades as a $1 trillion asset generating $31 billion annually. The
centerpiece of restoration, the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA)
Reservoir, will send more clean water south and replenish the drinking
water aquifer for my district and South Florida.
With a new agreement accelerating completion to 2029, ahead of the
original 2034 timeline, can you speak to the administration's
commitment to meeting this deadline?
Answer. My office and the Corps are committed to the
Administration's goal of accelerating completion of the EAA Reservoir.
Questions to Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Civil Works, Department of the Army, from Hon. Hillary J. Scholten
Question 1. I have the great fortune of representing Grand Haven,
Michigan, and its workhorse harbor, which supports over 450 jobs. This
past summer, Grand Haven's Inner Harbor was due for dredging to ensure
its navigability. However, the project's timeline became uncertain due
to new state sediment testing requirements. This delay would have been
devastating for West Michigan, as this harbor generates over $88
million annually in economic impact and moves critical transportation
and agriculture materials into the state. So, I got to work, convening
with the Army Corps and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great
Lakes, and Energy. After 8 months of advocacy, we finally struck a
compromise to dredge Grand Haven's harbor this year in a way that both
ensures the harbor's navigability for the good of our economy and
protects West Michigan's public and environmental health from the very
real threat of PFAS. This underscores how powerful local, state, and
federal collaboration can be to truly serve the unique needs of a given
community.
Assistant Secretary Telle--how can Congress encourage closer
collaboration with local and state regulators to prevent project delays
and encourage thoughtful permitting decisions?
Answer. The Corps always seeks to cooperate closely with state and
local regulators to ensure the efficient implementation of civil works
projects. In this case, the State's expectation in the case of Grand
Haven was that the Corps would comply with new state PFAS sampling
guidance immediately, which the Corps had not accounted for. However,
the Corps discussed the sampling requirements with senior state
officials soon after learning of the inability to obtain a new Section
401 water quality certification for Grand Haven unless PFAS testing was
conducted.
Question 2. In West Michigan, there is no natural resource more
precious to our economy and culture than the Great Lakes. Earlier this
year, under the guise of a national emergency executive order, the
President directed the Corps to fast-track projects--including by
circumventing Clean Water Act protections--if they were deemed to boost
our nation's energy supply. Let me be clear: I'm ready to work with my
colleagues and the Administration to enact real permitting reform that
both expedites decisions and safeguards our waters. However, declaring
a national emergency is not the right approach, particularly when some
of the ``energy'' projects moving under this executive order include
housing developments and museum projects.
Assistant Secretary--can you please shed some light on how the
Corps is determining which projects are eligible to bypass the Clean
Water Act protections, as well as how the Corps is factoring in these
projects' associated impacts to our water and wetlands?
Answer. Based on direction in EO 14156 ``Declaring an Energy
Emergency'', the Corps established Emergency Permitting Procedures for
activities associated with energy production including exploration,
refining, production and transmission. These projects do not bypass any
required review. However, reviews are completed in a manner that
supports expedited decisions.
Question 3. Michigan's Third Congressional District is home to two
small harbors in Grand Haven, as I previously mentioned, as well as in
Muskegon. Federal dollars are absolutely critical to maintaining the
ports that keep our supply chains up and running smoothly. Particularly
at a time when we're working to ramp up domestic production, we need
our harbors to be efficient and reliable. That's why I'm concerned that
the Army Corps' FY26 budget request does not include a WRDA24
requirement to spend 100 percent of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund's
collections.
Assistant Secretary--since your FY26 budgets does not reflect
Congress's call to invest over $1 billion in federal dollars to keep
our harbors running, how is the Corps working to prevent harbor
closures on light-loading, both of which would increase the cost of
imports and exports, ultimately hurting everyday consumers?
Answer. The Corps continues to operate and maintain Federal
navigation channels and related infrastructure across the Nation. The
Corps budget is performance based and focuses on the highest performing
projects with high economic, environmental and public safety returns.
By focusing on the highest performing projects, the Corps is working to
reduce risk and provide optimal reliability of these projects. Since
2015, the total volume of sediment observed above maintained depths at
our highest use projects has been reduced by nearly 25%. The Corps also
has been able to address maintenance at emerging harbors, which has
resulted in the most recent American Society of Civil Engineers Report
Card for America's Infrastructure showing an improved grade for Ports
of a B rating. Ports received the highest grade of all categories of
infrastructure rated in the report.
Questions to Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief
of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from
Hon. Eric A. ``Rick'' Crawford
Question 1. In my district, I have the pleasure of working with
multiple U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts, including the Little
Rock District, the Memphis District, the Vicksburg District, and
occasionally, the Tulsa District. I maintain a strong, productive
relationship with each of these districts and appreciate the work they
do on behalf of Arkansas. The open-door policy I share with each
district commander and their teams has proven to be beneficial in
addressing issues and finding effective solutions for my constituents.
That being said, since I came to Congress in 2011, I have observed a
difference in approach and ideology among the districts operating in
Arkansas. On one hand, the Memphis and Vicksburg Districts consistently
demonstrate a commitment to improving Arkansas. Their cooperative
agenda and alignment with the overall goals of Arkansas have led to
meaningful progress. On the other hand, the Little Rock District
appears to operate with a fundamentally different mindset. Their
actions and culture often seem misaligned with the needs and values of
Arkansas, and in stark contrast to the collaborative and constructive
approach taken by the other districts. At times, it seems as though the
Little Rock District goes out of its way to chart a separate course
separate from the other districts which seems to be counterproductive
to the Corps overall mission.
Question 1.a. Can you speak on how you plan to address and improve
the internal culture of the Little Rock District so that it better
aligns with the expectations of Arkansans and fosters more productive
collaboration between the state and stakeholders?
Answer. The Corps and the district are committed to incorporating
public input as a core element of how the Corps operates and maintains
projects across the state.
In 2025, the Little Rock District facilitated or participated in 24
collaborative engagements with our Arkansas state partners, fostering a
strong working relationship.
The Little Rock District remains committed to holding public
meetings at or near project offices, with a focus on engaging property
owners, including absentee owners, around Corps lakes. The district
will continue to prioritize public safety at all recreational
locations, particularly during periods of heightened risk.
Question 1.b. In your view, would transferring the Little Rock
District from the Southwestern Division to the Mississippi Valley
Division result in more cohesive operations within the state of
Arkansas? What steps would be necessary to evaluate or implement such a
change?
Answer. Due to their influence on water resources management,
watershed boundaries have traditionally played a strong role in
defining the boundaries of Corps' District and Division boundaries,
including for the Little Rock District in the Southwestern Division.
Some District and Division boundaries have evolved over time in
response to a combination of geographic or authority-related factors.
The enterprise, including the Little Rock District in the Southwestern
Division, leverages centralized expertise and oversight, such as
centers of expertise, communities of practice, and vertical teams for
consistency regardless of the physical location.
The process to evaluate and implement a change to a district's
boundary is governed by Engineer Regulations (ERs). The process would
begin with a formal analysis, guided by ER 5-1-10, to assess if a
permanent boundary change is more effective and efficient for the
assignment of work. As required by ER 5-1-13, the analysis and proposal
for the permanent movement of the district would then need to be
submitted to headquarters to obtain formal endorsement. Following
headquarters endorsement, the proposal would then require final
approval from the Headquarters of the Department of the Army (HQDA)
before implementation could begin.
Questions to Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief
of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from
Hon. David Rouzer
Question 1. Commitment to Acceleration. General Graham--In July
2024, you committed to Members of the North Carolina Congressional
Delegation that you would accelerate the Section 203 study schedule for
the Wilmington Harbor Channel Improvement project. Why has the study
not been accelerated, and why does it remain on track for a Record of
Decision in October 2026?
Answer. The Section 203 feasibility study was completed by the non-
federal interest (NFI) with the Corps providing a review assessment of
that study. The Corps is committed to accelerating the Record of
Decision (ROD) and has been successful in getting ahead of schedule.
The Notice of Intent to develop an EIS was released four months ahead
of schedule and the draft EIS was released for public review on
September 19, 2025, over a month earlier. The Corps will continue to
work expeditiously to complete actions required to accelerate the ROD
before October 2026.
Question 2. Duplication of Effort. General Graham--The North
Carolina State Ports Authority already spent millions to complete a
Section 203 study, which was contingently authorized in WRDA 2020 based
on Secretary RD James' May 2020 Review Assessment. Why has the Corps
spent the past three years--soon to be four--re-evaluating technical
and policy issues that were already reviewed, at significant additional
taxpayer cost?
Answer. The Corps is not re-evaluating technical and policy issues
that have already been addressed. The Corps is developing technical
information and responding to policy issues not resolved within the
original report. The Secretary's office directed that unresolved policy
and legal compliance review comments be addressed.
Congress conditionally authorized the project through Section 403
of WRDA 2020, subject to responding to the Secretary's review
assessment. Nothing within the responses to the review assessment is a
duplication of effort.
Question 3. Study Timelines. General Graham--How long does it
typically take the Corps to conduct a traditional feasibility study,
including an Environmental Impact Statement? Why is the Corps' current
process for Section 203 studies taking as long--or longer--than
traditional feasibility studies?
Answer. Per current policy and in reference to applicable law,
traditional feasibility studies are, to the maximum extent practicable,
expected to be completed within three years from initiation. However,
the Secretary can approve a timeline extension when deemed necessary.
Feasibility study timelines vary depending on study purpose, area, and
complexity. Note, Section 203 feasibility studies are completed by the
NFI with the Corps providing a review assessment of that study. The
above timeline requirements are not applicable to NFI 203 studies.
Question 4. Execution Delays. General Graham--The project was
contingently authorized in WRDA 2020, yet the Corps did not execute a
cost-share agreement until October 2022. Why did it take nearly two
years to reach that point, and why will it take four more years to
issue a Record of Decision?
Answer. The project was contingently authorized in WRDA 2020,
subject to addressing economic, engineering, and federal environmental
compliance responsibilities. A proactive scope of work was developed in
coordination with North Carolina State Ports Authority (NCSPA) to
respond to the ASA(CW) Review Assessment in FY 2021. Upon receipt of
appropriations in FY 2022, the district finalized and executed the
scope and associated cost sharing agreement (CSA) with NCSPA on October
25, 2022. The scope to fully respond to the Review Assessment was
coordinated with the NCPA and the ASA(CW) and is currently ahead of
schedule.
Question 5. Commitment to Acceleration (Wilmington). General
Graham--Will you commit today to accelerating the Wilmington Harbor
Channel Improvement project schedule so that a Record of Decision is
issued before October 2026?
Answer. Yes, I commit to accelerating this effort and have
completed the draft documentation ahead of schedule. We are working to
move efficiently through the remaining responsibilities. Submission of
a legally sufficient and policy compliant document package, to include
a draft ROD, is scheduled before October 2026.
Question 6. Broader Reform of Section 203 Reviews. General Graham--
Other ports are facing the same lengthy Section 203 review process.
Will you commit to working with this Committee to accelerate and reform
the Corps' review of Section 203 studies, so that critical port
infrastructure projects can be delivered more efficiently?
Answer. Yes, I commit to working with this Committee. An update to
Engineering Regulation 1165-2-209: Studies of Water Resources
Development Projects by Non-Federal Interests, the guidance for Section
203, is underway.
Questions to Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief
of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from
Hon. Rick Larsen
Question 1. General Graham, in your oral testimony, you commented
on changes to the design threshold that the Corps will implement before
it submits project studies to Congress for authorization. You noted
that the Corps will not submit completed studies until a certain
threshold is reached--which you highlighted will be ``around the 35
percent level.'' Section 1001 of the Water Resources Reform and
Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, as amended, establishes a goal of
completing feasibility studies within 4 years, at a cost of not to
exceed $5 million, and provides the Corps with the ability to extend
that timeframe by an additional 3 years for certain listed exceptions.
Question 1.a. Please describe how the policy change on design
threshold is consistent with the statutory requirements of section 1001
of WRRDA 2014.
Answer. If a study may warrant an exception under Section 1001(b)
of WRRDA 2014, as amended, and applicable agency polices for additional
funding or time needed to complete, including to achieve a thirty-five
percent level of design before completion, any determination is made on
a study-by-study basis in coordination with the non-federal interest
and approval from the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
Question 1.b. How will the policy change in design threshold affect
the potential scope, or statutory timeframe for completion, of future
feasibility studies?
Answer. Robust engineering and design during feasibility and prior
to initiating construction are a key component in delivering projects
as formulated and within costs identified as part of a project's
recommendation. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
must approve any additional funding or time needed to complete a study,
including achieving a 35% level of design before completion, is made on
a study-by-study basis. Further, any request for additional time and
funding will require coordination with the non-federal interest.
Question 2. Section 105 of WRDA 1986 establishes the general 50-50
cost share for feasibility studies, split between the Corps and non-
federal interests.
Question 2.a. How will the policy change on design threshold affect
the non-federal interests cost share for feasibility studies prior to
submission to Congress for authorization?
Answer. Any potential increase in total study cost resulting in an
increase in the corresponding non-federal interest's share for that
study, including to achieve a desired design threshold that allows for
greater confidence in project delivery, is coordinated with the non-
federal interest. Where an exception for additional time and funding is
proposed under Section 1001(b) of WRRDA 2014, as amended, and
applicable agency policies, it will require approval from the Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
Question 2.b. Will changing the design threshold expand that
portion of the design phase that is designated as pre-construction
engineering and design (PED) that will be required before a project is
submitted to Congress for authorization? Please describe the Corps'
expectations of that expansion, and any associated change in non-
Federal interests' costs.
Answer. Expediently delivering studies and projects to communities
is a priority within the Civil Works program. Any potential increase in
total study cost resulting in an increase in the corresponding non-
federal interest's share for that study, including to achieve a desired
design threshold that allows for greater confidence in project
delivery, is coordinated with the non-federal interest. A proposed
exception for additional time and funding under Section 1001(b) of
WRRDA 2014, as amended, and applicable agency policies, will require
approval from the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. The
Preconstruction Engineering and Design (PED) phase follows the
completion of the feasibility report and associated decision documents.
Any potential change to design thresholds during the PED phase is
assessed on a project-by-project basis. Cost sharing in PED varies
depending on the purpose of a project. It may also depend on the
individual project authorization or on the funding mechanism to
implement the recommended plan.
Question 3. In July 2025, the Corps sent the Committee its estimate
for expected completion of the following Chief's Reports that might
fall within the formulation timeframe for a new WRDA for 2026. Can you
provide an updated estimated schedule for these studies, factoring in
this change in design threshold?
Question 3.a. Amite River & Tributaries East of Miss River, LA
Answer. Study paused.
Question 3.b. Little Goose Creek, Sheridan, WY
Answer. May 29, 2026.
Question 3.c. Buffalo Bayou & Tributaries Resiliency Study, TX
Answer. December 31, 2025.
Question 3.d. Columbia River Turning Basin Navigation Improvements,
WA & OR
Answer. September 26, 2025.
Question 3.e. Kentucky River, Beattyville, KY
Answer. December 12, 2025.
Question 3.f. Lower Osage River, at Lock and Dam No.1, MO
Answer. May 15, 2026.
Question 3.g. Gulfport Harbor, MS
Answer. April 17, 2026.
Question 3.h. Nassau County Back-Bays, NY (Sandy Focus Area, 115-
123)
Answer. Study paused.
Question 3.i. Watertown, SD
Answer. May 5, 2026.
Question 3.j. Lower Missouri Basin--Jefferson City-142, MO
Answer. May 8, 2026.
Question 3.k. New Jersey Back-Bays Coastal Resilience Study, NJ
Answer. No longer expected in 2026.
Question 4. In July 2025, the Corps sent the Committee its estimate
for expected completion of the following Director's Reports that might
fall within the formulation timeline for a new WRDA for 2026. Will the
policy change on design threshold affect the estimated schedule for the
following Director's Reports?
Question 4.a. Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock Replacement, LA
Question 4.b. Pearl River Basin
Question 4.c. North Desoto County, MS
Answer to questions 4.a.-4.c. No, there are no significant impacts
to the schedules for these project reports.
Questions to Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief
of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from
Hon. Frederica S. Wilson
Question 1. I have concerns about the proposed Southland Rock Mine,
which is planned to be located adjacent to the $4 billion Everglades
Agricultural Area Reservoir and involves blasting more than 8,000 acres
of rock.
Has the Army Corps evaluated what the impact of this proposed
project will be?
Answer. In response to initial inquiries regarding permitting the
proposed project, the Corps is reviewing available information and
gathering detailed plans and specifications that will facilitate
further analysis to determine whether the proposed project requires a
Department of the Army permit or could impair the usefulness of the EAA
project. The Corps has concerns about the proposed project's impacts on
Everglades restoration. Some concerns relate to the following: (1)
water management operations, (2) seepage, and (3) regional/system water
availability.
Question 2. What role is the Corps playing in advancing
cybersecurity protections as part of its resilience projects and WRDA
implementation?
Answer. The Corps has established a Critical Infrastructure
Cybersecurity Mandatory Center of Expertise (UCIC) to provide policy
and guidance to advance the cybersecurity of the organization's
Operational Technology (OT) systems. The UCIC provides services that
ensure new and existing OT systems, which are owned and operated by the
Corps, are secured against internal and external cyber threats and
authorized according to applicable Department of War and Army
regulations. When the Corps is the design and/or construction agent,
the UCIC will ensure systems are delivered with appropriate risk-based
cybersecurity. For Civil Works owned and operated OT systems, mandatory
services are executed using centrally provided funds from the Corps
Headquarters' Operations and Maintenance Remaining Item funding. For
all others, reimbursable funds are provided by the organizations that
request the service.
Questions to Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief
of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from
Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton
Question 1. I am deeply concerned that the federal government,
including the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), is not prioritizing
identifying a secondary drinking water source and additional drinking
water storage capability for the nation's capital. The Potomac River is
the only source of drinking water for the District of Columbia, the
Corps is responsible for supplying D.C.'s drinking water and there is
only one day of backup drinking water supply. If the river became
unusable for drinking water, which could happen at any time, whether
through man-made or natural events, the federal government, D.C.
residents and the national capital region's economy would be at risk.
In 2022, at my request, Congress authorized the Corps to conduct a
feasibility study on a secondary drinking water source and additional
drinking water storage capability for D.C.
Question 1.a. Is identifying a secondary drinking water source and
additional drinking water storage capability for D.C. a high priority
for the Corps?
Answer. The Corps recognizes the importance of the secondary source
study and additional storage capability for the Nation's Capital. The
Corps initiated the feasibility study and is working towards
identifying solutions.
Question 1.b. What steps has the Corps taken to prepare to respond
in the event the Potomac River became unusable for drinking water and
what is the status of the feasibility study?
Answer. Washington Aqueduct has two intakes on the Potomac River,
namely, Great Falls and Little Falls. Due to the differences in
geographic locations, these separate intakes provide some time for WA
to fill up its raw water reservoirs in the event of an emergency.
Additionally, annual tabletop exercises, coordinated by Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments, are conducted with all water
utilities in the region to improve communications and coordination/
collaborations. The feasibility study reached the Alternatives
Milestone Meeting on June 12, 2025, and the agencies are working on
alternative screening.
Question 2. In 2020, an unexploded ordnance was discovered in Fort
Totten Park. At that time, I was assured by the National Park Service
(NPS) that it had conducted a thorough investigation for additional
munitions. However, three years later, two WWI-era munitions were
discovered in a different location of the park. Fort Totten Park is in
a residential neighborhood. It is imperative that the Corps work with
NPS to investigate the park for munitions and environmental damage,
which is why I have repeatedly requested funding to support this
effort.
What is the status of the investigation at Fort Totten Park?
Answer. The Corps stands ready to support investigations and/or
remedial actions on the National Park Service (NPS) land at Fort Totten
Park.
Questions to Both Witnesses--Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of
the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army, and Lieutenant
General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief of Engineers and
Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--from Hon. Mike
Collins
Question 1. In its decision in Sackett v. EPA, the United States
Supreme Court held that, for Federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water
Act to apply, a waterbody must be ``indistinguishable'' from water of
the United States (WOTUS).\1\ However, some United States Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) Districts, particularly the Jacksonville District,
seem to be disregarding this requirement, and asserting jurisdiction
over waters that are clearly distinguishable by distance and other
physical characteristics.
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\1\ Sackett v. EPA, 598 U.S. 651 (2023).
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Could you clarify whether such assertions of jurisdiction are
consistent with the Supreme Court's ruling in Sackett, and what
recourse may be available when a District fails to apply the
``indistinguishable'' standard?
Answer. The Corps is implementing the definition of the Clean Water
Act term ``waters of the United States'' consistent with the applicable
regulations and guidance provided by EPA and the Department of the
Army. Information regarding the applicable regulations and guidance is
available on EPA's website at: https://www.epa.gov/wotus.
An affected party who has received a Corps approved JD and
disagrees with the Corps decision can pursue an administrative appeal
of the Corps decision if they believe that the Corps committed a
procedural error; incorrectly applied the applicable law, regulation,
or policy; omitted a material fact, or relied on incorrect data.
Question 2. The Institute of Water Resources and the Waterborne
Commerce Statistics Center is undergoing a modernization of the 1990s
era Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS). What is the status of
that project and what is the expected completion timeframe?
Answer. The Center uses a suite of software applications that have
been periodically updated to function on contemporary Windows and Linux
operating systems.
The effort to transition the Waterborne Commerce Statistics data
systems to a cloud-based platform is ongoing. Core components of the
data system were deployed to the cloud in late 2024 with additional
functionality implemented in production in fiscal year 2025.
Development and testing of remaining modules required for publication
of data are ongoing and slated for deployment to the cloud by the
fourth quarter of 2026.
Question 3. Section 1154(a) of WRDA 2018 requires the Corps to
review the backlog of operation and maintenance projects, producing a
report by 2020. Do you have an update on the status of this report?
Answer. The mix of funded and unfunded operation and maintenance
work, and the priority of each work package, changes from year to year.
Following issuance of the FY 2026 Corps work plan and the FY 2027
Budget, the Corps will prepare an estimate of any additional major work
that it has identified but not yet proposed for funding.
Question 4. In April of 2021, the Corps published an agency
guidance document (Engineer Circular No. 1165-2-218) that it intended
to establish and fulfill specific performance metrics, conduct annual
audits, and deliver recurring independent peer reviews to continually
assess and improve levee safety program efficacy and accountability.
To help determine its net value to overall national flood
protection and the guarantors of levee and flood safety, local project
sponsors, please provide the subcommittee with the following:
Question 4.a. The established Federal levee safety program
performance metrics, annual audits, and independent peer review
reports;
Answer. In a memorandum dated September 15, 2023, the Corps
established metrics to guide and monitor the effectiveness of its
implementation of the levee safety program. The memorandum is based on
the activities and concepts described in Engineer Circular 1165-2-218.
The metrics are grouped into broad categories: Program Management--
includes maintaining qualifications of program leads and governance to
promote consistent oversight of the program; Levee Inspections--
includes engaging levee sponsors and meeting minimum frequency of
inspections and timeline to finalize reports; Risk Assessments--
includes engaging levee sponsors in the process and frequency of
updates; Recommended Actions--includes providing risk management
actions to levee sponsors that inform operations, maintenance, repair,
replacement, and rehabilitation activities; Sharing Information--
includes working with levee sponsors on tracking recommended actions
and updating publicly available information in the National Levee
Database; and Data Management--ensuring that the identified priority
data in the National Levee Database have been completed.
Half of the Corps divisions have initiated the annual programmatic
audits, either as part of the Army Organizational Inspection Program,
which is a comprehensive process for coordinating various reviews to
identify, prevent, and eliminate problem areas, or a separate process.
The divisions evaluate two to three districts each year against a
series of items linked back to the programmatic metrics and
interactions with levee sponsors.
It is still the intent of the Corps to initiate an independent
review of the Corps Levee Safety Program; however, one has not been
conducted yet.
Question 4.b. Information on how the Corps coordinated with local
sponsors in the establishment and implementation of levee safety
program performance metrics, annual audits, and independent peer
review; and
Answer. The programmatic metrics and audits are meant primarily to
guide and monitor the effectiveness of Corps actions under the levee
safety program. The metrics are directly aligned with the activities
and concepts described in Engineer Circular 1165-2-218. A Federal
Register notice was issued announcing the availability of the draft
Engineer Circular for public comment from February 2020 to July 2020.
In addition, USACE issued email and social media announcements to
stakeholders to solicit feedback and hosted national and regional
webinars. Regional webinars had the purpose to directly reach out to
levee sponsors to hear their concerns and support and identify
opportunities to improve the program activities and relationships.
USACE also maintains a dedicated email address, [email protected],
to receive any ongoing questions or comments on the Engineer Circular.
Levee safety program activities are accomplished by a shared
coordinated effort between the Corps and levee sponsors to inform levee
sponsor efforts to fulfill daily responsibilities on the levee
structure and prioritize actions to manage the future performance of
the levee. The program activities are intended to improve the
effectiveness of risk management decisions. This continuous working
relationship also provides levee sponsors opportunities to provide
input on the implementation of program activities.
Question 4.c. The list of local sponsors that were involved in the
development of levee safety program metrics, auditing, and independent
review.
Answer. The Corps engaged many local sponsors to seek feedback on
Engineer Circular 1165-2-218. From the formal public comment period
from February 2020 to July 2020, a total of 54 responses were received
by online response form, email, or letter submissions with 514
individual comments. Out of the total commenters, thirty-nine percent
affiliated themselves as levee owner/operators. Not all comments
received were provided through the formal Federal Register notice or
could be attributed to a specific local sponsor. However, stakeholders
who submitted comments through the Federal Register can still view them
at https://regulations.gov under docket number COE-2020-0003. Based on
the comments, the entire document was reorganized to be shorter and
simpler with clarifications for applicability, roles and
responsibilities, and local sponsor expectations for engagement. The
revised document was posted as draft on a public website, and a total
of 22 webinars/in person stakeholder sessions were conducted to seek
any additional feedback on the revised draft. No additional significant
comments were received, and Engineer Circular 1165-2-218 was finalized
in 2021.
Question 5. The Corps has funded a range of levee safety efforts to
prevent future project failures. What has the Corps done to ensure that
levee safety program activities, including post-Katrina guidance and
standards for levee systems:
Question 5.a. Reflect local risk preferences,
Question 5.b. Are transparent, collaborative, and reproducible
using data and methodologies that are fit for public policy,
Question 5.c. Account for local willingness to pay,
Question 5.d. Are producing tangible, net beneficial project
reliability gains and flood protection supported by a majority of local
sponsors and communities, and
Question 5.e. Balance resource expenditure against the pursuit of
potentially diminishing returns in this space?
Answer to questions 5.a.-5.e. The Corps has been working to address
levee stakeholder concerns. Some of the most common feedback from
stakeholders includes levee practices should be scalable to reflect the
capabilities of the levee sponsor and the affected community; the past
performance of the levee should also be considered; and there needs to
be improved consistency and transparency in data collection.
Based on this feedback, the Corps has recommended the use of risk
assessments to inform local decisions on how best to plan, design, and
manage their levee systems. A risk assessment is an analytical method
used across a wide variety of industries to comprehensively understand
factors that may impact safety.
Each levee is distinct, designed with varying heights and features
based on factors such as expected flood levels, local landscapes, and
the potential impacts of flooding. Some levees reduce the flood risk of
areas that face frequent flooding, while others help to shield regions
that experience floods infrequently. Coastal levees are exposed to the
harsh conditions of high winds and waves from hurricanes, while those
in drier climates may face rapid and infrequent flood events. Levees
are constructed by a mix of private and governmental entities, and many
have multiple owners or operators. Some were built in the early 1900s
and have been retrofitted over time using various engineering methods,
while others were designed with more modern techniques. Risk
assessments help consolidate the unique factors of each levee into a
comprehensive evaluation. This provides a clearer understanding to
guide the design of new levees and modifications to existing levees;
and to enable local communities to establish their own priorities for
maintenance, repairs, and future investments.
Current Corps levee guidance emphasizes the involvement of levee
sponsors and local communities. These groups are integral to the levee
project teams, bringing invaluable local and historical knowledge as
well as offering insights into community awareness, values, and
priorities regarding flood risk management. Their input helps ensure
that results and recommendations are both relevant and feasible. The
risk assessment includes an estimate of the level of flood risk
reduction provided by the levee allowing for better-informed decisions
by levee sponsors on weighing the costs of potential levee improvements
or other measures and the flood risk reduction benefits that they
offer.
The Corps strives for public transparency in its processes for
developing levee system procedures and emphasizes the benefits of
stakeholder involvement and information sharing related to levees. To
this end, the Corps has implemented engagement strategies and has
actively sought stakeholder feedback to improve its guidance and tools.
One example is the National Levee Database, which the Corps manages as
a searchable inventory of all known levee systems across the Nation.
Initially launched to the public in 2018, the database has recently
been enhanced based on stakeholder input. The updates include more
detailed information on data sources, clearer instructions for
submitting or updating data, a new search-by-address feature, and login
procedures that provide differentiated access for various users (such
as the public versus levee sponsors).
Question 6. Congress has taken steps to help ensure that annual
levee safety program funding is used by the Corps to deliver tangible,
location-specific levee project reliability improvements in close
collaboration with willing local sponsors. In keeping with Sec. 131 of
WRDA 2020, Congress included a directive and funding in the Fiscal Year
2024 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act to facilitate
Corps identification of levee-specific design and maintenance
deficiencies and, where necessary, economic remedy options.
Where has the Corps used the WRDA 2020 Section 131 authority and
Fiscal Year 2024 funding to pursue these location-specific levee
reliability improvements?
Answer. Section 131 of WRDA 2020 amended a subset of activities
under Title IX of WRDA 2007 (33 USC 3303) related to the National Levee
Database and the inventory and inspection of levees. The report
accompanying the enacted 2024 appropriations included $1 million to
implement section 131. Section 131 authorizes the Corps to identify
specific engineering and maintenance deficiencies, recommend remedial
actions to the levee owner, and, if requested by the owner of a non-
federal levee, to provide a detailed cost estimate for any recommended
actions to remedy those deficiencies. The Corps has provided such a
cost estimate, where requested, for 27 non-federal levees in the states
of California, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio, Oregon, and Texas.
Question 7. There has been concern that the Corps' local project
partners, the general public, and Congress, frequently lack access to
agency data, methodologies, decision tools, and public policy
formulation. The absence of these foundations can create gaps that can
amplify bias, obscure mistakes, result in project cost overruns and
delays, erode trust in agency decision making and performance, and
diminish flood protection.
Please provide examples of the steps taken by the Corps and its
levee safety program to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and
intergovernmental collaboration, specifically in regard to the Draft
National Levee Safety Guidelines proposal issued by the Corps and FEMA
on April 1, 2024.
Answer. The Corps conducted three phases of broad stakeholder
feedback using a combination of methods including meetings, webinars,
email announcements, Federal Register notices, and website comment
forms. In addition, a separate set of targeted activities was
accomplished to better understand the needs of Tribes. The following is
the timeline for the development of the April 2024 draft version of the
National Levee Safety Guidelines:
2015-2017: Conducted literature review (1,500+
documents).
2018-2020: Coordinated with 17 federal agencies to
develop Principles of Levee Safety for Federal Agencies to initiate the
discussions for national guidelines.
2021: Established an oversight team for the Guidelines
consisting of eight federal agencies.
Jan-March 2022 (Phase 1): Gathered stakeholder/Tribal/
public feedback on the Guidelines' purpose and topics. Activities
included posting a Federal Register notice; direct emails to the ``opt-
in'' list; social media posts; and conducting nine virtual workshops.
2022-2023: Selected final chapter topics and developed
initial content.
April-June 2023 (Phase 2): Gathered stakeholder/Tribal/
public feedback on level of detail, scalability, and an example
chapter. Activities included posting a Federal Register notice; direct
emails to the ``opt-in'' list; social media posts; conducting eight
public webinars; hosting eight in-person meetings across the country
(four meetings directly for levee owners/operators); conducting two
workshops on vegetation management on levees; and conducting one
workshop with representatives from 16 states.
Spring 2023: Federal agency review of full draft of the
Guidelines.
April-August 2024 (Phase 3): Gathered stakeholder/Tribal/
public feedback on full draft. Activities included posting a Federal
Register notice; direct emails to the ``opt-in'' list; social media
posts; conducting nine webinars; and presenting at six conferences.
Over 900 comments were received on the draft from individuals
associated with federal, state, local government, Tribes, professional
organizations, private sector, and non-governmental organizations.
Question 8. One of the biggest Corps projects in the Nation, the
Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Coastal Project in Texas, or ``S2G''
project, was fully funded in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA
2018) at $3.9 billion. Since enactment, the S2G project cost estimate
has increased by 182 percent and is now close to $11 billion. One of
the three local project sponsors pulled out in 2024 citing the
significant cost overruns and delays.
Question 8.a. Did the Corps make a good-faith effort to ensure that
costs were included prior to giving Congress project estimates? If so,
what efforts were taken?
Answer. Yes. The Corps incorporated cost information from multiple
sources, including other districts and non-government construction
efforts, during the feasibility study. However, uncertainty was
acknowledged in the Chief's Report and costs at the time of
authorization were based on a preliminary conceptual level of design.
Question 8.b. Did project adaptability requirements and more
stringent design criteria contribute to this?
Answer. While adaptability was conceptually included at the
feasibility stage, the level of detail and engineering required to
fully implement those features was not developed until the
Preconstruction Engineering and Design phase. Its implementation during
later design phases required more robust features, particularly in the
foundations of floodwalls and other hardened structures--to allow for
future modifications without full reconstruction. In addition, updates
to design guidance and improved data (e.g., rainfall, surge, and wave
conditions) resulted in increased size, strength, and complexity of
project features.
In some instances, incorporating adaptability into design
refinements resulted in more robust foundation systems, deeper
elements, and increased material quantities than the feasibility level
conceptual design. Therefore, while adaptability was always part of the
project intent, the refinement and implementation of those requirements
at later design stages led to additional upfront costs. These costs are
intended to prevent significantly higher future costs and disruptions
by allowing floodwalls and hardened features to be raised rather than
replaced.
S2G is one of the largest and most complex coastal storm risk
management projects undertaken by the Corps, spanning multiple systems
across a highly developed and industrialized region. As design advanced
beyond the feasibility level, the incorporation of refined coastal
modeling, updated rainfall data (e.g., NOAA Atlas 14), and evaluating
the acceptable risk of combined rainfall and surge resulted in larger
and more robust features than originally conceptualized. Additionally,
the real estate requirements, utility relocations, and geotechnical
challenges associated with soft coastal soils further contribute to
increased costs in ways that are more pronounced than in smaller or
less complex projects. Importantly, the magnitude of cost growth for
S2G remains in line with other large, complex projects across the
portfolio. Many projects authorized or funded under the Bipartisan
Budget Act of 2018 (BBA18) have experienced similar cost growth--often
doubling or tripling from initial feasibility estimates--as they
advanced into more detailed design and incorporate updated data,
refined engineering analyses, and current construction market
conditions. While the percentage growth is consistent with other major
projects, the absolute dollar increase appears larger due to the
overall scale of the project.
Question 8.c. Were these requirements coordinated with the local
sponsors?
Answer. Yes, the local non-federal sponsors were actively engaged
and informed of all project requirements and activities.
Question 8.d. Do local sponsors have the ability to opt out if
projects, like S2G, become unaffordable with eroded net benefits?
Answer. While non-federal sponsors generally do not have the
ability to unilaterally opt out of a Project Partnership Agreement, a
non-federal sponsor could seek to negotiate a change to that agreement.
Non-federal sponsors have responsibilities that impact project
delivery, including cost sharing, real estate acquisition, utility
relocations, and operation and maintenance of completed projects. The
Corps works with non-federal sponsors to develop project construction
schedules, which can help to address their concerns in some cases.
However, where a local sponsor cannot or is no longer willing to pursue
the project as authorized, the Corps can suspend or terminate
construction or can recommend a study to evaluate options to modify the
project.
Question 8.e. How does the Corps intend to ensure that it can
deliver good and affordable flood projects on time and on budget?
Answer. The Corps is working to deliver its projects on time and on
budget, including by ensuring that each of its future project proposals
will have a sufficiently advanced design and associated cost estimate
prior to issuing a Chief's or Director's report.
Question 9. In H. Rept. 119-213, the Corps was directed to
establish a Levee Owners Board (Board) to improve communication and
collaboration between levee owner/operators from around the nation and
the Corps. The Board is also being established to provide its
independent views and judgment on the net economic impacts of new
Federal requirements and procedures, including requirements and
procedures related to levee inspections and accreditation. Finally,
Congress is interested in receiving the independent views of the Board
regarding the overall effectiveness of the Corps' levee safety program,
in operation since 2006, and the separate interagency levee safety
initiative, established by section 9005 of WRDA 2007.
Question 9.a. Do you agree that viable, economic flood protection
involving structural flood control requires integral decision-making
involvement by non-Federal project sponsors?
Answer. The involvement of non-federal sponsors helps to ensure
that the flood risk reduction measures proposed by the Corps are
economically feasible, appropriate, and sustainable in the long term.
Question 9.b. When do you intend to stand up any sort of Levee
Owners Board, comprised of non-Federal project sponsors, and, if so,
when will it be up and running?
Answer. The Army is aware that some levee owners have expressed
concerns and will consider the Committee's request.
Questions to Both Witnesses--Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of
the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army, and Lieutenant
General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief of Engineers and
Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--from Hon. Eric A.
``Rick'' Crawford
Question 1. Separate from the National Levee Safety Initiative
authorized by Congress in 2014 at 33 USC Sec. 3303a, the Corps has
operated its own Levee Safety Program for 19 years and has taken a
number of actions. These actions include internal agency risk
assessments of approximately 1500 Corps program levees; identified,
inspected, and inventoried Corps program levees and uploaded data into
the National Levee Database website; categorized levees based on the
amount of treasure and population they protect; and issued numerous
guidance documents, standards, and regulations affecting levee systems
and protected communities, including an 886-page National Levee Safety
Guidelines proposal assembled with FEMA and others that is expected to
go final this year. There has been a lot of activity to develop Corps
performance standards and ratings for Corps-program levees that are
operated and maintained by a local sponsor. Following Hurricane
Katrina, Congress called for more advisory-level information on levees,
including their location, ownership, and condition. Included in an
April 2021 Corps guidance document, the Corps promised to establish
specific performance metrics, conduct annual audits, and pursue
recurring independent review to assess performance of the Levee Safety
Program itself to help the public, Congress, and the Corps to evaluate
its effectiveness, efficiency, and net benefit to the Nation.
Question 1.a. Can you provide me with detailed information on who
is rating the Corps raters?
Answer. The Command organization of the Corps ensures that the
resources, personnel, projects, and operations of the civil works
program are managed efficiently, ethically, and in accordance with
legal and regulatory requirements. Each level of leadership in the
Corps is accountable for the people who work under its command, and
ensures that they are properly trained, equipped, and rated based on
their performing their duties in a manner that will maintain and
further the integrity and quality of our mission.
Question 1.b. Were those performance metrics for the Corps Levee
Safety Program, promised in 2021, ever established? If so, can you
provide me with a copy of the published Program metrics, annual audit
results, and the independent review reports?
Answer. In a memorandum dated September 15, 2023, the Corps
established metrics to guide and monitor the effectiveness of its
implementation of the levee safety program. The memorandum is based on
the activities and concepts described in Engineer Circular 1165-2-218.
I have attached a copy of this memorandum. [Editor's note: The
aforementioned 27-page memorandum dated September 15, 2023, is retained
in committee files.]
The metrics are grouped into the following broad categories:
Program Management--includes maintaining qualifications of program
leads and governance to promote consistent oversight of the program;
Levee Inspections--includes engaging levee sponsors and meeting minimum
frequency of inspections and timeline to finalize reports; Risk
Assessments--includes engaging levee sponsors in the process and
frequency of updates; Recommended Actions--includes providing risk
management actions to levee sponsors that inform operations,
maintenance, repair, replacement, and rehabilitation activities;
Sharing Information--includes working with levee sponsors on tracking
recommended actions and updating publicly available information in the
National Levee Database; and Data Management--ensuring that the
identified priority data in the National Levee Database have been
completed.
Half of the Corps divisions have initiated the annual programmatic
audits, either as part of the Army Organizational Inspection Program,
which is a comprehensive process for coordinating various reviews to
identify, prevent, and eliminate problem areas, or a separate process.
The divisions evaluate two to three districts each year against a
series of items linked to the programmatic metrics and interactions
with levee sponsors. Because these audits are part of a larger
evaluation, results for a specific district for Corps Levee Safety
Program activities can be extracted upon request at a later time.
The Corps still intends to initiate an independent review of its
Levee Safety Program; however, one has not been conducted yet.
Question 2. In its most recent ``Value to the Nation'' report, the
Corps indicates that flood projects built and maintained with local
sponsors over the decades have prevented more than $1 trillion in flood
damage and that these projects yield an average 12 to 1 return on
investment (ROI). The seven-state Mississippi River and Tributaries
Project, independent of the national ROI figure, reports an
extraordinary 114 to 1 ROI. In both cases, the cumulative ROI data goes
back several decades, long before the establishment of our levee safety
bureaus.
Can you provide detailed data on what incremental, quantifiable
benefits, and relatable tangible outputs the Corps Levee Safety Program
has contributed to the flood damage reduction outputs generated by the
projects and their local sponsors?
Answer. There are over 2,300 communities, 23 million people, and $2
trillion in property value behind the more than 6,500 levee systems
across the United States. Many of these levees span multiple
jurisdictions, have multiple sponsors, and involve various levels of
government. The Corps is authorized to assist communities in several
ways, including planning, designing, constructing, and modifying
levees; assessing the condition of existing systems; operating and
maintaining levees; supporting emergency response efforts; providing
technical resources; and managing the National Levee Database. The
Corps' Levee Safety Program serves as an organizational framework to
improve the consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness of its levee-
related responsibilities nationwide.
The Corps' Levee Safety Program provides significant added value to
the Nation. The program contributes to flood damage reduction by
improving levee practices, enhancing communication with local sponsors
and across Federal agencies, and sharing lessons learned. The program
also uses inspections and risk assessments to boost public awareness
and enable communities to identify potential improvements and establish
their priorities. Local sponsors, working in partnership with the
Corps, are key to this entire effort.
For example, the levee safety program:
Establishes Qualifications and Decision-Making Frameworks: Defines
the qualifications of key technical decision-makers and creates a clear
framework to resolve issues and address complex technical cases,
supporting efficient project delivery.
Facilitates Knowledge Sharing: Promotes the exchange of knowledge
and expertise across the agency through continuous interaction,
collaboration, and problem-solving.
Coordinates Across Corps Programs: Ensures effective coordination
between levee activities and other Corps programs, such as dam safety,
emergency management, flood risk management, and planning.
Maintains State-of-the-Art Engineering Practices: Manages and
updates levee-related guidance and procedures to apply the latest
engineering standards.
Supports Technical Competency: Develops and provides levee-related
training for both internal Corps staff and external partners.
Innovates Assessment Tools: Supports the creation and improvement
of tools to assess and manage levee data based on user needs.
Establishes Governance for Oversight: Implements a governance
structure to monitor, assess, prioritize, and improve the Corps' levee-
related activities.
Facilitates Risk-Informed Decision Making: Through the levee risk
assessment process, in collaboration with levee sponsors, unique data,
findings, and recommendations are devised to assist in flood risk
management.
Provides Support to Levee Sponsors and Communities: Supports levee
sponsors and communities with technical assistance, for example with
communication efforts or emergency preparedness planning.
Question 3. Under the Government Performance and Results Act, the
Corps Levee Safety Program has filed annual performance and
accountability reports tabulating the number of levee inspections, risk
assessments, levee safety classifications, and regulations and guidance
it generated for a given year.
Question 3.a. Please quantify how much these actions taken have
made us safer, specifically what quantifiable benefits are attributed
only to the Corps Levee Safety Program, not the projects and local
sponsors.
Answer. There are over 2,300 communities, 23 million people, and $2
trillion in property value behind the more than 6,500 levee systems
across the United States. The levee safety program operates in tandem
with the projects that the Corps and others have built and with the
ongoing work of non-federal sponsors. It is not possible to quantify
separately the economic benefits of the component parts of this
integrated effort.
Question 3.b. Please provide me with a detailed answer on how many
lives the Levee Safety Program has saved since its inception.
Answer. There are over 2,300 communities, 23 million people, and $2
trillion in property value behind the more than 6,500 levee systems
across the United States. The levee safety program operates in tandem
with the projects that the Corps and others have built and with the
ongoing work of non-federal sponsors. It is not possible to quantify
separately the safety benefits of the component parts of this
integrated effort.
Question 3.c. Please provide me with data on how much flood damage
has been prevented by the Levee Safety Program.
Answer. There are over 2,300 communities, 23 million people, and $2
trillion in property value behind the more than 6,500 levee systems
across the United States. The levee safety program operates in tandem
with the projects that the Corps and others have built and with the
ongoing work of non-federal sponsors. It is not possible to quantify
separately the flood damage reduction benefits of the component parts
of this integrated effort.
Question 3.d. What actions by the Levee Safety Program have
resulted in quantifiable project performance improvement?
Answer. The Corps' Levee Safety Program serves as an organizational
framework to improve the consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness of
all of the levee-related responsibilities and activities of the Corps
nationwide.
Question 3.e. From 2016 through 2024, how many flood projects did
the Levee Safety Program insist to be included in Section 7001 reports
transmitted by the Secretary to Congress?
Answer. The Levee Safety Program is not involved in preparation of
the Section 7001 reports. These reports, authorized in Section 7001 of
the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA), as
amended, present proposals by non-Federal interests for changes to
existing project or study authorities, new project or study
authorities, and changes to the environmental infrastructure
authorities of the Corps.
Questions to Both Witnesses--Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of
the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army, and Lieutenant
General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief of Engineers and
Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--from Hon. Bruce
Westerman
Question 1. As I am sure you are aware, the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas
River Navigation System is a major inland waterway system in the United
States that provides a navigable shipping route from the Tulsa,
Oklahoma area to the Mississippi River, running through parts of
Oklahoma and Arkansas. This important waterway system supports 40,000+
jobs in and generates an estimated $5.5B in revenue in the state of
Arkansas.
The MKARNS 12-foot channel project is part of an effort to improve
navigation on the MKARNS by deepening the navigation channel to 12
feet. While this may not seem like a significant change, each
additional foot of draft would allow a barge to carry another 200 tons
of cargo. Completing this project will allow for increased vessel
capacity, improved efficiency, boosted economic impact along the
waterway, enhanced safety and will ensure that the MKARNS remains a
competitive inland waterway.
The MKARNS Three Rivers project was authorized in Section 1401 of
America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. The purpose of the project
is to preserve navigation on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River
Navigation System (MKARNS). Overland flows have caused significant
erosion and head cutting to the land between the Arkansas and White
Rivers, threatening the uncontrolled connection of the rivers which
would result in the loss of the navigation pool.
Question 1.a. Can you further elaborate on the current state of
funding and construction for both of these projects?
Answer. Three Rivers: Phase 1, which consists of the construction
of a weir opening in the historic cutoff structure at an elevation of
145 feet, was awarded as a design-build contract in July 2022. Contract
construction completion was originally scheduled for June 2026;
however, Phase I was completed in October 2025. Phase 2 was awarded in
December 2024 and is currently under construction. Phase 2 consists of
the construction of a 2.4-mile-long closure structure at an elevation
of 157 feet, modification of Owens Wier, and modification of Lagrues
Culvert. Based on the contract, Phase 2 construction completion is
scheduled for June 2026.
Three Rivers is fully funded with the reprogramming of $82.95
million in February 2024 from 12 ft. Channel and the subsequent receipt
of $103.2 million in FY24 appropriations. Excess funds on the Three
Rivers project due to the reprogramming of funds from 12 ft. channel
are available for use on the project.
12 ft. Channel: On February 27, 2024, $82.950 million in
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds were reallocated
from 12 ft. Channel to the Three Rivers project. The overall project
cost has increased since 2005 due to price changes in rock and dredging
to include both labor and materials. An updated certified cost estimate
was completed in April 2024, with a total project cost of $1.022
billion. In addition to updating the cost, the team also completed
updates to the National Environmental Policy Act compliance with the
Supplemental Environmental Assessment in September 2024. The cultural
resources team is continuing coordination for the National Historic
Preservation Act (Section 106) compliance.
Construction funding is a 75 federal/25 non-federal cost share
within the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF).
The design work for Phase 1 has been suspended, and the project is
in the final closeout stages. The Corps will remain focused on
reinvesting in the existing system by prioritizing critical
maintenance.
Question 1.b. What barriers remain in the way of completion of both
projects?
Answer. There are no barriers to the completion of the Three Rivers
project. The 12 ft. Channel project is in the process of being closed.
Questions to Both Witnesses--Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of
the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army, and Lieutenant
General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief of Engineers and
Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--from Hon. Frederica
S. Wilson
Question 1. The ICE detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz
was built within the footprint of the most recently authorized
Everglades restoration project--the Western Everglades Restoration
Project (WERP), which was included in last year's WRDA.
Question 1.a. What analysis have you done of the effects of
Alligator Alcatraz on WERP?
Answer. The Corps has not initiated any independent analysis
regarding the construction or operation of the ICE detention center
which is located on land owned by the County of Miami-Dade, Florida.
Question 1.b. Have you analyzed the impact of 20 acres of new
asphalt on the goals of WERP?
Answer. No, the Corps has not analyzed the impacts of the new
asphalt on the project.
Question 1.c. How will ongoing operations of the detention center
impact the construction and design of WERP?
Answer. The Corps does not forecast any potential impacts to the
design and construction of WERP.
Question 1.d. Do you commit that no Corps of Engineers funding will
be utilized with respect to any aspect of the detention center,
including potential remediation costs for the center or reimbursements
for any center-related impacts?
Answer. The Corps uses funds appropriated by Congress for the
authorized purposes for which the appropriation was made. The Corps has
not received authorization or appropriations related to this center.
Questions to Both Witnesses--Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of
the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army, and Lieutenant
General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief of Engineers and
Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--from Hon. John
Garamendi
Question 1. In California's Eighth Congressional District, the
Richmond Outer Harbor Project is a vital part of the San Francisco Bay
economy, playing a key role in ensuring regional energy supplies are
reliably transported. Unfortunately, navigation of this channel is
currently impeded due to incomplete maintenance dredging, which is
disrupting the chain of commerce and endangering energy supplies. Last
November, after the Richmond Outer Harbor's regularly scheduled
dredging event, it became clear that the channel had not been dredged
to the necessary depth and width necessary for efficient navigation.
The local Corps district has been working with the Port of Richmond to
resolve these conditions, and I thank them for their attention to this.
Unfortunately, due to funding limitations and permitting constraints,
it's proven difficult to quickly address this issue.
Lieutenant General Graham and Assistant Secretary Telle, will you
commit to looking into this issue and following up with a plan to
complete the remedial dredging necessary to ensure that normal
operations at the Port of Richmond can continue?
Answer. Yes, the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) and
Chief of Engineers commit to looking into this issue and finalizing a
plan to complete the authorized dredging. The San Francisco District is
aware of this concern about the Richmond Outer Harbor channel and has
scheduled the dredging of this channel in FY2026. The current schedule
for dredging of the Richmond Outer Harbor channel is June 2026, and
approximately 250,000 cubic yards of material will be dredged from the
channel with a hopper dredge, bringing the channel to a depth of -45,.
Pending Emergency Declaration by the US Coast Guard or Bar Pilots
Association, the Corps may pursue an Emergency Dredging episode, as
needed.
Question 2. Section 1202 of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources
Development Act of 2024 directed the Army Corps to complete a
feasibility study, with the City of Vallejo, to determine the national
and homeland security benefits of deep-draft commercial navigation in
the Mare Island Strait Channel to improve access to the U.S. Coast
Guard Station Vallejo. Lieutenant General Graham and Assistant
Secretary Telle, will you commit to efficiently completing this vital
study of the Mare Island Strait Channel? Will you follow up with a
status update?
Answer. Yes, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
commits to working with the Chief of Engineers to ensure a status
update is provided and the Mare Island Strait Channel study is
completed. This feasibility study was authorized in WRDA 2024 but has
not received an appropriation, and no Feasibility Study has been
initiated; the San Francisco District has used existing authorities to
conduct an economic assessment of the Mare Island Strait Channel. This
is a portion of the Federal channel that has not been dredged since
1994, though condition surveys have consistently shown that the channel
has maintained its authorized depth of 30 feet. This economic
assessment will be complete by the end of calendar year 2025.
Question 3. Lieutenant General Graham and Assistant Secretary
Telle, how many Corps employees participated in the deferred
resignation program, were terminated, or have otherwise left the Corps
since January?
Answer. During the January to August 2025 timeframe, approximately
1,840 employees have left the Corps. Approximately 3,016 employees have
signed a Deferred Resignation Program agreement.
Questions to Both Witnesses--Hon. Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of
the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army, and Lieutenant
General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief of Engineers and
Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--from Hon. Greg
Stanton
Question 1. The Tres Rios Ecosystem Restoration project is
partially constructed with the most recent phase completed in 2012.
WRDA 2024 provided additional authorization to complete the Tres Rios
project. Over $110M has been spent to date to construct levees, water
treatment wetlands, and other engineered and natural infrastructure for
Tres Rios. The next phase due for completion is construction of
trailheads to allow public access to this important public resource.
Total recreation costs are less than 5 percent of the total cost for
Tres Rios. Prioritizing the recreation phase at this stage will create
positive engagement with the completed phases of this ecosystem
restoration project, encourage legitimate recreation uses, foster
economic development, and create a sense of resident ownership which
will support the long-term operation and maintenance of the current and
future flood control and ecosystem restoration phases.
Will you please confirm your support for completing this next
important phase of the Tres Rios Project, including providing staff and
supporting inclusion of this phase in the USACE Work Plan and budget
submittal to provide necessary federal funding to fulfill the USACE's
committed cost requirement?
Answer. WRDA 2024 authorized the Corps to proceed with implementing
the next phases of the project (Phases 3A and 3B), which include the
recreation features referenced. The Corps and the City of Phoenix, the
non-federal sponsor, are aligned in preparing to complete these phases.
The Corps stands ready to implement Phases 3A and 3B in accordance
with available authorities and appropriations. These phases will be
executed through our standard project prioritization process, which
assesses key factors including a) available funding and congressional
appropriations, b) project costs and benefits, c) local sponsor
readiness and d) competing national priorities. The outcome of this
process relies in part on actions taken by partners and entities
outside the Corps.
Question 2. Rio Salado Oeste is a Congressionally authorized
project in WRDA 2007 that has not yet been constructed. When completed,
it will provide important benefits to the Phoenix Metro area, including
expected benefits for economic development. Rio Salado Oeste is
currently in the midst of completing a feasibility study update, a
process that started in the summer of 2023. The cost and timeframe for
this study has already more than doubled from the original $3M
estimated cost, and the City of Phoenix was just informed of a new
requirement from your office shifting from 20 percent plan completion
to get a Chief's Report to a need for 35 percent plan completion. This
new requirement is estimated to expand the cost of the feasibility
study by another $1M and extend the time of the study by another 20
months.
What is the justification for this requirement on ecosystem
restoration project studies that don't have significant engineered
infrastructure such as levees?
Answer. Robust engineering and design during feasibility and prior
to initiating construction are a key component in delivering projects
as formulated and within costs identified as part of a project's
recommendation. The 35% design threshold allows for a more thorough
identification of factors that could impact the project's cost and
provides a firm basis for controlling costs before and during
construction.
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