[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 92 (Monday, July 17, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6077-H6081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SMALL WATERSHED REHABILITATION AMENDMENTS OF 2000
Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 728) to amend the Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide
cost share assistance for the rehabilitation of structural measures
constructed as part of water resource projects previously funded by the
Secretary under such Act or related laws, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 728
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Small Watershed
Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000''.
TITLE I--DAM REHABILITATION
SEC. 101. REHABILITATION OF WATER RESOURCE STRUCTURAL
MEASURES CONSTRUCTED UNDER CERTAIN DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS.
The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16
U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``SEC. 14. REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURAL MEASURES NEAR, AT, OR
PAST THEIR EVALUATED LIFE EXPECTANCY.
``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
``(1) Rehabilitation.--The term `rehabilitation', with
respect to a structural measure constructed as part of a
covered water resource project, means the completion of all
work necessary to extend the service life of the structural
measure and meet applicable safety and performance standards.
This may include (A) protecting the integrity of the
structural measure or prolonging the useful life of the
structural measure beyond the original evaluated life
expectancy, (B) correcting damage to the structural measure
from a catastrophic event, (C) correcting the deterioration
of structural components that are deteriorating at an
abnormal rate, (D) upgrading the structural measure to meet
changed land use conditions in the watershed served by the
structural measure or changed safety criteria applicable to
the structural measure, or (E) decommissioning the structure,
if requested by the local organization.
``(2) Covered water resource project.--The term `covered
water resource project' means a work of improvement carried
out under any of the following:
``(A) This Act.
``(B) Section 13 of the Act of December 22, 1944 (Public
Law 78-534; 58 Stat. 905).
``(C) The pilot watershed program authorized under the
heading `Flood Prevention' of the Department of Agriculture
Appropriation Act, 1954 (Public Law 156; 67 Stat. 214).
``(D) Subtitle H of title XV of the Agriculture and Food
Act of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3451 et seq.; commonly known as the
Resource Conservation and Development Program).
``(3) Structural measure.--The term `structural measure'
means a physical improvement that impounds water, commonly
known as a dam, which was constructed as part of a covered
water resource project, including the impoundment area and
flood pool.
``(b) Cost Share Assistance for Rehabilitation.--
``(1) Assistance authorized.--The Secretary may provide
financial assistance to a local organization to cover a
portion of the total costs incurred for the rehabilitation of
structural measures originally constructed as part of a
covered water resource project. The total costs of
rehabilitation include the costs associated with all
components of the rehabilitation project, including
acquisition of land, easements, and rights-of-ways,
rehabilitation project administration, the provision of
technical assistance, contracting, and construction costs,
except that the local organization shall be responsible for
securing all land, easements, or rights-of-ways necessary for
the project.
``(2) Amount of assistance; limitations.--The amount of
Federal funds that may be made available under this
subsection to a local organization for construction of a
particular rehabilitation project shall be equal to 65
percent of the total rehabilitation costs, but not to exceed
100 percent of actual construction costs incurred in the
rehabilitation. However, the local organization shall be
responsible for the costs of water, mineral, and other
resource rights and all Federal, State, and local permits.
``(3) Relation to land use and development regulations.--As
a condition on entering into an agreement to provide
financial assistance under this subsection, the Secretary,
working in concert with the affected unit or units of general
purpose local government, may require that proper zoning or
other developmental regulations are in place in the watershed
in which the structural measures to be rehabilitated under
the agreement are located so that--
``(A) the completed rehabilitation project is not quickly
rendered inadequate by additional development; and
``(B) society can realize the full benefits of the
rehabilitation investment.
``(c) Technical Assistance for Watershed Project
Rehabilitation.--The Secretary, acting through the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, may provide technical
assistance in planning, designing, and implementing
rehabilitation projects should a local organization request
such assistance. Such assistance may consist of specialists
in such fields as engineering, geology, soils, agronomy,
biology, hydraulics, hydrology, economics, water quality, and
contract administration.
``(d) Prohibited Use.--
``(1) Performance of operation and maintenance.--
Rehabilitation assistance provided under this section may not
be used to perform operation and maintenance activities
specified in the agreement for the covered water resource
project entered into between the Secretary and the local
organization responsible for the works of improvement. Such
operation and maintenance activities shall remain the
responsibility of the local organization, as provided in the
project work plan.
``(2) Renegotiation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), as
part of the provision of financial assistance under
subsection (b), the Secretary may renegotiate the original
agreement for the covered water resource project entered into
between the Secretary and the local organization regarding
responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the
project when the rehabilitation is finished.
``(e) Application for Rehabilitation Assistance.--A local
organization may apply to the Secretary for technical and
financial assistance under this section if the application
has also been submitted to and approved by the State agency
having supervisory responsibility over the covered water
resource project at issue or, if there is no State agency
having such responsibility, by the Governor of the State. The
Secretary shall request the State dam safety officer (or
equivalent State official) to be involved in the application
process if State permits or approvals are required. The
rehabilitation of structural measures shall meet standards
established by the Secretary and address other dam safety
issues. At the request of the local organization, personnel
of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the
Department of Agriculture may assist in preparing
applications for assistance.
``(f) Ranking of Requests for Rehabilitation Assistance.--
The Secretary shall establish such system of approving
rehabilitation requests, recognizing that such requests will
be received throughout the fiscal year and subject to the
availability of funds to carry out this section, as is
necessary for proper administration by the Department of
Agriculture and equitable for all local organizations. The
approval process shall be in writing, and made known to all
local organizations and appropriate State agencies.
``(g) Prohibition on Certain Rehabilitation Assistance.--
The Secretary may not approve a rehabilitation request if the
need for rehabilitation of the structure is the result of a
lack of adequate maintenance by the party responsible for the
maintenance.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to provide financial and
technical assistance under this section--
``(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
``(2) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
``(3) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
``(4) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
``(5) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
``(i) Assessment of Rehabilitation Needs.--The Secretary,
in concert with the responsible State agencies, shall conduct
an assessment of the rehabilitation needs of covered water
resource projects in all States in which such projects are
located.
``(j) Recordkeeping and Reports.--
``(1) Secretary.--The Secretary shall maintain a data base
to track the benefits derived from rehabilitation projects
supported under this section and the expenditures made under
this section. On the basis of such data and the reports
submitted under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall prepare
and submit to Congress an annual report providing the status
of activities conducted under this section.
[[Page H6078]]
``(2) Grant recipients.--Not later than 90 days after the
completion of a specific rehabilitation project for which
assistance is provided under this section, the local
organization that received the assistance shall make a report
to the Secretary giving the status of any rehabilitation
effort undertaken using financial assistance provided under
this section.''.
TITLE II--DAM SAFETY
SEC. 201. DAM SAFETY.
(a) Inventory and Assessment of Other Dams.--
(1) Inventory.--The Secretary of the Army (in this section
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish an
inventory of dams constructed by and using funds made
available through the Works Progress Administration, the
Works Projects Administration, and the Civilian Conservation
Corps.
(2) Assessment of rehabilitation needs.--In establishing
the inventory required under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall also assess the condition of the dams on such inventory
and the need for rehabilitation or modification of the dams.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit
to Congress a report containing the inventory and assessment
required by this section.
(c) Interim Actions.--
(1) In general.--If the Secretary determines that a dam
referred to in subsection (a) presents an imminent and
substantial risk to public safety, the Secretary is
authorized to carry out measures to prevent or mitigate
against such risk.
(2) Exclusion.--The assistance authorized in paragraph (1)
shall not be available to dams under the jurisdiction of the
Department of the Interior.
(3) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of
assistance provided under this subsection shall be 65 percent
of such cost.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section a total of
$25,000,000 for fiscal years beginning after September 30,
1999, of which not more than $5,000,000 may be expended on
any 1 dam.
(d) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall coordinate with the appropriate State dam
safety officials and the Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas).
Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the efforts of the gentleman from Texas
(Chairman Combest) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Stenholm), in helping me bring forward H.R. 728, the Small
Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments.
I also appreciate the support of the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Chairman Shuster) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) for
this very important bill.
Seeing the need for rehabilitation of aging dams built across the
State of Oklahoma and the country, I introduced H.R. 728. This
legislation will give the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to
provide financial assistance to local organizations for up to 65
percent of the total rehabilitation construction costs for those dams
built under the Small Watershed Program.
H.R. 728 will authorize a total of $90 million over the next 5 years,
beginning in 2001, to help us rehabilitate our Nation's watershed
projects and ensure that we and our communities continue to enjoy the
benefits that watershed projects offer.
My predecessors left a legacy with the Small Watershed Program. They
realized the impact that this program would have on both the State of
Oklahoma and the Nation as whole.
I was raised in and still live in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma. One
of the things I most clearly recall from growing up there was the sight
of these flood control dams near my home. I did not know it at the
time, but those dams were built because community and political leaders
knew from firsthand experience the importance of flood control. They
had witnessed the horrible floods that washed across Oklahoma's
watersheds in the 1930s and 1940s, terrifying events that inspired them
to take the necessary steps to reduce the threats that flooding poses
to people, land, and water quality.
Since 1944, over 10\1/2\ thousand small watershed dams have been
built in the United States. Over 2,000 of those dams are located in
Oklahoma. Many of these dams were planned and designed with a lifespan
of 50 years. Fifty years ago there was little concern about what to do
when these dams reached their life expectancy.
During the week of July 4, 1998, a celebration in Cordell, Oklahoma,
marked the 50th anniversary of America's first United States Department
of Agriculture small watershed dam. This is just one of a thousand dams
that will reach the end of their 50-year life expectancy within the
next 10 years.
Although the Federal government paid for the construction costs of
these dams, under current law, there is no Federal authority or funds
to rehabilitate them. Repair costs are far beyond the budgets of the
local sponsors.
The Federal government clearly has a responsibility to ensure dam
safety. We cannot wait until a disaster happens. If rehabilitation is
not done, we may be faced with the awesome and awful possibilities of
flooding, loss of wildlife habitat, water shortages, and pollution. Far
more regrettable in the case of failure, we might be confronted with
the loss of life, and yes, property, crops, and livestock.
The economic impact of dam failures on communities and local
economies would be devastating. We must act before any of these
situations occur.
The small watershed program is one of our Nation's most successful
public and private partnerships. In fact, these completed small
watershed projects have provided over $2.20 in benefits for every $1 in
cost. Very few government programs can make that claim. We must
continue to build on this partnership.
Today the Small Watershed Program represents an $8.5 billion Federal
investment and an estimated $6 billion local investment in the
infrastructure of our Nation. We do not allow our highways to crumble,
nor should we ignore our small watershed dams. It is time we address
the rehabilitation needs of these structures.
The fact is, these small watersheds have done such a good job that
most people do not even realize they exist as they drive by them, as
they go up and down the highways. There are not many programs that have
that kind of a success factor.
We must continue to build on this program that our predecessors
started over 50 years ago. It has been a great privilege to champion
this cause here in our Nation's capital that will have such a direct
impact on my home county, my home State, and our Nation as a whole. I
look forward to seeing this legislation passed into law, and continuing
to build on one of the most successful programs our government has
known.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 728, the Small Watershed
Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000. This bill amends the Watershed
Protection and Flood Control Protection Act, also known as P.L. 566
program, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial
assistance to eligible local organizations to cover a portion of the
total cost for the rehabilitation of structural measures originally
constructed as part of the Department of Agriculture's USDA water
resource project.
Under current law, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the
Natural Resources Conservation Service, is authorized to provide
technical and financial assistance to local organizations in planning
and carrying out small watershed projects for flood protection,
agriculture and water management, recreation, municipal and industrial
water supply, and wildlife enhancement.
Many of the 10,000-plus dams built under this program are reaching
the end of their 50-year design life and are in need of rehabilitation.
In fact, some now pose a threat to public health and safety.
During the Committee on Agriculture's markup of this legislation, I
offered an amendment to protect the privacy of information provided to
USDA by the farmers and ranchers participating in the Department's
voluntary programs or receiving technical assistance.
My amendment, which was accepted by the committee, was designed to
protect the trust established between the USDA and America's farmers
and ranchers resulting in the high level of
[[Page H6079]]
participation we currently enjoy in our voluntary conservation
programs.
When landowners come in on a voluntary basis to work on their local
NRCS, Farm Service Agency, or conservation district office to implement
conservation measures on their farms and ranches, they need to be
assured that the information they provide remains confidential.
Concerns have been raised that if this information was transferred to
other agencies or entities, it would lose its confidential nature and
could be made public.
The provision I offered would not have prevented other Federal
agencies from collecting data under their own statutory authority. It
would merely protect from disclosure to other Federal regulatory
entities the confidential information provided to USDA, local
conservation districts, or RC&D councils by a farmer, rancher, or
landowner who has participated in the USDA conservation program.
Without this protection, the billions of dollars in technical and
financial assistance spent every year by the taxpayers to help the
Nation's landowners protect our soil and water resources could be
jeopardized because of the unwillingness of producers to participate in
our voluntary programs. In short, my amendment would have ensured that
our voluntary, incentive-based programs are kept separate from the
regulatory efforts of other agencies.
If Members doubt the callous disregard that some Federal agencies
have for the American farmer, rancher, and the average citizen in
general, look no further than EPA's persistence with the total maximum
daily load (TMDL) regulations.
After a dozen congressional hearings, 35,000 written comments, and
clear intent from Congress via the military construction conference
report that the proposed TMDL regulations needed to be withdrawn and
thoroughly re-examined, the EPA persisted in their policy to put forth
these tainted regulations.
We need to send a strong message that information provided on a
voluntary basis for purposes of receiving assistance from USDA should
remain confidential to all parties working in cooperation with USDA.
While it is unfortunate that this could not be accomplished here today
on this worthy bill, this issue must be addressed by Congress.
I want to applaud and thank my colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma
(Mr. Lucas), for his hard work in working to draft and pass this
legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 728.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood).
Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, I rise in support of H.R. 728, the
Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000.
First let me congratulate the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) and
his colleagues, and commend the leadership of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Agriculture for
moving forward with this important legislation.
{time} 1600
H.R. 728 responds to a growing crisis in water resources
infrastructure throughout this Nation. There are over 10,000 dams
constructed under national resource conservation service programs; many
are in need of critical repair and are presenting flooding and
environmental threats to communities.
This bill responds in two ways. Title I authorizes NRCS to
rehabilitate aging and deteriorating dams constructed under the
agency's small watershed program. Title II authorizes the Corps of
Engineers to inventory and assess the condition of dams constructed
decades ago under other authorities, such as the Work Projects
Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps, and in the interim,
to provide emergency measures to prevent risks to the public.
A good example of these aging dams is the Mountain Springs dam right
on the edge of my congressional district. It is a dam that has provided
flood control and watershed qualities throughout 60 years, and now it
is about to be drained because it is deemed dangerous. We need these
things attended to.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to emphasize that these projects
should be performed in the most cost-effective manner that accomplishes
the rehabilitation objective. However, the Secretary is not required to
develop a cost benefit ratio analysis or a cost benefit ratio.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is about restoring infrastructure, enhancing
public safety, and protecting the environment. America's rural
communities in particular will benefit.
For all of these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues
to support H.R. 728.
Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
(Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 728. I want to thank
the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) for his
outstanding initiative and effort in introducing this legislation and
the leadership of the two committees for advancing it.
As a cosponsor of this legislation, this Member certainly supports
the goals of this measure. It is clearly appropriate to provide
necessary resources to aid in the rehabilitation of the small watershed
structures which have been constructed over the past 50 years. These
small dams and other structures, constructed under the P.L. 566
program, have provided numerous benefits over the past decades,
including flood control, wildlife habitat, recreation, irrigation and
water supplies.
This program has been especially important to Nebraska. Over the
years, the P.L. 566 program has resulted in the installation of 880
dams and other structures in Nebraska. In fact, this Member is proud to
point out that his district, the First Congressional District of
Nebraska, has more P.L. 566 dams and structures than any other district
in the Nation. The more than 700 structures in this Member's district
provides flood protection, reduces erosion and provides many useful
benefits.
Throughout Nebraska, it is estimated that the State realizes a
minimum of $27 million in annual direct benefits as a result of these
structures. Documentation and examples of those benefits are found in
the report by the National Resource Conservation Service, the NRCS, of
the USDA, entitled ``Protecting the `Good Life' through P.L. 566; The
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act across Nebraska.''
As just mentioned, during the previous 50 years, more than 10,000
upstream flood control dams have been built throughout the United
States. The NRCS has provided cost-sharing and technical assistance
while local sponsors have assumed responsibility for the operation and
maintenance of the structures when they were completed. Unfortunately,
many of those structures are now reaching the end of their 50-year
designed life. Without significant rehabilitation, much of this
investment could be lost.
This act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to cover a portion
of the total costs incurred for the rehabilitation of those structures.
The bill does not allow any assistance to be provided to perform
operation and maintenance activities, a limitation this Member strongly
supports.
During a hearing of the Subcommittee on Water and Environment of the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, this Member shared with
the subcommittee a letter from Dayle Williamson who, until very
recently, was the outstanding, highly respected director of the State
of Nebraska's Natural Resources Commission, he just retired, which
emphasized that the sponsors of Nebraska's projects have been providing
adequate maintenance over the years for the structures. Therefore, he
suggested, and this Member agrees, that they should not be penalized
for their stewardship by allowing other States to tap into scarce
resources to perform routine operation and maintenance which they
routinely should have been providing. The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr.
Lucas) has taken that fully into consideration. Another outstanding
feature of this legislation.
[[Page H6080]]
This Member additionally asked for specific safeguards to ensure that
funding would not be used for the purposes of routine operation and
maintenance. I am pleased, therefore, to note that a provision was
added to the legislation which states that the Secretary of Agriculture
may not approve a rehabilitation request if it is determined that the
need for rehabilitation of the structure is the result of a lack of
adequate maintenance by the party responsible for the maintenance.
Nevertheless, it is clear that there are a great many instances where
assistance is appropriate and necessary. This Member believes that H.R.
728 recognizes this growing need and provides a far-sighted approach in
addressing these problems. By providing additional assistance now, we
can ensure that the original investments will continue to pay dividends
well into the future.
Mr. Speaker, this Member urges his colleagues to support H.R. 728 and
again commends the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) for his
outstanding initiative.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me just say again in reiteration of what all of my
colleagues who have testified in favor of this legislation today and
the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, I do also thank them for their work
and input into this very important legislation.
I know, speaking from back home in Texas, the importance of these
projects has been demonstrated time and time again over these 50 years,
but now particularly as cities like Dallas and Fort Worth begin to look
at some very serious flood concerns that they have and how they might
address that. Other cities all over the United States, most communities
will find, when one looks at how to solve a problem of flood control
that one will find the small watershed projects would be right at the
top of the list.
Now, when we have these large number of dams that have been built and
are in need of rehabilitation, this legislation only make makes very,
very serious common sense.
So I appreciate, again, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) for
bringing this legislation to all of our attention, and all of the
cooperation that has been made to reach it to the point to where we are
today. I encourage the House to support the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I wish once again to express my
appreciation of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the gentleman
from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Sherwood) and all of the members of the various committees and
subcommittees who worked on this.
From a concept that initially came together in July of 1998 at a
gathering to celebrate 50 years of successful service by one of these
structures to the bill, that was then filed again in February of 1999,
that has worked its way through subcommittee and full Committee on
Agriculture, subcommittee and full Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, that has been examined by resources, a bill that is, if
there is such a thing, a textbook way of reviewing legislation, we have
at one point or other in the last year and a half examined every facet
of this concept, I think, from every perspective.
The legislation that we have today, thanks to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Stenholm), ranking member, and the gentleman from Texas
(Chairman Combest), and many other Members, is a good solid piece of
legislation that will do the things that need to be done in this
country and in a fashion we will all be proud of.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the continued
program that has been so successful for half a century now or more.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 728, the small
watershed rehabilitation amendments of 2000. The bill takes steps to
improve the nation's deteriorating water resources infrastructure and
requires the Secretary of Agriculture to rehabilitate aging dams built
under programs of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The bill also requires the Secretary of the Army to inventory and
assess certain dams from the Great Depression era and authorizes
actions to mitigate against immediate threats to public safety.
I commend Representative Frank Lucas and his colleagues for
championing this legislation and the leadership of the Agriculture
Committee for their cooperation, as well. Thanks should also go to my
colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, in
particular Representative Jim Oberstar, the ranking Democrat,
Representative Sherry Boehlert, the chairman of the Water Resources and
Environment Subcommittee, and Representative Bob Borski, the
subcommittee's ranking member.
The Transportation and Agriculture Committees share jurisdiction over
the NRCS's small watershed program and worked together closely to
revise and improve title I of this critically important legislation. I
also appreciate the Agriculture Committee's cooperation with respect to
title II, relating to the Army Corps of Engineers' authorities
regarding dam safety and included by the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee.
Mr. Speaker, the needs are great. Rehabilitating the nation's dams
will not be cheap but the benefits will be enormous. With over 10,000
small watershed dams in need of rehabilitation, H.R. 728 takes an
important and timely first step. We anticipate NRCS and affected local
communities will undertake cost-effective rehabilitation measures and
coordinate closely with State dam safety officials. We also anticipate
that, if funded, this bill will make communities safer and cleaner as
flooding and sedimentation risks are reduced.
Mr. Speaker, I support passage of H.R. 728, and urge my colleagues to
do the same.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 728, the
Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000. H.R. 728 authorizes
the Department of Agriculture, through the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, to rehabilitate dams constructed as part of their
small watershed program and other conservation programs.
This bill also authorizes additional dam safety measures for the
Corps of Engineers. H.R. 728 requires the Secretary of the Army to
inventory and assess the condition of certain dams and to take interim
actions to prevent threats to public safety.
This bill invests in our nation's aging dam infrastructure. It will
increase public health and safety and environmental protection. It will
bring jobs, piece of mind and environmental benefits to communities
with deteriorating dams.
The final language, essentially what the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee reported last November, is the result of
extensive input from engineers, construction contractors, environmental
advocates, dam safety officials, local government representatives, and
Federal agencies. It includes, among other things, important
flexibility in defining ``rehabilitation'' so that environmentally
sound and locally supported options, such as ``decommissioning,'' may
be considered.
I congratulate Representative Frank Lucas and his colleagues for
pursuing this legislation and I thank the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee and the Agriculture Committee for their
cooperation and leadership. In particular, I thank the leadership of
the Agriculture Committee and Chairman Bud Shuster, Ranking Democrat
Jim Oberstar, Ranking Democrat of the Water Resources and Environment
Subcommittee, Representative Bob Borski, for their interest and
support. From the beginning, our Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment, which I chair, recognized H.R. 728 could help make
communities safer and cleaner.
For all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to pass this important,
critically-needed legislation.
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today in full support of
H.R. 728, the Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 1999. Most
importantly, I want to stress to my colleagues why this piece of
legislation is vital to so many rural areas of the United States.
Since the 1940's, over 100,000 small watershed dams have been built
under USDA programs. Small watershed dams provide great benefit to
their surrounding areas. These dams provide downstream flood
protection, water quality improvement, irrigation water, and rural
water supplies. In flood control alone, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service and the USDA estimate the small watershed dams
prevent more than $800 million in damages each year. People can also
enjoy increased recreation and wildlife habitat.
The bad news is that many have reached or are rapidly approaching
their fifty year life span. Numerous structures are in need of
rehabilitation to ensure the continued environmental and economic
benefits that our country currently enjoys. Action must be taken to
prevent the loss of life, water supply, and flood control that these
dams afford to many rural areas.
[[Page H6081]]
Currently, no funding source exists to restore watershed projects,
and local sponsors do not have the resources to attempt to save these
dams. H.R. 728 establishes financial assistance for the assessment and
rehabilitation of small watershed dams over the next ten years. With
federal cost sharing, local sponsors will now have the opportunity to
repair these crucial watersheds.
The necessity of federal attention to this problem is critical, and I
thank my friend and Oklahoma colleague Mr. Lucas for his leadership of
this matter and his support and commitment to the restoration of these
structures. I call upon my colleagues to recognize the importance of
this legislation with their support of H.R. 728.
Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 728, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read:
``A bill to amend the Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to
provide cost share assistance for the rehabilitation of
structural measures constructed as part of water resource
projects previously funded by the Secretary under such Act or
related laws, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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