Sec. 4. Greater Mississippi River Basin Extreme Weather Management Study
333 words·~2 min read·
/bill/113/hr/1152/ih/section-4A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary shall carry out a study of the Mississippi River Basin— to improve the coordinated and comprehensive management of water resource projects in the greater Mississippi River Basin relating to extreme weather conditions; and to evaluate the feasibility of any modifications to those water resource projects and develop new water resource projects to improve the reliability of navigation and more effectively reduce flood risk. The study shall— identify any Federal actions necessary to prevent and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather, including changes to authorized channel dimensions, operational procedures of locks and dams, and reservoir management within the Mississippi River Basin; evaluate the effect on navigation and flood risk management to the Mississippi River of all upstream rivers and tributaries, especially the confluence of the Illinois River, Missouri River, and Ohio River; identify and make recommendations to remedy challenges to the Corps of Engineers presented by extreme weather, including river access, in carrying out its mission to maintain safe, reliable navigation; and identify and locate natural or other potential impediments to maintaining navigation on the middle and lower Mississippi River during periods of low water, including existing industrial pipeline crossings.
In carrying out the study, the Secretary shall— consult with appropriate committees of Congress, Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies, environmental interests, river navigation industry representatives, other shipping and business interests, organized labor, and nongovernmental organizations; to the maximum extent practicable, use data in existence on the date of enactment of this Act; and incorporate lessons learned and best practices developed as a result of past extreme weather events, including major floods and the successful effort to maintain navigation during the near historic low water levels on the Mississippi River during the winter of 2012–2013.
The Federal share of the cost of carrying out the study under this section shall be 100 percent. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study carried out under this section.