The Corps of Engineers has a number of authorities for assisting States, local governments, and Native American Indian tribes in the planning, design, and construction of projects for a variety of environmental restoration and remediation purposes. These programs provide cost-shared support. Congress authorized these programs under the various Water Resources Development Acts (WRDA).

REGULATORY PROGRAM

The preservation and protection of aquatic resources and wetlands are an essential part of the Corps' regulatory mission. The Corps, in cooperation with the USEPA, manages the dredge and fill permit program under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. Permitting requires the balancing of economic development and environmental protection. To support this mission, the Corps and EPA have developed a proactive tool for the preservation of aquatic resources. This tool is the advanced identification and classification of wetlands in areas experiencing economic development pressures. The Corps has also delegated parts of the regulatory decision making to State and county governments through programmatic general permits.

WRDA PROGRAMS

The Corps has a number of programs to restore the environment, some of which may be applied in conjunction with Remedial Action Plans. These programs are in the form of cost-shared support provided to States, local governments, and Indian tribes by the Corps or its contractors for planning, design, and/or construction.

Planning Assistance to States (Section 22 of WRDA 1974, as amended). The Corps can support States (and Indian tribes) in comprehensive planning for the development, utilization, and conservation of water and related land resources. Under this authority, the Corps has developed a GIS system for mapping natural resources on tribal lands and has conducted environmental investigations of brownfield sites for a city. The Federal/Non-Federal cost share is 50/50.

Project Modifications of Improvement of Environment (Section 1135 of WRDA 1986, as amended). This authority can be used to restore habitat and improve water quality that has been impacted by existing Corps projects (navigation structures, locks and dams, reservoirs, etc.). Non-governmental, non-profit groups may also sponsor projects under this authority. The Federal/Non-Federal cost share is 75/25.

Beneficial Use of Dredged Material (Section 204 of WRDA 92, as amended). This authority can be used to protect, restore, and create aquatic habitat, including wetlands, in connection with dredging of Federal harbors and channels. The Federal/Non-Federal cost share is 75/25, and only the incremental increase in costs to dredged material management is cost-shared.

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration (Section 206 of WRDA 96). This authority can be used to construct projects for the restoration and protection of aquatic ecosystems without any "connection" to an existing Corps project. The Federal/Non-Federal cost share is 65/35.

Environmental Dredging (Section 312 of WRDA 1990, as amended). Under this authority, the Corps, in consultation with the USEPA, can remove contaminated sediments outside the boundaries of Federal navigation channels. Dredging is cost shared 50/50 (Federal/Non-Federal), while disposal of contaminated sediments is entirely a Non-Federal responsibility.

Interagency & International Support (Section 234 of WRDA 1996). This authority enables the Corps to participate with Federal or international organizations to address problems of national significance related to water resources, infrastructure development, and environmental protection. No specific cost sharing is required.

Expedited Reconnaissance Study (Section 905(b) of WRDA 1986). Under this authority, the Corps can conduct a Reconnaissance Study of a wide range of potential water resources projects at an accelerated schedule. Potential projects may include navigation, flood damage reduction, ecosystem restoration, shoreline or streambank protection, and water quality enhancement. Completed studies have included ecosystem restoration and port/industrial development with recreational/environmental restoration. Expedited Reconnaissance Studies are conducted at full-Federal cost, not to exceed $100,000.

Formally Utilized Sites Remedial Action Plan (FUSRAP). This authority assigned to the Corps in 1997 involves the remediation of hazardous waste and low-level radioactive contamination at industrial sites that supported the nation's early nuclear program.

Funding Limits and Availability

The table below outlines the funding appropriated by Congress for a number of environmental programs and projects. The FY 99 Funding is the total funds appropriated for the Fiscal Year ending September 1999. The FY 00 Admin Budget is the amount requested in the President's Budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1999.

ROADMAP TO FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The following homepages provided some information on funding opportunities:

June, 1996 GAO report, "Water Quality --A Catalog of Related Federal Programs" (GAO/RCED-96-173): http://www.gao.gov/

Federal opportunities : http://www.nonprofit.gov/index.html .

Foundation funding application: http://fdncenter.org/ .

Related Web Sites

EPA (National) and (Region 10 Office of Water)

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Page updated: June 1, 1999