H.R. 9348: Public Access Protection Act

This bill would direct the Secretary of the Army, when the Army Corps of Engineers plans a water resources project, to consider how construction might affect nearby public recreational areas and to include a plan to keep access to those areas as similar as possible during the project.

What the bill does

• Applies to Corps of Engineers water resources development projects that affect public recreational spaces.
• These spaces can include parks, trails, green spaces, waterways used for recreation, and other public open areas.
• During construction, the Secretary of the Army should:
  • keep recreational access at an equivalent level where possible,
  • reduce temporary disruptions through planning and coordination with local communities, and
  • provide alternate access if needed so people can still use the area while work is underway.

Requirements in project planning

When the Corps is doing a feasibility study for a project, the Secretary would need to review how the project could affect existing public recreational amenities, including places used for hiking, biking, walking, and water-based recreation. Any final recommendation for the project would need to include a plan for keeping access available during construction, to the greatest extent practicable.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill is meant to make sure that if a federal water project temporarily blocks or limits use of a public park, trail, waterfront, or similar space, the government plans ahead to keep people’s access as close to normal as possible, or to offer another way to use the area while construction is happening.

Relevant Companies

None found