S. 4120: Community Water Project Acceleration Act

The Community Water Project Acceleration Act aims to streamline the approval process for certain water resources development projects in the United States. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Purpose of the Bill

The bill is designed to expedite the construction of water resource projects by simplifying environmental review processes under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Specifically, it would establish categorical exclusions for specific types of projects, meaning they would not require thorough environmental assessments typically needed for federal undertakings.

Categorical Exclusions

Within 180 days after the bill is enacted, the Secretary of the Army would identify and designate particular water resources development projects as categorically excluded from the usual environmental assessments and impact statements. This applies to projects that:

• Are part of a continuing authority program or an environmental infrastructure assistance program.
• Will be constructed by a non-Federal sponsor.
• Have a Federal cost share of less than $6,000,000, or have a Federal cost share of less than 15% with a total project cost not exceeding $35,000,000.

Regulations Implementation

The Secretary of the Army is also tasked with creating the necessary regulations to enforce these exclusions within 150 days following the bill's enactment.

Impact on Project Timelines

The intention behind this legislation is to reduce delays in starting and completing beneficial water projects, like flood control, water supply, and environmental restoration initiatives, by minimizing bureaucratic red tape.

Relevant Companies

• ACM (AECOM): AECOM is involved in infrastructure development projects and may see an increase in contracts due to expedited approvals for water resource projects.
• WHR (WSP Global): WSP handles a variety of environmental and engineering projects and may benefit from increased opportunities as projects are fast-tracked.
• CLR (Clearway Energy): Clearway may engage in or fund projects that could ease water supply and management burdens if regulatory hurdles are lowered.