Under the authority
provided by Section 1135 of the Water Resources Development Act
of 1986, the Corps may plan, design and build modifications to existing
Corps projects, or areas degraded by Corps projects, to restore
aquatic habitats for fish and wildlife. Projects conducted in New
England under this program have included salt marsh and salt pond
restoration, estuary restoration, freshwater wetland restoration,
anadromous fish passage, and river restoration. Projects must be
in the public interest and cost effective and are limited to $5
million in Federal cost.
Project Process. The process for Section 1135 projects begins after a non-federal sponsor requests Corps of Engineers assistance under the program. When funding is available, the Corps of Engineers prepares a feasibility study, beginning with an estimate of the overall scope and cost of the study and a determination of whether the project is in the federal interest. The feasibility study formulates alternatives to achieve the restoration, evaluates the environmental effects of the alternatives, documents the project requirements, and provides a scope and cost estimate for project implementation. If the feasibility report recommends a plan for implementation, the Corps of Engineers prepares detailed project plans and specifications and obtains any required federal permits. The Corps of Engineers then manages construction of the project by a private contractor.
Cost Sharing Requirements. The Corps of Engineers provides the first $100,000 of study costs. A non-Federal sponsor must contribute 50 percent of the cost of the feasibility study after the first $100,000 of expenditures, 25 percent of the cost of design and construction, and 100 percent of the cost of operation and maintenance. The sponsor receives a credit for the value of real estate necessary to implement the project. The non-Federal share of the feasibility study cost may be credited as work in kind, but, to receive credit, the services must be provided after a formal Feasibility Study Cost Sharing Agreement is signed. Up to 80 percent of the non-Federal share of the design and implementation cost may be credited as work in kind after a Project Cooperation Agreement is signed.
|
Study
Cost
The feasibility study is cost shared 50% Federal 50% Non-Federal after the first $100,000 in study costs. The first $100,000 in study cost is Federally funded.
|
Project
Cost
Design
and construction cost are 75% Federal 25% non-Federal
|
How to Request Assistance. Requests for assistance should
be in the form of a letter describing the location and nature
of the problem and requesting assistance under the program. The
request should be submitted by a state or local government agency1
to Mr. John Kennelly, Chief, Planning Branch, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, New England District, 696 Virginia Road, Concord,
MA 01742-2751. For more information call Larry Oliver of the Project
Planning Section at 978-318-8347.
1 Non-Federal
sponsors must be public agencies or national non-profit organizations
capable of undertaking future requirements for operation, maintenance,
repair, replacement and rehabilitation (OMRR&R), or may be any
non-profit organization if there are no future requirements for
OMRR&R. All potential sponsors must be able to provide any required
lands, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, and dredged or excavated
material disposal areas (LERRD). |
