US Army Corps of Engineers seeking comments on the Water Resources Development Act - public meetings in March, comment period ends May 7

The Water Protection Network has shared upcoming opportunities for organizations to provide input to the Army Corps of Engineers on developing implementation guidance for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, the bill that authorizes projects and policy changes for the Corps. The Corps issued this notice, published today in the Federal Register, opening a 60-day public comment period (May 7, 2021 deadline) and announcing a series of virtual stakeholder sessions (listed below) for the public to provide input and recommendations to the Assistant Secretary of the Army-Civil Works on any provisions of WRDA 2020.

This Act includes provisions that recognize the role of climate change in water management.  There are some provisions that could be seen to be positive, and some that are more troubling.  You can read a summary of the bill at this link, and we've also included it at the end of this post.  

​Click here for a summary, from the  National Wildlife Federation, of key provisions of WRDA 2020 that they have identified to benefit the environment, underserved communities, and Tribes; that are particularly harmful to the environment; and that advance restoration of important ecosystems.

LWV UMRR urges people interested in the river to take time to dig into the Corps' plans for implementing the WRDA and raise concerns where appropriate.  Here's the information on public comment - note that these meetings start next week!   Sitting in on one of these virtual meetings would be a good way to get an overview of the issues at stake; final date for submitting comments is May 7.  

Stakeholder sessions:

• March 16, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern to receive comments on Navigation (Inland and Coastal) provisions
• March 23, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern to receive comments on Flood Risk and Coastal Risk Storm Damage provisions
• March 30, 2021 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern to receive comments on Ecosystem Restoration and Nuisance Species provisions
• April 6, 2021 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern to receive comments on Water Supply and Hydropower provisions
• April 13, 2021 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern to receive comments on any WRDA 2020 provisions
• Join any of the sessions listed above at https://usace1.webex.com/​meet/​WRDA2020 or by calling in to (844) 800-2712, Code 199 937 4287
• For more information about the stakeholder sessions may be directed to Mr. Gib Owen at 571-274-1929, gib.a.owen.civ@mail.mil, or Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, 108 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0108.

Submitting comments:

• Submit comments by the public comment deadline, Friday, May 7, 2021, and include Docket ID No. COE-2021-0002 in the subject line.
• Submit by Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/COE_FRDOC_0001-0893
• Submit by email: WRDA2020@usace.army.mil
• Submit by mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Ms. Amy Frantz, CEW-P, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 3F91, 441 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20314.

 
More information:

• Read the Federal Register notice here.
• Read the WRDA bill text here.

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