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GAO-24-107072 1 (2024-07-17)

handle is hein.gao/gaoqoa0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Why This Matters Key Takeaways The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) conducts feasibility studies as an integral initial step in determining whether and how to undertake a project to develop water resources-for example, to improve navigation channels or manage flood risks. Historically, feasibility studies have taken years, or even decades, to move from conception to completion. To address this issue, the Corps developed a policy in 2012-known as Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Risk Informed, Timely (SMART) Planning-to establish the agency's 3x3x3 Rule. The rule requires that the Corps complete each feasibility study within a 3-year period, at a cost of not more than $3 million, while ensuring active involvement from all three Corps levels-district, division, and headquarters. SMART Planning was later codified in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA 2014). Additionally, section 1005 of WRRDA 2014 includes provisions related to accelerating the completion of, and improving public transparency around, feasibility studies for which an environmental impact statement is prepared. We refer to section 1005 as the act's feasibility study acceleration reform provisions, or the provisions. In addition, WRRDA 2014 includes a provision for GAO to assess the reforms the Corps carried out in response to the act's feasibility study acceleration reform provisions and report to Congress 5 and 10 years after the legislation's enactment. (Pub. L. No. 113-121, § 1005(m), 128 Stat. 1193, 1211-1212 (codified at 33 U.S.C. § 2348(m))). In July 2019, we reported on the steps the Corps took to address the feasibility study acceleration reform provisions. We made three recommendations to the Corps, including that the Corps develop a plan to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of its feasibility study acceleration reforms. The Corps concurred with our recommendations. This report is the follow-up to our 2019 report. It examines steps the Corps has taken since 2019 to implement the feasibility study acceleration reform provisions and assess their impact, and it describes impacts identified by Corps partners. As of May 2024, the Corps has taken steps to address 15 of the 19 WRRDA 2014 feasibility study acceleration reform provisions. It has not taken steps to address the other four provisions, which generally require the Corps to make information publicly available on how it is implementing the reform provisions. Specifically, the Corps has not (1) prepared and published a list of feasibility studies that do not have adequate funding to make substantial progress toward completion; (2) established an electronic database; (3) solicited requests from federal agencies and project sponsors for new categorical exclusions; or (4) established a program to measure and report on its progress toward improving and expediting the planning and environmental review process. Page 1 GAO-24-1 07072 Feasibility Study Acceleration Reforms Page 1 GAO-24-107072 Feasibility Study Acceleration Reforms

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