33 U.S.C. § 2267b — Post-disaster watershed assessments

(a) Watershed assessments
(1) In general In an area where the President has declared a major disaster under section 5170 of title 42, the Secretary may conduct a watershed assessment. The assessment must identify, to the maximum extent practicable, specific recommendations for flood-risk reduction, hurricane and storm-damage reduction, ecosystem restoration, or navigation projects. The recommendations must help repair and improve the ability of damaged infrastructure and natural resources to withstand future natural disasters, reducing risks to human life and property.
(2) Existing projects A watershed assessment carried out under paragraph (1) may identify existing projects being carried out under one or more of the authorities referred to in subsection (b)(1).
(3) Duplicate watershed assessments When carrying out a watershed assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary must use all existing watershed assessments and related information developed by the Secretary or by other Federal, State, or local entities.

(b) Projects
(1) In general The Secretary may carry out projects identified by a watershed assessment under subsection (a). The projects must meet the criteria for projects carried out under one of these authorities:
(A) Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948 (33 U.S.C. 701s).
(B) Section 111 of the River and Harbor Act of 1968 (33 U.S.C. 426i).
(C) Section 206 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (33 U.S.C. 2330).
(D) Section 1135 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2309a).
(E) Section 107 of the River and Harbor Act of 1960 (33 U.S.C. 577).
(F) Section 3 of the Act of August 13, 1946 (33 U.S.C. 426g).
(2) Annual plan For each project that does not meet the criteria under paragraph (1), the Secretary must include a recommendation about the project in the Secretary's annual report to Congress under section 2282d of this title.
(3) Existing projects When carrying out a project under paragraph (1), the Secretary must— (A) use, to the maximum extent practicable, all existing information and studies available for the project; and (B) not require any part of a study completed for the project before the disaster to be repeated.

(c) Requirements All requirements that apply to a project under the Acts described in subsection (b) apply to the project.

(d) Limitations on assessments A watershed assessment under subsection (a) must be started no later than 2 years after the date the major-disaster declaration is issued.

(e) Assessments in territories of the United States
(1) In general For any major disaster declared in a territory of the United States before October 23, 2018, all activities in the territory carried out or undertaken under the authorities described in this section must be conducted at full Federal expense. This rule does not apply if the President determines that the territory can pay the cost share for an assessment under this section without using loans.
(2) Territory defined In this subsection, the term “territory of the United States” means an insular area specified in section 2310(a)(1) of this title. This section does not define that term further.