It does recommend that Congress or the executive branch commission an independent study of various types of partnerships with private companies and nonfederal governments to operate and maintain Corps infrastructure.”
Dzombak adds that unless the problem is addressed, the system “will be modified, not by plan, but by deterioration.”
The report comes at a time when wheels are starting to turn in Congress on a new, overdue Water Resources Development Act, the latest in a series of multi-year measures that authorize new Corps lock and dam, harbor dredging and environmental restoration projects. The last WRDA became law in November 2007.
The NRC report acknowledges that WRDA measures still will be the vehicle for funding new projects, but it also notes that those bills don’t focus on the Corps’ existing inventory of facilities and their operation, maintenance and rebuilding needs.
It adds, “Higher congressional and administration priority on OMR issues for Corps infrastructure will entail some reorientation away from the present strong focus on WRDA.”
Dzombak notes that the past couple of WRDA's have moved away from having the federal government as the sole provider of water infrastructure, by include nonfederal cost-sharing for projects. He says, "The new norm is partnership of federal government, state and local government, and we think there's a great opportunity for the private sector as well."
Story updated on Oct. 5 to include comment from the Corps of Engineers.
