What is the USACE Continuing Authorities Program?

GALVESTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

08.22.2011

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District

By Byron Williams
USACE Galveston District Project Manager

Q: What is the Continuing Authorities Program?
A: The Continuing Authorities Program provides the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District with the authority to solve water resource, flood risk mitigation, and environmental restoration problems in partnership with local sponsors without the need to obtain specific congressional authorization for each project. This decreases the amount of time required to budget, develop and approve a potential project for construction.

Under the CAP, the corps is authorized to construct small projects within specific federal funding limits. The total cost of a project (including studies, design and construction) is shared among the federal government and a non-federal sponsor.

A local project sponsor must be a municipality or a legally constituted public body empowered under state laws to give assurances and be financially capable of fulfilling all measures of local cooperation.

Q: Which types of projects are considered in the CAP? What are the federal funding limits and construction cost shares?
A: Sec. 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
$5,000,000

Cost share 65 percent - 35 percent

*Sec. 103 Beach Erosion Control
$3,000,000
Cost share 65 percent - 35 percent

Sec. 204 Ecosystem Restoration in Connection with Dredging
Not applicable
Cost share 65 percent - 35 percent

*Sec. 14 Emergency Streambank and Shoreline Erosion Protection
$1,000,000
Cost share 65 percent - 35 percent

Sec. 205 Flood Control
$7,000,000
Cost share 65 percent - 35 percent

Sec. 111 Mitigation of Shore Erosion Damage due to Federal Navigation
$5,000,000
Cost share 65 percent - 35 percent

*Sec. 107 Navigation
$4,000,000
Cost share varies with project depth

Sec. 1135 Project Modifications for Improving the Quality of the Environment
$5,000,000
Cost share 75 percent - 25 percent

Sec. 208 Snagging and Clearing for Flood Control
$500,000
Cost share 65 percent - 35 percent

*Funding currently not available.

Q: Who is responsible for administering this program?
A: The CAP is administered by the USACE Galveston District. A federal limit on each CAP authority is established annually in the president’s budget and is distributed to the Corps on project priorities and fund availability. If funded, the CAP program manager will notify the sponsor so a feasibility phase can begin.

Q: How can my county, city or community participate in this program?
A: Residents should contact local officials in their area in order to submit a brief description of the problem; the authority(ies) based on projects type(s) sought; willingness to cost share (should that be required); and contact information. Submit the request containing all the items listed above to:

Continuing Authorities Program Manager
USACE Galveston District
P.O. Box 1229
Galveston, Texas 77553-1229

Q: How long does it take to find out if a project was approved to participate in the CAP?
A: Once a letter is received, the CAP manager will contact the sponsor and arrange a site visit and assist with vetting the correct authority for your proposed project. The program manager will request a new start within 2-3 weeks after the site visit (if feasible) and enter the project into the CAP. Since new CAP projects are generally funded at the beginning of a fiscal year, each submitted request is subject to immediately available funds if the authority under which it falls has access to available funding. New CAP project approval may vary from 1-18 months, subject to the availability of funds for actual starts.

Q: How much does it cost to participate in the CAP?
A: Feasibility Phase: This phase is initially federally funded up to $100,000. Any remaining feasibility phase costs will be shared 50/50 with the non-federal sponsor pursuant to the terms of a CAP Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement. If the feasibility phase can be completed for less than $100,000, a CAP FCSA is not required. Any unused portion of the federally funded $100,000 is not transferable to the design and implementation phase.

Design and Implementation Phase: All costs beyond the feasibility phase are considered total project costs and will be shared as specified in the authorizing legislation (authority) for that purpose. The specific requirements for each individual project must be detailed in the project’s Project Partnership Agreement.

Q: Where can I call or visit to receive more information?
A: For more information, please call CAP Manager Byron Williams at [phone] or visit the Corps’ website at www.swg.usace.army.mil and click on “Hot Topics.”

• Date Taken: 08.22.2011
• Date Posted: 08.22.2011 10:36
• Story ID: 75728
• Location: GALVESTON, TEXAS, US