This part prescribes administrative policies, guidance, and operating procedures for natural disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1941, as amended, (33 U.S.C. 701n) (69 Stat. 186), commonly and hereinafter referred to as Public Law 84-99, authorizes an emergency fund to be expended at the discretion of the Chief of Engineers for: preparation for natural disasters; flood fighting and rescue operations; repair or restoration of flood control works threatened, damaged, or destroyed by flood, or nonstructural alternatives thereto; emergency protection of federally authorized hurricane or shore protection projects which are threatened, when such protection is warranted to protect against imminent and substantial loss to life and property; and repair and restoration of federally authorized hurricane or shore protection projects damaged or destroyed by wind, wave, or water of other than ordinary nature. The law includes provision of emergency supplies of clean water when a contaminated source threatens the public health and welfare of a locality, and activities necessary to protect life and improved property from a threat resulting from a major flood or coastal storm. This law authorizes the Secretary of the Army (Secretary) to construct wells and to transport water within areas determined by the Secretary to be drought-distressed. The Secretary of the Army has delegated the authority vested in the Secretary under Public Law 84-99 through the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) to the Chief of Engineers, subject to such further direction as the Secretary may provide.

Corps assistance provided under authority of Public Law 84-99 is intended to be supplemental to State and local efforts. The principal assistance programs and activities of the Corps are described in this section.

(a) Disaster preparedness. Technical assistance for many types of disasters is available to State and local interests. Primary Corps efforts are focused on technical assistance for, and inspections of, flood control works, and related flood fight preparedness and training activities. Technical assistance for specialized studies, project development, and related activities, and requirements for long term assistance, are normally beyond the scope of disaster preparedness assistance, and are appropriately addressed by other Corps authorities and programs. Subpart B addresses disaster preparedness responsibilities and activities.

(b) Emergency operations. Emergency operations, consisting of Flood Response (flood fight and rescue operations) and Post Flood Response assistance, may be provided to supplement State and local emergency operations efforts. Subpart C of this part addresses emergency operations assistance.

(c) Rehabilitation. The Corps may rehabilitate flood control works damaged or destroyed by floods and coastal storms. The Corps Rehabilitation and Inspection Program (RIP) incorporates both disaster preparedness activities and Rehabilitation Assistance. The RIP consists of a process to inspect flood control works; a status determination, i.e., an inspection-based determination of qualification for future potential Rehabilitation Assistance; and the provision of Rehabilitation Assistance to those projects with Active status that are damaged in a flood or coastal storm event. Subpart D addresses Rehabilitation Assistance and the RIP.

(d) Emergency water supplies due to contaminated water source. The Corps may provide emergency supplies of clean water to any locality confronted with a source of contaminated water causing, or likely to cause, a substantial threat to the public health and welfare of the inhabitants of the locality. Subpart E addresses emergency water supply assistance.

(e) Drought assistance. Corps assistance may be provided to drought-distressed areas (as declared by the Secretary of the Army or his delegated nominee) to construct wells and to transport water for human consumption. Subpart E addresses drought assistance.

(f) Advance Measures. Advance Measures assistance may be provided to protect against imminent threats of predicted, but unusual, floods. Advance Measures projects must be justified from an engineering and economic standpoint, and must be capable of completion in a timely manner. Advance Measures assistance may be provided only to protect against loss of life and/or significant damages to improved property due to flooding. Subpart F of this part addresses Advance Measures assistance.

Non-Federal interests, which include State, county and local governments; federally recognized Indian Tribes; and Alaska Native Corporations, are required to make full use of their own resources before Federal assistance can be furnished. The National Guard, as part of the State's resources when it is under State control, must be fully utilized as part of the non-Federal response. Non-Federal responsibilities include the following:

(a) Disaster preparedness. Disaster preparedness is a basic tenet of State and local responsibility. Disaster preparedness responsibilities of non-Federal interests include:

(1) Operation and maintenance of flood control works;

(2) Procurement and stockpiling of sandbags, pumps, and/or other materials or equipment that might be needed during flood situations;

(3) Training personnel to operate, maintain, and patrol projects during crisis situations, and preparation of plans to address emergency situations;

(4) Taking those actions necessary for flood control works to gain and maintain an Active status in the Corps Rehabilitation and Inspection Program (RIP), as detailed in subpart D of this part; and,

(5) Responsible regulation, management, and use of floodplain areas.

(b) Emergency operations. During emergency operations, non-Federal interests must commit available resources, to include work force, supplies, equipment, and funds. Requests for Corps emergency operations assistance will be in writing from the appropriate State, tribal, or local official. For flood fight direct assistance and Post Flood Response assistance, non-Federal interests must furnish formal written assurances of local cooperation by entering into Cooperation Agreements (CA's), as detailed in subpart G of this regulation. (For Corps work authorized under Public Law 84-99, the term “Cooperation Agreement” is used to differentiate this agreement from a Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that addresses the original construction of a project.) Following Flood Response or Post Flood Response assistance, it is a non-Federal responsibility to remove expedient flood control structures and similar works installed by the Corps under Public Law 84-99.

(c) Rehabilitation of non-Federal flood control projects. Prior to Corps rehabilitation of non-Federal flood control projects, non-Federal interests must furnish formal written assurances of local cooperation by entering into a CA, as detailed in subpart G of this part. Requirements of local participation include such items as provision of lands, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, and suitable borrow and dredged or excavated material disposal areas (LERRD's), applicable cost-sharing, and costs attributable to deficient and/or deferred maintenance.

(d) Rehabilitation of Federal flood control projects. Sponsors of Federal flood control projects are usually not required to furnish written assurances of local cooperation, if the PCA for the original construction of the project is sufficient. (Note: The PCA may also be referred to as a local cooperation agreement (LCA), cooperation and participation agreement (C&P), or similar terms.) In lieu of a new PCA, the Corps will notify the sponsor of the sponsor's standing requirements, including such items as LERRD's, costs attributable to deficient or deferred maintenance, removal of temporary works, relocations, and any cost-sharing requirements contained in subpart G of § 203.82. Modifications to the existing Operation and Maintenance Manual may be required based on the Rehabilitation Assistance required.

(e) Emergency water supplies due to contaminated water source. Except for federally recognized Indian Tribes or Alaska Native Corporations, Non-Federal interests must first seek emergency water assistance through the Governor of the affected State. If the State is unable to provide the needed assistance, then the Governor or his or her authorized representative must request Corps assistance in writing. Similarly, requests for Corps assistance for Indian Tribes or Alaska Native Corporations must be submitted in writing. A CA (see subpart G of this part) is required prior to assistance being rendered. Requests for assistance must include information concerning the criteria prescribed by subpart E of this part.

(f) Drought assistance. Except for federally recognized Indian Tribes or Alaska Native Corporations, non-Federal interests must first seek emergency drinking water assistance through the Governor of the affected State. Requests for Corps assistance will be in writing from the Governor or his or her authorized representative. Similarly, requests for Corps assistance for Indian Tribes or Alaska Native Corporations must be submitted in writing. A CA (see subpart G of this part) is required prior to assistance being rendered. Assistance can be provided to those drought-distressed areas (as declared by the Secretary of the Army) to construct wells and to transport water for human consumption. Requests for assistance must include information concerning the criteria prescribed by subpart E of this part.

(g) Advance Measures. Advance Measures assistance should complement the maximum non-Federal capability. Requests for assistance must be made by the Governor of the affected State, except requests for assistance on tribal lands held in trust by the United States, or on lands of the Alaska Natives, may be submitted directly by the affected Federally recognized Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Corporation, or through the regional representative of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or through the Governor of the State in which the lands are located. A CA (see subpart G of this part) is required prior to assistance being rendered. Non-Federal participation may include either financial contribution or commitment of non-Federal physical resources, or both.

The following definitions are applicable throughout this part:

Federal project. A project constructed by the Corps, and subsequently turned over to a local sponsor for operations and maintenance responsibility. This definition also includes any project specifically designated as a Federal project by an Act of Congress.

Flood control project: A project designed and constructed to have appreciable and dependable effects in preventing damage from irregular and unusual rises in water level. For a multipurpose project, only those components that are necessary for the flood control function are considered eligible for Rehabilitation Assistance.

Governor. All references in part 203 to the Governor of a State also refer to: the Governors of United States commonwealths, territories, and possessions; and the Mayor of Washington, D.C.

Hurricane/Shore Protection Project (HSPP). A flood control project designed and constructed to have appreciable and predictable effects in preventing damage to developed areas from the impacts of hurricanes, tsunamis, and coastal storms. These effects are primarily to protect against wave action, storm surge, wind, and the complicating factors of extraordinary high tides. HSPP's include projects known as shore protection projects, shore protection structures, periodic nourishment projects, shore enhancement projects, and similar terms. Components of an HSPP may include both hard (permanent construction) and soft (sacrificial, i.e., sand) features.

Non-Federal project. A project constructed with non-Federal funds, or a project constructed by tribal, State, local, or private interests, or a component of such a project. A project constructed under Federal emergency disaster authorities, such as Public Law 84-99 or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5121, et seq.) (hereinafter referred to as the Stafford Act), is a non-Federal project unless it repairs or replaces an existing Federal project. Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects, and projects funded completely or partially by other (non-Corps) Federal agencies, are considered non-Federal projects for the application of Public Law 84-99 authority.

Non-Federal sponsor. A non-Federal sponsor is a public entity that is a legally constituted public body with full authority and capability to perform the terms of its agreement as the non-Federal partner of the Corps for a project, and able to pay damages, if necessary, in the event of its failure to perform. A non-Federal sponsor may be a State, County, City, Town, Federally recognized Indian Tribe or tribal organization, Alaska Native Corporation, or any political subpart of a State or group of states that has the legal and financial authority and capability to provide the necessary cash contributions and LERRD's necessary for the project.

Repair and rehabilitation. The term “repair and rehabilitation” means the repair or rebuilding of a flood control structure, after the structure has been damaged by a flood, hurricane, or coastal storm, to the level of protection provided by the structure prior to the flood, hurricane, or coastal storm. “Repair and rehabilitation” does not include improvements (betterments) to the structure, nor does “repair and rehabilitation” include any repair or rebuilding of a flood control structure that, in the normal course of usage, has become structurally unsound and is no longer fit to provide the level of protection for which it was designed.

Requests for Public Law 84-99 assistance on tribal lands held in trust by the United States, or on lands of the Alaska Natives, may be submitted to the Corps directly by the affected federally recognized Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Corporation, or through the appropriate regional representative of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or through the Governor of the State.