Army Corps of Engineers Communications Accountability Act of 2012

Army Corps of Engineers Communications Accountability Act of 2012 - Requires the Chief of Engineers: (1) to notify the public within seven days after determining that runoff conditions in the Missouri River System are likely to reach the upper quartile or upper decile scenarios specified for a year in an annual operating plan for such System; and (2) to meet with a state, local, or tribal government with jurisdiction over an area that will be affected by a flood occurring in the System within seven days after such government requests such a consultation regarding such an upper decile determination. Authorizes the Chief to provide in such consultation information regarding expected water levels, advice regarding preparedness actions, and technical assistance.

[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5717 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5717

To require the Army Corps of Engineers to notify the public of certain 
 flood predictions regarding the Missouri River System, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 10, 2012

  Mrs. Noem (for herself and Mr. Berg) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Army Corps of Engineers to notify the public of certain 
 flood predictions regarding the Missouri River System, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Army Corps of Engineers 
Communications Accountability Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. NOTIFICATION AND CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--If the Chief of Engineers makes an upper quartile 
determination or an upper decile determination, the Chief of Engineers 
shall notify the public of such determination, and consult with 
affected governments, in accordance with this section.
    (b) Notification.--Not later than 7 days after making a 
determination described in subsection (a), the Chief of Engineers shall 
notify the public that such determination has been made.
    (c) Consultation.--
            (1) In general.--If the Chief of Engineers makes an upper 
        decile determination, an affected government may request a 
        consultation with the Chief of Engineers.
            (2) Deadline.--If an affected government requests a 
        consultation under paragraph (1), the Chief of Engineers shall 
        provide such consultation not later than 7 days after receiving 
        the request.
            (3) Contents.--The Chief of Engineers may provide in a 
        consultation under this subsection--
                    (A) information regarding expected water levels;
                    (B) advice regarding appropriate preparedness 
                actions;
                    (C) technical assistance; and
                    (D) any other information or assistance determined 
                appropriate by the Chief of Engineers.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Affected government.--The term ``affected government'' 
        means a State, local, or tribal government with jurisdiction 
        over an area that will be affected by a flood occurring in the 
        Missouri River System, as determined by the Chief of Engineers 
        in an upper decile determination.
            (2) Annual operating plan.--The term ``annual operating 
        plan'' means a plan prepared by the Chief of Engineers that 
        describes potential water conditions scenarios for the Missouri 
        River System for a year.
            (3) Upper decile determination.--The term ``upper decile 
        determination'' means a determination that runoff conditions in 
        the Missouri River System are likely to reach the upper decile 
        scenario specified for a year in an annual operating plan.
            (4) Upper quartile determination.--The term ``upper 
        quartile determination'' means a determination that runoff 
        conditions in the Missouri River System are likely to reach the 
        upper quartile scenario specified for a year in an annual 
        operating plan.
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