A bill to enact the Passaic River Basin Flood Management Program.
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (21 Oct 1998): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
What this bill does
This bill, S. 2649, proposes the Passaic River Basin Flood Management Program. It directs the Secretary of the Army to acquire, demolish, and remove structures in flood-prone areas of the Central Passaic River basin. The bill also mandates stabilizing floodway land, creating wetlands where appropriate, and managing acquired land as open space. Additionally, it outlines provisions for floodproofing structures and acquiring strategic land in New Jersey and New York to prevent increased flooding.
The program would affect property owners in designated flood-prone areas of the Passaic River basin, potentially involving the acquisition and removal of their structures or the floodproofing of their properties, with varying cost-sharing arrangements. It also establishes an Oversight Committee, composed of representatives from federal, state, and local governments, and environmental groups, to supervise the program's implementation. The bill also requires the Environmental Protection Agency to assist with combined sewer overflow issues in the lower Passaic River Basin.
S. 2649 was introduced in the Senate on October 21, 1998, during the 105th Congress. Its current status is "Introduced," meaning it has been presented to the Senate but has not yet been passed by either chamber of Congress or signed into law. To become law, the bill would need to be approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and then signed by the President.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Directs the Secretary of the Army to acquire, demolish, and remove structures in the floodway of the Central Passaic River basin (the basin) where excessive damage has occurred in at least two floods. Requires that: (1) the floodway land in the basin be stabilized as part of the ecological restoration program under the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 (WRDA) and, where appropriate, wetlands be created; (2) after the land is vacated, it be held in perpetuity by the most appropriate Federal or State agency, as determined by the Oversight Committee (created by this Act), and be managed as open space; (3) this section be carried out in conformance with New Jersey's Blue Acres Program; and (4) crediting of land acquisition for the non-Federal cost share remain in effect in accordance with WRDA. Directs the Secretary to: (1) acquire, demolish, and remove additional structures, or floodproof structures, to the ten-year floodplain in the floodway of the basin in areas where excessive damage has occurred in at least two floods; (2) floodproof structures in the floodplain of the basin to the 50-year floodplain in areas of high risk, at a 55 percent Federal, 20 percent State, and 25 percent property owner cost share; (3) provide information on techniques to deal with flood management in the remainder of the floodplain to the 100-year protective flood elevation; (4) acquire wetlands in the floodways throughout the Great Piece Meadows of the basin, to supplement the wetlands acquisition authorized under WRDA, and upland transition areas with significant wildlife or other natural values; (5) transfer the wetlands and transition areas to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or an appropriate State agency, which shall manage the wetlands and transition areas in accordance with proper wetlands management principles; (6) acquire strategic land in New Jersey and New York to prevent flooding and to prevent flooding from increasing in the High Mountain area in Wayne, New Jersey, and the urban area of the Molly Ann's Brook project in North Haledon, New Jersey; (7) complete the Passaic River Restoration Project from Little Falls to Newark Bay, New Jersey; and (8) complete the streambank restoration element of the project for flood control, Passaic River Main Stem, New Jersey and New York (the Project), authorized by WRDA, known as the Joseph G. Minish Passaic River Waterfront Park and Historic Area, New Jersey (Minish Park). Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to assist the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners in the implementation of remedial actions for the combined sewer overflows in the lower Passaic River Basin from Great Falls to Newark Bay. Establishes the Oversight Committee. Finds that the most appropriate solution to flooding in the Passaic River basin is the "preferred alternative" (a qualified acquisition and hazard mitigation plan for the Project). Directs that such alternative be implemented immediately. (Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations to begin the Federal portion of a buyout of floodway structures authorized by WRDA. Directs that $15 million made available by New Jersey for the Blue Acres portion of the Green Acres Bond Act of 1995, approved by New Jersey voters, constitute the 25 percent non-Federal cost share. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) acquisition of freshwater wetlands, and for floodproofing of structures, in the floodplains within the Passaic River basin; (2) acquisition of land in the Highlands Province to reduce flooding in the Passaic River basin in New Jersey and New York; (3) acquisition of land and the development and redevelopment of parkland along the Passaic River from Little Falls to Newark Bay, Kearny; (4) completion of the Minish Park, at a 100 percent Federal cost share; (5) implementation, each fiscal year, of the preferred alternative and administration of the Oversight Committee; and (6) acquisition of land at High Mountain. Directs that, for the combined sewer project in the lower Passaic River basin, a project budget be established of $85 million, with a $65 million Federal share. Authorizes appropriations for the purpose of making a grant to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission for FY 1999 through 2001.
Timeline
21 Oct 1998
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Common questions
- What does S. 2649 do?
- This bill, S. 2649, proposes the Passaic River Basin Flood Management Program. It directs the Secretary of the Army to acquire, demolish, and remove structures in flood-prone areas of the Central Passaic River basin. The bill also mandates stabilizing floodway land, creating wetlands where appropriate, and managing acquired land as open space. Additionally, it outlines provisions for floodproofing structures and acquiring strategic land in New Jersey and New York to prevent increased flooding. The program would affect property owners in designated flood-prone areas of the Passaic River basin, potentially involving the acquisition and removal of their structures or the floodproofing of their properties, with varying cost-sharing arrangements. It also establishes an Oversight Committee, composed of representatives from federal, state, and local governments, and environmental groups, to supervise the program's implementation. The bill also requires the Environmental Protection Agency to assist with combined sewer overflow issues in the lower Passaic River Basin. S. 2649 was introduced in the Senate on October 21, 1998, during the 105th Congress. Its current status is "Introduced," meaning it has been presented to the Senate but has not yet been passed by either chamber of Congress or signed into law. To become law, the bill would need to be approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and then signed by the President.
- Has S. 2649 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 2649. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 2649?
- S. 2649 was sponsored by Sen. Torricelli, Robert G. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 2649?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (21 Oct 1998).
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