Continuing Authorities Program
The Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) is focused primarily on water resource related projects of relatively smaller scope, cost and complexity. Unlike the traditional Corps' civil works projects that are of wider scope and complexity and require specific authorization and appropriations, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, has been delegated the authority to plan, design, and construct certain types of water resource and environmental restoration projects without specific Congressional authorization pursuant to nine legislative authorities."The Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) is focused primarily on water resource related projects of relatively smaller scope, cost and complexity."
The costs of Corps water resources studies and projects are shared between the Federal government (the Corps) and the non-Federal interest (sponsor), in accordance with the cost sharing requirements outlined in Federal laws.
Problems that can be addressed by the Continuing Authorities Program are —
- Emergency Stream-bank and Shoreline Protection: Section 14
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction: Section 103
- Navigation: Section 107
- Mitigation of Shoreline Damage: Section 111
- Ecosystem Restoration Associated With Dredging: Section 204
- Flood Damage Reduction: Section 205
- Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration: Section 206
- Snagging and Clearing for Flood Control: Section 208
- Project Modifications for Improvement of the Environment: Section 1135
Emergency Stream-bank and Shoreline Erosion: Authorized by Section 14 of the 1946 Flood Control Act, as amended; the Federal share may not exceed $1 million for each project. Work under this authority allows emergency steam-bank and shoreline protection to prevent damage to public facilities, such as roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and water/sewage treatment plants.
Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction: Authorized by Section 103 of the 1962 River and Harbor Act, as amended; the Federal share may not exceed $3 million for each project. Work under this authority provides for protection or restoration of public shorelines by the construction of revetments, groins, and jetties, and may also include periodic sand replenishment.
Navigation Improvements: Authorized by Section 107 of the 1960 River and Harbor Act, as amended: The Federal share may not exceed $4 million for each project. Work under this authority is intended to provide improvements to navigation including dredging of channels, widening of turning basins, and construction of navigation aids.
Shore Damage Attributable to Federal Navigation Works: Authorized by Section 111 of the 1968 River and Harbor Act, as amended; The Federal share may not exceed $5 million for each project. Work under this authority provides for the prevention of mitigation of erosion damages to public or privately owned shores along the coastline of the United States when these damages are a result of a Federal navigation project. This authority cannot be used for shore damages caused by riverbank erosion or vessel-generated wave wash. It is not intended to restore shorelines to historic dimensions, but only to reduce erosion to the level that would have existed without the construction of a Federal navigation project. Project cost sharing may not be required for this program.
Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material: Section 204 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992, as amended; provides authority to use dredged material from new or existing Federal projects to protect, restore, or create aquatic and ecologically related habitats, including wetlands. In addition to the benefits justifying the costs, the project must not result in environmental degradation. Existing policy requires the use of the least cost disposal method in Corps projects. If the cost of disposal of dredged material for beneficial uses I higher than the least cost method of disposal, the non-Federal share will be 25 percent of the additional costs of disposal.
Flood Control Projects: Authorized by Section 205 of the 1948 Flood Control Act, as amended: The Federal share may not exceed $7 million for each project. Work under this authority provides for local protection from flooding by the construction or improvement of flood control works such as levees, channels, and dams. Non-structural alternatives are also considered and may include measures such as installation of flood warning systems, raising and/or flood proofing of structures, and relocation of flood prone facilities.
Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration: Authorized by Section 206 to the Water Resources Development Act of 1996; the non-Federal share of these projects is 35 percent (including studies, plans and specification, and construction), and the Federal share is limited to $5 million. Work under this authority may carry out aquatic ecosystem restoration projects that will improve the quality of the environment, and I the public interest, and are cost-effective. There is no requirement that these projects be associated with any existing Corps project.
Snagging and Clearing for Flood Control: Authorized by Section 208 of the 1954 Flood Control Act, as amended; the Federal share may not exceed $500,000 for each project. Work under this authority provides for local protection from flooding by channel clearing and excavation, with limited embankment construction by use of materials from the clearing operation only.
Project Modifications for Improvement of the Environment: Authorized by Section 1135 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, as amended; the Federal Share of each separate project may not exceed $5 million, including studies, plans and specifications, and construction. A non-Federal sponsor is required to provide 25 percent of the cost of the project. Work under this authority provides for modifications in the structure and operations of water resources projects constructed by the Corps of Engineers. Additionally the Corps may undertake restoration projects at locations where a Corps project has contributed to the degradation. The primary goal of these projects is ecosystem restoration with an emphasis on projects benefiting fish and wildlife. The project must be consistent with the authorized purposes of the project being modified.
Questions concerning Programs & Projects?
Call the Charleston District Office(1) 866.329.8187 (Toll Free)
843.329.8044 (Local)
843.329.2332 (Fax)
Email point of contact for Charleston's Programs & Projects Division
Mailing Address:
US Army Corps of Engineers
Programs & Projects Division
69A Hagood Ave.
Charleston, South Carolina 29403-5107