Army Corps of Engineers: Section 7001 Report on Future Studies and Projects
link to page 2 
INSIGHTi
Army Corps of Engineers: Section 7001 Report
on Future Studies and Projects
Updated February 2, 2024
Congress specifically authorizes most of the water resource development studies, projects, and other
assistance activities performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), typically through Water
Resources Development Acts (WRDAs). In 2014, amid congressional earmark moratorium policies that
applied to authorizations and appropriations during the 112th-116th Congresses, Congress established an
annual process for submission and reporting of nonfederal proposals for site-specific water resource
studies and projects that require congressional authorization. It was enacted as Section 7001 of the Water
Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA 2014; P.L. 113-121, 33 U.S.C. §2282d).
Although earmark policies changed after the 116th Congress, the Section 7001 process remains active and
Section 7001 reports continue to inform WRDA development. Inclusion of a proposal in a Section 7001
report provides neither congressional authorization nor appropriation; rather, inclusion facilitates
congressional consideration of the proposal’s authorization.
The Section 7001 process begins with a USACE call for nonfederal proposals and concludes with a report
that the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASACW) transmits to the House Transportation
and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee
(Figure 1). In turn, these reports, among other input, may inform the congressional development of
subsequent WRDAs. For example, Congress used Section 7001 reports when developing WRDAs
enacted from 2016 through 2022. In addition to Section 7001 reports, in the 117th and 118th Congresses,
the House T&I and Senate EPW committees also separately solicited priorities for WRDA from Members
of Congress.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN11118
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress
Congressional Research Service
2
Figure 1. General Section 7001 Process for Nonfederal Submissions
Source: Congressional Research Service.
Notes: EPW = Environment and Public Works Committee. T&I = Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. WRDA
= Water Resources Development Act. The Section 7001 process is one of multiple inputs informing WRDA development.
The call for proposals by nonfederal interests is typically announced by a Federal Register notice in May,
and the report is due to the committees in February of the next year, although the deadline is not always
met. The ASACW transmitted the 2023 Section 7001 report in December 2023. The nonfederal proposal
submission period for the 2024 Section 7001 report closed August 28, 2023, and the report is due to the
House T&I and Senate EPW committees in February 2024.
Congressional Authorization and Section 7001 Reports
Most project-specific authorizations in WRDAs fall into one of four categories: feasibility studies,
construction projects, environmental infrastructure (EI) assistance, or modifications to existing
authorizations.
Section 7001 Report
Section 7001 of WRRDA 2014, as amended, directs the ASACW to submit an annual report that includes
proposals submitted by nonfederal interests in response to the Federal Register notice and reports by the
Chief of Engineers (i.e., Chief’s reports) for completed studies. The statute indicates that the proposals
submitted by nonfederal interests are to be for
• feasibility studies;
• modifications to study and project authorities; and
• modifications to EI assistance authorities.
For proposals to be included, Section 7001 requires that they meet five criteria:
(i) are related to the missions and authorities of the Corps of Engineers; (ii) require specific
congressional authorization, including by an Act of Congress; (iii) have not been congressionally
authorized; (iv) have not been included in any previous annual report; and (v) if authorized, could
be carried out by the USACE.
Section 7001 reports include only those proposals that the ASACW determines meet all five criteria.
Proposals that do not meet all five criteria are placed in the report’s appendix.
For most proposals listed in the appendixes of reports transmitted in 2015-2023, an authority already
existed to perform the requested activity or the proposal did not fit within the USACE’s missions and
authorities. USACE adjusted the 2021-2023 solicitations pursuant to congressional direction to expand
eligibility for inclusion in the report to include
Congressional Research Service
3
• proposals whose primary purpose is municipal or agricultural water supply (per direction
from §127 of WRDA 2020; Division AA of P.L. 116-260), and
• proposals for recreation or hydropower, if undertaken in conjunction with a project or
effort within a USACE mission.
Nonfederal Proposals
Nonfederal proposals are to include a description of the proposed activity and its relation to USACE
missions and authorities, a statement of support and financial ability from sponsoring nonfederal interests,
and federal and nonfederal shares of the proposed activity’s estimated cost, among other requirements.
According to USACE, nonfederal interests do not need to submit completed feasibility reports through
the Section 7001 proposal process before pursuing construction authorization.
In WRDA 2020, Congress directed the ASACW to provide assistance to nonfederal interests for future
Section 7001 report submissions (§204). USACE hosted webinars on the proposal process in 2023 and
plans to do so again in 2024. It also encourages nonfederal interests to request technical support through
their USACE districts to prepare submissions.
Transmitted Reports and WRDA Authorization
Prior to WRDA 2022, the ASACW transmitted Section 7001 reports entitled Report to Congress on
Future Water Resources Development to the authorizing committees annually from 2015 through 2022.
Congress used Section 7001 reports, among other input (e.g., Member priorities submitted directly to the
committees), in developing WRDA 2022. For example, WRDA 2022 authorized the following, which
were referenced in the 2021 and 2022 Section 7001 reports and their appendixes:
• construction for 17 studies with Chief’s reports;
• 6 studies;
• modifications for 2 study authorities;
• modifications for 5 project authorities; and
• modifications for 11 EI assistance authorities and 2 new EI assistance authorities.
Congress did not authorize all proposals in the main body of the 2021 and 2022 reports or authorize in
WRDA 2022 the proposals in the exact way they were presented in the Section 7001 reports.
After enactment of WRDA 2022, the ASACW transmitted the 2023 Section 7001 report to Congress. The
report included 12 nonfederal proposals (6 new studies, 4 modifications of project authorities, and 2
modifications to EI assistance authorities) in the body of the report. The appendix included nine
nonfederal proposals that did not meet the aforementioned criteria. Congress may consider the contents of
this Section 7001 report, other Section 7001 reports, and other input in developing future WRDAs.
Author Information
Anna E. Normand
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
Congressional Research Service
4
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of
information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.
CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United
States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However,
as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the
permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
IN11118 · VERSION 14 · UPDATED
INSIGHTi
Army Corps of Engineers: Section 7001 Report
on Future Studies and Projects
Updated February 2, 2024
Congress specifically authorizes most of the water resource development studies, projects, and other
assistance activities performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), typically through Water
Resources Development Acts (WRDAs). In 2014, amid congressional earmark moratorium policies that
applied to authorizations and appropriations during the 112th-116th Congresses, Congress established an
annual process for submission and reporting of nonfederal proposals for site-specific water resource
studies and projects that require congressional authorization. It was enacted as Section 7001 of the Water
Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA 2014; P.L. 113-121, 33 U.S.C. §2282d).
Although earmark policies changed after the 116th Congress, the Section 7001 process remains active and
Section 7001 reports continue to inform WRDA development. Inclusion of a proposal in a Section 7001
report provides neither congressional authorization nor appropriation; rather, inclusion facilitates
congressional consideration of the proposal’s authorization.
The Section 7001 process begins with a USACE call for nonfederal proposals and concludes with a report
that the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASACW) transmits to the House Transportation
and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee
(Figure 1). In turn, these reports, among other input, may inform the congressional development of
subsequent WRDAs. For example, Congress used Section 7001 reports when developing WRDAs
enacted from 2016 through 2022. In addition to Section 7001 reports, in the 117th and 118th Congresses,
the House T&I and Senate EPW committees also separately solicited priorities for WRDA from Members
of Congress.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN11118
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress
Congressional Research Service
2
Figure 1. General Section 7001 Process for Nonfederal Submissions
Source: Congressional Research Service.
Notes: EPW = Environment and Public Works Committee. T&I = Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. WRDA
= Water Resources Development Act. The Section 7001 process is one of multiple inputs informing WRDA development.
The call for proposals by nonfederal interests is typically announced by a Federal Register notice in May,
and the report is due to the committees in February of the next year, although the deadline is not always
met. The ASACW transmitted the 2023 Section 7001 report in December 2023. The nonfederal proposal
submission period for the 2024 Section 7001 report closed August 28, 2023, and the report is due to the
House T&I and Senate EPW committees in February 2024.
Congressional Authorization and Section 7001 Reports
Most project-specific authorizations in WRDAs fall into one of four categories: feasibility studies,
construction projects, environmental infrastructure (EI) assistance, or modifications to existing
authorizations.
Section 7001 Report
Section 7001 of WRRDA 2014, as amended, directs the ASACW to submit an annual report that includes
proposals submitted by nonfederal interests in response to the Federal Register notice and reports by the
Chief of Engineers (i.e., Chief’s reports) for completed studies. The statute indicates that the proposals
submitted by nonfederal interests are to be for
• feasibility studies;
• modifications to study and project authorities; and
• modifications to EI assistance authorities.
For proposals to be included, Section 7001 requires that they meet five criteria:
(i) are related to the missions and authorities of the Corps of Engineers; (ii) require specific
congressional authorization, including by an Act of Congress; (iii) have not been congressionally
authorized; (iv) have not been included in any previous annual report; and (v) if authorized, could
be carried out by the USACE.
Section 7001 reports include only those proposals that the ASACW determines meet all five criteria.
Proposals that do not meet all five criteria are placed in the report’s appendix.
For most proposals listed in the appendixes of reports transmitted in 2015-2023, an authority already
existed to perform the requested activity or the proposal did not fit within the USACE’s missions and
authorities. USACE adjusted the 2021-2023 solicitations pursuant to congressional direction to expand
eligibility for inclusion in the report to include
Congressional Research Service
3
• proposals whose primary purpose is municipal or agricultural water supply (per direction
from §127 of WRDA 2020; Division AA of P.L. 116-260), and
• proposals for recreation or hydropower, if undertaken in conjunction with a project or
effort within a USACE mission.
Nonfederal Proposals
Nonfederal proposals are to include a description of the proposed activity and its relation to USACE
missions and authorities, a statement of support and financial ability from sponsoring nonfederal interests,
and federal and nonfederal shares of the proposed activity’s estimated cost, among other requirements.
According to USACE, nonfederal interests do not need to submit completed feasibility reports through
the Section 7001 proposal process before pursuing construction authorization.
In WRDA 2020, Congress directed the ASACW to provide assistance to nonfederal interests for future
Section 7001 report submissions (§204). USACE hosted webinars on the proposal process in 2023 and
plans to do so again in 2024. It also encourages nonfederal interests to request technical support through
their USACE districts to prepare submissions.
Transmitted Reports and WRDA Authorization
Prior to WRDA 2022, the ASACW transmitted Section 7001 reports entitled Report to Congress on
Future Water Resources Development to the authorizing committees annually from 2015 through 2022.
Congress used Section 7001 reports, among other input (e.g., Member priorities submitted directly to the
committees), in developing WRDA 2022. For example, WRDA 2022 authorized the following, which
were referenced in the 2021 and 2022 Section 7001 reports and their appendixes:
• construction for 17 studies with Chief’s reports;
• 6 studies;
• modifications for 2 study authorities;
• modifications for 5 project authorities; and
• modifications for 11 EI assistance authorities and 2 new EI assistance authorities.
Congress did not authorize all proposals in the main body of the 2021 and 2022 reports or authorize in
WRDA 2022 the proposals in the exact way they were presented in the Section 7001 reports.
After enactment of WRDA 2022, the ASACW transmitted the 2023 Section 7001 report to Congress. The
report included 12 nonfederal proposals (6 new studies, 4 modifications of project authorities, and 2
modifications to EI assistance authorities) in the body of the report. The appendix included nine
nonfederal proposals that did not meet the aforementioned criteria. Congress may consider the contents of
this Section 7001 report, other Section 7001 reports, and other input in developing future WRDAs.
Author Information
Anna E. Normand
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
Congressional Research Service
4
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of
information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.
CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United
States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However,
as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the
permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
IN11118 · VERSION 14 · UPDATED