# Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act: Plain Language Summary

This bill streamlines the process for building new water storage projects like dams and reservoirs on federal land. Right now, when someone wants to build a water storage project, they have to get approvals from multiple federal agencies, each working on their own timeline with their own requirements. This bill creates a single point of contact—the Bureau of Reclamation—to coordinate all those different approvals so everything happens on one unified schedule instead of in a scattered, time-consuming way.

The Bureau of Reclamation becomes the lead coordinator, meaning they'll be responsible for bringing all the relevant federal agencies together, setting deadlines, and making sure everyone is working toward the same goal. Within 30 days of receiving a project proposal, the Bureau notifies all agencies that might have a say in the project and sets up a meeting to explain what information is needed and what the timeline will be. Each agency then has to commit to a specific timeframe for completing their part of the review. The bill also requires the Bureau to create one unified environmental document that all agencies can use as the basis for their decisions, rather than having each agency do separate environmental reviews.

The bill applies to new water storage projects in western states covered under the 1902 Reclamation Act, and it allows states to participate in this coordinated process if they choose. Project applicants can also contribute funding to help speed up the permitting process, though the bill includes safeguards to ensure that paying for faster review doesn't influence the actual decisions agencies make about whether to approve a project. The goal is to reduce delays and confusion while maintaining the same environmental protections and regulatory standards that currently apply.

Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act

Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act This bill makes the Bureau of Reclamation the lead agency for the purpose of coordinating all permitting and related activities required to construct certain new surface-water storage projects. Specifically, Reclamation must identify, notify, and coordinate all Federal agencies that may have jurisdiction over a review, analysis, opinion, statement, permit, license, approval, or decision for a qualifying project. A state where a project is being considered may also choose to participate as a cooperating agency. Reclamation's coordination responsibilities include (1) preparing a unified environmental review document, and (2) maintaining a consolidated administrative record and project data records. Additionally, Reclamation is authorized to accept and expend funds contributed by a nonfederal&nbsp;public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit for such a project.