[20050818]RS22129_2005年WRDA“工程兵团改革”.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS22129August 18, 2005“Corps of Engineers Reform” in WRDA 2005Nicole T. CarterAnalyst in Environmental PolicyResources, Science, and Industry DivisionSummaryEnactment of Water Resources Development Acts (WRDAs) in recent Congresseshas been complicated by proposed changes to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)policies and practices. The two WRDA 2005 bills S. 728 and H.R. 2864 containprovisions to alter the formulation, review, and fish and wildlife mitigation of Corpswater resources projects. These provisions are fueling disagreement about theappropriate direction for change at the agency and are shaping the WRDA debate in the109th Congress. One view is that Corps projects could be improved by increasingenvironmental considerations in project planning, implementing external review, andenacting more stringent requirements for fish and wildlife mitigation. The changesproposed in H.R. 2864 and proposed WRDA bills of the 108th Congress are viewed bysome stakeholders as first steps in this direction. Some of the changes proposed in S.728 are similar, while others would pr