Benefits and costs attributable to certain measures

(a) In general In the evaluation by the Secretary of benefits and costs of an authorized water resources development project, the Secretary shall treat benefits attributable to measures that utilize a natural feature or nature-based feature (as such terms are defined in section 1184(a) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (33 U.S.C. 2289a(a)) to be at least equal to the costs of such measures. (b) Considerations (1) Applicability The Secretary shall utilize the authority under subsection (a) on not more than 10 projects that utilize a natural feature or nature-based feature, including the projects specified under paragraph (2). (2) Priority projects The Secretary shall utilize the authority under subsection (a) on— (A) the project for flood and storm damage reduction, New York and New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries, New York and New Jersey, as authorized by the Act of June 15, 1955 (chapter 140, 69 Stat. 132; 134 Stat. 2676; 138 Stat. 3152); and (B) the development of a recommendation for mitigation of hot spot erosion on an authorized coastal storm risk management project in the State of New Jersey developed under section 1217 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (138 Stat. 3081). (c) Report Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and make publicly available (including on a publicly available website), a report detailing the results of each evaluation of benefits and costs carried out using the authority under this section. (d) Sunset The authority of the Secretary to initiate an evaluation under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(a) In general In the evaluation by the Secretary of benefits and costs of an authorized water resources development project, the Secretary shall treat benefits attributable to measures that utilize a natural feature or nature-based feature (as such terms are defined in section 1184(a) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (33 U.S.C. 2289a(a)) to be at least equal to the costs of such measures. (b) Considerations (1) Applicability The Secretary shall utilize the authority under subsection (a) on not more than 10 projects that utilize a natural feature or nature-based feature, including the projects specified under paragraph (2). (2) Priority projects The Secretary shall utilize the authority under subsection (a) on— (A) the project for flood and storm damage reduction, New York and New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries, New York and New Jersey, as authorized by the Act of June 15, 1955 (chapter 140, 69 Stat. 132; 134 Stat. 2676; 138 Stat. 3152); and (B) the development of a recommendation for mitigation of hot spot erosion on an authorized coastal storm risk management project in the State of New Jersey developed under section 1217 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (138 Stat. 3081). (c) Report Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and make publicly available (including on a publicly available website), a report detailing the results of each evaluation of benefits and costs carried out using the authority under this section. (d) Sunset The authority of the Secretary to initiate an evaluation under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.