Overview
Title
To prohibit the Corps of Engineers from issuing a permit for the Delta Conveyance Project.
ELI5 AI
H. R. 1311 is a rule that says "no" to building a big water tunnel in California, which means stopping the people in charge from giving the green light for it. It wants to keep things as they are without digging a huge tunnel right now.
Summary AI
H. R. 1311, also known as the “Stop the Delta Tunnel Act,” is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives with the goal of preventing the Corps of Engineers from issuing permits for the Delta Conveyance Project. Specifically, the bill would prohibit the issuance of permits under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for this project. This legislation aims to halt the construction efforts related to the Delta Conveyance Project as outlined in a specific draft environmental impact statement published in December 2022.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, H. R. 1311, aims to halt a significant infrastructure project known as the Delta Conveyance Project. Specifically, the bill prevents the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from issuing permits necessary for this project to proceed. This project involves constructing systems for water conveyance critical to California's water management infrastructure. The bill is brought forward by multiple representatives from California and titled the “Stop the Delta Tunnel Act.”
Summary of Significant Issues
At the heart of the bill is a prohibition on permit issuance for the Delta Conveyance Project. However, there is a notable lack of explanation regarding the specific reasons for this prohibition. This absence in clarity could lead to questions about why the legislative action is necessary and what objectives it serves. Additionally, it limits the powers of key agencies that traditionally manage such permits without proposing alternative solutions. Lastly, the referenced documentation used for this decision is over two years old, potentially making the bill obsolete if subsequent developments have occurred.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this bill could produce mixed reactions from the public. On one hand, there may be support from environmentalists or residents concerned about the potential ecological impact of the Delta Conveyance Project. On the other, there could be concern about how this prohibition might affect water management and distribution—a critical issue in a state frequently impacted by drought and water scarcity. Without permits or a clear alternative plan, the management of water resources might face significant hurdles, potentially affecting agriculture and urban water supplies.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
The stakeholders most affected by this bill include those involved in California's water infrastructure projects, environmental groups, and local communities. For environmental advocates, this bill could represent a step towards protecting local ecosystems, as large-scale construction projects often raise risks to the natural environment. Conversely, industries dependent on reliable water supply and farmers within California may view the bill unfavorably, as it threatens to stall a critical project designed to manage essential water resources.
In conclusion, while H. R. 1311 aims to address specific concerns related to the Delta Conveyance Project, its lack of clarity and justification raises questions. The bill's impact on water management could have significant consequences for both environmental protection efforts and resources-dependent industries in California, underscoring the complexity and nuanced implications of such legislative actions.
Issues
The prohibition on the Delta Conveyance Project permit (Section 2) does not clearly specify the reasons for this prohibition, leading to ambiguity regarding the justification for this legislative action, which could have significant implications for stakeholders, including environmental groups, residents, and industries dependent on California's water management system.
By limiting the authority of the Secretary of the Army and the Corps of Engineers without an outlined alternative process or solution, Section 2 of the bill could disrupt existing protocols intended to manage environmental and water resource issues, potentially leading to negative impacts on regional water distribution and infrastructure projects.
The lack of mention of any potential environmental policy or water management implications in Section 2 could result in unintended legal and financial consequences, as stakeholders may not be fully aware of how the prohibition might impact broader environmental strategies and compliance with federal and state regulations.
Section 2 relies on the document titled 'Delta Conveyance Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement' which dates back to December 2022, but it does not consider whether there have been updates, changes, or further evaluations since that time, potentially making the basis for this decision outdated.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act specifies its short title, which is the “Stop the Delta Tunnel Act.”
2. Prohibition on Delta Conveyance Project permit Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section prohibits the Secretary of the Army from issuing a permit under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for the Delta Conveyance Project as described in a document published in December 2022 by the Corps of Engineers.