Cost Share: Federal/Non-Federal
|
Federal Project Limit
|
50% / 50%
|
$500,000
|
Authority and Scope. Section 22 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1974, as amended, authorizes the Planning Assistances to States (PAS) Program. The PAS Program allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to provide planning assistance for the development, utilization, and conservation of water and related land resources. The PAS Program allows the Corps to partner with states, groups of states, Federally-recognized territories or tribes, local governments, and other non-federal entities. Under this program, the Corps offers two types of planning assistance: comprehensive water resources planning or technical assistance. All assistance is limited to planning, and studies conducted under the PAS Program cannot include detailed design for construction.
Types of Assistance. Under the PAS Program, the Corps can provide one of two types of assistance: Comprehensive Water Resources Planning or Technical Assistance. Comprehensive Water Resources Planning includes planning for the development, utilization, and conservation of water and water-related resources of drainage basins, watersheds, or ecosystems located within the boundaries of that state(s). Technical Assistance includes technical support of planning efforts related to the management of state water resources. Additional information about these types of assistance is provided in the Program Fact Sheet.
Funding. The Planning Assistance to States (PAS) Program is funded annually by Congress. More than one study may be conducted per State or Tribe per year, but no more than $5 million in Federal funds for PAS comprehensive planning efforts may be expended in a state per fiscal year. Individual studies generally cost $25,000 to $200,000. These studies are cost shared on a 50 percent federal, 50 percent non-federal basis. In-kind contributions may be accepted to meet cost share requirements for Comprehensive Water Resource Planning studies, but in-kind services cannot be used for Technical Assistance studies.
Typical Studies. The program can encompass many types of studies related to water resources. Example studies conducted under the PAS authority include the following:
- Water supply and demand studies
- Water quality studies
- Environmental conversation or restoration studies
- Wetland evaluation studies
- Dam safety/failure studies
- Flood damage reduction studies
- Floodplain management studies
- Coastal zone management or protection studies
- Harbor or port studies
How to Request Assistance: Eligible sponsors interested in obtaining planning assistance under this program may contact the appropriate Corps of Engineers office for further details. Contact information for the Buffalo District PAS Program Manager is provided below. To initiate scoping activities, the Corps of Engineers must receive a Letter of Intent from an eligible nonfederal sponsor. Sample letters of intent are provided in the Program Fact Sheet. The Corps of Engineers will coordinate all requests for assistance with the appropriate state or Tribal coordinator to ensure that studies are initiated in support of state or Tribal water resource management needs.
PAS Program Manager: Jen Brancho, jennie.m.brancho@usace.army.mil or 216-598-3463