H.R. 8259

119 HR 8259 IH: Federal Water Projects Consultation Improvement Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-14
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8259  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 14, 2026   Mr. Bentz  (for himself and  Mr. Fulcher ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Natural Resources    A BILL
To ensure meaningful consultation and cooperation between Federal and local entities in the operation of Federal water projects in the Reclamation States, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Federal Water Projects Consultation Improvement Act of 2026  .
2.
Consultation with affected contractors of Federal water projects
(a)
Resolution of water resource issues
In furtherance of the policy established by section 2(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531(c)(2) ), in a consultation or reconsultation under section 7 of that Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1536 ) with respect to the operation of a Federal water project, the head of each action agency, the Secretary, or the head of an action agency and the Secretary working in coordination, as applicable, shall ensure that each covered entity that so requests shall—
(1)
have routine and continuing opportunities—
(A)
to discuss and submit information to the action agency for consideration during the development of any biological assessment; and
(B)
engage with the action agency with respect to the preparation of the biological assessment;
(2)
if the head of an action agency suggests or considers an agency action that would not result in full delivery of water pursuant to a contract for contractors of the Federal water project, be informed and engaged as to—
(A)
the legal authority invoked by the action agency to support that such agency action would be within the scope of the authority of the action agency;
(B)
how each component of the agency action would contribute to avoiding jeopardizing the continued existence of any threatened species or endangered species and destroying or adversely modifying critical habitat and the scientific data or information that supports each component of the agency action under consideration; and
(C)
why any other agency actions that would have fewer adverse water supply and economic impacts are inadequate to avoid jeopardizing the continued existence of any threatened species or endangered species and destroying or adversely modifying critical habitat;
(3)
be informed by the head of the action agency of the schedule for preparation of a biological assessment;
(4)
be informed by the Secretary of the schedule for preparation of the biological opinion at such time as the biological assessment is submitted to the Services by the action agency;
(5)
receive a copy of draft biological opinion and have the opportunity to review each such draft biological opinion and provide comment to the Secretary through engagement with the action agency, which comments shall be afforded due consideration during the consultation;
(6)
have the opportunity to confer and engage with the head of the action agency and applicant, if any, with respect to reasonable and prudent alternatives prior to the identification of any reasonable and prudent alternative for consideration;
(7)
if the Secretary suggests a reasonable and prudent alternative, be informed and engaged with respect to—
(A)
how each component of the reasonable and prudent alternative will contribute to avoiding jeopardizing the continued existence of any threatened species or endangered species and destroying or adversely modifying critical habitat and the scientific data or information that supports each component of the reasonable and prudent alternative; and
(B)
why any other proposed reasonable and prudent alternatives that would have fewer adverse water supply and economic impacts are inadequate to avoid jeopardizing the continued existence of any threatened species or endangered species and destroying or adversely modifying critical habitat; and
(8)
if the Secretary proposes a reasonable and prudent measure to avoid or minimize take of threatened species or endangered species, or terms and conditions to implement such reasonable and prudent measure, be informed and engaged with respect to—
(A)
how the reasonable and prudent measure or terms and conditions relate to avoiding or minimizing such take; and
(B)
whether the reasonable and prudent measure or terms and conditions conform to any applicable limitations.
3.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Action agency
The term  action agency  means the Federal agency responsible for authorizing, funding, or carrying out an action subject to consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1536 ).
(2)
Agency action
The term  agency action  has the meaning given the term in section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2) ).
(3)
Biological assessment
The term  biological assessment  means a biological assessment conducted under section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(c) ).
(4)
Biological opinion
The term  biological opinion  means a written statement provided by the Secretary under section 7(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(3) ).
(5)
Contractor
The term  contractor  means any public agency, quasi-municipal corporation, irrigation district, water users association, or similar entity that has entered into a water service, repayment, or other contract with the United States related to storage, diversion, or delivery of water from a Federal water project.
(6)
Covered entity
The term  covered entity  means a public or quasi-municipal agency or water users association that has a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation for municipal or agricultural water supply from a Federal water project.
(7)
Critical habitat
The term  critical habitat  has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1532 ).
(8)
Endangered species
The term  endangered species  has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1532 ).
(9)
Engage
The term  engage  means to conduct direct written and in-person communications recognizing the unique interest of the contractor and promoting maximum candor and cooperation.
(10)
Federal water project
The term  Federal water project  means any project or facility—
(A)
in a Reclamation State described in subparagraphs (B) through (R) of section 128(a)(7) of the EXPLORE Act ( 16 U.S.C. 8426(a)(7) ); and
(B)
operated or managed by a Federal agency for the authorized purpose of municipal or agricultural water supply.
(11)
Reasonable and prudent alternative
The term  reasonable and prudent alternative  means a reasonable and prudent alternative suggested by the Secretary under section 7(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(3) ).
(12)
Reasonable and prudent measure
The term  reasonable and prudent measure  means a reasonable and prudent measure specified by the Secretary under section 7(b)(4) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(4) ).
(13)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1532 ).
(14)
Take
The term  take  has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1532 ).
(15)
Threatened species
The term  threatened species  has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1532 ).