Levee systems and/or flood control projects are authorized for repairs if damaged by a flood event when the levee system is within the Corps' PL 84-99 program. Ratings given to a levee system as a result of Corps inspections (sometimes referred to as continuing eligibility inspections) are used to determine if a project is “active” in the Corps' Rehabilitation and Inspection Program.
To be included in the PL 84-99 program, a levee system or flood control project must be routinely inspected by the Corps of Engineers and found to meet Corps of Engineers construction standards and to be maintained in a fashion that does not deter from its structural integrity. A levee system must maintain an Acceptable or Minimally Acceptable rating on 18 line items to remain active.
Examples of conditions that will lessen the integrity of a levee system and/or flood control project and may result in a Corps determination that the levee system/flood control project does not meet Corps standards: burrow holes (mammal or man-made), tree growth (roots degrade structure; tree weight causes undue stress), erosion, any other condition determined to be a detriment to the structure.
Portland District works closely with project sponsors if a levee system receives an overall rating of unacceptable to explain the deficiencies and help devise a plan to correct the deficiencies. The sponsor is placed in an inactive status until the corrections are made. The levee system remains eligible for flood fighting assistance, but not federal rehabilitation assistance. The Corps also will notify the appropriate Federal Emergency Management Agency region and state and local emergency management agencies of the inspection results.
Criteria: On March 21, 2014, the Corps released interim policy guidance for determining eligibility status of Flood Damage Reduction Systems in the Public Law (PL) 84-99 Rehabilitation and Inspection Program. This interim policy changes the way PL 84-99 Rehabilitation and Inspection Program eligibility is determined for flood damage reduction systems.
Eighteen line items in the USACE Flood Damage Reduction System inspection report have been identified as the criteria that will be used to determine P.L. 84-99 eligibility. These line items are referred to as the interim eligibility inspection criteria. Any line item rating of Unacceptable “U” on any one of the eighteen inspection items will generate an inactive status in the P.L. 84-99 Rehabilitation and Inspection Program. Line item ratings of Minimally Acceptable “M”, Acceptable “A”, or Not Applicable “N/A” on all the eighteen line items will generate an active status in PL 84-99.
The maintaining authority will be notified of failure to meet Corps standards and be provided ample time to correct deficiencies. If deficiencies are not corrected, the levee system/flood control project will be removed from the PL 84-99 program and become ineligible for federally assisted repairs if damages are incurred due to a flood event.