Bynum Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Barriers for Key Environmental Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Congressman Troy Downing (MT-02), Congresswoman Marie Glusenkamp-Perez (WA-03), and Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01)introduced the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to reduce barriers for certain key projects in floodplains. Specifically, the bill creates a streamlined path for environmental restoration projects in regulated floodplains that meet specific low-risk criteria while upholding flood safety standards. The Senate version of this legislation was introduced by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Steve Daines (R-MT).

Under the current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) policy, any proposed projects in a regulated floodplain must abide by the “No Rise” rule, proving that they will not increase the base flood elevation (BFE) of the area. While this rule protects communities from increased flood risks, it also can have major unintended consequences, including higher costs and slower project completion times for essential environmental restoration projects.

This bipartisan, bicameral bill would create a new pathway to exempt certain environmental restoration projects in regulated floodplains from having to demonstrate no net impact on base flood elevation.

“Environmental restoration projects across Oregon – and the country – are being held up by unnecessary red tape when they don’t need to be,” said Rep. Bynum. “It’s resulting in canceled projects and costing our communities thousands of dollars. I’m thankful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for partnering with me on this important legislation that will protect our communities, restore our environment, and remove barriers to progress.”

“FEMA’s No-Rise Rule is a hamstring on conservation efforts across the state of Montana and across the country,” said Rep. Downing. “My bipartisan legislation cuts this burdensome red tape, empowering locally supported conservation and restoration projects. I appreciate the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for joining me in this common sense measure to right size regulation for American conservation.”

This legislation is endorsed by the American Rivers Action Fund, the Wild Salmon Center,  and the Nature Conservancy.

“Floodplains are among our nation’s most valuable natural assets to cost-effectively bolster community safety, improve water quality, and sustain biodiversity at a large scale. By removing complex permitting for restoration, this bipartisan bill takes a practical approach to remove those barriers and help people and nature thrive,” said Eileen Shader, Senior Advisor for American Rivers Action Fund. “We are thrilled to see this common-sense solution introduced in the House and will advocate strongly for its ultimate passage.”

“We greatly appreciate Representatives Bynum, Downing, Gluesenkamp Perez and Steil's efforts to accelerate the permitting of low-risk habitat restoration projects in low-risk areas through the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act,” said Guido Rahr, President & CEO of the Wild Salmon Center. “Wild salmon are at a critical juncture on the road to recovery across their range, and this change will help the Wild Salmon Center and our partners to increase our habitat restoration efforts to meet the needs of salmon right now.”

“There are many benefits to having intact natural floodplains. One of them is that they lower the risks associated with flooding. That is one of the main reasons why The Nature Conservancy supports policies, like this one from Representatives Downing and Bynum, that help scale up work to restore floodplains,” said Cameron Adams, Policy Advisor for The Nature Conservancy. “This bipartisan legislation would give communities the flexibility they want and need to do science-backed ecosystem restoration projects in flood zones. These types of projects don’t just benefit people, but also plants and animals that thrive in healthy landscapes.”

“Simplified regulatory approval for critical floodplain restoration projects as a result of the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act will benefit the Deschutes Land Trust by reducing project timelines and costs associated with project planning on our preserves," said Rika Ayotte, Executive Director of the Deschutes Land Trust. 

You can read the full text of the bill here.

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