HR 654 — Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2017

(a) In general The President may contribute up to 75 percent of the cost of hazard mitigation measures which the President has determined are cost effective and which substantially reduce the risk of, or increase resilience to, future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a major disaster, or any area affected by a fire for which assistance was provided under section 5187 of this title. Such measures shall be identified following the evaluation of natural hazards under section 5165 of this title and shall be subject to approval by the President. Subject to section 5165 of this title, the total of contributions under this section for a major disaster or event under section 5187 of this title shall not exceed 15 percent for amounts not more than $2,000,000,000, 10 percent for amounts of more than $2,000,000,000 and not more than $10,000,000,000, and 7.5 percent on amounts of more than $10,000,000,000 and not more than $35,333,000,000 of the estimated aggregate amount of grants to be made (less any associated administrative costs) under this chapter with respect to the major disaster or event under section 5187 of this title. (b) Property acquisition and relocation assistance (1) General authority In providing hazard mitigation assistance under this section in connection with flooding, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may provide property acquisition and relocation assistance for projects that meet the requirements of paragraph (2). (2) Terms and conditions An acquisition or relocation project shall be eligible to receive assistance pursuant to paragraph (1) only if— (A) the applicant for the assistance is otherwise eligible to receive assistance under the hazard mitigation grant program established under subsection (a); and (B) on or after December 3, 1993, the applicant for the assistance enters into an agreement with the Administrator that provides assurances that— (i) any property acquired, accepted, or from which a structure will be removed pursuant to the project will be dedicated and maintained in perpetuity for a use that is compatible with open space, recreational, or wetlands management practices; (ii) no new structure will be erected on property acquired, accepted or from which a structure was removed under the acquisition or relocation program other than— (I) a public facility that is open on all sides and functionally related to a designated open space; (II) a rest room; or (III) a structure that the Administrator approves in writing before the commencement of the construction of the structure; and (iii) after receipt of the assistance, with respect to any property acquired, accepted or from which a structure was removed under the acquisition or relocation program— (I) no subsequent application for additional disaster assistance for any purpose will be made by the recipient to any Federal entity; and (II) no assistance referred to in subclause (I) will be provided to the applicant by any Federal source. (3) Statutory construction Nothing in this subsection is intended to alter or otherwise affect an agreement for an acquisition or relocation project carried out pursuant to this section that was in effect on the day before December 3, 1993. (c) Program administration by States (1) In general A State desiring to administer the hazard mitigation grant program established by this section with respect to hazard mitigation assistance in the State may submit to the President an application for the delegation of the authority to administer the program. (2) Criteria The President, in consultation and coordination with States and local governments, shall establish criteria for the approval of applications submitted under paragraph (1). Until such time as the Administrator promulgates regulations to implement this paragraph, the Administrator may waive notice and comment rulemaking, if the Administrator determines doing so is necessary to expeditiously implement this section...