S. 574 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 574 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 14, 2013 Ms. Landrieu introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To modify the project for navigation, Mississippi River Ship Channel, Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Dredging for Restoration and Economic Development for Global Exports Act of 2013 or the DREDGE Act of 2013. 2. Mississippi River Ship Channel, Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, Louisiana (a) Project modification The project for navigation, Mississippi River Ship Channel, Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, authorized by the matter under the heading Mississippi River Ship Channel, Gulf to Baton Rouge, Louisiana of section 201(a) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 4090), is modified as follows to direct the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers— (1) to achieve, operate, and maintain a navigation channel of 50 feet with respect to the portion of the project from Baton Rouge to the Southwest Pass sea buoy; (2) to complete the work required under paragraph (1) not later than the last day of the third fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act (completing at least 1/3 of that work in each of the first 2 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act); and (3) to conduct a pilot disposal and sediment project in the Southwest Pass area to determine the cost-effectiveness of pump-out disposal operations for hopper dredges for— (A) environmental enhancement; and (B) dredged material disposal. (b) Consultation In carrying out subsection (a)(3), the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall consult with appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and stakeholders to determine the safe placement and timing of pump-out disposal operations that protect, create, restore, and nourish coastal wetlands and aquatic habitat. (c) Treatment of costs All costs of the work required under subsection (a) shall be treated as operation and maintenance costs, including the first costs of achieving a navigation channel of 50 feet. (d) Federal share Notwithstanding section 101(b)(1) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2211(b)(1)), the Federal share of the cost of the work required under subsection (a) shall be 100 percent. (e) Funding Notwithstanding section 210 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2238) or section 9505 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall pay 100 percent of the costs of the work required under subsection (a) out of amounts made available to the Secretary from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for operation and maintenance expenses. (f) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall submit to Congress a report on— (1) the cost and the environmental, storm damage reduction, and social benefits of the pump-out disposal operation carried out under subsection (a)(3), as compared to standard dredging practices for the area; and (2) the total quantity of dredge material produced during operation and maintenance activities in the New Orleans District and the quantity that is beneficially used. (g) Limitation on statutory construction Nothing in this section affects the authority of the Secretary of the Army with respect to the width of the project referred to in subsection (a).