September 15, 2026
Ms. Kaptur introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To require the Secretary of the Army to expedite the completion of agreements with non-Federal interests for beneficial use of dredged material from federally authorized harbors in the State of Ohio, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Beneficial use of dredged material from harbors in the State of Ohio
(a) In general
The Secretary shall expedite the review of a request of a non-Federal interest to enter into a partnership agreement under section 217(c) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (33 U.S.C. 2326a(c)) for the design, construction, or operation of a facility used to demonstrate potential beneficial uses of dredged material from a federally authorized harbor in the State of Ohio.
(b) User fees
An agreement described in subsection (a) and entered into after an expedited review under subsection (a) may provide for the Secretary to reimburse the non-Federal interest for funds provided by such non-Federal interest for activities carried out pursuant to the agreement through the payment of subsequent user fees to the non-Federal interest in a manner consistent with section 217(d)(2) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (33 U.S.C. 2326a(d)(2)), as though the non-Federal interest is a private entity under such section.
(c) Dredged material management plan
In reviewing a request pursuant to subsection (a), if the Secretary determines that timely completion of a dredged material management plan with respect to a federally authorized harbor described in subsection (a) is not feasible due to complexity, controversy, or other compelling factors, and in cases in which capacity is inadequate to accommodate the maintenance dredging needs of the harbor, the Secretary may enter into the agreement prior to completion of such a dredged material management plan.
(d) Practices and procedures
Prior to entering into an agreement reviewed pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may apply the practices and procedures described in part 337 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, to the facility that is proposed to be subject to the requested agreement.