Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sediments Reauthorization Act

Summary: Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sediments Reauthorization Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting through the Great Lakes National Program Office, to conduct at least three demonstration projects involving promising technologies and practices to remedy contaminated sediments at sites in the Great Lakes system. 
Gives priority for demonstration projects to:  (1) the Ashtabula River in Ohio; (2) the Buffalo River in New York; (3) Duluth and Superior Harbor in Minnesota; (4) the Fox River in Wisconsin; (5) the Grand Calumet River in Indiana; and (6) Saginaw Bay in Michigan. 
Permits the Administrator to conduct additional projects at other sites in the Great Lakes System. 
Authorizes appropriations. 
Permits the Administrator to provide technical information and assistance involving the remediation of contaminated sediments upon request. 
Authorizes appropriations. 
Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Great Lakes water quality program through 2001.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Assessment and Remediation of 
Contaminated Sediments Reauthorization Act''.

SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS.

    Section 118(c)(7) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
U.S.C. 1268(c)(7)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Demonstration projects.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator, 
                        acting through the Program Office, in 
                        consultation and cooperation with the Assistant 
                        Secretary of the Army having responsibility for 
                        civil works, shall conduct at least 3 
                        demonstration projects involving promising 
                        technologies and practices to remedy 
                        contaminated sediments (including at least 1 
                        full-scale demonstration of a remediation 
                        technology) at sites in the Great Lakes System, 
                        as the Administrator determines appropriate.
                            ``(ii) Selection of sites.--In selecting 
                        sites for the demonstration projects, the 
                        Administrator shall give priority consideration 
                        to--
                                    ``(I) the Ashtabula River in Ohio;
                                    ``(II) the Buffalo River in New 
                                York;
                                    ``(III) Duluth and Superior Harbor 
                                in Minnesota;
                                    ``(IV) the Fox River in Wisconsin;
                                    ``(V) the Grand Calumet River in 
                                Indiana; and
                                    ``(VI) Saginaw Bay in Michigan.
                            ``(iii) Deadlines.--In carrying out this 
                        subparagraph, the Administrator shall--
                                    ``(I) not later than 18 months 
                                after the date of enactment of this 
                                subparagraph, identify at least 3 sites 
                                and the technologies and practices to 
                                be demonstrated at the sites (including 
                                at least 1 full-scale demonstration of 
                                a remediation technology); and
                                    ``(II) not later than 5 years after 
                                the date of enactment, complete at 
                                least 3 demonstration projects 
                                (including at least 1 full-scale 
                                demonstration of a remediation 
                                technology).
                            ``(iv) Additional projects.--The 
                        Administrator, acting through the Program 
                        Office, in consultation and cooperation with 
                        the Assistant Secretary of the Army having 
                        responsibility for civil works, may conduct 
                        additional pilot- and full-scale demonstration 
                        projects involving promising technologies and 
                        practices at sites in the Great Lakes System 
                        other than the sites selected under clause (i).
                            ``(v) Execution of projects.--The 
                        Administrator may cooperate with the Assistant 
                        Secretary of the Army having responsibility for 
                        civil works to plan, engineer, design, and 
                        execute demonstration projects under this 
                        subparagraph.
                            ``(vi) Non-federal contributions.--The 
                        Administrator may accept non-Federal 
                        contributions to carry out demonstration 
                        projects under this subparagraph.
                            ``(vii) Authorization of appropriations.--
                        There are authorized to be appropriated to 
                        carry out this subparagraph $3,500,000 for each 
                        of fiscal years 1997 through 2001.
                    ``(E) Technical information and assistance.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator, 
                        acting through the Program Office, may provide 
                        technical information and assistance involving 
                        technologies and practices for remediation of 
                        contaminated sediments to persons that request 
                        the information or assistance.
                            ``(ii) Technical assistance priorities.--In 
                        providing technical assistance under this 
                        subparagraph, the Administrator, acting through 
                        the Program Office, shall give special priority 
                        to requests for integrated assessments of, and 
                        recommendations regarding, remediation 
                        technologies and practices for contaminated 
                        sediments at Great Lakes areas of concern.
                            ``(iii) Coordination with other 
                        demonstrations.--The Administrator shall--
                                    ``(I) coordinate technology 
                                demonstrations conducted under this 
                                subparagraph with other federally 
                                assisted demonstrations of contaminated 
                                sediment remediation technologies; and
                                    ``(II) share information from the 
                                demonstrations conducted under this 
                                subparagraph with the other 
                                demonstrations.
                            ``(iv) Other sediment remediation 
                        activities.--Nothing in this subparagraph 
                        limits the authority of the Administrator to 
                        carry out sediment remediation activities under 
                        other laws.
                            ``(v) Authorization of appropriations.--
                        There are authorized to be appropriated to 
                        carry out this subparagraph $1,000,000 for each 
                        of fiscal years 1997 through 2001.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF GREAT LAKES APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 118(h) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
U.S.C. 1268(h)) is amended by striking ``for fiscal year 1991. Of the'' 
and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``for 
each of fiscal years 1991 through 2001.''.