I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6026 
To modify the project for navigation, Mississippi River Ship Channel, Gulf 
of Mexico to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 26, 2012 
Mr. RICHMOND introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To modify the project for navigation, Mississippi River Ship 
Channel, Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Dredging for Restora-
tion and Economic Development for Global Exports Act 
of 2012’’ or the ‘‘DREDGE Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 2. MISSISSIPPI RIVER SHIP CHANNEL, GULF OF MEX-
ICO TO BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. 
(a) PROJECT MODIFICATION.—The project for navi-
gation, Mississippi River Ship Channel, Gulf of Mexico to 
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Baton Rouge, Louisiana, authorized by section 201 of the 
Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 
4090), is modified as follows: 
(1) To direct the Secretary of the Army 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 direct the Secretary 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 one-third of such work in each of the first 2 
fiscal years beginning after such date of enactment). 
(3) To direct the Secretary 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 shall consult with appropriate Fed-
eral, State, and local agencies and stakeholders to deter-
mine the safe placement and timing of pump-out disposal 
operations that protect, create, restore, and nourish coast-
al wetlands and aquatic habitat. 
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(c) TREATMENT OF COSTS.—All costs of the work re-
quired under subsection (a) shall be treated as operation 
and maintenance costs, including the first costs of achiev-
ing 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 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 Mainte-
nance Trust Fund for operation and maintenance ex-
penses. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on— 
(1) the cost and the environmental, storm dam-
age 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 
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(2) the total quantity of dredge material pro-
duced 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 may be construed to affect the au-
thority of the Secretary with respect to the width of the 
project referred to in subsection (a). 
Æ 
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