33 U.S.C. § 2326c (NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS)
§ 2326c. Reservoir sediment
(a) In general
Not later than 180 days after December 16, 2016, and after providing public notice, the Secretary shall establish, using available funds, a pilot program to accept services provided by a non-Federal interest or commercial entity for removal of sediment captured behind a dam owned or operated by the United States and under the jurisdiction of the Secretary for the purpose of restoring the authorized storage capacity of the project concerned.
(b) Requirements
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall—
(1) review the services of the non-Federal interest or commercial entity to ensure that the services are consistent with the authorized purposes of the project concerned;
(2) ensure that the non-Federal interest or commercial entity will indemnify the United States for, or has entered into an agreement approved by the Secretary to address, any adverse impact to the dam as a result of such services;
(3) require the non-Federal interest or commercial entity, prior to initiating the services and upon completion of the services, to conduct sediment surveys to determine the pre- and post-services sediment profile and sediment quality; and
(4) limit the number of dams for which services are accepted to 10.
(c) Limitation
(1) In general
The Secretary may not accept services under subsection (a) if the Secretary, after consultation with the Chief of Engineers, determines that accepting the services is not advantageous to the United States.
(2) Report to Congress
If the Secretary makes a determination under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate written notice describing the reasoning for the determination.
(d) Disposition of removed sediment
In exchange for providing services under subsection (a), a non-Federal interest or commercial entity is authorized to retain, use, recycle, sell, or otherwise dispose of any sediment removed in connection with the services and the Corps of Engineers may not seek any compensation for the value of the sediment.
(e) Congressional notification
Prior to accepting services provided by a non-Federal interest or commercial entity under this section, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate written notice of the acceptance of the services.
(f) Report to Congress
Upon completion of services at the 10 dams allowed under subsection (b)(4), the Secretary shall make publicly available and submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report documenting the results of the services.
(Pub. L. 106–541, title II, § 215, Dec. 11, 2000, 114 Stat. 2594; Pub. L. 114–322, title I, § 1115(a), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1638.)
heading: Codification
text: Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter.
heading: Amendments
text: 2016—Pub. L. 114–322 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to a program for direct marketing of dredged material and a pilot program for dredged material recycling.
heading: “Secretary” Defined
text: Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of Pub. L. 106–541, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title.