33 U.S.C. § 2238 (NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS)
§ 2238. Authorization of appropriations
(a) Trust fund
There are authorized to be appropriated out of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, established by section 9505 of title 26, for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to pay—
(1) 100 percent of the eligible operations and maintenance costs of those portions of the Saint Lawrence Seaway operated and maintained by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation for such fiscal year; and
(2) up to 100 percent of the eligible operations and maintenance costs assigned to commercial navigation of all harbors and inland harbors within the United States.
(b) General fund
There are authorized to be appropriated out of the general fund of the Treasury of the United States for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to pay the balance of all eligible operations and maintenance costs not provided by payments from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund under this section.
(c) Operation and maintenance of harbor projects
(1) In general
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall make expenditures to pay for operation and maintenance costs of the harbors and inland harbors referred to in subsection (a)(2), including expenditures of funds appropriated from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, based on an equitable allocation of funds among all such harbors and inland harbors.
(2) Criteria
(A) In general
In determining an equitable allocation of funds under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(i) consider the information obtained in the assessment conducted under subsection (e);
(ii) consider the national and regional significance of harbor operations and maintenance; and
(iii) as appropriate, consider national security and military readiness needs.
(B) Limitation
The Secretary shall not allocate funds under paragraph (1) based solely on the tonnage transiting through a harbor.
(3) Emerging harbor projects
(A) Allocation
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, in making expenditures under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall allocate for operation and maintenance costs of emerging harbor projects an amount that is not less than 10 percent of the funds made available under this section for fiscal year 2012 to pay the costs described in subsection (a)(2).
(B) Additional uses at emerging harbors
(i) Uses
In each fiscal year, the Secretary may use not more than $5,000,000 of funds allocated for emerging harbor projects under paragraph (1) to pay for the costs of up to 10 projects for maintenance dredging of a marina or berthing area, in an emerging harbor, that includes an area that is located adjacent to, or is accessible by, a Federal navigation project, subject to clauses (ii) and (iii) of this subparagraph.
(ii) Eligible emerging harbors
The Secretary may use funds as authorized under clause (i) at an emerging harbor that—
(I) supports commercial activities, including commercial fishing operations, commercial fish processing operations, recreational and sport fishing, and commercial boat yards; or
(II) supports activities of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
(iii) Cost-sharing requirements
The Secretary shall require a non-Federal interest to contribute not less than 25 percent of the costs for maintenance dredging of that portion of a maintenance dredging project described in clause (i) that is located outside of the Federal navigation project, which may be provided as an in-kind contribution, including through the use of dredge equipment owned by non-Federal interest to carry out such activities.
(4) Management of Great Lakes Navigation System
To sustain effective and efficient operation and maintenance of the Great Lakes Navigation System, including any navigation feature in the Great Lakes that is a Federal responsibility with respect to operation and maintenance, the Secretary shall manage all of the individually authorized projects in the Great Lakes Navigation System as components of a single, comprehensive system, recognizing the interdependence of the projects.
(d) Prioritization
(1) Priority
(A) In general
For each fiscal year, if priority funds are available, the Secretary shall use at least 10 percent of such funds for emerging harbor projects.
(B) Additional considerations
For each fiscal year, of the priority funds available, the Secretary shall use—
(i) not less than 5 percent of such funds for underserved harbor projects; and
(ii) not less than 10 percent of such funds for projects that are located within the Great Lakes Navigation System.
(C) Underserved harbors
In determining which underserved harbor projects shall receive funds under this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider—
(i) the total quantity of commerce supported by the water body on which the project is located; and
(ii) the minimum width and depth that—
(I) would be necessary at the underserved harbor project to provide sufficient clearance for fully loaded commercial vessels using the underserved harbor project to maneuver safely; and
(II) does not exceed the constructed width and depth of the authorized navigation project.
(2) Expanded uses
(A) Definition of eligible harbor or inland harbor defined
In this paragraph, the term “eligible harbor or inland harbor” means a harbor or inland harbor at which the total amount of harbor maintenance taxes collected in the immediately preceding 3 fiscal years exceeds the value of the work carried out for the harbor or inland harbor using amounts from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund during those 3 fiscal years.
(B) Use of expanded uses funds
(i) Fiscal years 2015 through 2024
For each of fiscal years 2015 through 2024, of the priority funds available, the Secretary shall use not less than 10 percent of such funds for expanded uses carried out at an eligible harbor or inland harbor.
(ii) Subsequent fiscal years
For fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall use not less than 10 percent of the priority funds available for expanded uses carried out at an eligible harbor or inland harbor.
(C) Prioritization
In allocating funds under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to projects at eligible harbors or inland harbors for which the difference, calculated in dollars, is greatest between—
(i) the total amount of funding made available for projects at that eligible harbor or inland harbor from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund in the immediately preceding 3 fiscal years; and
(ii) the total amount of harbor maintenance taxes collected at that harbor or inland harbor in the immediately preceding 3 fiscal years.
(3) Remaining funds
(A) In general
For each of fiscal years 2015 through 2024, if after fully funding all projects eligible for funding under paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B)(i), priority funds made available under those paragraphs remain unobligated, the Secretary shall use those remaining funds to pay for operation and maintenance costs of any harbor or inland harbor referred to in subsection (a)(2) based on an equitable allocation of those funds among the harbors and inland harbors.
(B) Criteria
In determining an equitable allocation of funds under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—
(i) use the criteria specified in subsection (c)(2)(A); and
(ii) make amounts available in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (1)(A).
(4) Emergency expenditures
Nothing in this subsection prohibits the Secretary from making an expenditure to pay for the operation and maintenance costs of a specific harbor or inland harbor, including the transfer of funding from the operation and maintenance of a separate project, if—
(A) the Secretary determines that the action is necessary to address the navigation needs of a harbor or inland harbor where safe navigation has been severely restricted due to an unforeseen event; and
(B) the Secretary provides within 90 days of the action notice and information on the need for the action to the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(e) Assessment of harbors and inland harbors
(1) In general
Not later than 270 days after June 10, 2014, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall assess, and issue a report to Congress on, the operation and maintenance needs and uses of the harbors and inland harbors referred to in subsection (a)(2).
(2) Assessment of harbor needs and activities
(A) Total operation and maintenance needs of harbors
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall identify—
(i) the total future costs required to achieve and maintain the constructed width and depth for the harbors and inland harbors referred to in subsection (a)(2); and
(ii) the total expected costs for uses described in subsection (c)(3)(B) and expanded uses at eligible harbors or inland harbors referred to in subsection (d)(2).
(B) Uses of harbors and inland harbors
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall identify current uses (and, to the extent practicable, assess the national, regional, and local benefits of such uses) of harbors and inland harbors referred to in subsection (a)(2), including the use of those harbors for—
(i) commercial navigation, including the movement of goods;
(ii) domestic trade;
(iii) international trade;
(iv) commercial fishing;
(v) subsistence, including use by Indian tribes (as defined in section 5304 of title 25) for subsistence and ceremonial purposes;
(vi) use as a harbor of refuge;
(vii) transportation of persons;
(viii) purposes relating to domestic energy production, including the fabrication, servicing, or supply of domestic offshore energy production facilities;
(ix) activities of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating;
(x) activities of the Secretary of the Navy;
(xi) public health and safety related equipment for responding to coastal and inland emergencies;
(xii) recreation purposes; and
(xiii) other authorized purposes.
(C) Opportunities for beneficial use of dredged materials
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall identify potential opportunities for the beneficial use of dredged materials obtained from harbors and inland harbors referred to in subsection (a)(2), including projects eligible under section 1122 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (130 Stat. 1645; 33 U.S.C. 2326 note).
(f) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Constructed width and depth
The term “constructed width and depth” means the width and depth to which a project has been constructed, which may not exceed the authorized width and depth of the project.
(2) Emerging harbor
The term “emerging harbor” means a harbor or inland harbor referred to in subsection (a)(2) that transits less than 1,000,000 tons of cargo annually.
(3) Emerging harbor project
The term “emerging harbor project” means a project that is assigned to an emerging harbor.
(4) Expanded uses
The term “expanded uses” means the following activities:
(A) The maintenance dredging of a berth in a harbor that is accessible to a Federal navigation project and that benefits commercial navigation at the harbor.
(B) The maintenance dredging and disposal of legacy-contaminated sediment, and sediment unsuitable for open water disposal, if—
(i) such dredging and disposal benefits commercial navigation at the harbor; and
(ii) such sediment is located in and affects the maintenance of a Federal navigation project or is located in a berth that is accessible to a Federal navigation project.
(C) An in-water improvement, if the improvement—
(i) is for the seismic reinforcement of a wharf or other berthing structure, or the repair or replacement of a deteriorating wharf or other berthing structure, at a port facility;
(ii) benefits commercial navigation at the harbor; and
(iii) is located in, or adjacent to, a berth that is accessible to a Federal navigation project.
(D) An activity to maintain slope stability at a berth in a harbor that is accessible to a Federal navigation project if such activity benefits commercial navigation at the harbor.
(5) Great Lakes Navigation System
The term “Great Lakes Navigation System” includes—
(A)
(i) Lake Superior;
(ii) Lake Huron;
(iii) Lake Michigan;
(iv) Lake Erie; and
(v) Lake Ontario;
(B) all connecting waters between the lakes referred to in subparagraph (A) used for commercial navigation;
(C) any navigation features in the lakes referred to in subparagraph (A) or waters described in subparagraph (B) that are a Federal operation or maintenance responsibility; and
(D) areas of the Saint Lawrence River that are operated or maintained by the Federal Government for commercial navigation.
(6) Harbor maintenance tax
The term “harbor maintenance tax” means the amounts collected under section 4461 of title 26.
(7) Moderate-use harbor project
The term “moderate-use harbor project” means a project that is assigned to a harbor or inland harbor referred to in subsection (a)(2) that transits annually—
(A) more than 1,000,000 tons of cargo; but
(B) less than 10,000,000 tons of cargo.
(8) Priority funds
The term “priority funds” means the difference between—
(A) the total funds that are made available under this section to pay the costs described in subsection (a)(2) for a fiscal year; and
(B) the total funds made available under this section to pay the costs described in subsection (a)(2) in fiscal year 2012.
(9) Underserved harbor project
(A) In general
The term “underserved harbor project” means a project that is assigned to a harbor or inland harbor referred to in subsection (a)(2)—
(i) that is a moderate-use harbor project or an emerging harbor project;
(ii) that has been maintained at less than the constructed width and depth of the project during each of the preceding 6 fiscal years; and
(iii) for which State and local investments in infrastructure have been made at those projects during the preceding 6 fiscal years.
(B) Administration
For purposes of this paragraph, State and local investments in infrastructure shall include infrastructure investments made using amounts made available for activities under section 5305(a)(9) of title 42.
(Pub. L. 99–662, title II, § 210, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4106; Pub. L. 101–640, title III, § 316, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4641; Pub. L. 113–121, title II, § 2102(a), June 10, 2014, 128 Stat. 1273; Pub. L. 114–322, title I, §§ 1103, 1107, 1114, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1633, 1634, 1638; Pub. L. 115–270, title I, § 1216, Oct. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 3810; Pub. L. 116–260, div. AA, title I, § 102(b), title V, § 512(c)(5)(B), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2619, 2756; Pub. L. 118–272, div. A, title II, § 1206(d)(1), Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3077.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: Section 1122 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(C), is section 1122 of Pub. L. 114–322, title I, § 1122, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1645. Subsecs. (a) to (h) of section 1122 are set out as a note under section 2326 of this title. Subsec. (i) of section 1122 amended section 2326 of this title. Subsec. (j) of section 1122 amended section 1962d–5f of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this section to the Code, see Tables.
heading: Amendments
text: 2025—Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 118–272 struck out par. (3) which related to report to Congress with respect to harbors and inland harbors referred to in subsection (a)(2).
2020—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–260, § 512(c)(5)(B), substituted “Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation” for “Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation”.
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 116–260, § 102(b)(1), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted heading, and added subpar. (B).
Subsec. (e)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 116–260, § 102(b)(2), inserted “uses described in subsection (c)(3)(B) and” after “costs for”.
Subsec. (f)(2), (3). Pub. L. 116–260, § 102(b)(3)(C), added pars. (2) and (3) and struck out former par. (2) which defined “emerging harbor project”.
Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 116–260, § 102(b)(3)(B), redesignated par. (3) as (4) and added subpars. (C) and (D). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).
Subsec. (f)(4)(C), (D). Pub. L. 116–260, § 102(b)(3)(D), added subpars. (C) and (D).
Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 116–260, § 102(b)(3)(B), redesignated par. (4) as (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6).
Subsec. (f)(6). Pub. L. 116–260, § 102(b)(3)(A), (B), redesignated par. (5) as (6) and struck out former par. (6) which defined “high-use harbor project”.
2018—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 115–270, § 1216(1), substituted “shall assess, and issue a report to Congress on, the” for “shall assess the”.
Subsec. (e)(2)(C). Pub. L. 115–270, § 1216(2), added subpar. (C).
2016—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 114–322, § 1103(1), substituted “for each fiscal year” for “for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2022”.
Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 114–322, § 1103(2), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For each of fiscal years 2015 through 2024, if priority funds are available, the Secretary shall use the priority funds as follows:
“(i) 90 percent of the priority funds shall be used for high- and moderate-use harbor projects.
“(ii) 10 percent of the priority funds shall be used for emerging harbor projects.”
Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 114–322, § 1107, substituted “For each fiscal year” for “For each of fiscal years 2015 through 2024” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (e)(3)(B), (C). Pub. L. 114–322, § 1114, added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).
2014—Subsecs. (c) to (f). Pub. L. 113–121 added subsecs. (c) to (f).
1990—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–640 substituted “up to 100 percent” for “not more than 40 percent”.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Emerging Harbors
text: Pub. L. 118–272, div. A, title I, § 1129, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3018, provided that:
“Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 4, 2025], the Secretary [of the Army] shall—
“(1) issue guidance for the purpose of carrying out section 210(c)(3)(B) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2238(c)(3)(B)); and
“(2) develop a mechanism to accept the non-Federal share of funds from a non-Federal interest for maintenance dredging carried out under such section.”
heading: Annual Report on Harbor Maintenance Needs and Trust Fund Expenditures
text: Pub. L. 118–272, div. A, title II, § 1206(a)–(c), Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3076, 3077, provided that:
“(a) In General.—
On the date on which the budget of the President is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal year 2026, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary [of the Army] shall 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 describing—
“(1) with respect to the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, the operation and maintenance costs associated with harbors and inland harbors described in section 210(a)(2) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2238(a)(2)), including a description of the costs required to achieve and maintain the constructed width and depth for such harbors and inland harbors and the costs for expanded uses at eligible harbors and inland harbors (as defined in section 210(d)(2) of such Act [33 U.S.C. 2238(d)(2)]), on a project-by-project basis;
“(2) as of the date on which the report is submitted, expenditures and deposits into the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund established under section 9505 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. 9505];
“(3) an identification of the amount of funding requested in the budget of the President for the operation and maintenance costs associated with such harbors and inland harbors, on a project-by-project basis;
“(4) an explanation of how the amount of funding described in paragraph (2) complies with the requirements of section 102 [probably should be “102(a)”] of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 [div. AA of Pub. L. 116–260] (33 U.S.C. 2238 note);
“(5) an identification of the unmet operation and maintenance needs associated with such harbors and inland harbors, on a project-by-project basis, that remains after accounting for the amount identified under paragraph (3); and
“(6) a description of deposits made into the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year of the applicable budget submission and the sources of such deposits.
“(b) Additional Requirement.—
In the first report required to be submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall identify, to the maximum extent practicable, transportation cost savings realized by achieving and maintaining the constructed width and depth for the harbors and inland harbors described in section 210(a)(2) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 [33 U.S.C. 2238(a)(2)], on a project-by-project basis.
“(c) Public Availability.—
The Secretary shall make the report submitted under subsection (a) publicly available, including on a publicly available website.”
heading: Criteria for Funding Operation and Maintenance of Small, Remote, and Subsistence Harbors
text: Pub. L. 117–263, div. H, title LXXXI, § 8131, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3718, provided that:
“(a) In General.—
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], the Secretary [of the Army] shall develop specific criteria for the annual evaluation and ranking of maintenance dredging requirements for small harbors and remote and subsistence harbors, taking into account the following:
“(1) The contribution of a harbor to the local and regional economy.
“(2) The extent to which a harbor has deteriorated since the last cycle of maintenance dredging.
“(3) Public safety concerns.
“(b) Inclusion in Guidance.—
The Secretary shall include the criteria developed under subsection (a) in the annual Civil Works Direct Program Development Policy Guidance of the Secretary.
“(c) Report to Congress.—
The Secretary shall include in each biennial report submitted under section 210(e)(3) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 ([former] 33 U.S.C. 2238(e)(3)) a ranking of projects in accordance with the criteria developed under subsection (a) of this section.
“(d) Definitions.—
In this section:
“(1) Remote and subsistence harbor.—
The term ‘remote and subsistence harbor’ means a harbor with respect to which section 2006 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2242) applies, as determined by the Secretary [of the Army].
“(2) Small harbor.—
The term ‘small harbor’ includes an emerging harbor, as such term is defined in section 210 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2238).”
heading: Authorization of Appropriations for Navigation
text: Pub. L. 116–260, div. AA, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2618, provided that:
“(1) In general.—
In carrying out subsection (c) of section 210 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2238), for each fiscal year, of the funds made available under such section (including funds appropriated from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund), the Secretary [of the Army] shall, to the extent practicable, unless otherwise directed in an Act making appropriations for the Corps of Engineers, make expenditures to pay for operation and maintenance costs of the harbors and inland harbors referred to in subsection (a)(2) of such section, to the extent there are identifiable operations and maintenance needs, of—
“(A) not less than 15 percent of such funds for emerging harbor projects, including eligible breakwater and jetty needs at such harbor projects;
“(B) not less than 13 percent of such funds for projects that are located within the Great Lakes Navigation System;
“(C) 12 percent of such funds for expanded uses carried out at donor ports and energy transfer ports, of which—
“(i) ⅓ shall be provided to energy transfer ports; and
“(ii) ⅔ shall be provided to donor ports;
“(D) not less than 17 percent of such funds for projects that are assigned to commercial strategic seaports; and
“(E) any remaining funds for operation and maintenance costs of any harbor or inland harbor referred to in such subsection (a)(2) [33 U.S.C. 2238(a)(2)] based on an equitable allocation of such funds among such harbors and inland harbors, in accordance with subsection (c)(1) of such section 210 [33 U.S.C. 2238(c)(1)].
“(2) Definitions.—
In this subsection:
“(A) Commercial strategic seaport.—
The term ‘commercial strategic seaport’ means a commercial harbor supporting the coordination of efficient port operations during peacetime and national defense emergencies that is designated as strategic through the National Port Readiness Network.
“(B) Donor port; energy transfer port.—
The terms ‘donor port’ and ‘energy transfer port’ have the meanings given those terms in section 2106 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 2238c).
“(C) Emerging harbor project; great lakes navigation system.—
The terms ‘emerging harbor project’ and ‘Great Lakes Navigation System’ have the meanings given those terms in section 210 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2238).
“(3) Effective date.—
This subsection shall take effect on October 1, 2022.”
heading: Guidance
text: Pub. L. 113–121, title II, § 2102(d), as added by Pub. L. 114–322, title I, § 1112, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1637, provided that: “Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 [Dec. 16, 2016], the Secretary [of the Army] shall publish on the website of the Corps of Engineers guidance on the implementation of this section [amending this section, section 2211 of this title, and section 9505 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code] and the amendments made by this section.”