U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 03, 2025
§ 2326a.
Dredged material disposal facility partnerships
(a)
Additional capacity or replacement capacity
(1)
Provided by Secretary
(A)
In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), at the request of a non-Federal interest with respect to a project, the Secretary may—
(i)
provide additional capacity at a dredged material disposal facility constructed by the Secretary beyond the capacity that would be required for project purposes; or
(ii)
permit the use of dredged material disposal facility capacity required for project purposes by the non-Federal interest if the Secretary determines that replacement capacity can be constructed at the facility or another facility or site before such capacity is needed for project purposes.
(B)
Agreement
Before the Secretary takes an action under subparagraph (A), the non-Federal interest shall agree to pay—
(i)
all costs associated with the construction of the additional capacity or replacement capacity in advance of construction of such capacity; and
(ii)
in the case of use by a non-Federal interest of dredged material disposal capacity required for project purposes under subparagraph (A)(ii), any increase in the cost of operation and maintenance of the project that the Secretary determines results from the use of the project capacity by the non-Federal interest in advance of each cycle of dredging.
(C)
Credit
(2)
Cost recovery authority
(3)
Special rule for designation of replacement capacity facility or site
(A)
In general
Subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary or advisable, an agreement under paragraph (1)(B) for use permitted under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) shall reserve to the non-Federal interest—
(i)
the right to submit to the Secretary for approval at a later date an alternative to the facility or site designated in the agreement for construction of replacement capacity; and
(ii)
the right to construct the replacement capacity at the alternative facility or site at the expense of the non-Federal interest.
(B)
Requirement
The Secretary shall not reject a site for the construction of replacement capacity under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) that is submitted by the non-Federal interest for approval by the Secretary before the date of execution of the agreement under paragraph (1)(B), or thereafter, unless the Secretary—
(i)
determines that the site is environmentally unacceptable, geographically unacceptable, or technically unsound; and
(ii)
provides a written basis for the determination under clause (i) to the non-Federal interest.
(4)
Public comment
(b)
Non-Federal use of disposal facilities
(1)
In general
(A)
Non-Federal use
The Secretary—
(i)
at the request of a non-Federal entity, may permit the use of any dredged material disposal facility under the jurisdiction of, or managed by, the Secretary by the non-Federal entity if the Secretary determines that such use will not reduce the availability of the facility for the authorized water resources development project on a channel in the vicinity of the disposal facility;
(ii)
at the request of a non-Federal entity, shall permit the non-Federal entity to use a non-Federal disposal facility for the disposal of material dredged by the non-Federal entity, regardless of any connection to a Federal navigation project, if—
(I)
permission for such use has been granted by the owner of the non-Federal disposal facility; and
(II)
the Secretary determines that the dredged material disposal needs required to maintain, perform authorized deepening, or restore the navigability and functionality of authorized navigation channels in the vicinity of the non-Federal disposal facility for the 20-year period following the date of the request, including all planned and routine dredging operations necessary to maintain such channels for the authorized purposes during such period, can be met by the available gross capacity of other dredged material disposal facilities in the vicinity of the non-Federal disposal facility; and
(iii)
shall impose fees to recover capital, operation, and maintenance costs associated with such uses.
(B)
Determinations
The Secretary shall—
(i)
delegate determinations under clauses (i) and (ii)(II) of subparagraph (A) to the District Commander of the district in which the relevant disposal facility is located; and
(ii)
make such determinations not later than 90 days after receiving the applicable request.
(2)
Fees
(A)
Use
(B)
Reduction in amount
(3)
Disposition studies
(A)
Requirement
Upon request by the owner of a non-Federal disposal facility, the Secretary shall carry out a disposition study of the non-Federal disposal facility, in accordance with section 578b of this title, if—
(i)
the Secretary has not used the non-Federal disposal facility for the disposal of dredged material during the 20-year period preceding the date of the request; and
(ii)
the Secretary determines that the non-Federal disposal facility is not needed for such use by the Secretary during the 20-year period following the date of the request.
(B)
Conclusive presumptions
For purposes of carrying out a disposition study required under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—
(i)
consider the non-Federal disposal facility to be a separable element of a project; and
(ii)
consider a Federal interest in the non-Federal disposal facility to no longer exist.
(4)
Definitions
In this subsection:
(A)
Gross capacity
(B)
Non-Federal disposal facility
(c)
Dredged material facility
(1)
In general
(2)
Performance
(3)
Multiple projects
(4)
Specified Federal funding sources and cost sharing
(A)
Specified Federal funding
A partnership agreement with respect to a facility under this subsection shall specify—
(i)
the Federal funding sources and combined cost-sharing when applicable to multiple water resources projects; and
(ii)
the responsibilities and risks of each of the parties relating to present and future dredged material managed by the facility.
(B)
Management of sediments
(i)
In general
(ii)
Payments
(C)
Credit
(5)
Credit
(A)
Effect on existing agreements
(B)
Credit for funds
(C)
Non-Federal interest responsibilities
A non-Federal interest entering into a partnership agreement under this subsection for a facility shall—
(i)
be responsible for providing all necessary lands, easements, relocations, and rights-of-way associated with the facility; and
(ii)
receive credit toward the non-Federal share of the cost of the project with respect to which the agreement is being entered into for those items.
(d)
Public-private partnerships
(1)
In general
(2)
Private financing
(A)
Agreements
(B)
Reimbursement
(C)
Amount of fees
(D)
Federal share
(E)
Budget Act compliance
(Pub. L. 104–303, title II, § 217, Oct. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 3694; Pub. L. 110–114, title II, § 2005, Nov. 8, 2007, 121 Stat. 1071; Pub. L. 116–260, div. AA, title I, § 145, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2654; Pub. L. 118–272, div. A, title I, § 1119(a), Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3012.)
cite as: 33 USC 2326a