SUBCHAPTER III—INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Inland Waterways Regional Dredge Pilot Program
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) increase the reliability, availability, and efficiency of federally owned and federally operated inland waterways projects;
"(2) decrease operational risks across the inland waterways system; and
"(3) provide cost savings by combining work across multiple projects across different accounts of the Corps of Engineers.
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) improve navigation reliability on inland waterways that are accessible year-round;
"(B) increase freight capacity on inland waterways; and
"(C) have the potential to enhance the availability of containerized cargo on inland waterways.
"(d)
"(e)
"(1) cost-effectiveness;
"(2) reliability and performance;
"(3) cost savings attributable to mobilization and demobilization of dredge equipment; and
"(4) response times to address navigational impediments.
"(f)
Inland Waterways Pilot Program
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(b)
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) accept and expend funds provided by a non-Federal interest to carry out, for an authorized project (or a separable element of an authorized project), modernization activities for such project; or
"(B) coordinate with the non-Federal interest in order to allow the non-Federal interest to carry out, for an authorized project (or a separable element of an authorized project), such modernization activities.
"(2)
"(3)
"(A) obtain any permit or approval required in connection with such activities under Federal or State law that would be required if the Secretary were to carry out such activities; and
"(B) ensure that a final environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, as appropriate, for such activities has been filed pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [
"(4)
"(A) the modernization activities are carried out in accordance with this section; and
"(B) the cost of the modernization activities is reasonable.
"(5)
"(d)
"(1)
"(A)
"(i)
"(I) a plan approved by the Secretary; and
"(II) any other terms and conditions specified by the Secretary in the agreement.
"(ii)
"(B)
"(C)
"(2)
"(e)
"(1)
"(A) the non-Federal interest complies with the agreement entered into under subsection (d); and
"(B) with respect to modernization activities carried out by the non-Federal interest pursuant to the agreement, the Secretary determines that the non-Federal interest complied with all applicable Federal requirements in carrying out the modernization activities.
"(2)
"(f)
"(1) affects the responsibility of the Secretary for the operations and maintenance of the inland waterway system, as of the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2020], including the responsibility of the Secretary for the operations and maintenance costs for any covered project after the modernization activities are completed pursuant to this section;
"(2) prohibits or prevents the use of Federal funds for operations and maintenance of the inland waterway system or any authorized project within the inland waterway system; or
"(3) prohibits or prevents the use of Federal funds for construction or major rehabilitation activities within the inland waterway system or for any authorized project within the inland waterway system.
"(g)
"(h)
"(1)
"(2)
§2251. Inland Waterways Users Board
(a) Establishment of Users Board
There is hereby established an Inland Waterway Users Board (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Users Board") composed of the eleven members selected by the Secretary, one of whom shall be designated by the Secretary as Chairman. The members shall be selected so as to represent various regions of the country and a spectrum of the primary users and shippers utilizing the inland and intracoastal waterways for commercial purposes. Due consideration shall be given to assure a balance among the members based on the ton-mile shipments of the various categories of commodities shipped on inland waterways. The Secretary of the Army shall designate, and the Secretaries of Agriculture, Transportation, and Commerce may each designate, a representative to act as an observer of the Users Board.
(b) Duties of Users Board
(1) In general
The Users Board shall meet not less frequently than semiannually to develop and make recommendations to the Secretary and Congress regarding the inland waterways and inland harbors of the United States.
(2) Advice and recommendations
For commercial navigation features and components of the inland waterways and inland harbors of the United States, the Users Board shall provide—
(A) prior to the development of the budget proposal of the President for a given fiscal year, advice and recommendations to the Secretary regarding construction and rehabilitation priorities and spending levels;
(B) advice and recommendations to Congress regarding any feasibility report for a project on the inland waterway system that has been submitted to Congress pursuant to
(C) advice and recommendations to Congress regarding an increase in the authorized cost of those features and components;
(D) not later than 60 days after the date of the submission of the budget proposal of the President to Congress, advice and recommendations to Congress regarding construction and rehabilitation priorities and spending levels; and
(E) advice and recommendations on the development of a long-term capital investment program in accordance with subsection (d).
(3) Project development teams
The chairperson of the Users Board shall appoint a representative of the Users Board to serve as an advisor to the project development team for a qualifying project or the study or design of a commercial navigation feature or component of the inland waterways and inland harbors of the United States.
(4) Independent judgment
Any advice or recommendation made by the Users Board to the Secretary shall reflect the independent judgment of the Users Board.
(c) Duties of Secretary
The Secretary shall—
(1) communicate not less frequently than once each quarter to the Users Board the status of the study, design, or construction of all commercial navigation features or components of the inland waterways or inland harbors of the United States; and
(2) submit to the Users Board a courtesy copy of all completed feasibility reports relating to a commercial navigation feature or component of the inland waterways or inland harbors of the United States.
(d) Capital investment program
(1) In general
Not later than 1 year after June 10, 2014, the Secretary, in coordination with the Users Board, shall develop and submit to Congress a report describing a 20-year program for making capital investments on the inland and intracoastal waterways based on the application of objective, national project selection prioritization criteria.
(2) Consideration
In developing the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into consideration the 20-year capital investment strategy contained in the Inland Marine Transportation System (IMTS) Capital Projects Business Model, Final Report published on April 13, 2010, as approved by the Users Board.
(3) Criteria
In developing the plan and prioritization criteria under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that investments made under the 20-year program described in paragraph (1)—
(A) are made in all geographical areas of the inland waterways system; and
(B) ensure efficient funding of inland waterways projects.
(4) Strategic review and update
Not later than 5 years after June 10, 2014, and not less frequently than once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Users Board, shall—
(A) submit to Congress and make publicly available a strategic review of the 20-year program in effect under this subsection, which shall identify and explain any changes to the project-specific recommendations contained in the previous 20-year program (including any changes to the prioritization criteria used to develop the updated recommendations); and
(B) make revisions to the program, as appropriate.
(e) Project management plans
The chairperson of the Users Board and the project development team member appointed by the chairperson under subsection (b)(3) may sign the project management plan for the qualifying project or the study or design of a commercial navigation feature or component of the inland waterways and inland harbors of the United States.
(f) Administration
(1) In general
The Users Board shall be subject to
(2) Members not considered special Government employees
For the purposes of complying with
(3) Travel expenses
Non-Federal members of the Users Board while engaged in the performance of their duties away from their homes or regular places of business, may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (f)(1).
Subsec. (f)(2).
2014—Subsec. (b).
Subsecs. (c) to (f).
1999—Subsec. (b).
§2252. Project delivery process reforms
(a) Requirements for qualifying projects
With respect to each qualifying project, the Secretary shall require—
(1) for each project manager, that—
(A) the project manager have formal project management training and certification; and
(B) the project manager be assigned from among personnel certified by the Chief of Engineers; and
(2) for an applicable cost estimation, that—
(A) the Secretary utilize a risk-based cost estimate with a confidence level of at least 80 percent; and
(B) the cost estimate be developed—
(i) for a qualifying project that requires an increase in the authorized amount in accordance with
(ii) for a qualifying project for which the first construction contract has not been awarded, prior to the award of the first construction contract;
(iii) for a qualifying project without a completed feasibility report in accordance with
(iv) for a qualifying project with a completed feasibility report in accordance with
(b) Additional project delivery process reforms
Not later than 18 months after June 10, 2014, the Secretary shall—
(1) establish a system to identify and apply on a continuing basis best management practices from prior or ongoing qualifying projects to improve the likelihood of on-time and on-budget completion of qualifying projects;
(2) evaluate early contractor involvement acquisition procedures to improve on-time and on-budget project delivery performance; and
(3) implement any additional measures that the Secretary determines will achieve the purposes of this subtitle, including—
(A) the implementation of applicable practices and procedures developed pursuant to management by the Secretary of an applicable military construction program;
(B) the development and use of a portfolio of standard designs for inland navigation locks, incorporating the use of a center of expertise for the design and review of qualifying projects;
(C) the use of full-funding contracts or formulation of a revised continuing contracts clause; and
(D) the establishment of procedures for recommending new project construction starts using a capital projects business model.
(c) Pilot projects
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may carry out pilot projects to evaluate processes and procedures for the study, design, and construction of qualifying projects.
(2) Inclusions
At a minimum, the Secretary shall carry out pilot projects under this subsection to evaluate—
(A) early contractor involvement in the development of features and components;
(B) an appropriate use of continuing contracts for the construction of features and components; and
(C) applicable principles, procedures, and processes used for military construction projects.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This subtitle, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is subtitle A (§§2001–2013) of title II of
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter.
Section is comprised of section 2002 of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Definitions
Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) authorized before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act [June 10, 2014];
"(B) not completed on the date of enactment of this Act; and
"(C) funded at least in part from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund."
§2253. Annual financial review
For any inland waterways project that the Secretary carries out that has an estimated total cost of $500,000,000 or more, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional committees referred to in subsection (a) 1 an annual financial plan for the project. The plan shall be based on detailed annual estimates of the cost to complete the remaining elements of the project and on reasonable assumptions, as determined by the Secretary, of any future increases of the cost to complete the project.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The congressional committees referred to in subsection (a), referred to in text, mean the congressional committees referred to in subsec. (a) of section 2007 of
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
"Secretary" Defined
Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of
1 See References in Text note below.
§2254. Assessment of operation and maintenance needs of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
(a) In general
Not later than 90 days after June 10, 2014, the Secretary shall assess the operation and maintenance needs of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
(b) Types of activities
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall assess the operation and maintenance needs of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway as used for the following purposes:
(1) Commercial navigation.
(2) Commercial fishing.
(3) Subsistence, including utilization by Indian tribes (as defined in
(4) Use as ingress and egress to harbors of refuge.
(5) Transportation of persons.
(6) Purposes relating to domestic energy production, including fabrication, servicing, and supply of domestic offshore energy production facilities.
(7) Activities of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
(8) Public health and safety related equipment for responding to coastal and inland emergencies.
(9) Recreation purposes.
(10) Any other authorized purpose.
(c) Report to Congress
For fiscal year 2015, and biennially thereafter, in conjunction with the annual budget submission by the President to Congress under
(1) identifies the operation and maintenance costs required to achieve the authorized length, width, and depth;
(2) identifies the amount of funding requested in the President's budget for operation and maintenance costs; and
(3) identifies the unmet operation and maintenance needs of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
"Secretary" Defined
Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of
§2255. Inland waterways riverbank stabilization
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after June 10, 2014, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of—
(1) carrying out projects for the inland and intracoastal waterways for purposes of—
(A) flood damage reduction;
(B) emergency streambank and shoreline protection; and
(C) prevention and mitigation of shore damages attributable to navigation improvements; and
(2) modifying projects for the inland and intracoastal waterways for the purpose of improving the quality of the environment.
(b) Recommendations
In conducting the study, the Secretary shall develop specific project recommendations and prioritize those recommendations based on—
(1) the extent of damage and land loss resulting from riverbank erosion;
(2) the rate of erosion;
(3) the significant threat of future flood risk to public property, public infrastructure, or public safety;
(4) the destruction of natural resources or habitats; and
(5) the potential cost savings for maintenance of the channel.
(c) Disposition
The Secretary may carry out any project identified in the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) in accordance with the criteria for projects carried out under one of the following authorities:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(d) Annual report
For a project recommended pursuant to the study that cannot be carried out under any of the authorities specified in subsection (c), upon a determination by the Secretary of the feasibility of the project, the Secretary may include a recommendation concerning the project in the annual report submitted to Congress under
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
"Secretary" Defined
Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of
§2255a. High water-low water preparedness
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Bypass
The term "bypass" means an alternate water route adjacent to a lock and dam on a Federal inland waterway system that can be used for commercial navigation during high water conditions.
(2) Emergency condition
The term "emergency condition" means—
(A) unsafe conditions on a Federal inland waterway system that prevent the operation of commercial vessels, resulting from a major change in water level or flows;
(B) an obstruction in a Federal inland waterway system, including silt, sediment, rock formation, or a shallow channel;
(C) an impaired or inoperable Federal lock and dam; or
(D) any other condition determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(b) Emergency determination
The Secretary, in consultation with the District Commanders responsible for maintaining any Federal inland waterway system, the users of the waterway system, and the Coast Guard, may make a determination that an emergency condition exists on the waterway system.
(c) Emergency mitigation project
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2) and the availability of appropriations, and in accordance with all applicable Federal requirements, the Secretary may carry out an emergency mitigation project on a Federal inland waterway system with respect to which the Secretary has determined that an emergency condition exists under subsection (b), or on a bypass of such system, to remedy that emergency condition.
(2) Deadline
An emergency mitigation project under paragraph (1) shall—
(A) be initiated by not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary makes the applicable determination under subsection (b); and
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, be completed by not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary makes such determination.
(d) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024, to remain available until expended.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
"Secretary" Defined
Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of div. AA of