Sec. 2024. Dredging study
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The Secretary, in conjunction with other relevant Federal agencies and applicable non-Federal interests, shall carry out a study— to compare domestic and international dredging markets, including costs, technologies, and management approaches used in each respective market, and determine the impacts of those markets on dredging needs and practices in the United States; to analyze past and existing practices, technologies, and management approaches used in dredging in the United States; and to develop recommendations relating to the best techniques, practices, and management approaches for dredging in the United States.
The purposes of the study under this section are— the identification of the best techniques, methods, and technologies for dredging, including the evaluation of the feasibility, cost, and benefits of— new dredging technologies; and improved dredging practices and techniques; the appraisal of the needs of the United States for dredging, including the need to increase the size of private and Corps of Engineers dredging fleets to meet demands for additional construction or maintenance dredging needed as of the date of enactment of this Act and in the subsequent 20 years; the identification of any impediments to dredging, including any recommendations of appropriate alternatives for responding to those impediments; the assessment, including any recommendations of appropriate alternatives, of the adequacy and effectiveness of— the economic, engineering, and environmental methods, models, and analyses used by the Chief of Engineers and private dredging operations for dredging; and the current cost structure of construction contracts entered into by the Chief of Engineers; the evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of past, current, and alternative dredging practices and alternatives to dredging, including agitation dredging; and the identification of innovative techniques and cost-effective methods to expand regional sediment management efforts, including the placement of dredged sediment within river diversions to accelerate the creation of wetlands.
The Secretary shall establish a study team to assist the Secretary in planning, carrying out, and reporting on the results of the study under this section. The study team established pursuant to paragraph
(1)shall— be appointed by the Secretary; and represent a broad spectrum of experts in the field of dredging and representatives of relevant State agencies and relevant non-Federal interests. The Secretary shall— make available to the public, including on the Internet, all draft and final study findings under this section; and allow for a public comment period of not less than 30 days on any draft study findings prior to issuing final study findings. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and subject to available appropriations, the Secretary, in consultation with the study team established under subsection (c), shall submit a detailed report on the results of the study to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. If the Secretary does not complete the study under this section and submit a report to Congress under subsection
(e)on or before the deadline described in that subsection, the Secretary shall notify Congress and describe why the study was not completed.