The DEEP Act (Dredging to Ensure the Empowerment of Ports Act) streamlines the federal permitting process for dredging projects at U.S. ports and navigation channels. The bill requires the Secretary of the Army to create a new nationwide permit within 60 days that allows dredging for port maintenance, expansion, and deepening up to 60 feet, with final issuance required within approximately two and a half years. The permit affects port operators, dredging contractors, and state water quality agencies by imposing strict timelines: states have 14 days to confirm application completeness and one year maximum to issue water quality certifications, with automatic approval if states miss deadlines. The legislation prioritizes speed and feasibility by requiring that permit conditions be technologically and economically achievable, limiting environmental review to one environmental impact statement per nationwide permit, and preventing the EPA from blocking disposal sites approved by the Army Corps of Engineers.
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