The BREACH Act would prohibit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from removing federally operated dams if doing so would increase carbon emissions by more than 10 percent, reduce commercial navigation on waterways, or raise shipping costs for products by 10 percent or more. The legislation affects federal dam management decisions and would impact any future dam removal projects involving federally owned infrastructure. Before making breaching decisions, the Army Secretary would need to consult with the Secretaries of Energy, Transportation, and Agriculture, as well as the Commerce Department and relevant state agencies. The bill establishes economic and environmental thresholds that would effectively block many dam removal projects, particularly those that might be pursued for environmental restoration or fish passage purposes. No specific funding or timeline is included in the legislation, which was introduced in April 2024 and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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