A bill to require the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to propose a new nationwide permit under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for dredging projects, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · June 11, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
The DEEP Act (Dredging to Ensure the Empowerment of Ports Act) directs the Secretary of the Army to create a new nationwide permit for port dredging projects within 60 days of enactment. This permit would streamline the approval process for dredging activities designed to maintain, expand, or deepen ports up to 60 feet and would remain valid for up to ten years. The legislation accelerates environmental reviews by requiring completion within two years and limits states to one year to approve water quality certifications, with automatic approval if they fail to respond within 14 days. The bill also affects companies and port operators seeking to conduct dredging work, as it simplifies their approval timeline by requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to make decisions on permit applications within 30 days of receiving complete submissions. Additionally, the bill repeals certain maritime transportation requirements for dredged material, potentially reducing costs associated with dredging operations.
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