Senate Passes Water Resources Bill That Address Cost-Shares and Army Corps Port Funding

The Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 by a vote of 95-3 on Sept. 15. The bill would define a “deep-draft harbor” as a harbor approved to be built to a depth of more than 50 feet, as opposed to the current 45 feet, and updates the federal-private cost-share formula for harbor navigation projects to align with that. Under the WRDA, “non-federal interests” would be responsible for 25 percent of construction costs performed at depths between 20 and 50 feet, and for 50 percent of project costs associated with work at depths exceeding 50 feet, according to the Environment and Public Works Committee report of the bill (here). The legislation also would extend the authority of the Army Corps of Engineers to finance ports that provide the most funds for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, as well as energy transfer ports. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) applauded the Senate’s approval in a statement (here) and said the bill's provisions would “streamline and expedite” current port projects.