Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73
§2211 Harbors
Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 36— - WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - COST SHARING › § 2211
Summary
Local (non-Federal) partners must pay part of the cost to build and run harbor navigation projects that did not have a construction contract before June 10, 2014. During construction they must pay 10% of the work for parts 20 feet deep or less, 25% for parts deeper than 20 feet up to 55 feet, and 50% for parts deeper than 55 feet. They must also pay an extra 10% in cash over up to 30 years at the interest rate set in section 2216; the value of lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocation costs they provide count toward that extra 10%. The local partners must give needed lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations (except certain utility moves), including for dredged material disposal sites, except as limited by section 2283(c). They must do or guarantee all utility relocations, except for deep-draft harbors and projects built under section 2232, where relocation costs are split half to the facility owner and half to the local partner. The federal government pays operation and maintenance costs for projects approved after November 17, 1986, except for deep-draft harbors. For deep-draft harbors, the local partners must pay an amount equal to 50% of the amount by which actual O&M costs exceed what O&M would cost if the harbor were 55 feet deep. The federal share for building disposal facilities follows the percentages above, and federal O&M share for those facilities follows the rule just stated. Costs to prevent or fix erosion or shoaling caused by federal navigation works are shared the same way as the project that caused them, and the local partner must agree to operate and maintain those fixes. Non-Federal shares must be paid to the Secretary annually during construction, starting within one year after construction begins, and a cooperative agreement under section 1962d–5b of title 42 must be signed before work starts. The Secretary must, as much as practical, consider future O&M funding needs before approving construction money for disposal facilities, spread funds fairly by region, and allow use of private disposal facilities if they are the least-cost and meet economic and environmental rules. General navigation features — includes dredged material disposal facilities needed for project construction when no construction contract was awarded on or before October 12, 1996.
Full Legal Text
Title 33, §2211
Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)The non-Federal interests for a navigation project for a harbor or inland harbor, or any separable element thereof, on which a contract for physical construction has not been awarded before June 10, 2014, shall pay, during the period of construction of the project, the following costs associated with general navigation features:
(A)10 percent of the cost of construction of the portion of the project which has a depth not in excess of 20 feet; plus
(B)25 percent of the cost of construction of the portion of the project which has a depth in excess of 20 feet but not in excess of 55 feet; plus
(C)50 percent of the cost of construction of the portion of the project which has a depth in excess of 55 feet.
(2)The non-Federal interests for a project to which paragraph (1) applies shall pay an additional 10 percent of the cost of the general navigation features of the project in cash over a period not to exceed 30 years, at an interest rate determined pursuant to section 2216 of this title. The value of lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations provided under paragraph (3) and the costs of relocations borne by the non-Federal interests under paragraph (4) shall be credited toward the payment required under this paragraph.
(3)Except as provided under section 2283(c) of this title, the non-Federal interests for a project to which paragraph (1) applies shall provide the lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations (other than utility relocations under paragraph (4)) necessary for the project, including any lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations (other than utility relocations accomplished under paragraph (4)) that are necessary for dredged material disposal facilities.
(4)The non-Federal interests for a project to which paragraph (1) applies shall perform or assure the performance of all relocations of utilities necessary to carry out the project, except that in the case of a project for a deep-draft harbor and in the case of a project constructed by non-Federal interests under section 2232 of this title, one-half of the cost of each such relocation shall be borne by the owner of the facility being relocated and one-half of the cost of each such relocation shall be borne by the non-Federal interests.
(5)In this subsection, the term “general navigation features” includes constructed land-based and aquatic dredged material disposal facilities that are necessary for the disposal of dredged material required for project construction and for which a contract for construction has not been awarded on or before October 12, 1996.
(b)(1)The Federal share of the cost of operation and maintenance of each navigation project for a harbor or inland harbor constructed by the Secretary pursuant to this Act or any other law approved after November 17, 1986, shall be 100 percent, except that in the case of a deep-draft harbor, the non-Federal interests shall be responsible for an amount equal to 50 percent of the excess of the cost of the operation and maintenance of such project over the cost which the Secretary determines would be incurred for operation and maintenance of such project if such project had a depth of 55 feet.
(2)The Federal share of the cost of constructing land-based and aquatic dredged material disposal facilities that are necessary for the disposal of dredged material required for the operation and maintenance of a project and for which a contract for construction has not been awarded on or before October 12, 1996, shall be determined in accordance with subsection (a). The Federal share of operating and maintaining such facilities shall be determined in accordance with paragraph (1).
(c)Costs of constructing projects or measures for the prevention or mitigation of erosion or shoaling damages attributable to Federal navigation works shall be shared in the same proportion as the cost sharing provisions applicable to the project causing such erosion or shoaling. The non-Federal interests for the project causing the erosion or shoaling shall agree to operate and maintain such measures.
(d)The amount of any non-Federal share of the cost of any navigation project for a harbor or inland harbor shall be paid to the Secretary. Amounts required to be paid during construction shall be paid on an annual basis during the period of construction, beginning not later than one year after construction is initiated.
(e)Before initiation of construction of a project to which this section applies, the Secretary and the non-Federal interests shall enter into a cooperative agreement according to the provisions of section 1962d–5b of title 42. The non-Federal interests shall agree to—
(1)provide to the Federal Government lands, easements, and rights-of-way, including those necessary for dredged material disposal facilities, and perform the necessary relocations required for construction, operation, and maintenance of such project;
(2)hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction or operation and maintenance of the project, except for damages due to the fault or negligence of the United States or its contractors;
(3)provide to the Federal Government the non-Federal share of all other costs of construction of such project; and
(4)in the case of a deep-draft harbor, be responsible for the non-Federal share of operation and maintenance required by subsection (b) of this section.
(f)The Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that—
(1)funding requirements for operation and maintenance dredging of commercial navigation harbors are considered before Federal funds are obligated for payment of the Federal share of costs associated with the construction of dredged material disposal facilities in accordance with subsections (a) and (b);
(2)funds expended for such construction are apportioned equitably in accordance with regional needs; and
(3)use of a dredged material disposal facility designed, constructed, managed, or operated by a private entity is not precluded if, consistent with economic and environmental considerations, the facility is the least-cost alternative.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is Pub. L. 99–662, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4082, as amended, known as the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 2201 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a)(1)(B), (C). Pub. L. 118–272, § 1117(a), substituted “55 feet” for “50 feet”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 118–272, § 1117(b), substituted “55 feet” for “50 feet”. 2016—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–322, § 1111(1), substituted “
June 10, 2014,” for “
November 17, 1986,” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 114–322, § 1111(2), substituted “50 feet” for “45 feet”. Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 114–322, § 1111(3), substituted “50 feet” for “45 feet”. 2014—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 113–121 substituted “50 feet” for “45 feet”. 1996—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–303, § 201(a)(1), inserted last sentence and struck out former last sentence which read as follows: “The value of lands, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, and dredged material disposal areas provided under paragraph (3) and the costs of relocations borne by the non-Federal interests under paragraph (4) shall be credited toward the payment required under this paragraph.” Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 104–303, § 201(a)(2), inserted “and” after “rights-of-way,”, struck out “, and dredged material disposal areas” after “relocations under paragraph (4))”, and inserted before period at end “, including any lands, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations (other than utility relocations accomplished under paragraph (4)) that are necessary for dredged material disposal facilities”. Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 104–303, § 201(a)(3), added par. (5). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–303, § 201(b), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, realigned margins, and substituted “by the Secretary pursuant to this Act or any other law approved after
November 17, 1986” for “pursuant to this Act”, and added par. (2). Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 104–303, § 201(c), substituted “including those necessary for dredged material disposal facilities,” for “and to provide dredged material disposal areas”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–303, § 201(d), added subsec. (f). 1992—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 102–580 substituted “Except as provided under section 906(c), the non-Federal” for “The non-Federal”. 1988—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–676 added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “The non-Federal interests for a project to which paragraph (1) applies shall pay an additional 10 percent of the cost of the general navigation features of the project in cash over a period not to exceed 30 years, at an interest rate determined pursuant to section 2216 of this title. The value of lands, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, and dredged material disposal areas provided under paragraph (3) shall be credited toward the payment required under this paragraph.”
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1988 Amendment Pub. L. 100–676, § 13(b), Nov. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 4026, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on November 17, 1986.” Deep Draft Harbor Cost Sharing Pub. L. 106–53, title IV, § 401, Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 322, provided that: “(a) In General.—The Secretary shall undertake a study of non-Federal cost-sharing requirements for the
Construction
and operation and maintenance of deep draft harbor projects to determine whether—“(1) cost sharing adversely affects United States port development or domestic and international trade; and “(2) any revision of the cost-sharing requirements would benefit United States domestic and international trade. “(b) Recommendations.—“(1) In general.—Not later than May 30, 2001, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives any recommendations that the Secretary may have in light of the study under subsection (a). “(2) Considerations.—In making recommendations, the Secretary shall consider—“(A) the potential economic, environmental, and budgetary impacts of any proposed revision of the cost-sharing requirements; and “(B) the effect that any such revision would have on regional port competition.” Amendment of Cooperation Agreement Pub. L. 104–303, title II, § 201(f), Oct. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 3673, provided that: “If requested by the non-Federal interest, the Secretary shall amend a project cooperation agreement executed on or before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 12, 1996] to reflect the application of the
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 2241 of this title] to any project for which a contract for
Construction
has not been awarded on or before that date.” Increases in Non-Federal Share of Costs Pub. L. 104–303, title II, § 201(g), Oct. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 3673, provided that: “Nothing in this section [amending this section and section 2241 of this title and enacting provisions set out above] (including the
Amendments
made by this section) shall increase, or result in the increase of, the non-Federal share of the costs of— “(1) expanding any confined dredged material disposal facility that is operated by the Secretary and that is authorized for cost recovery through the collection of tolls; “(2) any confined dredged material disposal facility for which the invitation for bids for
Construction
was issued before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 12, 1996]; and “(3) expanding any confined dredged material disposal facility constructed under section 123 of the River and Harbor Act of 1970 (33 U.S.C. 1293a) if the capacity of the confined dredged material disposal facility was exceeded in less than 6 years.” Dredged Material Disposal Areas Study Pub. L. 102–580, title II, § 216, Oct. 31, 1992, 106 Stat. 4832, directed Secretary to conduct a study on the need for changes in Federal law and policy with respect to dredged material disposal areas for
Construction
and maintenance of harbors and inland harbors by Secretary and, not later than 18 months after Oct. 31, 1992, to transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study, together with recommendations of the Secretary.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 2211
Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73