§426m Collection and Removal of Drift and Debris From Publicly Maintained Commercial Boat Harbors and Adjacent Land and Water Areas

Summary

Requires the Secretary of the Army, through the Chief of Engineers, to plan and carry out projects that collect and remove drift and debris from publicly maintained commercial boat harbors and the nearby land and water. Projects with a Federal cost under $400,000 can proceed without special approval from Congress. The Federal government must pay two-thirds of each project’s cost; the state, city, or local government where the project is located pays the rest, unless the work is on Federal land, in which case the Federal government pays. Local sponsors must try to recover cleanup costs from owners of piers or other sources or make those owners fix the problem. Local sponsors must also provide land, access, and disposal space, maintain the work, regulate the area afterward so it does not become a new source of drift and debris, and protect the United States from damages if they fail to meet these duties. The Corps will give technical help. Drift means floating things that can damage boats. Debris means abandoned or falling structures, sunken vessels, or objects likely to break up and become drift. Money may be appropriated as needed for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1986.