Frank Lautenberg: “today I am joined by Senator Boxer in introducing the Environmental Dredge Disposal Act of 1996, a bill to establish a…”

“today I am joined by Senator Boxer in introducing the Environmental Dredge Disposal Act of 1996, a bill to establish a fair cost-sharing formula for the disposal of dredged material. Mr. President, under existing law, the Federal Government helps assume the cost of the disposal or dumping at sea of dredged material associated with operation and maintenance of Federal channels. However, the Federal Government does not provide similar assistance for other methods of disposal, even when these other methods are more beneficial for the environment. This inconsistency makes no sense, and threatens the economic viability of large and small ports throughout the country. My bill proposes to eliminate this inconsistency, and would ensure that the Federal cost-sharing formula related to disposal of dredged material applies regardless of where the dredged material is disposed. More technically, the bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to make upland, aquatic, and confined aquatic dredged material disposal facilities associated with the construction, operation, and maintenance of a Federal navigation project for a harbor or inland harbor a general navigation feature of a project for the purpose of cost sharing. The bill includes safeguards to ensure that no single port receives a competitive advantage as a result of this bill.”