Washington Waves: Waterway News From D.C.

Facing yet another potential federal government shutdown in three weeks, top congressional appropriators wasted no time in advancing a conferenced Energy and Water Development spending measure as part of a three-bill package for fiscal year 2026 that appeared to be headed to the House and Senate chambers for floor votes.

According to a bill summary from Senate Democrats, the Energy and Water Development portion of the package provides $10.435 billion, $1.75 billion above the fiscal year (FY) 2025 enacted amount, for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and delineates how the funds are to be spent on which projects.

Senate Democrats also pointed to a “historic” $3.473 billion, a $702 million boost over FY 2025, for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to improve navigation by dredging ports and maintaining the nation’s waterways.

According to the House Republicans’ bill summary, $396.8 million was provided for construction projects on the inland waterways system, advancing the most critical ongoing projects, with roughly $2.2 billion for flood and storm damage reduction activities.

The bill also provides $1.075 billion for 102 Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation projects requested by 78 House members. That includes $19.8 million for Corps project studies, $754.7 million for Corps project construction, $131.5 million for Corps project construction in the Mississippi River and Tributaries account, $143.4 million for operation and maintenance of existing Corps projects and $23.9 million for Bureau of Reclamation projects.

Appropriations bills for Commerce, Justice and Science and Interior and Environment were also included in the three-bill package.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said another package of spending bills will be ready to move in the coming days.

Deepwater Port Licensing

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the Maritime Administration (MarAd) will take on oversight of deepwater port licensing from the Coast Guard to streamline environmental reviews, accelerate license approvals and lower domestic energy costs.

“The Deepwater Port Program is a key pillar of President Trump’s energy dominance strategy,” Duffy said. “With this change, we’ll soon accelerate project approvals so the nation can safely utilize more of its abundant natural resources, create more high-paying jobs and lower energy costs for American families.”

Newly confirmed MarAd Administrator Steve Carmel said his agency is excited to lead the Deepwater Port Program.

“We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners at the U.S. Coast Guard to make this process more efficient and fuel our energy economy for years to come,” Carmel said.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) welcomed Duffy’s announcement.

“AAPA commends the Trump Administration for common sense policy changes, like these, that cut red tape and speed up the environmental review process. They are good for America’s ports, our economy and whole nation,” AAPA Vice President of Government Relations John Bressler said.

NEPA Final Rule

The White House Council on Environment Quality (CEQ) announced a final rule on removing all iterations of its regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) from the Code of Federal Regulations.

The rule took effect January 8, the day CEQ announced it in the Federal Register.

CEQ stated it received approximately 108,385 written comments on the effort.

“The overwhelming majority of the comments (approximately 90,123) were campaign form letters sent in response to organized initiatives and identical or very similar in form and content,” the agency said. “CEQ received approximately 457 unique public comments.”

The agency included summaries of and responses to the comments in its Federal Register announcement on the final rule.

CEQ’s action comes as members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have expressed interest in reforming the federal permitting process.

For additional information, contact Megan Healy at 202-395-5750 or Megan.E.Healy@ceq.eop.gov.

Corps Permit Actions

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced final action on reissuing 56 existing nationwide permits (NWPs) with modifications and issuing one new NWP that authorize activities under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 that have no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects.

The 57 NWPs take effect March 15 and will expire March 15, 2031, according to the Corps’ announcement in the Federal Register on January 8.

Nationwide permit 56, authorizing activities associated with finfish mariculture, will not be reissued, according to the announcement.

The new NWP deals with activities to improve passage of fish and other aquatic organisms.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the Army Corps of Engineers has taken decisive action to cut bureaucratic red tape and refocus our mission on American prosperity,” Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle said in a press release. “Ensuring that American citizens and businesses can chase their dreams and build our economy without needless delays is a clear victory for our ability to compete on a global stage during the 21st century.”

A pre-publication copy of the new final nationwide permit action is posted to the Office of the Federal Register website. A link to the prepublication copy is available on the Corps’ website at www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/Nationwide-Permits.

NMC Service Reductions

Citing staffing shortages, the National Maritime Center (NMC) announced service reductions at Regional Examination Center (REC) New Orleans that may last several months.

According to the NMC, mariner examinations will continue via scheduled examination appointments only. All counter service has been discontinued, including those by appointments. Applications in person will no longer be accepted.

The NMC anticipates transition to an online application submission portal later in January. Until the portal is available, mariners should submit merchant mariner credential applications via email directly to MMCApplications@uscg.mil and medical certificate applications via email to MEDAIP@uscg.mil.

Only applicants seeking first-class pilot routes within the REC New Orleans area of responsibility should mail or email their application to the REC.

For more information regarding the current status of REC New Orleans or how and where to submit credential applications, visit the NMC website or contact the NMC Customer Service Center by using Live Chat, by emailing iasknmc@uscg.mil or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).