Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.

Before leaving for its traditional August break, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to approve a stopgap funding measure to keep the federal government funded through December 11.

By a vote of 90 to 6, H.R. 6500 was sent to the House, which approved its version of the continuing resolution, H.R. 9770, on July 21 by a vote of 220 to 205.

Both chambers are scheduled to be back in session after Labor Day, giving them only until midnight September 30 to work out differences in the two versions to avoid a shutdown.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, described her panel’s continuing resolution (CR) as straightforward and bipartisan.

“It continues current government funding levels until December 11, with limited anomalies aimed at avoiding disruptions in crucial government activities and programs,” Collins said.

She pointed to programs on supplemental nutrition, loans for farmers, housing assistance, construction for Navy vessels and cybersecurity threats.

Both Collins and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the committee’s vice chair, singled out language to block President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing a proposed rule that could politicize federal grants.

Murray also pointed to language that would close a loophole that would have allowed the Trump administration to transfer funding for other programs to Border Patrol.

Senate Confirms New FEMA Head

The Senate voted 51 to 47 to confirm former Navy Seal Cameron Hamilton to serve as the 13th administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) along with scores of other nominations.

Hamilton’s nomination and confirmation are unusually noteworthy.

In 2025, he was removed as acting administrator after telling Congress the agency needed changes but should not be abolished.

At the time, that was viewed as a break with the Trump administration’s stance.

Hamilton’s current approach appears to be in sync with the position Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin took during his confirmation hearing.

“It needs to be restructured, not eliminated,” Mullin said of FEMA.

AAPA Comments On Small Nuclear Reactors

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) told the Maritime Administration (MarAd) that Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology could provide ports with firm baseload power that supports the uninterrupted movement of goods without diverting electricity from other critical sectors.

“Electricity demand at ports is expected to increase substantially as ports add new cargo-handling equipment and other energy-intensive operations such as cold storage,” AAPA President and CEO Sang Yi said.

AAPA submitted its comments in response to a Request for Information on the commercial development of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology in the maritime transportation system, including ports, from MarAd.

After extensive feedback and input from member ports, AAPA said it shared 13 specific recommendations, ranging from adopting technology-inclusive federal framework for SMR rulemaking and policy to encouraging the federal government to require multiagency permitting studies to proceed concurrently rather than sequentially.

Coast Guard Completes Port Access Route Study

The Coast Guard announced the completion of the Port Access Route Study (PARS) on the approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas, and Calcasieu Pass, La.

Conducted to evaluate the adequacy of existing vessel routing measures and determine whether additional vessel routing measures are necessary for port approaches to the area, the PARS final report is available for viewing and download from the docket by searching USCG-2023-0063 at http://www.regulations.gov, or from the Coast Guard Navigation Center website at https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/port-access-route-study-reports.

For additional information, contact Brandi Canada at 504-671-2107 or SMB-Heartland-waterwaysmgmt@uscg.mil.

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Updates NEPA Procedures

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council announced it has updated its procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accord with Executive Order (E.O.) 14154, Unleashing American Energy.

Signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, the day he was sworn in, the E.O. directed agencies to revise their NEPA implementing procedures consistent with E.O.

The Council’s updated NEPA procedures can be found at www.restorethegulf.gov.

For additional information, contact John Ettinger at 504-444-3522 or john.ettinger@ restorethegulf.gov.

New Customs Rule For Liquid Cargo Transfer

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a final rule amending Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to conform to statutory changes for aliens serving as crewmen who temporarily perform ship-to-ship liquid cargo transfer operations to and from another vessel engaged in foreign trade (lightering).

The rule took effect August 11.

For additional information, contact Stephen Dearborn at 443-756-9751 or STEPHEN.M.DEARBORN@cbp.dhs.gov.

Coast Guard NVIC Canceled

To avoid confusion, the Coast Guard announced the December 2, 2025, cancellation of an “obsolete” Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC 01-04), which set out procedures for vessel owners/operators to apply for acceptance into the Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program (STEP).

While they do not have the force of law, the service said NVICs help ensure Coast Guard inspections and other regulatory actions are complete and consistent, and the marine industry and the general public rely on NVICs to assess how regulations and marine safety programs will be enforced.

“It is important that the public be notified when NVICs are canceled,” the Coast Guard stated.

For additional information, contact Cmdr. Brad Peifer at 571-608-7869 or Bradley.C.Peifer@uscg.mil.