H.R. 9483: Clean Ports for Commerce Act

This bill would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, before starting dredging in any area where there is reason to believe the dredged material contains PFAS, to do advance planning on three things:

• where the dredged material will be taken for disposal,
• how the Corps will reduce potential effects on water quality and public health related to PFAS, and
• whether PFAS in the area could delay the project.

PFAS are a group of long-lasting chemicals often associated with pollution concerns. Dredging is the process of removing sediment or other material from the bottom of waterways, harbors, or channels, often to keep ports and shipping routes usable.

The bill would not itself ban dredging or set a specific cleanup standard. Instead, it would require the Corps to identify PFAS-related issues ahead of time before dredging begins in affected areas. The term “Secretary” in the bill refers to the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers.

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