For example, increased wave and storm intensity in coastal areas threaten the integrity of jetties that shelter harbor basins and entrances from waves. The authorization usually refers to the document or report recommending the project to Congress, which Congress then references in the legislation authorizing the project.Ī number of the coastal navigation structures maintained by the Corps were built over a century ago and may no longer be sufficient to meet current conditions and changes in the climate. The Corps' activities, including the type and scope of coastal navigation structures that the Corps may construct and maintain, are authorized by Congress. The agency is tasked with maintaining and repairing coastal navigation structures that are part of harbors and ports. The movement of commerce involves the ability of the Corps to provide safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems.
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Flexibility in making decisions on how to maintain and repair coastal navigation structures could better position the Corps to address these changing conditions, according to Corps officials.
For example, the structures' designs may not be able to address more frequent severe storms and wave action and sea level rise. However, these specifications may not reflect current design standards or changes in the conditions affecting the structures since the structures were built. The Corps views repairs that do not adhere to the original specifications as unauthorized. The officials told GAO that although the authorizing language for structures varies in terms of the levels of specificity, the language for some structures requires the Corps to use original design specifications that can date back decades when repairing damaged structures when the authorizing language is restrictive. The language can include or reference structure specifications-specific length or height-that do not allow the Corps to make updates to the structures that could better address current or changing conditions, according to Corps officials. The authorizing language can also restrict the Corps' ability to adapt structures to current conditions. These officials said that they cannot incorporate nonnavigation benefits of structures, such as protection of coastal areas, when making decisions, absent a change to the authorizing language or an additional authorization. Yet some structures provide economic value even though they may not have the highest commercial tonnage, according to Corps officials. Corps officials said that because there is not enough funding to cover all the maintenance and repair needs for these structures in a given year, the agency prioritizes the structures based on navigation-focused criteria-primarily the amount of commercial tonnage. Specifically, the authorizing language directs the Corps to consider navigation benefits and impacts for coastal navigation structures when making repair decisions. According to Corps officials in headquarters, divisions, and selected districts, the authorizing language for coastal navigation structures in some instances (1) designates navigation as the structures' authorized purpose and (2) can restrict flexibility or adaptive management. Army Corps of Engineers' (Corps) maintenance and repair decisions.
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