33 U.S.C. § 545 : US Code - Section 545: Preliminary examinations and reports; surveys; contents of report to Congress generally

Search 33 U.S.C. § 545 : US Code - Section 545: Preliminary examinations and reports; surveys; contents of report to Congress generally

In all cases where preliminary examinations and surveys are
authorized a preliminary examination of the river, harbor, or other
proposed improvement mentioned shall first be made and a report as
to the advisability of its improvement shall be submitted unless a
survey or estimate is expressly directed. If upon such preliminary
examination the proposed improvement is not deemed advisable, no
further action shall be taken thereon without the further direction
of Congress; but in case the report shall be favorable to such
proposed improvement, or that a survey and estimate should be made
to determine the advisability of improvement, the Secretary of the
Army is authorized, in his discretion, to cause surveys to be made,
and the cost and advisability to be reported to Congress. And such
reports containing plans and estimates shall also contain a
statement as to the rate at which the work should be prosecuted:
Provided, That every report submitted to Congress, in addition to
full information regarding the present and prospective commercial
importance of the project covered by the report and the benefit to
commerce likely to result from any proposed plan of improvement,
shall also contain such data as it may be practicable to secure in
regard to the following subjects:
(a) The existence and establishment of both private and public
terminal and transfer facilities contiguous to the navigable water
proposed to be improved, and, if water terminals have been
constructed, the general location, description, and use made of the
same, with an opinion as to their adequacy and efficiency, whether
private or public. If no public terminals have been constructed, or
if they are inadequate in number, there shall be included in the
report an opinion in general terms as to the necessity, number, and
appropriate location of the same, and also the necessary relations
of such proposed terminals to the development of commerce.
(b) The development and utilization of water power for industrial
and commercial purposes.
(c) Such other subjects as may be properly connected with such
project: Provided, That in the investigation and study of these
questions consideration shall be given only to their bearing upon
the improvement of navigation, to the possibility and desirability
of their being coordinated in a logical and proper manner with
improvements for navigation to lessen the cost of such improvements
and to compensate the Government for expenditures made in the
interest of navigation, and to their relation to the development
and regulation of commerce: Provided further, That the
investigation and study of these questions may, upon review by the
Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors when called for as
provided by law, be extended to any work of improvement under way
and to any locality the examination and survey of which has
heretofore been, or may hereafter be, authorized by Congress.