US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

33 U.S.C. § 598c

Easements for hurricane and storm damage reduction projects

(a)

In general

With respect to a project for hurricane and storm damage reduction for which the Secretary is requiring a perpetual easement, the Secretary shall, upon request by the non-Federal interest for the project, certify real estate availability and proceed to construction of such project with a nonperpetual easement if—
(1)
such certification and construction are in compliance with the terms of the report of the Chief of Engineers for the project and the applicable project partnership agreement; and
(2)
the Secretary provides the non-Federal interest with formal notice that, in the event in which the nonperpetual easement expires and is not extended, the Secretary will be unable to—
(A)
fulfill the Federal responsibility with respect to the project or carry out any required nourishment of the project under the existing project authorization;
(B)
section 701n of this title carry out repair and rehabilitation of the project under ; and
(C)
provide any other relevant Federal assistance with respect to the project.
(b)

Disclosure

For any project for hurricane storm damage risk reduction, or a proposal to modify such a project, that is authorized after , for which a perpetual easement is required for Federal participation in the project, the Secretary shall include in the report of the Chief of Engineers for the project a disclosure of such requirement.

(c)

Management

section 598b of this titleTo the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall, at the request of the non-Federal interest for a project for hurricane storm damage risk reduction, identify and accept the minimum real estate interests necessary to carry out the project, in accordance with .

(d)

Hurricane and storm damage reduction project implementation

(1)

In general

section 701n(a) of this titleDuring the 2-year period beginning on , notwithstanding any requirement of the Secretary for a covered project to comply with the memorandum of the Corps of Engineers entitled “Standard Estates – Perpetual Beach Nourishment and Perpetual Restrictive Dune Easement” and dated , the Secretary shall carry out each covered project in a manner consistent with the previously completed initial construction and periodic nourishments of the project, including repair and restoration work on the project under .

(2)

Covered project defined

In this subsection, the term “covered project” means an authorized project for hurricane and storm damage reduction in any one of the following locations:
(A)
Brevard County, Canaveral Harbor, Florida – Mid Reach.
(B)
Brevard County, Canaveral Harbor, Florida – North Reach.
(C)
Brevard County, Canaveral Harbor, Florida – South Reach.
(D)
Broward County, Florida – Segment II.
(E)
Broward County, Florida – Segment III.
(F)
Dade County, Florida – Main Segment.
(G)
Dade County, Florida – Sunny Isles Segment.
(H)
Duval County, Florida.
(I)
Fort Pierce Beach, Florida.
(J)
Lee County, Florida – Captiva.
(K)
Lee County, Florida – Gasparilla.
(L)
Manatee County, Florida.
(M)
Martin County, Florida.
(N)
Nassau County, Florida.
(O)
Palm Beach County, Florida – Jupiter/Carlin Segment.
(P)
Palm Beach County, Florida – Delray Segment.
(Q)
Palm Beach County, Florida – Mid Town.
(R)
Palm Beach County, Florida – North Boca.
(S)
Palm Beach County, Florida – Ocean Ridge.
(T)
Panama City Beaches, Florida.
(U)
Pinellas County, Florida – Long Key.
(V)
Pinellas County, Florida – Sand Key Segment.
(W)
Pinellas County, Florida –Treasure Island.
(X)
Sarasota, Lido Key, Florida.
(Y)
Sarasota County, Florida – Venice Beach.
(Z)
St. Johns County, Florida – St. Augustine Beach.
(AA)
St. Johns County, Florida – Vilano Segment.
(BB)
St. Lucie County, Florida – Hutchinson Island.
(3)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that, for the purpose of constructing and maintaining a project for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction, the minimum estate necessary for easements may not exceed the life of the project nor be less than 50 years.

(e)

Savings clause

section 2213(d) of this titleNothing in this section may be construed to affect the requirements of .

Pub. L. 118–272, div. A, title I, § 1145138 Stat. 3035(, , .)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

“Secretary” Defined

section 1002 of div. A of Pub. L. 118–272section 2201 of this titleSecretary means the Secretary of the Army, see , set out as a note under .