33 USC § 2316 - Environmental protection mission

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s2316"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 2316 - Environmental protection mission"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "2316"
section_name: "Environmental protection mission"
chapter_number: 36
chapter_name: "WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 101–640, title III, § 306, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4635.)"
---


# § 2316. Environmental protection mission

**(a)** **General rule** The Secretary shall include environmental protection as one of the primary missions of the Corps of Engineers in planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining water resources projects.

**(b)** **Limitation** Nothing in this section affects—

**(1)** existing Corps of Engineers’ authorities, including its authorities with respect to navigation and flood control;

**(2)** pending Corps of Engineers permit applications or pending lawsuits involving permits or water resources projects; or

**(3)** the application of public interest review procedures for Corps of Engineers permits.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 101–640, title III, § 306, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4635.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### “Secretary” Defined

Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see , set out as a note under .