33 U.S.C. § 2345 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 33. Navigation and Navigable Waters § 2345. Electronic submission and tracking of permit applications

(1)In general

The Secretary shall research, develop, and implement an electronic system to allow the electronic preparation and submission of applications for permits and requests for jurisdictional determinations under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.

(2)Inclusion

The electronic system required under paragraph (1) shall address--

(3)Improving existing data systems

The Secretary shall seek to incorporate the electronic system required under paragraph (1) into existing systems and databases of the Corps of Engineers to the maximum extent practicable.

(4)Protection of information

The electronic system required under paragraph (1) shall provide for the protection of personal, private, privileged, confidential, and proprietary information, and information the disclosure of which is otherwise prohibited by law.

(1) enable an applicant or requester to prepare electronically an application for a permit or request;

(2) enable an applicant or requester to submit to the Secretary, by email or other means through the Internet, the completed application form or request;

(3) enable an applicant or requester to submit to the Secretary, by email or other means through the Internet, data and other information in support of the permit application or request;

(4) provide an online interactive guide to provide assistance to an applicant or requester at any time while filling out the permit application or request; and

(5) enable an applicant or requester (or a designated agent) to track the status of a permit application or request in a manner that will--

(1)In general

The Secretary shall maintain, for a minimum of 5 years, a record of each permit decision and jurisdictional determination made by the Secretary, including documentation supporting the basis of the decision or determination.

(2)Archiving of information

The Secretary shall explore and implement an appropriate mechanism for archiving records of permit decisions and jurisdictional determinations, including documentation supporting the basis of the decisions and determinations, after the 5-year maintenance period described in paragraph (1).

(1)In general

The Secretary shall make the records of all permit decisions and jurisdictional determinations made by the Secretary available to the public for review and reproduction.

(2)Protection of information

The Secretary shall provide for the protection of personal, private, privileged, confidential, and proprietary information, and information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law, which may be excluded from disclosure.

(1)In general

The Secretary shall develop and implement, to the maximum extent practicable, the electronic system required under subsection (a) not later than 2 years after December 23, 2022.

(2)Update on electronic system implementation

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a quarterly update describing the status of the implementation of this section.