ADDITIONAL STUDIES.

SEC. 300. ADDITIONAL STUDIES. (a) Ohio River and Tributaries.— (1) Study.— The Secretary shall review the report of the Chief of Engineers on the Ohio River and Tributaries, published as House Document 306, 74th Congress, 1st Session, and other pertinent reports to determine whether modifications of the recommendations contained in such report are advisable at the present time, with particular reference to improvements for water and related land resource needs, including abatement of acid mine drainage in Wheeling Creek, Glenns Run, Little Short Creek, and Yellow Creek in Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio. (2) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $500,000 for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1992. Such sums shall remain available until expended. (b) Coastal Protection Study.— (1) Study.— The Secretary shall conduct a study of the economic benefits of Federal and significant non-Federal shore protection activities in the Mid-Atlantic region from New York to Virginia. In conducting such study, the Secretary shall assess— (A) the public investment in such activities; (B) damage incurred by such shore protection activities by coastal storms of October 1991 and January 1992; (C) the prevention of damage by coastal storms of October 1991 and January 1992 to coastal and upland resources, including public and private properties and other economic activities, as a result of such shore protection activities; and (D) the extent to which the prevention of damage to coastal and upland resources, including public and private properties and other economic activities, is considered in benefit-cost ratios for shore protection activities. (2) Report.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the House of Representatives a report containing the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study conducted under this subsection. (c) Harrison County, Mississippi.— (1) Study.— The Secretary is authorized to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Agriculture for the purpose of studying problems associated with flooding in Harrison County, Mississippi. Under the memorandum of understanding, the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture will jointly conduct a reconnaissance study of Harrison County, Mississippi, and the following bodies of water and associated watersheds: (A) Wolf River. 106 STAT. 4843 (B) Big Biloxi River. (C) Little Biloxi River. (D) Turkey Creek. (E) Saucier Creek. (F) Hog Branch Creek. (G) Flat Branch Creek. (H) Tuxachanie Creek. (I) Tchoutacabouffa River. (2) Contents.— The reconnaissance study to be conducted under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) Review of relevant reports— A review of relevant reports of the Chief of Engineers and other reports which the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary, in consultation with the Chief of Engineers, determine to be appropriate. (B) Plan for implementation.— The development of a plan to implement measures to address the problems associated with flooding identified in the study, including measures for the development, use, and conservation of water resources in the geographic areas that are the subject of the study. The development of the plan shall include, to the extent practical, an evaluation of alternative measures. (C) Cost estimate.— A cost estimate for each measure described in subparagraph (B). (3) Report.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly transmit to Congress a written report that includes— (A) findings on the study conducted under paragraph (1); (B) a reasonable schedule for the implementation of the measures described in the plan developed under paragraph (2)(B); and (C) a cost estimate determined in accordance with paragraph (2)(C) for the implementation of the plan developed under paragraph (2)(B). (d) Reynolds Channel.— (1) Study.— The Secretary is authorized to conduct a study on the need for navigation improvements in Reynolds Channel and the connecting State Boat Channel between Captree Island and Oak Beach. (2) Report.— Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the House of Representatives a report on the results of the study conducted under this subsection. (e) Orchard Beach, Bronx, New York.— (1) Review.— The Secretary is authorized to review the reports of the Chief of Engineers and other pertinent documents pertaining to Orchard Beach, Bronx, New York, and to make appropriate recommendations concerning storm damage prevention, recreation, environmental restoration, and other purposes. (2) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $400,000 106 STAT. 4844for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1992. Such sums shall remain available until expended. (f) East River, New York.— (1) Study.— The Secretary is authorized to conduct a study on the need for erosion protection along the East River, New York, in the vicinity of Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan with a view toward mitigating the deleterious effects of drift removal on protecting the adjacent shoreline from erosion. (2) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $500,000 for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1992. Such sums shall remain available until expended. (g) Lake Champlain and the Narrows of Lake Champlain, Vermont.— (1) Study.— The Secretary is authorized to conduct a reconnaissance and feasibility study of remediation of contaminated sediments in Lake Champlain and the Narrows of Lake Champlain, Vermont. Such activities shall be coordinated with the State of Vermont and the Water Resources Research Center at the University of Vermont. (2) Funding.— Funds previously expended by the State of Vermont and the Water Resources Research Institute at the University of Vermont in investigating sediment contamination shall be considered toward any joint funding requirement relating to the study to be conducted under this subsection. (h) Lake Champlain, Vermont.— The Secretary is authorized to conduct a reconnaissance and feasibility study of providing additional boat access points on Lake Champlain, Vermont. (i) Montpelier, Vermont.— The Secretary is authorized to conduct a reconnaissance and feasibility study on providing additional flood protection for Montpelier, Vermont. (j) New England Coastal Dredged Material.— (1) Evaluation.— The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of long-term coastal dredged material disposal needs along the Maine and New Hampshire coasts. Beginning in 1995, any dredged material resulting from a project proposed as a result of this study shall be disposed of at a site which is permanently designated by the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972. (2) Funding.— $500,000 is authorized under General Investigations to conduct the study under this subsection, which will take into account the 2 States’ dredged material disposal needs. (k) St. John’s River Channel, Florida.— In studying the feasibility of Federal improvements to the St. John’s River Channel, Florida, the Secretary shall examine the commercial and military uses of the channel in those areas traversed by both military and commercial vessels and shall coordinate the efforts of the Secretary with the Secretary of the Navy to utilize available studies and resources which project future military dredging needs in the St. John’s River Channel. (1) Central and Southern Florida.— The Chief of Engineers shall review the report of the Chief of Engineers on central and southern Florida, published as House Document 643, 80th Congress, 2d Session, and other pertinent reports, with a view to determining whether modifications to the existing project are advisable at the 106 STAT. 4845present time due to significantly changed physical, biological, demographic, or economic conditions, with particular reference to modifying the project or its operation for improving the quality of the environment, improving protection of the aquifer, and improving the integrity, capability, and conservation of urban water supplies affected by the project or its operation.