1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Dredging to Ensure the Empowerment of Ports Act or the DEEP Act . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Certifying authority The term certifying authority , with respect to an activity for which a certification is required under section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1341 ) from a State or interstate water pollution control agency, means the State or interstate water pollution control agency, as applicable, from which the certification is requested. (2) Dredging project (A) In general The term dredging project means a project permitted or solicited by the Secretary that involves the dredging of a port or a navigation channel of a port within the navigable waters of the United States. (B) Dredging of ports For purposes of subparagraph (A), a dredging project that involves the dredging of a port includes dredging for the purposes of— (i) maintaining the port; (ii) expanding the port