Relating to the management and operation of the Gulf Coast Protection District.

Contracts

• Scope of Work Revisions: Update "Compliance with Laws" sections in all GCPD-related contracts to explicitly require adherence to *Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports* rules.
• Change in Law: Review Force Majeure and Change in Law clauses; if current designs violate Pilot rules, HB2970 constitutes a Material Change in Law, triggering immediate Change Order requests.
• Indemnification: Subcontractors should limit indemnification regarding navigation accidents, as the law creates a strict liability standard regarding adherence to Pilot rules.

Hiring/Training

• Engineering Competency: Engineering teams designing coastal barriers must be trained on the specific navigation safety parameters (channel width, depth, traffic flow) defined by the Pilot Commissioners.
• Project Management: Project Managers must integrate a "Navigation Safety Review" gate into the project lifecycle before finalizing any design schematics.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Navigation Impact Assessment: Implement a mandatory internal assessment for all design phases to document that proposed infrastructure does not impede "two-way traffic" or violate Pilot rules.
• Certification of Compliance: Maintain internal records proving that designs were cross-referenced against the specific rules of the Board of Pilot Commissioners prior to submission to the GCPD.

Fees & Costs

• Redesign Costs: While there are no new statutory fees, anticipate significant project cost increases if active designs must be altered to accommodate navigation requirements.