National Defense Port System Act of 1981

National Defense Port System Act of 1981 - Title I: Establishment of National System of User Fees for Deep-Draft Channels and Harbors - Directs the President to appoint a task force which shall make specific recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury concerning the imposition of user fees on ports having deep-draft channels or harbors. Sets forth factors to be considered by the task force.

Directs the Secretary to establish a nationally uniform system of user fees. Allows the Secretary to increase or decrease such user fees under certain circumstances. Requires such fees to be collected by the Customs Service.

Establishes the Port System Trust Fund within the Treasury. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on Trust Fund operations.

Makes amounts in the Trust Fund available for: (1) navigation improvement projects; and (2) operation and maintenance of specified channels and harbors, including those in the Saint Lawrence Seaway, Great Lakes, or their connecting waters.

Revises financing procedures of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

Terminates Corporation obligations outstanding on the effective date of this Act.

Title II: Construction and Financing of Navigation Improvement Projects to Increase the Depth of Deep-Draft Channels and Harbors to More Than Forty-Five Feet - Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to expedite construction of approved navigation improvement projects if the appropriate State port authority enters into a specified agreement with the Secretary. Requires such port authority to reimburse the United States for 100 percent of construction, operation, and maintenance costs.

Allows State port authorities to construct approved navigation improvement projects at their own expense and to finance such construction through the adoption of duties of tonnage.

Grants the consent of Congress, subject to certain conditions, to the levying by the States of such duties of tonnage.

Directs the Comptroller General to audit the operations of such State port authorities and to report to Congress thereon.

Sets forth enforcement procedures concerning such duties of tonnage.

Title III: Expedited Procedure for Approval of Navigation Improvement Projects and Related Landside Facilities Projects - Directs the Secretary to establish a project schedule for all agency decisions relating to navigation improvements and landside facilities projects. Authorizes the Secretary to modify the project schedule at any time.

Describes procedures concerning judicial review of final agency decisions covered by a project schedule.