ASSESSMENT OF BENEFICIAL USE ALTERNATIVES

Framework for Dredged Material Management

May 2004

6.0 ASSESSMENT OF BENEFICIAL USE

ALTERNATIVES

This chapter contains descriptions of various beneficial uses of dredged material

and assessment procedures for beneficial use alternatives. The framework for

assessments for beneficial uses is illustrated in Flowchart 3-4. The detailed assessments

described in this chapter may be performed following a determination of the need for

such assessments as described in Chapter 3.

6.1 Beneficial Use as an Alternative

Dredged material is a manageable, valuable soil resource, with beneficial uses of

such importance that plans for the ultimate use of disposal sites should be incorporated

into project plans and goals at the project's inception to the maximum extent possible. It

is the policy of the USACE to fully consider all aspects of dredging and disposal

operations with a view toward maximizing public benefits. Integral to this analysis is a

requirement to provide full and equal consideration to all practicable alternatives,

including beneficial uses of dredged material (see for example 33 CFR 337.9).

Whenever the dredging cycle and beneficial use needs have been found to

coincide, beneficial use of dredged material has been considered as a management option.

In many cases, beneficial use of dredged material has been identified as the preferred

alternative. Unexpected new beneficial use needs may periodically arise (e.g., severe

beach erosion from severe storms) and other factors such as development of more cost-

effective dredging technologies may from time to time dictate a reevaluation of beneficial

use options.

Authorities and constraints related to the beneficial use of dredged material are in

a state of change. Provisions in the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 have now

assigned to the USACE new authorities to pursue high-priority Fish and Wildlife

Restoration projects where such projects can most efficiently or appropriately be

accomplished in conjunction with existing or planned navigation projects. In addition,

this legislation has assigned such projects equal mission status with navigation and flood

control projects of the USACE. Thus, future beneficial use applications may, on a case-

by-case basis, be either the preferred alternative for a navigation project, a cost-shared

(ranging from 25 to 100 percent total local funding) action undertaken in association with

the navigation project, or a separate, cost-shared project undertaken within the navigation