USACE: Proposals for Beneficial Use of Dredged Material

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published last week in the Federal Register its request for proposals for beneficial use of dredged material pilot projects pursuant to Section 1122 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, Beneficial Use of Dredged Material.

According to USACE, section 1122 requires the Corps to establish a pilot program to carry out 10 projects for the beneficial use of dredged material.

The pilot program can include projects for the purposes of:

1. reducing storm damage to property and infrastructure;
2. promoting public safety;
3. protecting, restoring and creating aquatic ecosystem habitats;
4. stabilizing stream systems and enhancing shorelines;
5. promoting recreation;
6. supporting risk management adaptation strategies; and
7. reducing the costs of dredging and dredged material placement or disposal, such as projects that use dredged material.

USACE implementation guidance (including selection criteria) for carrying out the provisions of Section 1122 and information on submitting a proposal can be found here.

The Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works is required to submit a report to Congress within two years that includes:

1. a description of the projects selected under the pilot program;
2. documentation supporting each of the projects selected;
3. the findings of regional beneficial use teams regarding project selection; and
4. any recommendations of the ASA(CW) or regional beneficial use teams with respect to the pilot program.

The program terminates after completion of the 10 beneficial use pilot projects.