AL HB181

Persons dredging more than 1 million cubic yards of material annually in Alabama coastal areas must beneficially use at least 70% of the dredged material

Beneficial uses include fish and wildlife habitat development, human recreation, industrial and commercial uses, shoreline restoration, and marsh creation projects

Compliance requirement only applies when federal funds are available and allocated for beneficial use, and when permitted beneficial use sites exist with demonstrated capacity

State General Fund appropriations cannot be used for compliance expenses; Governor may suspend requirements during declared state of emergency

Alabama Department of Environmental Management and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources must adopt implementing rules; effective October 1, 2026