Legislation moving through the Alabama State House could reshape how dredged material from the Mobile Harbor ship channel is managed, drawing close attention from dredging contractors, port interests, and other commercial marine operators along the Gulf Coast.
The Alabama House of Representatives on Jan. 27 unanimously passed House Bill 181 (HB181), sponsored by State Rep. Rhett Marques (R-Enterprise). The measure would require that 70% of dredged material be directed to defined beneficial-use projects and is intended to limit most open-water placement of sediment in Mobile Bay.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains the federally authorized 50'-deep Mobile Harbor channel, a key gateway to the Port of Mobile, through routine dredging. Much of the debate centers on the Corps’ use of open-water placement, often referred to as “thin-layer placement,” for a portion of the dredged material.
Under HB181, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) would jointly administer the Coastal Area Management Program to balance conservation and economic interests tied to dredging and sediment placement. The Alabama Port Authority voiced support after an amendment clarified that no State General Fund dollars would be required and that projects would be mandated only when federal funding is available for beneficial use.
In an open letter addressing recent criticism, Brig. Gen. Zachary L. Miller, commander of the Corps’ South Atlantic Division, defended the agency’s approach.
“Thin-layer placement is not ‘mud dumping.’ It is a measured, monitored, and science-based sediment management practice designed to mirror natural sediment processes that have shaped Mobile Bay over thousands of years,” Miller wrote. “This practice has been used in Mobile Bay for more than a decade under state and federal permits, with continuous environmental monitoring and regulatory oversight.”
Miller also noted that the method was developed through a collaborative process. “In 2014, this approach was developed and vetted through a multi-agency working group that included environmental stakeholders — including Mobile Baykeeper — and resulted in thin-layer placement being identified as an acceptable beneficial use practice for Mobile Bay.”
The Corps said similar practices are used in other states as part of a broader shift toward treating dredged material as a resource when conditions allow.
For dredging operators and marine contractors, the outcome of HB181 could influence future placement requirements, site availability, and the structure and funding of beneficial-use projects tied to Mobile Harbor maintenance dredging. Corps officials have indicated they will review the final language of any enacted legislation for potential impacts on federal authorities and ongoing navigation work.
