33 U.S.C. § 2326g — Beneficial use of dredged material; dredged material management plans

(a) National policy on the beneficial use of dredged material. (1) (A) It is United States policy for the Corps of Engineers to maximize, in an environmentally acceptable way, the beneficial use of suitable dredged material from construction, operation, and maintenance of water-resources development projects. (B) To the greatest extent practicable, the Secretary must ensure that at least 70 percent by volume, measured in cubic yards, of that suitable material is used beneficially. (2) (A) When evaluating placement of the material, the Secretary must consider its suitability for the full range of beneficial uses and the economic and environmental benefits, efficiencies, and impacts, including effects on living coral. For beneficial-use activities involving more than one project, the Secretary must also consider the benefits, efficiencies, and impacts of the combined activities. (B) (i) The economic benefits and efficiencies considered under (A) must be included in any determination about the “Federal standard” under section 335.7 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, for placing or disposing of the material. (ii) The Secretary must report to Congress (I) the method and every factor the Corps of Engineers used to determine that Federal standard; and (II) for each evaluation under (A), calculations showing the economic and environmental benefits and efficiencies from beneficial use, including, when appropriate, alternative dredging equipment and disposal methods. (C) Omitted.

Terms such as “suitable,” “beneficial use,” and “Federal standard” are used but this section does not define them.