The Legislature further finds and declares that it is in the interest of the state to accomplish the following:

(a) Establish the relative importance of dredging needs so that the most important projects can be prioritized and accomplished quickly and unnecessary dredging activities are eliminated.

(b) Examine the potential for and promote using dredged materials as a resource, such as creating new wetlands and maintaining existing levees.

(c) Establish a broad range of environmentally sound and economically feasible disposal options in order to protect fish and wildlife resources and other beneficial uses of the bay and the ocean.

(d) Identify how disposal sites can best be managed and assure adequate monitoring of dredging and disposal activities.

(Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 583, Sec. 3.)