U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Office of Public Affairs NEWS RELEASE

Beach Replenishment Project Begins in Brevard County, Florida

A critical beach replenishment project will restore 3.8 miles of shoreline in Brevard County.

"Through the combined efforts of the government organizations what is unique and worth preserving in our county will be maintained for the enjoyment of all," said Virginia Barker, supervisor of the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office.

"We are delighted to be working with officials from Brevard County as well as with our colleagues from the Air Force and the Corps of Engineers on this worthwhile project," said Carol Hartgen, Chief, International Activities and Marine Minerals division of the Minerals Management Service. "Beach replenishment is one more example of how exploration of our nation’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) through providing millions of cubic yards of sand, gravel and shell, benefits all Americans."

The OCS is the part of the submerged coast that extends more than three miles from shore and is regulated by the MMS.

The agency works with coastal states and the Corps of Engineers to provide OCS sand for beach replenishment where needed, working with state beach construction offices to preserve beaches and to prevent erosion.

In addition to Brevard County officials, representatives from the Air Force and the Minerals Management Service spoke, as well as Rep. Dave Weldon of the 15^th District of Florida.

About 2.8 million cubic yards of sand from the Outer Continental Shelf will be used in this project.

MMS is the federal agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages the nation's oil, natural gas and other mineral resources on the outer continental shelf in federal offshore waters. The agency also collects, accounts for and disburses mineral revenues from federal and Indian leases. These revenues totaled nearly $10 billion in 2001 and more than $120 billion since the agency was created in 1982. Annually, nearly $1 billion from those revenues go into the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the acquisition and development of state and federal park and recreation lands.

-MMS-GOM-