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Hard Minerals Sub-Committee
Purpose
This Subcommittee on the OCS Hard Minerals
Leasing Program is established by the OCS Policy Committee.
The purpose of this subcommittee is to
advise the Minerals Management Service (MMS) and the Department of the
Interior through recommendations to the Outer Continental Shelf Policy
Committee (OCSPC) on the identification of, and leasing and development of
hard mineral marine resources in an environmentally sound manner.
Cooperative agreements with coastal state
partners are designed to assess all OCS hard minerals in Federal waters,
with a present focus on partnerships to collect and provide geologic and
environmental information to identify and make available, via noncompetitive
lease agreements, sand and gravel deposits suitable for beach nourishment,
and wetland and infrastructure protection projects. This work has led to the
efficient and environmentally sound recovery of sand resources for these
purposes in several states. In support of its purpose and productive synergy
with MMS, Hard Minerals Subcommittee input may be sought by MMS on tasks
such as:
Evaluating whether or not MMS should promulgate
regulations and noncompetitive leases for beach restoration and wetland
protection projects;
Providing advice on issues associated with multiple use of
the seafloor (e.g., siting of artificial reefs, alternative energy
facilities, extraction of valuable minerals from OCS sand and gravel, or
other infrastructure on offshore borrow sites). This task could relate to
OMM Strategy #13, Develop Regional Plans for Sand and Gravel Leasing;
Assisting with the planning, organizing, and managing of
OCS marine minerals workshops or "Information Transfer Meetings;"
Reviewing drafts of final reports and other documents for
the Marine Minerals Branch as requested by MMS;
Examining the viability of competitive leasing and
providing MMS with advice on ways to proceed; and
Providing suggestions for environmental study
topics/issues, and priorities.
Members
Dr. John H. Talley (Chairman), Delaware Geological Survey, Newark, Delaware
Charles Chesnutt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC
Dr. Syed Khalil, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA
Dr. Charles L. Morgan, Planning Solutions, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii
Dr. Karl W. Muessig, New Jersey Geological Survey, New Jersey
Dr. Berry H. "Nick" Tew, Jr., Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa,
Alabama
Deborah L. Tucker, Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee,
Florida
Dr. James R. Woolsey, Jr., Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute,
Mississippi
Subcommittee Staff
Renee Orr, Minerals Management Service, Herndon, VA
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Last Updated:
04/25/2008,
03:20 PM
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