Coastal restoration, beach nourishment, and levee reconstruction are crucial to mitigate future coastal erosion, land loss, flooding, and storm damage in the Gulf of Mexico. The success of that long-term effort depends on locating and securing significant quantities of OCS sediment resources that are compatible with the target environments being restored. Offshore sand resources, like upland sources, are extremely scarce where most needed. Additionally, vast areas of these relatively small offshore sand resources are not extractable because of the presence of oil and gas infrastructure, archaeologically sensitive areas, and biologically sensitive areas. Since the use of OCS sediment resources is authorized by the MMS through its Marine Mineral Program, the bureau is implementing several measures to help safeguard the most significant OCS sediment resources, reduce multiple use conflicts, and minimize interference with oil and gas operations under existing leases or rights-of-way.

Gulf of Mexico Significant Outer Continental Shelf Sediment Resources NTL:

  Download Inventory of Significant OCS Sediment Resources (23 Kb)

  Download Maps:  (All file format is Adobe Acrobat .)
         West Delta Area (956 Kb)
         Ship Shoal and South Pelto Areas (1075 Kb)
         Vermillion and South Marsh Areas (763 Kb)
         Sabine Pass and West Cameron Areas (721 Kb)

  Download GIS Data:
         Significant OCS Sediment Resource Areas
           ZIP file contain ESRI shapefile and FGDC-compliant metadata.

Contact Information:

The following table provides contact names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses if you have any questions regarding this NTL, specific OCS plans or pipeline applications, and or the Marine Minerals Program:

Specific Requirements for Sand and Gravel Lessees in the Gulf of Mexico

The MMS may require operational setbacks from existing oil and gas infrastructure during dredging operations to avoid direct or indirect impacts to infrastructure. Setbacks will be determined on a case-by-case basis, using guidance provided in Study to Address the Issue of Seafloor Stability and the Impact of Sand Dredging Activities on Oil and Gas Infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico.

A pre-operation infrastructure survey report, consistent with the Shallow Hazards NTL, may be required to document the existing oil and gas infrastructure in the vicinity of offshore borrow areas. This report would also address any mitigation measures proposed to ensure that the proposed activities would not damage identified infrastructure.

Related Information:

Information to Lessees (ITL) Notice

“Leasing Activities Information” regarding potential sand dredging activities in the Central Gulf of Mexico presented in the Information to Lessess (ITL) of the Final Notice of Sale Package for Central Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 206.

Notice to Lessees:
 
  Shallow Hazards NTL

  Marine Minerals Program Infrastructure-Related Environmental Studies

       Through research sponsored by the Environmental Studies Program, the MMP
       has developed information regarding the potential adverse impacts of dredging
       operations on existing infrastructure and requirements of potential lessees
       concerning the identification of the location of existing infrastructure.

         Preliminary Infrastructure Stability Study, Offshore Louisiana

         Study to Address the Issue of Seafloor Stability and the Impact of S and
           Dredging Activities on Oil and Gas Infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico

         An Examination of the Physical and Biological Implications of Using
           Buried Channel Deposits and Other Non-Topographic Offshore Features as
           Beach

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Last Updated: 03/05/2009, 08:28 AM