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Marine
Mineral Projects
Since 1995, MMS has issued more than 23 leases that have conveyed over 30
million cubic yards of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) sand for beach
nourishment and other coastal restoration projects. More than 100 miles of
the Nation’s coastline in five states and billions of dollars of coastal
infrastructure has been protected. For example, imminent breaching of
several barrier islands was prevented by the rapid placement of OCS sand
because all necessary geological and environmental information had already
been gathered. Many of these were emergency projects that used sand that was
previously identified by the MMS through its cooperative program with
coastal states. At the Dam Neck Naval Facility alone, the Navy has estimated
that almost $100 million of training and housing facilities has been
protected from storm damage by the placement of OCS sand.
The legal authority for the issuance of negotiated
noncompetitive leases for OCS sand and gravel is give by
Section 8(k) of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).
Public Law 103-426, enacted
in 1994, allows the MMS to convey, on a noncompetitive basis, the rights to
OCS sand, gravel, or shell resources funded in whole, part, or authorized by
the Federal Government.
In 1992, MMS began working cooperatively with coastal
states to locate and evaluate sand deposits in Federal waters with potential
for use in beach nourishment projects. In 2005, due to funding cuts the
state co-op program was discontinued, However, today the MMS Sand and Gravel
program is involved in more marine mineral leases than ever before and is
seeing an increase in the requests for OCS sand as sand in state waters
continues to be depleted.
Summary of Leases Issued by the MMS Marine Minerals Program
(March
2008)
Maps of Leased Borrow Areas to Date (Mapped By Region)
Ongoing Marine Mineral
Requests
Area |
Borrow Area |
Amount Requested (cu. Yds) |
Start Year |
What will be Accomplished? |
California |
Ocean View Beach |
Federal Waters West of Ocean Beach |
3,000,000 |
2010 |
Beach Restoration and Infrastructure Protection |
Louisiana |
Pelican Island |
Sandy Point SE Area |
3,100,000 |
2008 |
Barrier Island Restoration |
Whiskey Island |
Ship Shoal Area |
5,200,000 |
2008 |
Barrier Island Restoration |
Raccoon Island |
Offshore Buried Channel Deposits |
4,000,000 |
2008 |
Barrier Island Restoration |
South Carolina |
North Myrtle Beach |
Little River Beach Area |
703,000 |
2007 |
Beach Restoration and Infrastructure Protection |
Myrtle Beach |
Cane South Beach Area |
1,442,500 |
2007 |
Beach Restoration and Infrastructure Protection |
Surfside Beach |
Surfside Beach Area |
778,600 |
2007 |
Beach Restoration and Infrastructure Protection |
Virginia |
Sandbridge Beach |
Sandbridge Shoal |
2,000,000 |
2008 |
Beach Restoration and Infrastructure Protection |
Total |
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20,224,100 |
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Last Updated:
12/03/2008,
12:27 PM
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