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.

Brevard County (Florida) – 1,300,000 y3 from Canaveral Shoals II Borrow Area

  Brevard South Reach 2009 Final EA FONSI (409 KB PDF)

Miami-Dade (Florida) – 500,000 y3 from South of Government Cut-Extension
Pinellas County (Florida)
Long Boat Key (Florida)
Pelican Island (Louisiana) – 3,100,000 y3 from Sandy Point SE Area
Whiskey Island (Louisiana) – 5,200,000 y3 from Ship Shoal Area
Raccoon Island (Louisiana) – 4,000,000 y3 from buried channel deposit

  Raccoon Island Phase B 2009 Final EA FONSI (8 MB PDF)

Charleston Harbor (South Carolina) – 6,000,000 y3 from the Charleston ODMDS

  Charleston ODMDS 2009 Final EA FONSI (6 MB PDF)

Sandbridge Beach (Virginia)
Completed Marine Mineral Requests

Summary of Leases Issued by the MMS Marine Minerals Program (18 KB PDF)