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Sand
and Gravel Program
Managing Multiple Uses in the Gulf of
Mexico
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 BOEMRE 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
Specific
Requirements for Sand and Gravel Lessees in the Gulf of Mexico
The BOEMRE 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
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.
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