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The MMS Marine Minerals Program has focused its funding in
three different areas of research. These three areas include biological
studies, numerical wave modeling studies, and programmatic studies
with a focus on impacts on the environment due to dredging.
Biological Studies (B)
The primary purpose of MMS-funded biological studies has
been to address biological concerns raised by the potential for adverse
environmental impacts on marine life as a consequence of dredging sand on the
OCS. In order to develop an understanding of the baseline benthic ecological
conditions at offshore borrow sites prior to any dredging activity, the MMS
has funded numerous site-specific, field-oriented studies. These studies have
entailed the compilation and synthesis of existing oceanographic literature
and available data sets which exist within identified offshore borrow areas,
as well as biological field sampling surveys.
Physical/Modeling Studies (P)
The MMS has also funded numerical wave modeling studies to
examine the potential for alteration in the local wave field following
dredging and the excavation of sand within identified borrow sites. The
modeling also explores the potential for increased wave action after dredging
and any resultant adverse localized changes in erosional patterns and
longshore coastal transport which might result in significant losses of beach
sand after renourishment. These efforts have enabled MMS-funded researchers to
further explore the potential for changes in local sediment transport rates,
as well as the cumulative physical effects of multiple dredging events.
Environmental Impact Investigations (E)
Recognizing that the environmental effects of dredging
operations in many instances are similar for all areas, programmatic-type
studies have also been initiated to examine the effects of particular types of
dredging operations on various aspects of the physical, chemical, and
biological environments, and to develop or recommend appropriate mitigation,
laboratory modeling, or monitoring techniques to alleviate or prevent adverse
environmental impacts.
Programmatic Studies
The benthic community of offshore sand banks: a literature synopsis of
the benthic fauna resources in potential MMS OCS sand mining areas.
Brooks, R. A., S. S. Bell, C. N. Purdy, and K. J. Sulak, 2004.
(B)
Integrated report on the impact of marine aggregate dredging on physical
and biological resources of the seabed. Hitchcock, D.R., R.C.
Newell, and L. Seiderer, 2002. MMS 2000-054.
(BP)
Field testing of a physical/biological monitoring methodology for
offshore dredging and mining operations. Hobbs, C.H., III, ed.,
2006. MMS 2005-056. (BP)
An Examination of the Physical and Biological Implications of Using
Buried Channel Deposits and Other Non-Topographic Offshore Features as beach
Nourishment Materials. Nairn, R., Q. Lu, S. Langendyk, M.
Hayes, P. Montagna, T. Palmer, and S. Powers, 2007. MMS 2007-048.
(BP)
Investigation of Dredging Impacts on Commercial and Recreational
Fisheries and Analysis of Available Mitigation Measures to Protect and
Preserve Resources. Tomlinson, B., J. Petterson, e. Glazier, J. Lewis,
I. Selby, R. Nairn, T. Kenny, P. Godde, C. Espinasse, L. Stanley, and R.
Cooke, 2007. MMS 2006-0065.
(BE)
A methodology and criteria to assess the impact of sand volume removed
in Federal waters on the offshore wave climate. Basco, D.R.,
1999. MMS 99-046. (PE)
A numerical modeling examination of the cumulative physical effects of
offshore sand dredging for beach renourishment. Kelley, S.W.,
J. S. Ramsey, and M.R. Byrnes, 2001. MMS 2001-098.
(P)
Marine aggregate mining benthic and surface plume study.
Hitchcock, D.R., R.C. Newell, and L.J. Seiderer, 1999. MMS 9-029.
(P)
Development of the MMS dredge plume model.
Nairn, R., D.Scott, M. Fullarton, J. Spearman, and N. Bray, 2004.
(P)
Synthesis and analysis of existing information regarding environmental
effects of marine mining. Hammer, R.M., B.J. Balcom, M.J.
Cruickshank, and C.L. Morgan, 1993. MMS 93-006.
(E)
Marine mining technologies and mitigation techniques.
C-CORE, 1996. MMS 95-003.
(E)
Strategic cumulative effects of marine aggregates dredging.
Oakwood Environmental Ltd, 1999.
(E)
Examination of regional management strategies.
Michel, J., R. Nairn, and J. Johnson., 2001.
(E)
Design of a monitoring protocol/plan for environmentally sound
management and development of Federal Offshore Sand Borrow Areas Along the
United States East and Gulf of Mexico Coasts. Michel, J., R.
Nairn, and J. Johnson., 2001. MMS 2001-089.
(E)
Archaeological damage from offshore dredging: recommendations for
pre-operational surveys and mitigation during dredging to avoid adverse
impacts. Michel, J., G.P. Watts, Jr, R. Nairn, T. Kenny, F. Maravan,
C. Pearson, and M. Faught, 2001. MMS 2004-005.
(E)
Critical Technical Review and Evaluation of Site-Specific Studies
Techniques for the MMS Marine Minerals Program.
Michel, J., R. Nairn, C. Peterson, S.
Ross, R. Weisberg, and R. Randall, 2007.MMS 2007-047.
(E)
Analysis of potential biological and physical dredging impacts on
offshore ridge and shoal features/engineering alternatives and options to
avoid adverse environmental impacts (Ongoing Study -
Continental Shelf Associates)
(BPE)
Investigation of dredging guidelines to maintain and protect the
integrity of offshore ridge and shoal regimes/detailed morphologic evaluation
of offshore shoals (Ongoing Study - Baird and Associates)
(E)
Alabama Studies
Environmental survey of identified sand resource areas offshore Alabama:
Volume I: Main Text, Volume II: Appendices. Byrnes, M.R., R.M. Hammer,
B.A. Vittor, J.S. Ramsey, D.B. Snyder, K.F. Bosma, J.D. Wood, T.D.Thibaut,
N.W. Phillips, 1999. MMS99-052.
(E)
Delaware Studies
Environmental survey of potential sand resource sites offshore Delaware
and Maryland. Cutter, G.R., Jr., R. J. Diaz, J. A. Musick, J. Olney,
Sr., D. M. Bilkovic, J. P.-Y. Maa, S. C. Kim, C. S. Hardaway, Jr., D. A.
Milligan, R. Brindley, and C.H. Hobbs, III, 2000. MMS 2000-055.
(E)
Florida Studies
Impacts and direct effects of sand dredging for beach renourishment on
the benthic organisms and geology of the West Florida Shelf.
Blake, N.J., L.J. Doyle, and J.J. Cutter, 1996. MMS 95-005.
(BE)
Biological Characterization/Numerical Wave Model Analysis within Borrow Sites
Offshore West Florida Coast. Zarillo, G., J. Reidenauer, K. Zarillo, T.
Shinskey, E. Reyier, M. Barkaszi, J. Shenker, M. Verdugo, and N. Hodges, 2008.
MMS 2008-005. (BP)
Environmental surveys of potential borrow areas on the Central East Florida
Shelf and the environmental implications of sand removal for coastal and beach
restoration. Hammer, R.M., M.R. Byrnes, D.B. Snyder, T.D. Thibaut, J.L.
Baker, S.W. Kelley, J.M. Côté, L.M. Lagera, Jr., S.T. Viada, B.A. Vittor, J.S.
Ramsey, and J.D. Wood, 2004. MMS 2004-037.
(E)
Biological characterization/numerical wave model analysis within
identified borrow sites offshore the northeast coast of Florida (Ongoing
Study - Scientific Environmental Applications, Inc.)
(BP)
Synthesis of Available Information for the Florida East and West Coasts
Relevant to Evaluating Potential Environmental Impacts Associated with
Offshore Sand Dredging for Beach and Coastal Restoration (Ongoing
Study - MMS/USGS Biological Resource Division Research)
(E)
Louisiana Studies
Preliminary infrastructure stability study, offshore Louisiana.
Nairn, R., S. Langendyk, and J. Michel, 2004. MMS 2004- 019.
(E)
Environmental investigation of the long-term use of Ship Shoal sand
resources for large-scale beach and coastal restoration in Louisiana
(Ongoing Study - Co-funded with
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources)
(E)
Environmental investigation of the long-term use of Trinity and Tiger
Shoals for large-scale beach and coastal restoration in Louisiana (Ongoing
Study - Cooperative Agreement with Louisiana State University)
(E)
Wave-bottom interaction and bottom boundary layer dynamics in evaluating
sand mining at Sabine Bank for coastal restoration, southwest Louisiana
(Ongoing Study - MMS/LSU Coastal Marine Institute Research)
(P)
Ship Shoal, Louisiana: sand, shrimp, and seatrout investigation
(Ongoing Study - MMS/LSU Coastal Marine Institute Research)
(B)
New WAVCIS Ocean Observing System on Ship Shoal, Louisiana (Ongoing
Study - MMS/LSU Coastal Marine Institute Research with match money being
provided by LDNR) (PE)
Investigation of finfish assemblages and benthic habitats within
potential borrow areas in federal waters offshore southeastern Texas and
southwestern Louisiana
(Ongoing Study - MMS/USGS
Biological Resource Division Research)
(B)
Utilization of Finfish Assemblages and Benthic Habitats Within Potential
Borrow Areas in Federal Waters Offshore Southeastern Texas and Southwestern
Louisiana
(Ongoing Study - MMS/USGS Biological
Resource Division Research)
(B)
Maryland Studies
Environmental survey of potential sand resource sites offshore Delaware
and Maryland. Cutter, G.R., Jr., R. J. Diaz, J. A. Musick, J. Olney,
Sr., D. M. Bilkovic, J. P.-Y. Maa, S. C. Kim, C. S. Hardaway, Jr., D. A.
Milligan, R. Brindley, and C.H. Hobbs, III, 2000. MMS 2000-055.
(E)
New Jersey Studies
Environmental Survey of Potential Sand Resource Sites: Offshore New
Jersey. Byrnes, M.R., R.M. Hammer, B.A. Vittor, J.S. Ramsey, D.B.
Snyder, J.D. Wood, K.F. Bosma, T.D. Thibaut, and N.W.Phillips, 2000. MMS
2000-052. (E)
New York
Environmental surveys of potential borrow areas offshore northern New
Jersey and southern New York and the environmental implications of sand
removal for coastal and beach restoration. Byrnes, M.R., R.M. Hammer,
S.W. Kelley, J.L. Baker, D.B. Snyder, T.D. Thibaut, S.A Zichichi, L.M. Lagera,
S.T. Viada, B.A. Vittor, J.S. Ramsey, and J.D. Germano, 2004. MMS 2004-044.
(E)
North Carolina Studies
Collection of environmental data within sand resource areas offshore
North Carolina and the environmental implications of sand removal for coastal
and beach restoration. Byrnes, M.R., R.M. Hammer, B.A. Vittor, S.W.
Kelley, D.B. Snyder, J.M. Côté, J.S. Ramsey, T.D. Thibaut, N.W. Phillips, J.D.
Wood, and J.D.Germano, 2003. MMS 2000-056.
(E)
Texas Studies
Investigation of finfish assemblages and benthic habitats within
potential borrow areas in federal waters offshore southeastern Texas and
southwestern Louisiana (Ongoing Study - MMS/USGS Biological
Resource Division Research)
(B)
Utilization of Finfish Assemblages and Benthic Habitats Within Potential
Borrow Areas in Federal Waters Offshore Southeastern Texas and Southwestern
Louisiana (Ongoing Study - MMS/USGS Biological Resource
Division Research) (B)
Virginia Studies
Environmental studies relative to potential sand mining in the vicinity
of the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hobbs, C.H., III, ed., 1998.
(E)
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04/25/2008,
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