OCS Scientific Committee
1999 Meeting Summary - Sand and Gravel Program: Status
Update
Mr. Khaled Bassim, an oceanographer in MMS's International
Activities and Marine Minerals Division, talked about MMS's sand and gravel program. Since
1991, the MMS has been conducting studies to evaluate the environmental impacts of
offshore dredging for sand for beach nourishment activities and for construction aggregate
material. The early studies took an overview approach by focussing on collecting available
information and literature and on the general nature of available technologies and
mitigation. More recently, site-specific studies have been ongoing to examine the
biological and physical effects associated with dredging in particular areas. Studies
offshore Virginia and Alabama have been completed and studies are ongoing offshore New
Jersey, Maryland/Delaware, and North Carolina; a study to take place offshore the east
coast of Florida is currently in procurement.
Public Law 103-426 enacted October 1994, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
negotiate agreements for the use of OCS sand, gravel, and shell resources for programs
undertaken by Federal, State, or local governments which involve certain public works
projects, i.e., for shore protection, beach restoration, or coastal wetlands restoration.
To date, negotiated agreements have been completed with the Navy, the Park Service, the
City of Virginia Beach, Duval County, Florida, and Myrtle Beach. The MMS is currently
negotiating with the States of Maryland and Alabama and with Brevard County, Florida.
The MMS is also investigating the possibility of conducting a competitive sale for
offshore sand and gravel for construction aggregate offshore northern New Jersey. The MMS
continues to conduct research in the United Kingdom to provide relevant information on the
biological and physical effects of offshore aggregate dredging.
For more information, contact Julie Reynolds.
