FOR RELEASE:  September 30, 1994              CONTACT:  Lee Scurry
                                                    (202) 208-3983

MMS EXTENDS AGREEMENT WITH VIRGINIA TO STUDY SAND RESOURCES
(#40068)

     The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management
Service (MMS) has awarded $100,000 to the Virginia Institute of
Marine Science (VIMS), of the College of William and Mary, for
further studies and inventories of federal sand resources offshore
their state, MMS officials announced today.  Over the past two
years, MMS has granted $204,500 to VIMS for sand resource studies. 

     "This contract is a continuation of the partnership between
MMS and the Commonwealth of Virginia to examine sand resources on
the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) between Cape Henry, VA and the
North Carolina border," said MMS Acting Director Cynthia
Quarterman.

     "Researchers are focusing on sand resources that closely match
the quality of beach sand in the areas of Virginia Beach and the
Sandbridge community.  A suitable match in sand quality facilitates
the beach nourishment and restoration process," Quarterman said.

     The project will involve collection of samples for future
sediment, chemical, and biological references.  Modeling of wave
patterns near Sandbridge and a nearshore circulation study using
remote sensing are scheduled for completion.  "This environmental
benchmarking is an important first step," said Quarterman, "should
the offshore resources be needed at a later time.

     "In previous years, the cooperative effort with VIMS has made
significant progress," she said.

     -- In 1992, work resulted in a geologic assessment of the
southern section of the continental shelf offshore Virginia, and
preliminary environmental modeling of the Sandbridge Shoal. 

     -- The 1993-1994 efforts focused on analyses of Sandbridge
Shoal that included creation of a 3-dimensional geological model,
enhanced wave analyses, and sediment sampling operations to confirm
resource quality.

     Similar efforts to evaluate marine mineral resources --
including other nonenergy minerals -- in federal waters have been
initiated with all other states on the East Coast and the Gulf of
Mexico.  As with MMS' other programs, the focus is on the
assessment of selected sand deposits, and the evaluation of
environmental, engineering and economic impacts related to sand
extraction and placement. 

     MMS administers the federal offshore minerals program and
manages the mineral royalty collection program for federal and
Indian lands. The MMS Office of International Activities and Marine
Minerals (INTERMAR) is responsible for the management of OCS sand
and other nonenergy mineral resources. For more information contact
INTERMAR at (703) 787-1300.

                                -MMS-

Subject: PR-9/29/94 Virginia Contract/MMS Extends Agreement with
Virginia to Study Sand Resources (#40068)