FOR RELEASE:  October 18, 1995                        CONTACT:  Tom DeRocco
                                                             (202) 208-3983

                 MMS AND SOUTH CAROLINA TO STUDY OFFSHORE
                   SAND RESOURCES FOR BEACH RESTORATION

     The U.S Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS)
awarded $70,450 to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine
Resources Division, MMS officials announced today.  The money funds an effort
to identify sand resources in federal waters more than 3 miles offshore that
may be useful for beach restoration projects being planned along the
State's coastline.  Other mineral resources and critical biological areas that
could be affected by such projects are also being evaluated, as are sites
previously used to borrow sand.  

     "The MMS is working closely with coastal states to make federal sand
resources available to restore and protect their beaches," said MMS Director
Cynthia Quarterman.  "We look forward to continuing our partnership with South
Carolina in promoting good science and providing the resources necessary to
help restore the state's eroding coastlines."

     Quarterman said that during the next year the federal/state task force on
offshore resources will continue mapping efforts off Folly Beach and Edisto
Island to identify and evaluate sources of beach compatible sand for use on
these erosional beaches.  The recovery of sites previously used to borrow sand
will also be evaluated. 

     Similar efforts to evaluate offshore sources of sand and gravel as well
as other non-energy minerals in federal waters have been initiated with nine
other states on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, according to
Quarterman.

     The MMS is the federal agency that manages the Nation's natural gas, oil
and other mineral resources on the OCS, and collects and disburses about $4
billion yearly in revenues from offshore Federal mineral leases and from
onshore mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands. 

                                   -MMS-