Texas General Land Office Offshore Sediment Resources Inventory

Description

The Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is responsible for managing energy and mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). BOEM’s mission is to promote economic development and energy independence while ensuring protection of the environment. The Marine Minerals Program (MMP) within BOEM provides negotiated agreements for OCS sediment resources used in coastal restoration efforts. The MMP continues to look for better ways to serve the American people and to ensure that the nation receives the best value for its resources now and into the future. The Program provides information to support decision-making not only within the Department of the Interior, but also to coastal states and local governments to ensure the responsible use of OCS resources for coastal restoration activities.The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) Section 1346 mandates the conduct of environmental and socioeconomic studies needed for the assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments which may be affected by offshore energy or other mineral development. OCSLA Section 1345 authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information, joint utilization of available expertise, and stipulations relevant to outer shelf operations both onshore and offshore.Cooperative partnerships with states, through either a state agency or institution of higher learning, to conduct marine minerals investigations have successfully been completed since 1994.Purpose: The principal purpose is to manage OCS sand resources. BOEM, through its MMP, conveys the rights to OCS sand, gravel, or shell resources to local, state, or Federal agencies, for use in shore protection and coastal restoration projects. BOEM must analyze and minimize to the maximum extent practicable any potential negative effects of these activities under the requirements on the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental laws, such as the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.This cooperative agreement is to conduct research in topics that serve the public interest relating to offshore sand resources, coastal restoration and protection, and coastal resiliency, as well as meet the MMP and Gulf states’ goal of a Gulf-wide OCS sediment inventory. Data collection in support of these goals promotes preservation of biological, cultural, and economic resources by rebuilding coastlines to safeguard the Nation’s assets and delineates OCS mineral resources to inform long term planning and ensure protection from activities that might otherwise permanently obstruct access to the resource. This research will involve collection of new geotechnical sediment core collection and data analysis which will aide in estimating restoration-quality sand reserves offshore Texas.This information will provide Gulf Coast restoration planners with information on available building material for coastal restoration projects, indirectly providing benefits to infrastructure systems, housing, economic development, community planning and capacity building. Additionally, the identification of these sand provides an inventory of resources that will be beneficial for future coastal planning efforts which ultimately promotes long-term sustainability for both communities and ecosystems. Other federal agencies, the state of Texas, local governments and local communities will benefit from the outcome of this project through improved consultations and project planning for locally and federally funded coastal restoration projects. This project will enable BOEM to help the state and localities by providing financial assistance to State stakeholders who will produce scientific information for use by Federal, state, and local resource managers.

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