U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Capital Hill Oceans Week

1. U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management ServiceCapital Hill Oceans Week Renee Orr Chief, Leasing Division Minerals Management Service Herndon, Virginia 20170

2. Who is MMS? Manage mineral resource development on the OCS • 30% of Nation’s oil production • 23% of Nation’s natural gas production Total OCS – 1.76 billion acres Active leases – 42 million acres • Over 7,800 leases • Over 4,000 facilities Environmental science • Over $750 million in environmental studies

3. OCSMarineMineralsProgram Provides policy direction for the development of marine mineral resources on the OCS Collects and provides geologic and environmental information, developed through partnerships with 14 coastal States Identifies and makes available OCS sand deposits suitable for beach nourishment and wetlands protection projects

4. Cooperative Agreements with States Maine New Hampshire Massachusetts NewJersey Delaware Maryland Virginia North & South Carolina California Florida Alabama Texas Louisiana

5. Focus on assessment of OCS sand resources as sources of material for public works projects. Coordinate with state and local agencies, U.S Army Corps of Engineers, and public interest. Emphasize cost sharing between State and MMS to as close to 50-50 as possible. Cooperative Agreements

6. Environmental Studies MMS has invested $11 million in sand and gravel research focusing on: • Biological/physical impacts of sand dredging at site-specific borrow sites identified thru state coops. • Generic impacts/effects/issues common to all borrow sites. • Operational impacts (i.e. archeological, infrastructure, etc.

7. Beach Restoration and Wetland Protection Projects Projects using OCS sand involve: • Partnering with the State, County, or Locality on sand leases. • Cooperating with Army Corps of Engineers on NEPA documents. • Consulting with National Fishery Service on protected species and essential fish habitat issues. • Consulting with Fish and Wildlife Service on protected species issues.

8. 0.15 million cyds3 2.2 million cyds3 4.7 million cyds3 13 million cyds3 4.2 million cyds3 Real Results! Since 1995, MMS conveyed over 23 million cubic yards of OCS sand for 16 projects in 5 states. The projects restored over 90 miles of coastline, protecting military installations, National parkland, and infrastructure. State Locality Sand(cubic yards) FLORIDA Jacksonville (Duval County) 1,240,000 SOUTH CAROLINA Myrtle Beach (Surfside) 150,000 VIRGINIA Dam Neck Naval Facility 808,000 VIRGINIA Dam Neck Naval Facility 700,000 VIRGINIA Sandbridge Beach 1,100,000 VIRGINIA Sandbridge Beach 2,000,000 MARYLAND Assateague National Seashore 134,000 MARYLAND Assateague National Seashore 2,000,000 MARYLAND Assateague State Park 100,000 FLORIDA Brevard County – North 4,500,000 FLORIDA Brevard County – South 2,800,000 FLORIDA Patrick Air Force Base 600,000 LOUISIANA Holly Beach 4,200,000 FLORIDA Brevard County 2,000,000 FLORIDA Patrick Air Force Base 350,000 FLORIDA Jacksonville Beach 1,500,000

9. GOM – Louisiana Restoration

10. Holly Beach Breakwater Enhancement and Sand Management Project • Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) Project—Breaux Act • Partnered with Cameron Parish. • Federal partners: • Army Corps of Engineers • Environmental Protection Agency • Fish and Wildlife Service • NOAA - Fisheries • Natural Resources Conservation Service

11. Holly Beach Project (continued) Placed 2.15 million cubic yards of Federal sand along 5 miles of shoreline and behind several existing breakwaters. Completed in April 2003. Extended the existing shoreline and created a buffer to better protect Louisiana Highway 82. Reversed the area’s rate of shoreline erosion. Protected over 10,000 acres of fragile wetlands critical to the sustainability of the local communities. First MMS project to use buried channels as a sand source. Holly Beach Post Construction

12. GOM Challenges • Lack of information—borrow sites and environmental, operational • Multiple use • OCS oil and gas infrastructure • Liquefied natural gas (LNG) ports • Aquaculture • Commercial and recreational activities • Multiple Jurisdictions (e.g., permitting, funding, compliance)

14. Upcoming CWPPRA Projects • Pelican Island • Lease Issuance : Fall 2005 • Sponsor: NOAA • 3.1 million cubic yards of sand . • Shoreline stabilization and marsh creation. • West Delta Blocks 27 and 49 .

15. Upcoming CWPPRA Projects • Whiskey Island • 4 million cubic yards • Ship Shoal Block 88 • Restore approximately 400 acres of barrier island habitat on the island’s western flank. • Spring 2006

16. Solutions: Louisiana Initiatives • Louisiana Cooperative Agreement • Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Study • Regional Sand Management Working Group • Environmental Studies (MMS, USGS-BRD, LSU CMI

17. Cooperative Agreement: Louisiana Louisiana Geological Survey and MMS signed Agreement in August 2003. Coastal areas, such as the Isles Dernieres, are eroding rapidly. Identified Ship Shoal, a large shoal offshore, as an ideal sand source. Synthesizing available data on sand sources offshore Louisiana. Producing sediment distribution maps. Delineating areas for future study and data collection.

18. Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Study (LCA) • Participated in Army Corps of Engineers’ study to identify a plan of action that reverses the current trend coastal system degradation. • Targets ecological restoration of healthy, productive, and diverse wetlands. Enhances sustainability with essential form and function of the natural ecosystem. Results in multiple use benefits for wetlands, communities, industries, and resources of the coast.

19. LCA (continued) Over 61 million cubic yards of sand will be needed for LCA coastal restoration and barrier island replenishment efforts. OCS sand will be the main sand source. Ship Shoal is primary target, but other OCS shoals and buried channel deposits are potential sand sources too. Largest effort to use Ship Shoal may be East Timbalier/Isle Dernieres shoreline restoration.

20. Regional Management Established a Louisiana Sand Management Working Group (LA SMWG) to: • Address OCS sand needs for coastal restorations. • Coordinate access of sand for various regional projects. • Ensure the efficient and appropriate use of the OCS sand.

21. LA SMWG (continued) • Formal process to assist MMS in: • Identifying problems, collecting data, proposing and implementing solutions. • Promoting information sharing. • Providing mechanism for producing results. • Partners include: • Army Corps of Engineers • Environmental Protection Agency • Fish and Wildlife Service • LA Department of Natural Resources • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • United States Geological Survey • Dredge Operators • Affected Industries

22. Information • New Lease Stipulations • Require dredge location in real time to ensure the dredge operates only in designated borrow area. • Require post project submission of production and sand volume information to ensure the accuracy of cut depths and widths, cut slopes and site production. • Environmental Studies • Long Term Use of Ship Shoal • Food Web Studies • Soil Stability/Pipeline Study • Buried Channel Study • SEAMAP Data Review

23. Working to be Proactive Ready to: • Use SMWG • Provide needed environmental Information • Ensure appropriate mitigation • Partner/Assist with other Agencies (e.g., cooperating NEPA roles). Result: Manage OCS sand resources in an environmentally sound manner.

24. Renee Orr Chief, Leasing Division Minerals Management Service U.S. Department of the Interior 381 Elden Street Herndon, VA 20170 703/787-1300 Renee.Orr@mms.gov http://www.mms.gov/sandandgravel/ Additional Information