Sand and Gravel Program

United States Department of the Interior

Content:
Renee Orr

Pagemasters:
Alice Drew
Marcia Oliver

Sand and Gravel Program

The MMS Sand and Gravel program provides policy direction and guidance for the development of marine mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). We are currently focusing on collecting and providing geologic and environmental information, developed through partnerships with fourteen coastal States, to identify and make available sand deposits in Federal waters suitable for beach nourishment and wetlands protection projects. Information collected in conjunction with these efforts assists the MMS in making future decisions relative to the possible leasing of these deposits. The MMS currently has partnerships with states highlighted in purple on the map below. The labeled brown areas are identified as having potential sand sources for current or future use in beach nourishment and coastal wetlands protection projects.

Cooperative Efforts with States

Other News

	MMS studies to be presented at the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association meeting, “Americas Shoreline: Beach and Ecosystem Restoration in the 21st Century", September 13-15, 2004 in New Orleans, LA.
	MMS Sand Project Saves Sandbridge Beach during Hurricane Isabel
	Prospecting for Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf Regulatory Information Number: 1010–AC48 Federal Register Cite: 67, No. 137 FR 46855 (7/17/2002)
	Link to Kids page booklet on coastal erosion and why we need sand to nourish our nation's beaches for use by educator's and kids called, "The Ocean's Sand, A Natural Resource."
	Guidelines for Obtaining Minerals other than Oil, Gas & Sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf
	Regulations for prospecting, leasing, and operations on the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals other than Oil, Gas and Sulphur
	USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program > Online Science Resource

Last Updated: 09/30/2004, 08:05 AM