For more than 35 years, the Marine Minerals Program (MMP) has funded marine minerals research using cooperative agreements, interagency agreements, and contracts. Our expert partners have included other federal agencies, state agencies, universities, and private-sector contractors. Most of our research has focused on sand and gravel, heavy minerals, and other marine minerals found on the OCS.
Notably, BOEM-funded research has identified hundreds of millions of cubic yards of OCS sediment for potential use in coastal resilience and restoration projects. For example, Federal, state, and local government agencies have constructed beach nourishment or restoration projects in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia using sediment first identified through BOEM-funded research. These resource evaluation investments are crucial in identifying the right resources for each project, ensuring their long-term success.
BOEM has invested in research offshore Alaska, Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai'i, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
BOEM continues to update its library of electronic reports. Other resource evaluation reports are available upon request.