Description: The Core Samples feature class is a collection of sediment core and borehole locations and their respective summary attributes. These data were compiled from multiple agencies conducting investigations and studies relevant to outer continental shelf (OCS) non-energy mineral resource (e.g. sand, gravel, shell) management. Many of these efforts were funded at least partially by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) (formerly known as the Minerals Management Service). The summary information for each core and boring location includes (but is not limited to) core/borehole ID, state, date/time, x/y coordinates (and horizontal datum), method of sampling, sampling device, elevation (and vertical datum), penetration depth, percent recovery, study name, and source agency contact information. Digitized core/borelogs and sediment sample data (if available; e.g. layer descriptions, grain-size analyses, Munsell color, etc.) are contained in the related Core Layers and Samples tables, respectively. The associated study report(s) are linked via the Link Documents table. This feature class will be updated as new data are received.
Description: The Grab Samples feature class is a collection of sediment grab locations and their respective summary attributes. These data were compiled from multiple agencies conducting investigations and studies relevant to outer continental shelf (OCS) non-energy mineral resource (e.g. sand, gravel, shell) management. Many of these efforts were funded at least partially by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) (formerly known as the Minerals Management Service). The summary information for each grab location includes (but is not limited to) grab ID, state, date/time, x/y coordinates (and horizontal datum), sampling device, elevation (and vertical datum), penetration depth, study ID, and source agency contact information. Laboratory analyses of sediment sample data (if available; e.g. textural classification, grain-size analyses, Munsell color, etc.) are contained in the related Samples table. The associated study report(s) are linked via the Link Documents table. This feature class will be updated as new data are received.
Description: The Water Samples feature class is a collection of water sampling locations from multiple investigations conducted on or around the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and were funded completely or partially by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). This layer contains information related to sample acquisition, such as study ID, station ID, date, time, water color, Secchi depth, and instrument used for sampling. Measurements recorded (e.g. temperature, pH, salinity, conductivity, oxygen, turbidity, pressure, density, etc.) at each station are provided in the related Water Results table. The associated study report can be accessed via the Link Documents table. This dataset will be updated regularly as new and existing data are incorporated in to the MMIS geodatabase.
Description: Avoidance Areas are polygons which represent the buffered footprint (recommended avoidance radius stipulated in lease agreement) surrounding sensitive areas or potentially significant anomalies identified in the OCS that must be avoided during dredging or geotechnical survey activities associated with authorized OCS leases. In some instances, these avoidance areas occur within state waters but are noted in OCS leases due to their association with construction-related activity (e.g., dredge pipelines, pumpouts, or placement areas). Avoidance areas are specifically defined in Negotiated Non-Competitive Leases or Memoranda of Agreement with BOEM, which authorize contracted entities to dredge sand, gravel, or shell resources from the OCS. Section 8 (k) of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended by Public Law 103-426 (enacted in 1994), provides BOEM the authority to negotiate an agreement for the use of OCS sand, gravel, and shell resources for use in: (1) a project for shore protection, beach restoration, or coastal restoration undertaken by a Federal, State, or local government agency; or (2) for use in a construction project funded in whole or part by or authorized by the Federal government. This dataset is a collection of avoidance areas from final, executed lease documentation and is maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). This dataset is compliant to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.
Description: The Shore Study Areas layer contains polygons delineating locations along the U.S. coastline that have experienced increased erosion and, as a result, prompted environmental studies to determine (1) the extent of erosion, (2) baseline documentation of shore sediment character, and (3) if the site could benefit from shoreline stabilization and beach nourishment in order to reduce coastal storm flooding and erosion, and provide economic, cultural, recreational, and environmental habitat benefits. If a shoreline area is designated as being in need of restoration and renourishment, and a composite match is made between the shore sand and sand in the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), then entities may enter into a Negotiated Non-Competitive Lease or Memoranda of Agreement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), in order to dredge sand, gravel, or shell resources from the OCS. Section 8 (k) of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) as amended by Public Law 103-426 (enacted in 1994) gives BOEM the authority to negotiate an agreement for the use of OCS sand, gravel, and shell resources for use in: (1) a project for shore protection, beach restoration, or coastal restoration undertaken by a Federal, State, or local government agency; or (2) for use in a construction project funded in whole or in part by or authorized by the Federal government. This dataset is a collection of previous and current shore study areas. Attribution consists of Study ID, year of study, and summarized sediment descriptions. The polygon extents are not guaranteed to be exact and may contain estimate boundaries delineated based on visual interpretation of drawings and descriptions found in study documents and post construction reports. The dataset will be updated on a regular basis to reflect new and previous study areas.
Description: The Sand Resource layer contains delineations of areas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and (if available) nearshore areas where there is some likelihood that a usable sand resource exists. The resources depicted in this feature class were identified and characterized during various reconnaissance- and design-level studies where geological (e.g. sediment cores, sediment profile images, etc.) and geophysical (e.g. high-resolution swath bathymetry, side-scan sonar, seismic reflection profiles, magnetometer surveys) data were collected, as least in part, to evaluate OCS sand resources. Resource attribution consists of OCS study area ID, location (state), area ID (e.g. shoal X), approximate areal extent, estimated volume, generalized (e.g. composite) sediment properties (mean grain size, %sand, %gravel, %fines etc.), and resource evaluation stage (see attribute definition for detailed explanation). Delineations are not guaranteed to be exact and mainly consist of approximate delineations based on interpretations of data, drawings, and or descriptions found in related study reports. Likewise, the character of sediment deposits qualifying as sand resource areas varies with region and prospective applications for use. If a sand resource area is deemed suitable for a given project (e.g. beach restoration), then entities may enter into a Negotiated Non-Competitive Lease or Memoranda of Agreement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), in order to dredge sand, gravel or shell resources from the resource area. Section 8 (k) of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) as amended by Public Law 103-426 (enacted in 1994) gives BOEM the authority to negotiate an agreement for the use of OCS sand, gravel and shell resources for use in: (1) a project for shore protection, beach restoration, or coastal wetlands restoration undertaken by a Federal, State, or local government agency; or (2) for use in a construction project funded in whole or part by or authorized by the Federal government. This dataset and its related tables will be updated periodically as new and existing data are incorporated in to the MMIS geodatabase.
Description: The Shore Study Areas layer contains polygons delineating locations along the U.S. coastline that have experienced increased erosion and, as a result, prompted environmental studies to determine (1) the extent of erosion, (2) baseline documentation of shore sediment character, and (3) if the site could benefit from shoreline stabilization and beach nourishment in order to reduce coastal storm flooding and erosion, and provide economic, cultural, recreational, and environmental habitat benefits. If a shoreline area is designated as being in need of restoration and renourishment, and a composite match is made between the shore sand and sand in the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), then entities may enter into a Negotiated Non-Competitive Lease or Memoranda of Agreement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), in order to dredge sand, gravel, or shell resources from the OCS. Section 8 (k) of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) as amended by Public Law 103-426 (enacted in 1994) gives BOEM the authority to negotiate an agreement for the use of OCS sand, gravel, and shell resources for use in: (1) a project for shore protection, beach restoration, or coastal restoration undertaken by a Federal, State, or local government agency; or (2) for use in a construction project funded in whole or in part by or authorized by the Federal government. This dataset is a collection of previous and current shore study areas. Attribution consists of Study ID, year of study, and summarized sediment descriptions. The polygon extents are not guaranteed to be exact and may contain estimate boundaries delineated based on visual interpretation of drawings and descriptions found in study documents and post construction reports. The dataset will be updated on a regular basis to reflect new and previous study areas.
Description: The modeled shoals feature class is a collection of sediment resource featThe modeled shoals feature class is a collection of sediment resource features that were modeled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the Shoal Map Assessment Tool for EFH (ShoalMATE) as well as known sand resources from the Marine Minerals Inventory System (MMIS). Information relating to the process used for modeling can be found in Pickens BA, Finkbeiner M., Taylor JC. 2019. Chapter 2: Shoal Identification and a New Classification System for Sand Resources. In: Pickens, BA, Taylor JC (eds.). Regional Essential Fish Habitat Geospatial Assessment and Framework for Offshore Sand Features. Sterling (VA): US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. BOEM OCS Study 2020-002 and NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 270. 367 p. (https://cdn.coastalscience.noaa.gov/projects-attachments/334/NCCOS-TM-270_Pickens%26Taylor_2020.pdf). The sediment resources modeled for this feature class fall within the ShoalMATE area of interest, which includes U.S. federal waters seaward of the U.S. Submerged Lands Act Boundary to a depth of 50m in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Much of the attribution comes from the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS, https://www.cmecscatalog.org/cmecs/). Information held in the attribution relates to the ShoalEnvVariables table and includes state, year feature was discovered or created, sediment grain size, Munsell color, percent sand, percent carbonate, percent carbonate sand, sediment area ID (from MMIS), StudyID (from MMIS), evaluation state (from MMIS, whether the sediment resource is potential, unverified, unusable, or proven), sand unit thickness, area of the feature (ft), volume of the feature (cubic yards), any comments on the sediment feature, percent fines, minimum depth (depth from the ocean surface), maximum depth (depth from the ocean surface), orientation (compass direction related to the orientation of the feature), minimum slope, maximum slope, benthic position index, rugosity, Geoform Component (GC) Origin (CMECS), GC Geoform (CMECS), GC Type (CMECS), GC Level (CMECS), Substrate Component (SC) Origin (CMECS) SC Class (CMECS), SC Subclass (CMECS), SC Group (CMECS), SC Subgroup (CMECS), percent clay, percent silt, Biotic Component (BC) Class (CMECS), BC Setting (CMECS), anthropogenic impact (CMECS), shelf position (CMECS), temporal persistence (CMECS), distance regime (CMECS), substrate description (CMECS), sediment transport rate, a categorical description of accretion (accreting, neutral, or eroding), categorical descriptions of the sediment resource spatial extent, and surface pattern (CMECS). A list of the input data used in the modeling process can be found in the lineage section of this metadata file (dataqual > lineage > srcinfo > srccite > srccontr). This feature class is updated on an as needed basis.
Description: The Magnetic Anomaly Point feature class is a collection of points representing the location of man-made ferrous objects on or below the seabed that were identified during magnetometer surveys conducted as part of geophysical cultural/archaeological resource investigations in the immediate vicinity of offshore borrow areas and dredged material conveyance corridors. The points may represent objects of cultural/archaeological significance, submerged infrastructure (e.g. pipelines), or unidentified debris that might affect the ability of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and its partners and/or contractors to perform non-energy marine mineral acquisition tasks. The attribute table of this feature class contains summary information pertaining to each anomaly, including (but not limited to) anomaly ID, date, x/y coordinates, project name, and information related to data acquisition (magnetometer type, sensor configuration, amplitude, duration, signal type, etc.). The associated survey report can be accessed via the related Link Documents table. This dataset will be updated regularly as new and existing data are incorporated in to the Marine Minerals Information System geodatabase.
Description: The Magnetic Survey Contours feature class is a collection of magnetic contours derived from magnetometer surveys conducted as part of geophysical cultural/archaeological resource investigations in the immediate vicinity of offshore borrow areas and dredged material conveyance corridors. These contours help identify objects of cultural/archaeological significance, submerged infrastructure (e.g. pipelines), or unidentified debris that might affect the ability of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and its partners and/or contractors to perform non-energy marine mineral acquisition tasks. The attribute table of this feature class contains summary information such as date, project name, and information related to data acquisition (magnetometer type, sensor configuration, amplitude, etc.). The associated survey report can be accessed via the related Link Documents table. This dataset will be updated regularly as new and existing data are incorporated in to the Marine Minerals Information System geodatabase.
Description: The Study Area Contours feature class contains a compilation of bathymetric contours, or isobaths, from studies relevant to outer continental shelf (OCS) non-energy mineral resource (e.g. sand, gravel, shell) management. Many of these efforts were funded at least partially by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) (formerly known as the Minerals Management Service). Attributes for each isobath include, but are not limited to, contour identifier, elevation (ft), vertical datum, and OCS Study Area ID. Additional information related to each isobath or group of isobaths is provided in the related tables within the MMIS geodatabase: Link Documents table - links tracklines to associated study report(s), Equipment table - list of specific equipment types used for data acquisition. The Study Area Contours layer and its related tables will be updated periodically as new and existing data are incorporated in to the MMIS geodatabase. NOTE: Bathymetric contours are a representation of the seafloor and their shape and respective values are dependent on the resolution of source data and the methods and datums used for acquisition, processing, and analysis. Please refer to the associated study area report for details related to data acquisition and processing.
Description: The Study Area Tracklines layer is a compilation of tracklines of vessels conducting geophysical surveys or other data acquisition efforts (e.g. trawling surveys, observational video transect, etc.) from studies relevant to outer continental shelf (OCS) non-energy mineral resource (e.g. sand, gravel, shell) management. Many of these efforts were funded at least partially by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) (formerly known as the Minerals Management Service). Attributes for each trackline include, but are not limited to, cruise/project ID, line ID, date, time, type(s) of data collected, and links to related content or imagery. The attributes also indicate whether or not the raw data are available for request from the BOEM's Marine Minerals Program. Additional information related to each trackline is provided in the related tables within the MMIS geodatabase: Link Documents table - links tracklines to associated study report(s), Equipment table - list of specific equipment types used for data acquisition along each trackline. The tracklines layer and its related tables will be updated periodically as new and existing data are incorporated in to the MMIS geodatabase.
Description: The Paleochannel Arc layer contains lines delineating interpreted boundaries and or central axes of paleochannels existing under the surface of the seafloor within the respective study area. Paleochannels are remnants of river and stream channels that have been filled with sediments and overlain by younger units. Paleochannels and other subsurface geologic features are identified as a result of sub-bottom geophysical surveys and coring. The features gathered into this MMIS layer were acquired from multiple investigators and projects, whose research on or around the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) was funded fully or partially by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Attribution consists of feature description, location, age, and identification properties associated with each study. The associated study report(s) are linked via the related Link Documents table within the Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS) geodatabase. This dataset will be updated as new and existing data are received and incorporated in to the Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS) geodatabase.
Description: The Isopach Arc layer contains contour lines, or isopachs, that represent positions of equal formation thickness of a sand body, or other geologic unit, with the thickness being measured vertically with respect to the seafloor. The investigations from which these geospatial data were derived were fully or partially funded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) or former Minerals Management Service (MMS). Attribution consists of location, feature ID and description, study date, contour value (thickness), and study ID. The associated study report(s) are linked via the related Link Documents table within the Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS) geodatabase. This dataset will be updated as new and existing data are received and incorporated in to the Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS) geodatabase.
Description: The Paleochannel Ply (polygon) layer contains polygons delineating the interpreted boundaries of paleochannels existing under the surface of the seafloor within the respective study area. Paleochannels are remnants of river and stream channels that have been filled with sediments and overlain by younger units. Paleochannels and other subsurface geologic features are identified as a result of sub-bottom geophysical surveys and coring. The features gathered into this MMIS layer were acquired from multiple investigators and projects, whose research on or around the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) was funded fully or partially by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Attribution consists of feature description, location, age, and identification properties associated with each study. The associated study report(s) are linked via the related Link Documents table within the Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS) geodatabase. This dataset will be updated as new and existing data are received and incorporated in to the Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS) geodatabase.