|
Marine Minning Representative Areas of Experience: 
Summaries of CSA's Representative Marine Mining Projects Synthesis of the Environmental Effects of Marine Mining
Potential Environmental Impacts Associated with Mining Federal Sand Resource Areas Off Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, and North Carolina
Environmental Impact Statement Concerning Louisiana Barrier Islands Resoration Using Ship Shoal Sand CSA International was selected to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) concerning restoration of the barrier islands off the Barataria and Terrebonne Basins along coastal Louisiana west of the Mississippi Delta. The purpose of the EIS was to provide an understanding of the proposed action, alternatives, environmental consequences, mitigation, and other concerns so that decisions could be made regarding protection of the environment. CSA also was chosen to prepare a Biological Assessment (BA) pursuant to the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. Under the auspices of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA), the State of Louisiana proposed to nourish Isles Dernieres and Timbalier Islands using Federal offshore sand deposits. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS), International Activities and Marine Minerals Division (INTERMAR) determined that use of Federal sand from the Ship Shoal Area of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for barrier island protection and subsequent wetlands protection met the appropriate requirements established by public law. As a result, CSA began to prepare the EIS for this major Federal action in conformance with all applicable requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations on implementing NEPA procedures. CSA attended meetings with the MMS, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. CSA coordinated the scoping process and public meetings. The project was halted before the Draft EIS was completed.
|
CSA International
conducted the study titled "Synthesis and Analysis of
Existing Information Regarding the Environmental Effects
of Marine Mining." This literature and data search and
synthesis study focused on the potential environmental
impacts associated with the marine exploration and development
of nonfuel (hard) minerals. Six mineral resource groups
were examined, including industrial minerals, mineral
sands, phosphorites, metalliferous oxides, hydrothermal
deposits, and dissolved minerals. This was the first
study specifically designed by the U.S. Department of
the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS), Office
of International Activities and Marine Minerals (now
the International Activities and Marine Minerals Division,
INTERMAR) and funded by the MMS Environmental Studies
Program. The purpose of the project was to survey and
analyze existing national and international information
regarding the marine, coastal, and onshore environmental
impacts of marine mining, and to summarize this information
in a single monograph-style report. The report also
discussed the strengths, weaknesses, and appropriateness
of various mitigation measures; evaluated models for
predicting the fate of mining-related discharges and
biological impacts of mining operations; and identified
data gaps and research needs. Select references consulted
during the study were annotated and compiled in both
printed form and in a computerized format that would
allow them to be incorporated into the MMS Minerals/Mining
Database. The synthesis has been used for preparing
detailed Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental
Assessments, and Environmental Reports; planning future
studies to fill data gaps and meet research needs; and
for making other decisions concerning potential offshore
nonenergy minerals activities.
CSA International's
marine mining projects include four major environmental
studies associated with assessing potential environmental
impacts of extracting sand from federal resource areas
off Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, and North Carolina.
The studies are being conducted for the U.S. Department
of the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS),
International Activities and Marine Minerals Division
(INTERMAR). The purpose of the projects is to provide
information that can be used in Environmental Assessments
(EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for
making decisions according to the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA). The studies include biological and
physical processes components. The biological component
includes field surveys to collect data concerning infauna
(using a sediment profiling camera and/or traditional
Smith-McIntyre or Shipek grab), epifauna and demersal
fishes (using a mongoose trawl), hard/live bottom (using
a towed video/still camera system), sediment grain size,
and water quality. Existing benthic literature and data
will be reviewed, and assessments will be made relative
to potential impacts to benthic organisms and recolonization.
Information also will be synthesized concerning the
spatial and temporal occurrence, potential impacts,
and dredging windows associated with pelagic species,
including zooplankton, squids, fishes, sea turtles,
and marine mammals. The physical processes component
includes modeling of wave modifications and assessments
of sediment transport processes and patterns to evaluate
potential impacts. For some locations, physical surveys
will be conducted to collect water current data using
an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). Coordination
occurred with the Geological Survey of each State. For
each study, a Technical Report, Executive Summary, Technical
Summary, Non-Technical Summary, refereed scientific
publication, and slide set will be prepared. The results
of each study also will be presented at MMS Information
Transfer Meetings and technical conferences.