2018_0523_NE ATL RegionalCoop_MiniSOW.docx

Mini SOW

Assessing Sand and Mineral Resources on the Northeast Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), $250,000, Northeast States (Regional) Cooperative Agreement

Overall goals and objectives:

To coordinate sand and gravel resource identification, delineation and management practices for the Northeast region that supports the BOEM Marine Minerals National Sand Inventory including a technical report generating estimates of the strategic and economic potential of accessible mineral resources under BOEM’s management, particularly in regard to critical strategic mineral and rare earth element content. The states within the Northeast region include: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island

The cooperative agreement will improve the capability for Federal and State agencies and localities to plan for cost-effective coastal protection and restoration projects utilizing marine mineral resources on the Northeast OCS in a manner that is protective of the environment.

Facilitate the continued development of the Marine Minerals Identification System (MMIS) through collaboration with stakeholders and partners.

Regional Component: Specific Objectives:

1. Develop regional OCS sand and gravel resource identification, delineation, and characterization (e.g. textural properties, estimate volumes, geomorphology of resource) GIS data for the Northeast region that supports the BOEM Marine Minerals National Sand Inventory.

2. Develop GIS coverages for feasibility elements where applicable. Provide coverages to BOEM MMIS, regional ocean portals (NROC), BOEM NOAA Marine Cadastre, and with the Integrated Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IWG_OCMO)/ocean planning portals (NOAA Seasketch) to facilitate strategic objective implementation, data sharing, planning and coordination.

3. A Technical Report with data coverages expanding on one or more feasibility sub-elements based on remaining funding capacity.

4. Prepare technical reports and a Regional Final Summary Report with maps and supporting spatial and non-spatial data compilations in accordance with deliverable schedule.

The Project Officer and other BOEM scientists will be engaged with the PI’s to provide advice and direction during the project.

Description of Work Task 1. Post-Award Meeting Within 30 days of signing the IAA, the recipient shall arrange an initial meeting with MMP, either face-to-face or virtual, to discuss specific details related to task 2, including but not limited to: the location of study areas, collection of new geological and geophysical (G&G) data, collection and processing/analysis methods, data and data product QA/QC, report formats, availability of existing data, methods for sharing and transmitting data and deliverables, and coordination with states within the co-op and outside stakeholders.

Within 7 days of the initial meeting the recipient shall deliver to MMP brief minutes containing the details agreed-upon at the initial meeting. The MMP will provide comments concerning the meeting minutes within 7 days. If requested by the MMP, revised meeting minutes shall be delivered to MMP by recipient as an appendix to the study plan.

Task 2. Develop a Study Plan Within 30 days of the initial meeting the recipient shall deliver a study plan containing, at a minimum, a detailed scope, a background section, detailed methodology, estimated timeline, and allocation of funds. The study plan should thoroughly outline the collection and analyses of new and existing geological and geophysical data (and incorporate into database) as they pertain to improved geologic interpretations and characterization of restoration-quality OCS sediment resources. The study plan should also highlight how these data and data products will be integrated into the MMIS spatial database through coordination with the BOEM MMP.

The study plan should also include discussion on possible expansion on one or more feasibility sub-elements based on remaining funding capacity. Examples under consideration are:

a. A regional project assessment and forecast for USACE authorized projects and non-authorized project areas that have been determined by federal and state agencies to be vulnerable to storms.

b. A regional assessment outlining environment concerns, principal stakeholders for engagement, and possible environmental studies that would provide needed data for informed science based decision making associated with accessing sand and gravel resources for coastal resilience projects. This effort includes identification of existing geospatial data pertaining to other potential user conflicts in the area (e.g. renewable energy projects, commercial/recreational fishing areas), known high value environmental resource areas (e.g., hard bottom, cultural resources, etc.), and potential hazards (e.g. unexploded ordnance).

The MMP will provide comments concerning the study plan within 14 days of study plan submission. If deemed necessary by the MMP, a revised study plan shall be delivered to MMP within 14 days of comments.

Task 3. Data Collection and Analyses Summary Report

Within 360 days of G&G data collection completion, the recipient shall complete the analyses described in the study plan (Task 2) and deliver a summary report, inclusive of metadata, in standard format(s) outlined in the IAA (e.g. formats consistent with those outlined within MMIS Data Management Tools). The MMP will provide comments to the recipient concerning the summary report within 14 days. The recipient will address comments as a component of Task 5.

For geographic data, all spatial data shall conform to Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) standards. For geotechnical data, indicate the ASTM standard utilized.

At a minimum, the recipient will inform MMP of Task 3 progress during the first week of each month.

Task 4. Deliver Draft Regional Overview Within 90 days of MMP receiving the data collection and analyses summary report, the recipient shall deliver a draft of the regional overview report. The regional overview will place results in Task 3 in a regional context (e.g. As the results pertain to the distribution, volume, general accessibility/availability of OCS sand resources, and sub-elements identified in Task 2). The MMP will provide comments to the recipient concerning the regional overview report within 14 days. The recipient will address comments as a component of Task 5.

Task 5. Final Regional Summary Report and Technical Reports

a. The Draft Final Regional Summary Report will be submitted to BOEM at least 6 months before the end of the period of performance for review and approval.

b. Technical reports will be prepared throughout the duration of the project, with the Draft Technical Report due 30 days after submission of the Summary Report. Project activities and results will be summarized in quarterly reports to BOEM.

Key Deliverables

a. Project study plan

b. Data collection and analyses summary report

c. Draft regional overview report

d. Final regional summary report and associated technical reports; including an updated regional map of identified OCS sediment resources

e. Database describing location, character (textural properties), geomorphology, and extent of identified OCS sediment resources

i. Submit an electronic copy of appropriated project data generated during the course of this project to the BOEM COR in the form of a geodatabase (ESRI, .gdb) at the time of submission of the Draft Final Report.

ii. Electronic data shall include a metadata record for the geodatabase detailing all aspects of the data development process.

iii. All spatial data shall conform to FGDC-STD-001-1998 \ ISO 19115 – Metadata Standard for Geographic Data and / or align to Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) standards to include content and classification standards.

Strategy

1. Identify which coastal zones have projected resource needs that have not been met by existing ICS or OCS resource characterization and develop survey plan to locate and characterize additional resources (or resources that need further exploration):

a. Determine appropriate dispersal of budget and resources as they pertain to the needs identified in planning phases

b. Designate regional co-op lead based on each state’s ability/willingness to accomplish regional goals

c. Identify stakeholders needs

2. Be proactive by establishing priority of resource investigations not only as they pertain to short- and long-term coastal needs but also as they pertain to potential multi-use areas on the OCS

a. Work with co-ops and identified stakeholders to identify these areas and precedence

3. Provide clearly outlined expectations/deliverables as they pertain to our agency’s mission:

a. Facilitate development of comprehensive mineral resource database through workshop instruction and collaboration on Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS) geodatabase schema, folder structure, and associated metadata; datasets will be housed in the authoritative MMIS and shared with state resource agencies, federal partners (USACE, USGS, NOAA), and other stakeholders

4. Investigations should focus on the OCS but may include state waters only for supportive information using examples such as such as ground truthing with existing data, seismic correlation with existing data, delineating resources or geologic features which include both state and federal waters.

5. Recipient will organize and host a regional workshop for key governmental stakeholders and partners. This may be in conjunction with another meeting or may be conducted virtually.

6. Monthly Meetings - Hold regularly scheduled monthly meetings/conference calls for the Recipient/BOEM research team throughout the cooperative agreement performance period. A draft meeting agenda will be provided by the Recipient three working days prior to each meeting to allow for review by all involved. The Recipient will prepare and distribute the meeting minutes and a summary within one (1) week after adjourning the meeting.

7. Quarterly Working Meetings - Hold regularly scheduled quarterly working meetings (in person encouraged but webinar acceptable) for the Recipient/BOEM research team and other partners (e.g. USACE, state geological surveys) throughout the cooperative agreement performance periods. The working meetings will be approximately 3 to 4 hours duration and consist of informal presentations by the research team. A draft meeting agenda will be provided by the Recipient three working days prior to each meeting to allow for review by all involved. The Recipient will prepare and distribute the meeting minutes and a summary (including presentations and other products) within one (1) week after adjourning the working meeting. The quarterly meetings will cover the monthly meeting requirement for the month they are held.

Budget TBD - $ for geotechnical and geophysical data acquisition TBD - $ for data processing/sample analyses TBD - $ for travel, sample shipping, etc.

TBD - $ for workshops, staff hours, and deliverables production