BOEM is the agency of the Department of the Interior tasked with managing the extraction of offshore minerals from America's Outer Continental Shelf. While the largest component of this is the exploration for and development of oil and gas resources, the bureau is also responsible for what are loosely referred to as "non-energy minerals" (primarily sand and gravel) -- obtained from the ocean floor.
As steward for these resources, BOEM must ensure that the removal of any mineral resources is done in a safe and environmentally sound manner, and that any potential adverse impacts to the marine, coastal and/or human environments are avoided or minimized. |