The maps depict large-scale geologic provinces; known and potential 

 distribution of petroleum, sulfur, phosphorite, managanese, metal-bearing 

 muds, and saline minerals (fig. V-3) ; and sites of current mining, drilling, 

 and dredging operations. The interpretive text notes that areas favor- 

 able for the local occurrence of subsea petroleum resources may be adjacent 

 to nearly every coastal nation but adds that the geology and resources of the 

 seabottom are still too imperfectly known for accurate appraisal of their 

 magnitude and value. 



Both the Geological Survey and the Office of Saline Water sponsor pro- 

 grams designed to use the oceans to augment conventional sources of fresh 

 water. Office of Saline Water activities involve research and development 

 related to purification of seawater and mineral recovery from concentrated 

 brines. The Suney undertakes the collection and appraisal of basic water 

 data; conducts research and mapping related to submarine springs and 

 coastal aquifers; and investigates hydrology, hydraulics and sedimentation 

 in selected estuaries. A study of offshore aquifers in Monterey Bay is cur- 

 rently being conducted in cooperation with State agencies. 



The Bureau of Mines conducts studies of the U.S. consumption, domestic 

 production, and reserves of more than 80 minerals, including examination 

 of the economics of production from marine and alternative sources. The 

 marine mining program of the bureau, carried out at its Marine Minerals 

 Technology Center at Tiburon, Calif., is designed to assist in the develop- 

 ment of resource sampling, delineation, and production equipment and 

 techniques which are effective and reliable, and which afford maximum pro- 

 tection to the environment. Activities in 1969 included the testing of sys- 

 tems for automated precise position fixing and modification of subbottom 

 profiling equipment to make it more suitable for delineation of marine min- 

 eral deposits. In addition, the analysis of data from an earlier survey of 

 Coronado Bank phosphorite deposits revealed a significant correlation be- 

 tween high mineral concentration and specific physical characteristics of 

 individual deposits. This suggests the possibility that the economic potential 

 of other phosphorite deposits can be assessed on the basis of their physical 

 properties. 



Statutory responsibility for leasing and managing federally-owned off- 

 shore lands — ^^the 805,000-square-mile Outer Continental Shelf — is vested 

 in the Department of the Interior, specifically in the Bureau of Land Man- 

 agement and the Geological Survey. The Bureau of Land Management 

 prepares leasing maps, holds lease sales, and approves assignment of lease 

 interests. It also issues rights-of-way for pipelines and related facilities and, 

 during the past year, completed a study on the place of offshore oil in the 

 total national supply. In progress is a study designed to identify the eco- 

 nomic impact of recent revisions in the regulations which govern leasing 

 and drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. The Geological Survey is the 

 agent for gathering information on the geology and mineral resources of the 

 offshore areas and for supervising resource production activities. The two 

 bureaus work together to identify tracts to be offered for lease and develop- 

 ment; to assess the economic value of the acreage for purposes of establishing 

 acceptable bonuses; and to plan for long-term development of the OCS. 



73 



