The grant could provide up to $600,000.
This Cooperative Agreement is to characterize the ecology of the OCS in areas of potential marine mineral resources. BOEM will partner USM to explore hypersaline brine pools in the Gulf of Mexico, measure their water chemistry and associated ecological aspects. This project builds on other Marine Mineral projects and leverages next generation sensors and non-destructive spectroscopy techniques, to better understand the nation's resources and minimize environmental impact.