Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Benchmark Studies

An extensive study of the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf area off the states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia was initiated by the Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Department of Interior, during 1975. Major components of the program are being conducted by other federal agencies particularly the U. S. Geological Survey and the Environmental Data Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The benchmark or baseline portion of the study is being conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The benchmark studies include extensive hydrocarbon and trace metal analyses of sediments, benthos, zooplankton, neuston and suspended particulates. In addition, studies of the benthic biota including community dynamics and histopathological condition and bacterial populations are included. Supportive physical, chemical and geological information is collected in the study.