1.Technological assessment,
survey, and study of deep seabed minerals
(a)The
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in
consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall
conduct—
(1)an assessment of
all available domestic technological capabilities required for the location and
the efficient and environmentally sound recovery of minerals, other than oil
and natural gas, from the shallow and deep seabed of the United States;
(2)a
survey of the shallow and deep seabed of the United States to identify sites
for the recovery of such minerals; and
(3)an economic
feasibility study on the recovery of such minerals.
(b)No
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator
shall submit a report to Congress containing the findings and recommendations
of the assessment, survey, and study under this section.
(c)In this section the term shallow and
deep seabed of the United States—
(1)means areas of the seabed that are
contiguous to and within 200 miles of the territorial sea of the United States
and the resources of which are subject to its jurisdiction or control;
and
(2)includes such areas that are contiguous to
and within 200 miles of the territorial sea around any inhabited and
uninhabited territory or possession of the United States including American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, Midway Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau,
Marshall Islands, Midway Islands, Wake Island, Johnston Atoll, Baker, Howland,
and Jarvis Islands, Kingman Reef, Navassa Island, Serranilla Bank, Bajo Nuevo
Bank, and Palmyra Atoll.