IB Union Calendar No. 202 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2803 [Report No. 112–302] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 5, 2011 Mr. Faleomavaega introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources December 1, 2011 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on August 5, 2011 A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, to conduct a technological capability assessment, survey, and economic feasibility study regarding recovery of minerals, other than oil and natural gas, from the shallow and deep seabed of the United States.

1.

Technological assessment, inventory, and study of shallow and deep seabed minerals

(a)

Authorization

The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement and the United States Geological Survey and in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall conduct— (1)an inventory of existing data on offshore mineral resources, other than oil and natural gas, and an analysis of existing samples of such offshore minerals, to identify and quantify known resources; (2)an assessment of all available domestic technological capabilities required for the location and the efficient and environmentally sound recovery of such minerals from the shallow and deep seabed of the United States; (3)an economic feasibility study on the recovery of such minerals; and (4)an assessment of the environmental and safety risks associated with shallow and deep sea mineral production, other than oil and natural gas. (b)

Report

No later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress containing the findings and recommendations of the inventory, assessment, and study under this section. (c)

Definition

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, Wake Island, Johnston Atoll, Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, Kingman Reef, Navassa Island, Serranilla Bank, Bajo Nuevo Bank, and Palmyra Atoll. (d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 and 2013.

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a technological capability assessment, inventory, and economic feasibility study regarding the recovery of minerals, other than oil and natural gas, from the shallow and deep seabed of the United States.. December 1, 2011 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed