[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63218-63219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30150]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Deep Seabed Mining: Proposed Extension and Revision of 
Exploration License

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Receipt of Application to Extend Deep Seabed Mining 
Exploration License USA-1 and Revise Exploration Plan.

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[[Page 63219]]

SUMMARY: On September 20, 2001, Ocean Minerals Company (OMCO) submitted 
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) an 
application for a five-year extension of Deep Seabed Mining Exploration 
License USA-1, pursuant to sections 105(c)(2) and 107(a) of the Deep 
Seabed Hard Mineral Resources (DSHMRA, 30 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) and 15 
CFR 970.515. OMCO has also proposed related exploration plan revisions.
    NOAA has determined that this proposal constitutes an application 
for a major but not a significant revision to the exploration plan and 
to the terms, conditions, and restrictions (TCRs) of the license under 
15 CFR 970.513, and is commencing public review procedures as 
prescribed in 15 CFR 970.514(b). Pursuant to the DSHMRA and 15 CFR part 
970, on August 29, 1984, NOAA issued a license to OMCO to engage in 
deep seabed mining exploration in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone 
area of the Northeastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean. Since that time, the 
licensee, subject to the TCRs of the license and the regulatory 
requirements, has diligently pursued the activities approved in the 
exploration plan of the license, directed toward application for a 
commercial permit.
    In 1991, NOAA approved a revision to the exploration plan for USA-I 
and extended the original license for an additional five years. This 
exploration plan is a two-phased plan. During Phase I, OMCO's 
activities are designed to monitor legal, technical and political 
developments pertaining to deep seabed mining; analyze environmental 
and nodule resource data; and, reevaluate the potential for commercial 
mining. During Phase II OMCO's activities are directed toward survey 
operations, upgrading the exploration ship and equipment, and 
delineation of the ore body.
    OMCO is applying for a five-year extension of the license based on 
significantly changed market conditions, pursuant to 15 CFR 970.515. 
Section 107(a) of the DSHMRA provides that the Administration shall 
extend a license, on terms consistent with the Act and NOAA's 
regulations, if the licensee has complied with the license and 
associated exploration plan. Section 105(c)(2) of the DSHMRA authorizes 
NOAA to approve a license revision upon a finding that the revision 
will comply with the requirements of the Act and implementing 
regulations. A revision to the exploration plan is being requested to 
reflect accomplishment of objectives in Phase I of OMCO's current plan. 
For example, the substantial amounts of data received as a result of 
the exchange of exploration data between consortia during settlement of 
overlapping sites is sufficient to determine if and at which locations 
attractive mine sites occur in USA-I. This allows survey operations and 
upgrading of the mine ship and equipment to be delayed until Phase II 
when detailed ore body delineation occurs in conjunctions with the 
initiation of scale-up pilot plant operations.
    This revision requests an extension of the term of the license 
until 2005 and proposes to extend Phase I for five years and to delay 
the initiation of the survey operations, ore body delineation and 
upgrade ship and equipment activities of Phase II. During the five-year 
extension. OMCO will monitor domestic and international activities in 
the scientific, engineering, and financial fields that are important to 
the future development of ocean mining. This will help to maintain 
industry viability and provide information necessary to assess the 
timeliness for inauguration of Phase II. OMCO will also continue to 
monitor new environmental studies and data collection.
    Subject to 15 CFR 971.802, interested persons will be permitted to 
examine the application for extension at the below listed address.

DATES: Individuals or organizations wishing to submit comments on the 
application should do so by February 4, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be made to John King, Acting Chief, Coastal 
Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource 
Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 
tel. 301-713-3155 extension 195, e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Flanagan, Coastal Programs 
Division (NORM/3), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, 
NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, tel. 
(301) 713-3155, x201, e-mail [email protected].

Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone Management 
Program Administration.

    Dated: November 28, 2001.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department 
of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 01-30150 Filed 12-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M