United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register author aut Government Organization text government publication eng FR Regulatory Information 2026_register executive 2026-01-21 article Part III Rules and Regulations D09002ee1dd56e36c D09002ee1dd56e415 United States Department of Commerce originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency The Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA or the Act) charges NOAA with the responsibility for issuing licenses for exploration and permits for commercial recovery of hard mineral resources, as defined in the Act, from the deep seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction and promulgating regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act. Some provisions of the regulations require updating to reflect significant technological and information changes since promulgation of the initial regulations in the 1980s. NOAA has included a consolidated license and permit application process in a section of the regulations reserved for this purpose and has made other clarifying and conforming changes. 91 FR 2642 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-01-21/2026-01044 2026-01044 fr21ja26-11 RIN 0648-BN96 3510-08-P Docket No. 260113-0029 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-01-21/2026-01044 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-21/html/2026-01044.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-21/pdf/2026-01044.pdf Administrative Practice and Procedure Marine Resources Mineral Resources 36 p. 2642 2677 91 FR 2642 Title 15 Part 970 15 CFR Part 970 Title 15 Part 971 15 CFR Part 971 RIN 0648-BN96 Deep Seabed Mining: Revisions to Regulations for Exploration License and Commercial Recovery Permit Applications; Federal Register Vol. 91, Issue RULE 2026-01044 III DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2026-01-21 Docket No. 260113-0029 3510-08-P 2026-01044 Final rule.

The Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA or the Act) charges NOAA with the responsibility for issuing licenses for exploration and permits for commercial recovery of hard mineral resources, as defined in the Act, from the deep seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction and promulgating regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act. Some provisions of the regulations require updating to reflect significant technological and information changes since promulgation of the initial regulations in the 1980s. NOAA has included a consolidated license and permit application process in a section of the regulations reserved for this purpose and has made other clarifying and conforming changes.

Effective Date: This rule is effective January 21, 2026. Kerry Kehoe, Federal Consistency Specialist, (240) 560-8518, kerry.kehoe@noaa.gov. Administrative Practice and Procedure Marine Resources Mineral Resources Deep Seabed Mining Exploration License and Commercial Recovery Permit Applications, kerry.kehoe@noaa.gov https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/ https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/deep-seabed-mining/ https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm#tab-5 https://www.gebco.net/data-products https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/bathymetry/?layers=multibeam https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/seafloor-mapping https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2025/ALJ.pdf https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2025/RUS.pdf https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NOS-2025-0108 regulations.gov Vol. 91, no. 13 Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration 2026-01-21 continuing daily deposited born digital 227 p. Table of Contents: AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: KF70.A2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-01-21 P0b002ee1dd56a913 0097-6326 0042-1219 0364-1406 769-004-00000-9 000582072 f:fr21ja26 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-01-21 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-21/pdf/FR-2026-01-21.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-21/xml/FR-2026-01-21.xml fdlp 2459 2677 DGPO 2026-01-21 2026-01-21 FR-2026-01-21 machine generated eng FR FR-2026-01-21 91 13