[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR970.203]

[Page 315-316]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
CHAPTER IX--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                               OF COMMERCE
 
PART 970_DEEP SEABED MINING REGULATIONS FOR EXPLORATION LICENSES--Table of 
Contents
 
                         Subpart B_Applications
 
Sec. 970.203  Exploration plan.

    (a) General. Each application must include an exploration plan which 
describes the applicant's projected exploration activities during the 
period to be covered by the proposed license. Generally, the exploration 
plan must demonstrate to a reasonable extent that the applicant's 
efforts, by the end of the 10-year license period, will likely lead to 
the ability to apply for and obtain a permit for commercial recovery. In 
particular, the plan must include sufficient information for the 
Administrator, pursuant to this part, to make the necessary 
determinations pertaining to the certification and issuance or transfer 
of a license and to the development and enforcement of the terms, 
conditions and restrictions for a license.
    (b) Contents. The exploration plan must contain the following 
information. In presenting this information, the plan should incorporate 
the applicant's proposed individual approach, including a general 
description of how projected participation by other entities will relate 
to the following elements, if appropriate. The plan must present:
    (1) The activities proposed to be carried out during the period of 
the license;
    (2) A description of the area to be explored, including its 
delineation according to Sec. 970.601;
    (3) The intended exploration schedule which must be responsive to 
the diligence requirements in Sec. 970.602. Taking into account that 
different applicants may have different concepts and chronologies with 
respect to the types of activities described, the schedule should 
include an approximate projection for the exploration activities 
planned. Although the details in each schedule may vary to reflect the 
applicant's particular approach, it should address in some respect 
approximately when each of the following types of activities is 
projected to occur.
    (i) Conducting survey cruises to determine the location and 
abundance of nodules as well as the sea floor configuration, ocean 
currents and other physical characteristics of potential commercial 
recovery sites;
    (ii) Assaying nodules to determine their metal contents;
    (iii) Designing and testing system components onshore and at sea;
    (iv) Designing and testing mining systems which simulate commercial 
recovery;
    (v) Designing and testing processing systems to prove concepts and 
designing and testing systems which simulate commercial processing;
    (vi) Evaluating the continued feasibility of commercial scale 
operations based on technical, economic, legal, political and 
environmental considerations; and
    (vii) Applying for a commercial recovery permit and, to the extent 
known, other permits needed to construct and operate commercial scale 
facilities (if application for such permits is planned prior to 
obtaining a commercial recovery permit);

[[Page 316]]

    (4) A description of the methods to be used to determine the 
location, abundance, and quality (i.e., assay) of nodules, and to 
measure physical conditions in the area which will affect nodule 
recovery system design and operations (e.g., seafloor topography, 
seafloor geotechnic properties, and currents);
    (5) A general description of the developing recovery and processing 
technology related to the proposed license, and of any planned or 
ongoing testing and evaluation of such technology. To the extent 
possible at the time of application, this description should address 
such factors as nodule collection technique, seafloor sediment rejection 
subsystem, mineship nodule separation scheme, pumping method, 
anticipated equipment test areas, and details on the testing plan;
    (6) An estimated schedule of expenditures, which must be responsive 
to the diligence requirements as discussed in Sec. 970.602;
    (7) Measures to protect the environment and to monitor the 
effectiveness of environmental safeguards and monitoring systems for 
commercial recovery. These measures must take into account the 
provisions in Sec. Sec. 970.506, 970.518, 970.522 and subpart G of this 
part; and
    (8) A description of any relevant activity that the applicant has 
completed prior to the submission of the application.