[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: 15CFR971.401]

[Page 352]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
CHAPTER IX--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                               OF COMMERCE
 
PART 971_DEEP SEABED MINING REGULATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL RECOVERY PERMITS--Table 
of Contents
 
     Subpart D_Issuance/Transfer: Terms, Conditions and Restrictions
 
Sec. 971.401  Proposal to issue or transfer and proposed terms, conditions 
and restrictions.

    (a) Notice and comment. The Administrator will publish in the 
Federal Register notice of each proposal to issue or transfer, including 
notice of a draft EIS, and of proposed terms and conditions for, and 
restrictions on, a commercial recovery permit that will be included with 
the draft EIS [see Sec. 971.400(b)]. Subject to Sec. 971.802, 
interested persons will be permitted to examine the materials relevant 
to such proposals. Interested persons and affected States will have at 
least 60 days after publication of such notice to submit written 
comments to the Administrator.
    (b) Hearings. (1) The Administrator will hold the public hearing(s) 
required by Sec. 971.212(b) in an appropriate location and may employ 
such additional methods as he deems appropriate to inform interested 
persons about each proposal and to invite their comments thereon. A copy 
of the notice and draft EIS will be provided to the affected State 
agency. Information provided by NOAA may be used to supplement 
information provided by the applicant, however it will not affect 
schedules for State agency review and decisions with respect to 
consistency determinations as required in 15 CFR part 930, subpart D.
    (2) If the Administrator determines there exist one or more specific 
and material factual issues which require resolution by formal 
processes, at least one formal hearing, which may be consolidated with a 
hearing held by another agency, will be held in the District of Columbia 
metropolitan area in accordance with the provisions of subpart I of this 
part. The record developed in any such formal hearing will be part of 
the basis for the Administrator's decisions on issuance or transfer of, 
and on TCRs for, the permit.