[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 15, Volume 3]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 15CFR970.203]



[Page 314-315]

 

                  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 315]]



    (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.