Deep Sea Bed Mining

Number: 1977-11

WHEREAS, large expanses of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean floors beyond the submerged margins of the continents are carpeted with billions of tons of nodules containing commercially valuable proportions of manganese, cooper, nickel, cobalt, and other minerals; and

WHEREAS, several United States companies and many multinational consortiums are rapidly developing and testing methods for the harvest of deep seabed minerals and are nearing the point of putting out to sea with pilot plant operations; and

WHEREAS, full agreement has not been reached among the nations of the world on how the oceans’ mineral resources are to be shared or on international guidelines of regulation of exploitation, although the United States has signed in 1970 the United Nations “Common Heritage Resolution” agreeing not to claim sovereignty over the international seabed to the detriment of developing nations who lack the necessary mining technology; and

WHEREAS, baseline information on benthic ocean conditions and other scientific data on how development of seabed resources will disturb ocean ecology are still not adequate to predict the effects on marine environmental and coastal areas where nodules may be retrieved and processed, even though commendable efforts are being made jointly by industry and Federal agencies to collect such information; and

WHEREAS, all aspects of this international economic, political, and environmental complexity will be debated in the 6th United Nations Law of the Sea session reconvening in New York City in May, 1977;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, assembled in annual convention March 24-27, 1977 in Washington, D.C., hereby urges agencies of the United States Government and the several private companies associated in developing deep seabed mining technologies to adopt the following principles and objectives in this unprecedented venture:

1. The United States industrial technology and engineering capabilities remain in the forefront of this pioneering effort and private investments by protected;
2. That United States commitments to the rights of other nations be honored in the long-term interest of avoiding probable confrontations over critical ocean resources, possible trade restrictions imposed by other nations on materials desired by the United States, and other forms of recrimination and hostility;
3. That environmental alterations likely to accompany the retrieval and processing of deep seabed minerals be assessed as soon as research competence will allow and be continued as a monitoring of operations when they begin, both on the ocean and on shore;
4. That adequate funding the provided the DOMES II research effort in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to complete the necessary baseline and environmental alternation studies;
5. That national legislation is desirable governing the regulation of deep seabed mining pending the culmination of international negotiations of a Law of the Sea treaty, such legislation to cover the establishment and maintenance of environmental standards and their enforcement by an agency separate from the agencies sponsoring development of the seabed;
6. That the United States encourage and assist foreign nations to adopt adequate regulations and control to minimize adverse environmental impacts of ocean seabed mining done by their nationals, for the ocean-wide protection of common renewable resources;
7. That United States industries not evade United States control over environmental conditions on the high seas by incorporating abroad, coming under foreign direction, or flying flags of convenience;
8. That the United States participate fully in the next Law of the Sea session in May, 1977 and earnestly try to reach agreement with the 150 or more nations present on the ecological, economic, and political factors to be considered in a new economic order on the high seas;
9. That in these deliberations, the United States hold the position favoring creation of an international commission independent from the developmental entities of the International Seabed Authority with the responsibility to create and enforce environmental standards and regulations, to make environmental assessments, and to control mining practices on the high seas;
10. That in these deliberations the United States espouse the rights of intergovernmental organizations with environmental responsibilities and non-governmental organizations with competence in environmental matters to act in advisory capacities during Law of the Sea deliberations.