The term ‘deep seabed’ means the seabed, and the subsoil thereof to a depth of ten meters, lying seaward of and outside the Continental Shelf of any nation; and any area of national resource jurisdiction of any foreign nation, if such area extends beyond the Continental Shelf of such nation and such jurisdiction is recognized by the United States.
‘Continental Shelf’ means the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas adjacent to the coast, but outside the area of the territorial sea, to a depth of 200 meters and the seabed and subsoil of similar submarine areas adjacent to the coast of islands.
“Hard Mineral Resource” means any deposit just below the surface of the deep seabed which include one or more minerals, at least one of which contains manganese, nickel, cobalt, or copper.
The United States exercises its jurisdiction over United States citizens and vessels and foreign persons and vessels in the exercise of the high seas freedom to engage in exploration and commercial recovery of hard mineral resources of the deep seabed in accordance with standardized principles of international law recognized by the US.
The Secretary of State is authorised to negotiate a comprehensive Law of the Sea Treaty which provides assured and non-discriminatory access to the hard mineral resources of the deep seabed for all nations. It has been established that the resources of the deep seabed are the common heritage of mankind. The Secretary of State is authorised to promote any international actions necessary to protect the environment from adverse impacts which may result from any exploration for commercial recovery of hard mineral resources of the deep seabed carried out by persons not authorized.
