The federal government role in marine hard minerals mining

The Federal Government´s involvement in marine hard minerals began with the Truman Proclamation on the Continental Shelf in 1945. In the 30 years since then, government involvement in marine hard minerals mining has been sporadic and controversial. In the last decade, increasing interest by industry has focused attention on the government roles to the point where they may now be better defined. Two separate areas of involvement include the Outer Continental Shelf and the Seabed Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction. The major role is seen for the Department of Interior as resource manager (USGS, BLM, Bureau of Mines and MESA), with specialist roles for State in international aspects, Commerce in charting and mapping, environmental monitoring (NOAA), and certain fiscal responsibilities, and ancillary roles in coastal and near shore waters for the Environmental Protection Agency, the Army (Corps of Engineers), and Transportation (Coast Guard). The National Science Foundation (IDOE) has an important role in basic scientific research.