Abstract :
On January 19, 1982, the Secretary of the Interior requested that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) proceed with the development of an offshore leasing program for minerals other than oil, gas, and sulphur. This program would permit exploration for, and development of a wide variety of strategic and critical mineral resources located throughout all U.S. offshore areas. On March 10, 1983, President Reagan signed the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Proclamation for the United States. Among the more significant points of the Proclamation was the confirmation of U.S. sovereign rights over the mineral resource within 200 nautical miles of the United States, Puerto Rico, the Northern Marianas, and U.S. overseas possessions and territories. In response to the Secretary´s request and the EEZ Proclamation, the MMS established an office of International Programs and Strategic/Critical Minerals. There are five overall objectives of this program and they include: (1) provide domestic sources of strategic/ critical minerals, (2) protect the environment through regulation and wise management, (3) stimulate development and growth of a marine mining industry compatible with other uses, (4) encourage mineral development to allow equitable return to all parties, and (5) develop management capabilities within the MMS in the leasing and supervision of strategic and critical resources. To facilitate coordination and cooperation with affected States on potential offshore leasing for strategic/critical minerals, joint Federal/State working groups have been established to evaluate the economic, engineering, and environmental aspects of possible ocean mining.
