§ 1402. — International objectives.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC1402]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 26--DEEP SEABED HARD MINERAL RESOURCES
Sec. 1402. International objectives
(a) Disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty
By the enactment of this chapter, the United States--
(1) exercises its jurisdiction over United States citizens and
vessels, and foreign persons and vessels otherwise subject to its
jurisdiction, in the exercise of the high seas freedom to engage in
exploration for, and commercial recovery of, hard mineral resources
of the deep seabed in accordance with generally accepted principles
of international law recognized by the United States; but
(2) does not thereby assert sovereignty or sovereign or
exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or the ownership of, any
areas or resources in the deep seabed.
(b) Secretary of State
(1) The Secretary of State is encouraged to negotiate successfully a
comprehensive Law of the Sea Treaty which, among other things, provides
assured and nondiscriminatory access to the hard mineral resources of
the deep seabed for all nations, gives legal definition to the principle
that the resources of the deep seabed are the common heritage of
mankind, and provides for the establishment of requirements for the
protection of the quality of the environment as stringent as those
promulgated pursuant to this chapter.
(2) Until such a Treaty is concluded, the Secretary of State is
encouraged to promote any international actions necessary to adequately
protect the environment from adverse impacts which may result from any
exploration for and commercial recovery of hard mineral resources of the
deep seabed carried out by persons not subject to this chapter.
(Pub. L. 96-283, Sec. 3, June 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 555.)
