§ 1418. — Diligence requirements.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC1418]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 26--DEEP SEABED HARD MINERAL RESOURCES
SUBCHAPTER I--REGULATION OF EXPLORATION AND COMMERCIAL RECOVERY BY
UNITED STATES CITIZENS
Sec. 1418. Diligence requirements
(a) In general
The exploration plan or recovery plan and the terms, conditions, and
restrictions of each license and permit issued under this subchapter
shall be designed to assure diligent development. Each licensee shall
pursue diligently the activities described in the exploration plan of
the licensee, and each permittee shall pursue diligently the activities
described in the recovery plan of the permittee.
(b) Expenditures
Each license shall require such periodic reasonable expenditures for
exploration by the licensee as the Administrator shall establish, taking
into account the size of the area of the deep seabed to which the
exploration plan associated with the license applies and the amount of
funds which is estimated by the Administrator to be required for
commercial recovery of hard mineral resources to begin within the time
limit established by the Administrator. Such required expenditures shall
not be established at a level which would discourage exploration by
persons with less costly technology than is prevalently in use.
(c) Commercial recovery
Once commercial recovery is achieved, the Administrator shall,
within reasonable limits and taking into consideration all relevant
factors, require the permittee to maintain commercial recovery
throughout the period of the permit; except that the Administrator shall
for good cause shown, including force majeure, adverse economic
conditions, or other circumstances beyond the control of the permittee,
authorize the temporary suspension of commercial recovery activities.
The duration of such a suspension shall not exceed one year at any one
time, unless the Administrator determines that conditions justify an
extension of the suspension.
(Pub. L. 96-283, title I, Sec. 108, June 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 567.)
