503 



Res. 33, which proposed basic principles to govern the development 

 and utilization of the ocean space environment. 91 



The Committee on Commerce also held hearings through its Special 

 Study on United Nations Suboceanic Lands Policy, chaired by Sena- 

 tor Ernest F. Hollings. This study group was formed in July 1969 for 

 "* * * the purpose of considering the policy which the United States 

 should advocate within the United Nations when that organization 

 considers the ground rules which should apply to those nations which 

 desire to exploit the resources of the deep oceans." 92 The hearings were 

 intended to enable the Committee to make recommendations to Senator 

 Pell's Subcommittee and to the Senate. Senator Pell's Subcommittee 

 members and members of the newly formed Special Subcommittee on 

 Outer Continental Shelf, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, 

 were invited to participate. Similar participation took place when the 

 Special Subcommittee on Outer Continental Shelf held its hearings, 93 

 chaired by Senator Lee Metcalf . 



The intent of the three sets of hearings was similar, and most of the 

 witnesses testified on the same subject before more than one subcom- 

 mittee. The Metcalf Subcommittee in particular compiled a volumi- 

 nous record of statements by representatives of the Departments of 

 State, Defense, Commerce, Interior, Transportation, the scientific and 

 industrial sectors, and numerous distinguished international lawyers. 

 The subject matter included legal and political aspects of the defini- 

 tion of the continental shelf boundaries, the economic and conserva- 

 tion aspects related to alternative boundary locations, comments on 

 the moratorium resolution and the interim policy for the seabed, and 

 the position of the Executive Branch regarding all these aspects. The 

 hearings were followed by a painstaking and thorough analysis of 

 findings in a subcommittee report which is discussed below. The hear- 

 ings of Senator Hollings' Special Study on United Nations Sub- 

 oceanic Lands Policy and those of Senator Pell's Subcommittee on 

 Ocean Space were less comprehensive and did not result in position 

 papers. Senator Pell took the same position as he had during the 90th 

 Congress and in testimony before the Metcalf Subcommittee. 



Senator PelVs Proposals 



In his Senate Resolution 33, Senator Pell submitted a "Declaration 

 of legal principles governing activities of states in the exploration 

 and exploitation of ocean space." These principles called for the use 

 of the seabed and subsoil for peaceful purposes only, under licenses 

 issued by a technically competent licensing authority to be designated 

 by the United Nations ; regulations on the disposal of radioactive waste 

 material in ocean space; the establishment of a Sea Guard^ under the 

 control of the U.N. Security Council ; and a definition of limits of 

 the continental shelves. 



Although Senator Pell, in his testimony before the Metcalf Subcom- 

 mittee, upheld the recommendations made by the Marine Commission, 



91 "Governing the Use of Ocean Space." hearings, op. cit. 



92 "Special Study on United Nations Suboceanic Lands Policy," hearings, op. cit. 



93 U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. "Outer Continental 

 Shelf." Hearings by Special Subcommittee on Outer Continental Shelf. Parts 1, 2, and 3, 

 1969 and 1970. 91st Congress, first and second sessions. (Washington, U.S. Government 

 Printing Office, 1970). (Part 3 contains the hearings continued by the Subcommittee on 

 Minerals, Materials, and Fuels on the same subject.) 



