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30. Should alternatives to a comprehensive Law of the 

 Sea Treaty also be explored by the U.S.? 



... In this context, what do you think of exploring the 

 possibility of arranging regional agreements and strengthening 

 functional organizations such as IMCO and the regional fishery 

 commmissions . 



A. The entire range of alternative approaches to 



protecting our oceans interests are being examined in the 



review. I wouldn't want to comment on specific examples at 



this time, but the ones you mention are among those to be 



considered. 



31. What is the strategic importance of deep ocean 

 mining to the United States? 



A. We are at present heavily dependent on imports of 

 supplies of three of the four strategic metals (cobalt, nickel, 

 and manganese) found in significant quantities in polymetallic 

 nodules. The extent to which we are vulnerable to supply 

 interruptions in these three metals varies, with nickel 

 and manganese supplies fairly secure in the near term, while 

 cobalt supplies are relatively more vulnerable. Over time, 

 this situation will undoubtedly change, but we can not project 

 with certainty how it will change. 



The development of seabed mining in the coming decades 

 will create an additional source of these metals, thus 

 reducing the level of vulnerability that would otherwise 

 exist. 



Experience teaches that opening the frontier represented 

 by the deep seabed through seabed mining will reveal other 



