IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS 
As every action man undertakes has an environmental impact, the 
mining of ferromanganese nodules will have some effect on the en- 
vironment of the ocean floor as well as on the entire water column 
through which the mining system passes. The need to define better the 
magnitude of this impact has been a concern raised by many. Research 
to date indicates that the environmental impact of deep seabed mining 
may be negligible. 
Previous RrsEarcu 
Several investigations have been conducted to determine the extent 
of the environmental impact of manganese nodule mining. At the in- 
vitation of Deepsea Ventures, Inc., in the summer of 1970 a group of 
marine scientists under the direction of Dr. Oswald A. Roels of the 
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory observed a pilot ALP mining 
test on the Blake Plateau in the Atlantic. In this test, studies were 
made on the mixing of the bottom water discharged into the surface 
waters and its effect on dissolved oxygen concentration and phyto- 
plankton growth. No significant effects were found. In July 1972, a 
cruise aboard the R/V Robert D. Conrad was undertaken to determine 
the physical, chemical, and biological baseline conditions in a manga- 
nese nodule province on the Bermuda Rise. The bottom dwelling 
fauna were found to be very sparse in this area. In August and Sep- 
tember 1972, investigators under support from the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) monitored a test of the 
CLB mining system in a siliceous ooze province in the North Pacific. 
Physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the water column 
were observed and bottom dwelling fauna were sampled before, dur- 
ing, and after the mining operation. In addition, cores and photo- 
graphs were taken of the bottom. The investigators found the effects 
and disturbances of the mining operation were very minor. 
SpeciFic EFFECTS 
Deep sea mining may generate several specific problems such as re- 
population, transplantation, surface water contamination, and pollu- 
tion from shipboard processing. These problems have been investi- 
gated and although apparently minor, monitoring would be desirable 
during commercial operations. 
REPOPULATION 
The ability of bottom organisms to repopulate a mined area will 
affect the extent and duration of the environmental impact. No data 
on this have been obtained although the National Oceanic and At- 
mospheric Administration is actively engaged in a limited research 
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