30 
of mining have been observed, tentatively suggesting that mining dis- 
turbances were not great.” + This assessment was based on numerous 
analyses of the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the 
overlying water column before, during and after the mining operations 
and several cores and pictures of the sea floor. NOAA recommended 
further research should: 
(1) establish physical, chemical, and biological baseline en- 
vironmental conditions in potential mining areas; 
(2) document changes induced in benthic and pelagic ecosys- 
tems by deep-sea mining ; 
(3) formulate guidelines for future mining operations which 
will minimize harmful environmental effects while enhancing the 
development of potentially beneficial byproducts; and 
(4) determine the properties which should be monitored during 
deep-sea mining to provide the information needed to evaluate the 
environmental impact of specific mining methods and to devise 
mitigating measures, if necessary.° 
In early May 1974, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- 
istration of the Commerce Department announced the establishment 
of a Deep Ocean Mining Environmental Study (DOMES) based at 
the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle.* The original 
project development plan called for a $7.8 million three-year program, 
but this has already been cut back considerably. Under current fund- 
ing within NOAA only $125,000 was approved for FY75 to develop 
an operational plan and survey the literature. A technical advisory 
committee and an executive committee will be set up consisting of 
representatives from NOAA, the Department of the Interior, and 
industry for management, direction and policy guidance. All new per- 
tinent environmental data collected by industry, government, or aca- 
demic institutions will be incorporated into a data bank maintained by 
the National Oceanographic Data Center to insure adequate data to 
design equipment and operating procedures. One reason given for 
placing immediate emphasis on environmental studies is that if com- 
mercial mining is expected to start by 1980, corporate decisions on 
mining equipment design and production techniques must be in the 
final stages by mid—1975.7 
Impacts or ALTERNATIVE SOURCES 
By way of comparison with present ores, manganese nodules do not 
contain sulfur; therefore, there will be no waste disposal problems of 
sulfur salts, acids, or gases. However, other materials used in process- 
Ing may present disposal problems depending on the metallurgical 
process developed. 
Nodule mining could provide the entire world population for hun- 
dreds of years with a sufficient supply of many metals. To equal this 
reserve by land mining would require the exploitation of many new 
areas including mining low grade deposits which are not now com- 
mercial. It is possible that in the future these areas may need to be 
used or preserved for other purposes. 
*U.S. Department of Commerce, op. cit. p. 165. 
5 Tbid. p. 161. 
56 Ocean Science News, op. cit., p. 2-3 
7Ibid., p. 3. 
