LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 
Tue Liprary or CONGRESS, 
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE, 
Washington, D.C., May 5, 1975. 
Hon. Lrs Mercatr, 
Chairman, Subcommittee on Minerals, Materials and Fuels, Commat- 
tee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 
Dear Senator Metcatr: In response to your request, I am sub- 
mitting a report in the nature of a primer on manganese nodules. 
Entitled “Ocean Manganese Nodules,” the report covers such topics 
as location of manganese nodule deposits, site evaluation, technology 
of mining nodules, economic implications, commercial interests, gov- 
ernment activities, foreign activities and legislative background. Since 
the Law of the Sea Conference has not yet resolved the international 
controversy surrounding this issue, possible treaty implications are 
also considered. 
The report was prepared by Dr. James EK. Mielke, Analyst in Ma- 
rine and Earth Sciences of the Science Policy Research Division, 
under the direction of George A. Doumani. 
We hope that this report serves your committee’s needs as well as 
those of other Members of the House and Senate in pursuing the 
issue of deep seabed mining. 
Sincerely, 
Lester S. Jayson, Director. 
(v) 
