69 
defined time period. Mr. LaQue recommended that only manganese 
nodules be considered in any proposed legislation and metalliferous 
muds or subsurface hard minerals should not be included. In addition, 
he doubted the likelihood that other “reciprocating states” would be 
willing to have the terms of their reciprocation dictated by the United 
States through the mechanism of S. 2801. Consequently, he doubted the 
real value of the security that the bill is supposed to provide. 
An issue that had become a political focal point inthe United Nations 
was also addressed in the hearings. This was the question as to the 
extent of the economic impact on the mineral exporting developing 
countries who would be adversely affected by seabed mining. Studies 
by the United Nations were submitted indicating: 
A possible adverse impact on these [metals] markets would not be catastroph- 
ically disruptive to the economies of the countries concerned. Nevertheless, any 
loss, current or potential, of export revenues to developing countries creates 
additional problems to their already strained economies in the process of 
development.” 
Several means were proposed for diminishing the impact of seabed 
mining on the land-based mining industries in developing countries : 
1. Artificial control of production from the seabed to keep it at 
levels that would not interfere with land production or prices; 
2. Global controls, which would not discriminate against seabed 
production, for they would presumably apply to producers irre- 
spective of the location of their mines; 
3. Limitation on the issuances of exploitation licenses to a rate 
judged appropriate to maintain a balance between land and sea 
production ; 
4. Issue a license for a specified amount of annual production of 
metal and-to limit the number of such licenses to that necessary 
for market and price stability ; 
5. Impose a drop in price at the expense of producing countries; 
6. Compensatory payments by the international machinery to 
the countries affected by the declines in export revenues; and 
7. Providing preferential technical assistance to developing 
countries adversely affected by seabed production to help them 
broaden their economic base. 
L&GISLATIVE CONCERN IN THE 93D CONGRESS 
During the 93d Congress, the issue of deep seabed hard minerals 
exploitation took several turns. The interplay between the delibera- 
tions of the Congressional Committees and the negotiations in the 
U.N. Seabed Committee became more intensified. As a result of devel- 
opments in the Seabed Committee and testimony before the Congres- 
sional Committees, sponsors of the legislation introduced several 
changes in the bills during the second session. 
THE FIRST SESSION 
_ The Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Resources Act was reintroduced 
into the 93d Congress as H.R. 9 (Appendix A) on January 3, 1973 by 
Representative Thomas N. Downing, and the identical companion 
% U.N. General Assembly. Possible impact of seabed mineral production in the area 
beyond national jurisdiction on world markets, with special reference to the problems of 
developing countries: a preliminary assessment. A/AC.138/36. May 28, 1971. p. 6d. 
