73 
also stressed the beneficial impact construction of nodule mining ships 
and ore carriers would have on the U.S. shipbuilding industry. 
In testimony before the Subcommittee on Minerals, Materials and 
Fuels, Dr. Richard A. Geyer, head of the Department of Oceanog- 
raphy, Texas A. & M. University and former vice chairman of the 
Stratton Commission, urged passage of S. 1134. He discounted the 
possible environmental damage from ocean mining as being insig- 
nificant compared to that caused by naturally occurring large-scale 
oceanographic phenomena such as turbidity currents and natural up- 
welling. Dr. Geyer concluded : 
After studying the provisions of this bill, I am convinced that it represents an 
excellent vehicle to implement most effectively a number of those recommenda- 
tions of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources—more 
commonly known as the Stratton Commission—directed toward the development 
of ocean mining in general and manganese mining in particular.” 
In testimony before the House Subcommittee on Oceanography, 
John HK. Flipse, President of Deepsea Ventures, Inc., discussed several 
points which had been questioned by Committee members. He ex- 
plained that the minesite size of 10,000 square kilometers for the pur- 
poses of exploitation is barely adequate for a mining operation scaled 
to the recovery of one million tons of dry nodules per year, assuming 
the nodule concentration of about two pounds per square foot and a 
recovery efficiency within the present capability of technology. He 
stated : 
Realistic estimates of dredging accessibility and efficiency, sweep efficiency, 
and the cut off grade of actual minesites indicate an overall mining recovery 
efficiency of well below 50 percent of the nodules on the minesite. * * * Our 
calculations indicate that a 1 million ton operation is the minimum efficient size 
to take advantage of existing economies of scale and engineering efficiency.™ 
ants. Mr. F'lipse also acknowledged that the investment guar- 
antee period of 40 years may be excessive. He stated: 
I think 40 years was chosen originally because, based upon Internal Revenue 
Code, financial commitments were going to be written off on pier facilities, 
buildings, main plant facilities, over a 40-year period. This was the basis for this 
number being selected for the guarantee. I feel that some of us are ready to ac- 
cept a lesser period although the drafters and the Mining Congress still feel that 
the 40 years is a reasonable time period, based upon the durability of a fair 
proportion of this equipment.” 
Mr. Flipse also informed the Subcommittee that based on Deepsea 
Ventures’ determinations, 20 to 30 percent of the deep ocean floor has 
economically developable deposits. He stated that it would take ap- 
proximately 5 years from the day the bill is passed before processed 
metals reached the market. Furthermore, in 5 years or more if an in- 
ternational regime went into effect, his company would have recovered 
only a fraction of a thousandth of a percent of the economic deposits. 
37 Mineral Resources of the Deep Seabed, op. cit., p. 236. 
38 Deep Seabed Hard Minerals, op. cit., p. 87. 
°° Tbid., p. 89. 
