98 
(NACOA) meeting stated that Law of the Sea Conference results 
would not affect his firm’s plans for reaching full scale production 
between 1978 and 1980.*8 
The Group of 77 has made it clear that it will hold the United States 
responsible for the actions of its nationals. Under present law, the 
United States has no legal means of stopping private corporations 
from seabed mining beyond national jurisdiction. If such legislation 
were enacted, U.S. mining interests could even attempt to register 
their ships in other countries. In addition, the U.S. State Department 
has refused to recognize the mining claim filed by Deepsea Ventures, 
Inc. for an area beyond national jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, but 
did support their right to mine (at their own risk) in international 
water. 
18 Washington Report, National Ocean Industries Association, Nov. 29, 1974, p. 4. 
