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(b) Where a subsurface block leased to one person is 
subjacent to a surface block leased to a different person, 
the licensee of the subsurface block shall have the right to 
penetrate the surface block and the Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations to prevent undue interference by one with the 
other, giving reasonable priority to the first licensee. No 
license shall preclude scientific research by any person in 
licensed areas where such activities do not interfere with 
development by the licensees. 
(c) Every license issued under this Act shall remain in 
force for fifteen years and, where commercial recovery of 
hard minerals has been achieved from’a licensed block within 
fifteen years, such license shall remain in force so long as 
commercial recovery from the block continues. The Secre- 
tary shall prescribe, as conditions for every license issued 
pursuant to this Act, minimum annual expenditures as speci- 
fied in section 7, and requirements to protect the environ- 
ment, prevent unreasonable interference with other ocean 
uses, and promote arbitral settlement of disputes. Where 
cintttni anes beyond the. control of a licensee impair its 
ability to develop any portion of the deep seabed held under 
such license, the term of the license and the dates for comply- 
ing with any other license condition shall be extended for an 
equal length of time. 
