15 
fourteen days of the filing or withdrawal of an application 
for a license under this Act, the issuance, denial, transfer, 
expiration, surrender, or revocation of such license, or the 
relinquishment of any licensed portion of the deep seabed. 
(6) The function of the international registry clearing- 
house shall consist solely of keeping records of nctices,- or 
applications for licenses, issuances, denials, transfers, or 
terminations of licenses, and the relinquishment of licensed 
portions of the deep seabed. Pending designation of such 
clearinghouse, notice to the Secretary shall constitute notice 
to the clearinghouse within the meaning of this Act. 
ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA 
Sec. 7. The Secretary shall consult with appropriate 
Federal agencies and departments regarding environmental 
criteria and shall establish objective environmental stand- 
ards, based on technical and scientific data, applied in a 
consistent manner under the rules and regulations of section 
18, to which operations under a license issued under this Act 
shall adhere. The Secretary may, from time to time, propose 
revisions of the rules and regulations regarding environ- 
mental standards, as scientific data may warrant. 
MINIMUM ANNUAL EXPENDITURES 
Sec. 8. (a) EXPENDITURES.—In connection with the 
development of hard mineral resources from each licensed 
block, the licensee shall make or cause to be made minimum 
