568 



Given the recent accelerated development of the concept of a nation's 

 global responsibility (and accountability) for its actions, any s\ib-seabed 

 disposal program will likely require extensive international consultation 

 even outside of any existing multilateral arrangements. Specifically, the 

 Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea has been developing 

 a regime of the seabed that, in some future form, will have to be addressed 

 by the nation or group of nations that seeks to implement' sub-seabed disposal. 

 Examples were provided above of how international organizations, adhering to 

 the Informal Composite Negotiating Text (Revision 2) , can be used to create 

 generally recognized standards for new activities. 



The organizational structure of previously established internationally 

 recognized standards for a new activity such as sub-seabed disposal might 

 be a critical vehicle for resolving the political issues that will arise 

 when a formal proposal is made. Either the standards themselves or a new 

 regime tied to them which truly internationalizes the program might serve 

 to answer the likely (and reasonable) contention of less-developed countries 

 that the sub-seabed disposal program would primarily benefit the advanced 

 industrial countries. Thus, appropriate international organizations might 

 help provide both legal and political support for a sub-seabed disposal 

 program. 



