1998 Year of the Ocean Ocean Energy and Minerals 



DOMESTIC LEGAL REGIME 

 Contents 



Ocean Energy and Mineral Resources 



Federal Authorities Relating to Energy Resources 



• Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S. C. § 1331 et seq.) 



• OCS Deep Water Royalty Relief Act (Pub. L. 104-58) 



• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act (42 U.S.C. § 9101 et seq.) 



Federal Authorities Relating to Mineral Resources 



• Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (30 U.S.C. § 1441 et seq.) 



State Authorities Relating to Energy and Mineral Resources 



• Under the Submerged Lands Act (43 U.S.C. § 1301 et seq.) 



Improving Stakeholder Involvement 



The legal regime covering this topic is based on a collection of important federal statutory 

 authorities. The following is a brief description of some of those authorities relating to ocean 

 energy and mineral resources. The list is selective and is designed to illustrate some major ocean 

 energy and mineral resources acts. The list is not meant to be comprehensive. 



I. OCEAN ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES 



The oceans contain significant energy and mineral resources that will become increasingly 

 important as the availability of land-based sources diminishes. There are a number of domestic 

 legal authorities governing ocean energy and mineral resources that involve responsibilities of 

 different federal and state agencies. These domestic legal authorities often provide for a 

 balancing of competing policy objectives. In particular, offshore development that addresses 

 domestic energy and mineral needs must be balanced against the need to protect and conserve 

 ocean and coastal resources and ecosystems. Domestic legal authorities also provide for 

 consultation and coordination among stakeholders. However, the development of ocean energy 

 resources has been controversial. Successful, sustainable development of ocean and mineral 

 resources requires that we move from conflict to consensus among all stakeholders within the 

 framework of a comprehensive management strategy. 



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