the way of technical services and special incentives 

 if it is to get started in an important way within 

 the next couple of decades. This is because marine 

 hard minerals are more difficult to evaluate and 

 produce than offshore oil; the risks are greater, 

 and the potential reward, at least initially, is much 

 smaller. Moreover, a substantially new technology 

 is required for marine mining, in contrast to what 

 was needed for petroleum. 



The kinds of government involvement that will 

 probably be necessary to get a viable marine 

 mining industry under way are: 



—The government (State or Federal) must develop 

 and maintain a legal, economic, and regulatory 

 enviroiunent that encourages exploration and 

 development of marine mineral resources by 

 private industry. This environment should take 

 into account the problems of conservation and the 

 multiple use concept. Existing laws and regu- 

 lations, which were developed primarily in 

 response to the requirements of the petroleum 

 industry, are not applicable to the special require- 

 ments of the hard mineral mining industry. 

 Industry would probably benefit if uniform State 

 and Federal laws could be developed governing the 

 exploration and exploitation of mineral resources 

 from the territorial seas and outer Continental 

 Shelf. 



—The provision of adequate bathymetric base 

 maps on which various kinds of information 

 relevant to the exploration and exploitation of 

 mineral resources can be plotted and with which 

 various operations at sea can be more safely 

 conducted should be a function of Federal Gov- 

 ernment. 



—Establishment of the basic geological framework 

 that will enable private industry to select favorable 

 target areas for marine mineral exploration should 

 also be a Federal function. 



—Development of survey instruments, techniques 

 and sampling devices and techniques applicable to 

 the marine environment, together with provision 

 of testing facilities for machinery and tools de- 

 signed for underwater exploration and mining 

 must be largely a Federal function because the 

 potential expenses involved are too heavy and the 

 returns too uncertain for private industry to take 

 the risk. Much of this work could be done on a 



contract basis by industry. There may be some 

 areas where government and industry could carry 

 out joint study projects. 



—A Federal Government unit such as the Bureau 

 of Mines should accumulate and disseminate tech- 

 nical data on the results of experience of all 

 government agencies and of industry with under- 

 water equipment and materials. 



—Advance information on storms, wave heights, 

 and other environmental factors that might affect 

 offshore structures and vessels are and should 

 continue to be provided by the Federal Govern- 

 ment. Forecasting needs to be improved. 



—Special incentives may be necessary to stimulate 

 the offshore mining industry in early stages of its 

 development. These are given in detail in the 

 Private Industry and Investment Panel report. 



State governments have the responsibility for 

 administration and management of resources in 

 the territorial waters just as the Federal Govern- 

 ment has responsibility on the Outer Continental 

 Shelf. As with the Federal Government, State and 

 local governments should do all they can to 

 provide a favorable environment in which industry 

 can operate. 



It has been suggested that uniform laws and 

 regulations among the various States and the 

 Federal Government would be regarded favorably 

 by industry and would be a useful goal toward 

 which to work. The Department of the Interior 

 could take the lead by working out a model 

 exploration permit with industry representatives 

 and then calling a conference with representatives 

 of State governments with the aim of getting the 

 permit approved and implemented. 



Industry's traditional role on land has been to 

 conduct detailed mineral exploration surveys using 

 the broader scale geologic maps and other data 

 provided by the Government as a guide to favor- 

 able target areas. Industry delineates the specific 

 size and shape of mineral deposits and exploits the 

 deposits. The role of industry thus complements 

 Government's role, and the two groups are not 

 competitive. It is believed that in general our 

 marine resources will be effectively developed by 

 the same definition of Government and industry 

 roles that has prevailed on land. Development of 

 marine resources may in special cases require a 



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