and controlled. At the present time, there is little 
agreement within the scientific community about 
what constitutes adequate knowledge of pre-operating 
conditions or baselines. Difficulties arise in the selec- 
tion of indicator species that will adequately repre- 
sent the biotic community and its reaction to the 
disurbances. The idea of measuring baselines is so 
new that the effect of long-term regional cycles, for 
which there are no data, cannot be determined. The 
effect of local impacts on regional or global com- 
munities may be underestimated. 
From the foregoing considerations, it can be gen- 
erally concluded that potential disturbances from 
marine mining operations depend on both the mining 
method and the environmental conditions of the 
area. Most physical and chemical changes can be 
measured, but assessing the effects of biological per- 
turbations requires intensive and long-term study.1*? 
State Approaches in Dealing With Offshore Mining 
In the 3-mile territorial sea of the United States, 
the coastal States have been vested with ownership 
of mineral resources under the Submerged Lands Act 
of 1953. Accordingly, in this area, the offshore leas- 
ing statutes of such States govern. Most States have 
moratoriums or severe restrictions on mining in the 
coastal zone. 
There is every indication that the mining of se- 
lected deposits on the Outer Continental Shelf, under 
the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, will 
occur in the future and will require extensive envi- 
ronmental monitoring and control and coordination 
with the coastal States. 
192 M. J. Cruickshank and H. D. Hess. “Marine Sand and 
Gravel Mining,” Oceanus, Journal of the Woods Hole Oceano- 
graphic Institution 19:1, Fall 1975, 32-44. 
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