Incentives that may stimulate mine site processing 
are: 
e Savings in transportation costs, that is, shipping a 
more concentrated product. 
© Cost and siting of waste disposal for land-based 
processing facilities. 
The first of these alternatives, physical benefica- 
tion, would be economically attractive. Tailing wastes 
would be disposed of at sea, and the upgraded nodule 
material further processed on land. Tests have 
demonstrated, however, that manganese nodules do 
not lend themselves to this method without additional 
chemical treatment. The third alternative would like- 
wise require the development of new technology. 
Partial processing, therefore, seems to be the only 
option likely in the near future. 
There are several possible methods of partial proc- 
essing at sea. They would involve production of an 
impure metal precipitate at sea with the following 
purification and final production on land. At-sea dis- 
posal of wastes would likely be necessary for eco- 
nomic viability. This will require careful environ- 
mental regulation. 
Impact assessment should focus on waste disposal, 
discharge or accidental spillage of caustic reagents, 
and the energy source, whether it be fossile fuel or 
nuclear. !32: 134,135 
Onshore Processing 
Impacts from onshore processing will differ con- 
siderably. Potential impacts will be associated with 
transportation from the mining site to seaports, in- 
cluding transfer from mining ships to transport vessel, 
and return of fuels and supplies from shore to mining 
ship. There will be impacts in the area of the port 
facilities for receipt of nodules, storage, and the start 
of inland transportation. This could involve onshore 
and/or offshore terminals with their attendent effects. 
The type of terminal will depend upon whether the 
nodules are in slurry, whole, or dried and ground. 
483 U.S. Department of Commerce, op. cit. note 109. 
7 Richard Frank, op. cit. note 24. 
13 Richard Frank, op. cit. note 112. 
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