[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 75 (Thursday, April 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 18613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07987]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Deep Seabed Mining: Request for Extension of Exploration Licenses
AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of application to extend Deep Seabed Mineral
Exploration Licenses USA-1 and USA-4; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has received an
application for five-year extensions of Deep Seabed Mining Exploration
Licenses USA-1 and USA-4 that are held by the Lockheed Martin
Corporation (``Lockheed Martin'' or the ``Licensee''). The application
includes a revised exploration plan that sets forth the activities to
be conducted during the extended period of the license.
DATES: Individuals and organizations intending to submit comments on
the extension request should do so by May 22, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Hard-copy comments should be submitted to Kerry Kehoe,
Stewardship Division (N/OCM6), Office for Coastal Management, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, Maryland 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kerry Kehoe at 240-533-0782; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral
Resources Act (DSHMRA; 30 U.S.C. 1401-1473), the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration has received an application for five-year
extensions of Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses USA-1 and USA-4
that are held by the Lockheed Martin Corporation (``Lockheed Martin''
or the ``Licensee''). The application includes a revised exploration
plan that sets forth the activities to be conducted during the extended
period of the license.
The current terms of Exploration Licenses USA-1 and USA-4 end on
June 2, 2017. Section 107(a) of DSHMRA provides that NOAA shall extend
exploration licenses for a term of not more than five years if the
licensee has substantially complied with the license and exploration
plan and has requested an extension of the license. 30 U.S.C. 1417.
Lockheed Martin has submitted this request to extend its existing
DSHMRA licenses for five years, and thereby, maintain the interests and
rights these exploration licenses may convey. Given that at-sea
exploration activities are contingent upon certain events that have not
yet occurred, Lockheed Martin has adjusted its exploration schedule.
During the proposed five-year extension, the Licensee will continue to
conduct various preparatory activities in advance of at-sea
exploration, which may become feasible at some future date. In order
for at-sea exploration to be feasible, Lockheed Martin has stated that
both improvement in the condition of the metals markets, and United
States accession to the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, as modified by
the 1994 Implementing Agreement, are necessary.
In light of these two unmet prerequisites, Lockheed Martin is not
proposing to conduct at-sea exploration activities at this time, and
approval of this extension request would not in and of itself authorize
the Licensee to conduct at-sea exploration. If this extension request
is granted, Lockheed Martin will need to obtain additional
authorization from NOAA before it would be authorized to conduct at-sea
exploration activities under these licenses. Among other requirements,
authorization to conduct at-sea exploration activities would require
NOAA to consider additional environmental analysis that may be
necessary pursuant to NOAA's obligations under the National
Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and DSHMRA.
The request for extension and revised exploration plan can be
viewed at www.regulations.gov, by searching for docket number ``NOAA-
NOS-2017-0019''. NOAA is seeking comments on the request to extend USA-
1 and USA-4 including, but not limited to, whether there has been
substantial compliance with the licenses and exploration plans, and
whether the revised exploration plans for USA-1 and USA-4 meet the
terms, conditions and restrictions of DSHMRA and the licenses issued
thereunder. All electronically submitted comments must be received
through the www.regulations.gov, Web site by the date noted below.
Submissions made by email will not be accepted. Comments may also be
mailed to the address provided below. Mailed comments will be accepted
if postmarked before the comment period has ended.
Dated: April 11, 2017.
W. Russell Callender,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management,
National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-07987 Filed 4-19-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P