Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§2462 Definitions

Title 16 › CHAPTER 44B — ANTARCTIC MINERAL RESOURCES PROTECTION › § 2462

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in this chapter. Antarctica is the area south of the Antarctic Convergence (see section 2432(1)). Antarctic mineral resource activity is prospecting, exploration, or development of minerals in Antarctica, but it does not include scientific research under Article III of the Antarctic Treaty signed in Washington on December 1, 1959. Development is any work after exploration to exploit a specific mineral deposit, including support, processing, storage, and transport. Exploration is work to find or evaluate a specific deposit, such as drilling, dredging, or digging, and related support. Mineral resources are nonliving, nonrenewable things like fossil fuels and minerals; ice, water, and snow are excluded. Person includes people, businesses (corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations), and U.S. federal, state, or local government entities, officers, employees, or agents. Prospecting is work to identify mineral potential for later exploration or development. Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §2462

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1)The term “Antarctica” means the area south of the Antarctic Convergence as defined in section 2432(1) of this title.

(2)The term “Antarctic mineral resource activity” means prospecting, exploration, or development in Antarctica of mineral resources, but does not include scientific research within the meaning of article III of the Antarctic Treaty, done at Washington on December 1, 1959.

(3)The term “development” means any activity, including logistic support, which takes place following exploration, the purpose of which is the exploitation of specific mineral resource deposits, including processing, storage, and transport activities.

(4)The term “exploration” means any activity, including logistic support, the purpose of which is the identification or evaluation of specific mineral resource deposits. The term includes exploratory drilling, dredging, and other surface or subsurface excavations required to determine the nature and size of mineral resource deposits and the feasibility of their development.

(5)The term “mineral resources” means all nonliving natural nonrenewable resources, including fossil fuels, minerals, whether metallic or nonmetallic, but does not include ice, water, or snow.

(6)The term “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or any other entity existing or organized under the laws of the United States, or any officer, employee, agent, department, or other instrumentality of the Federal Government or of any State or political subdivision thereof.

(7)The term “prospecting” means any activity, including logistic support, the purpose of which is the identification of mineral resource potential for possible exploration and development.

(8)The term “Under Secretary” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 2462

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102