§1402 International Objectives

Summary

The United States can apply its laws to U.S. citizens and ships, and to foreign people and ships under its authority, when they search for or commercially mine hard minerals on the deep ocean floor under accepted international law. At the same time, the U.S. does not claim ownership or sovereign control over any part of the deep seabed or its resources. The Secretary of State should try to negotiate a wide Law of the Sea treaty that guarantees fair access for all countries to deep‑sea minerals, declares those resources belong to all people, and requires environmental protections at least as strong as those in this law. Until a treaty is agreed, the Secretary should work with other nations to prevent environmental harm from deep‑sea exploration or mining by parties not covered by this law.