82 FR 18613 - Deep Seabed Mining: Request for Extension of Exploration Licenses

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 75 (April 20, 2017)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 75 (Thursday, April 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 18613]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07987]


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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.

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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