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)

Page Range		18613-18613
FR Document		2017-07987

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 Issue 75 (Thursday, April 20, 2017)

[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

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 75 / Thursday, April 20, 2017 / Notices 18613

Comment 2: Brokerage and Handling The current terms of Exploration email will not be accepted. Comments
Comment 3: Surrogate Value for Water Licenses USA–1 and USA–4 end on may also be mailed to the address
Comment 4: Inland Insurance June 2, 2017. Section 107(a) of provided below. Mailed comments will
Comment 5: Differential Pricing DSHMRA provides that NOAA shall be accepted if postmarked before the
Recommendation
extend exploration licenses for a term of comment period has ended.
[FR Doc. 2017–08023 Filed 4–19–17; 8:45 am] not more than five years if the licensee Dated: April 11, 2017.
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P has substantially complied with the
W. Russell Callender,
license and exploration plan and has
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services
requested an extension of the license. 30
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE and Coastal Zone Management, National
U.S.C. 1417. Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration.
Lockheed Martin has submitted this
National Oceanic and Atmospheric request to extend its existing DSHMRA [FR Doc. 2017–07987 Filed 4–19–17; 8:45 am]
Administration licenses for five years, and thereby, BILLING CODE 3510–08–P

Deep Seabed Mining: Request for maintain the interests and rights these
Extension of Exploration Licenses exploration licenses may convey. Given
that at-sea exploration activities are DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, contingent upon certain events that National Oceanic and Atmospheric
National Ocean Service, National have not yet occurred, Lockheed Martin Administration
Oceanic and Atmospheric has adjusted its exploration schedule.
Administration (NOAA), Department of During the proposed five-year Marine Protected Areas Federal
Commerce. extension, the Licensee will continue to Advisory Committee; Public Meeting
ACTION: Notice of receipt of application conduct various preparatory activities in
to extend Deep Seabed Mineral advance of at-sea exploration, which AGENCY: Office of National Marine
Exploration Licenses USA–1 and USA– may become feasible at some future Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean
4; request for comments. date. In order for at-sea exploration to be Service (NOS), National Oceanic and
feasible, Lockheed Martin has stated Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Deep Seabed that both improvement in the condition Department of Commerce (DOC).
Hard Mineral Resources Act the of the metals markets, and United States ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric accession to the 1982 Law of the Sea
Administration has received an Convention, as modified by the 1994 SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a
application for five-year extensions of Implementing Agreement, are necessary. meeting of the Marine Protected Areas
Deep Seabed Mining Exploration In light of these two unmet Federal Advisory Committee
Licenses USA–1 and USA–4 that are prerequisites, Lockheed Martin is not (Committee) in Annapolis, Maryland.
held by the Lockheed Martin proposing to conduct at-sea exploration DATES: The meeting will be held on
Corporation (‘‘Lockheed Martin’’ or the activities at this time, and approval of Tuesday, May 23, 2017, from 9:00 a.m.
‘‘Licensee’’). The application includes a this extension request would not in and to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, May 24,
revised exploration plan that sets forth of itself authorize the Licensee to 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These
the activities to be conducted during the conduct at-sea exploration. If this times and the agenda topics described
extended period of the license. extension request is granted, Lockheed below are subject to change. Refer to the
DATES: Individuals and organizations Martin will need to obtain additional Web page listed below for the most up-
intending to submit comments on the authorization from NOAA before it to-date meeting agenda.
extension request should do so by May would be authorized to conduct at-sea ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
22, 2017. exploration activities under these the Annapolis Maritime Museum at 723
ADDRESSES: Hard-copy comments licenses. Among other requirements, Second Street, Annapolis, Maryland
should be submitted to Kerry Kehoe, authorization to conduct at-sea 21403.
Stewardship Division (N/OCM6), Office exploration activities would require
NOAA to consider additional FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
for Coastal Management, National Lauren Wenzel, Designated Federal
Oceanic and Atmospheric environmental analysis that may be
necessary pursuant to NOAA’s Officer, MPA FAC, National Marine
Administration, 1305 East-West Protected Areas Center, 1305 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland obligations under the National
Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland
20910. 20910. (Phone: 240–533–0652, Fax:
4321 et seq., and DSHMRA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The request for extension and revised 301–713–3110); email: lauren.wenzel@
Kerry Kehoe at 240–533–0782; email exploration plan can be viewed at noaa.gov; or visit the National MPA
Kerry.Kehoe@noaa.gov. www.regulations.gov, by searching for Center Web site at http://
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant docket number ‘‘NOAA–NOS–2017– marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac).
to the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral 0019’’. NOAA is seeking comments on SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Resources Act (DSHMRA; 30 U.S.C. the request to extend USA–1 and USA– Committee, composed of external,
1401–1473), the National Oceanic and 4 including, but not limited to, whether knowledgeable representatives of
Atmospheric Administration has there has been substantial compliance stakeholder groups, was established by
received an application for five-year with the licenses and exploration plans, the Department of Commerce (DOC) to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

extensions of Deep Seabed Mining and whether the revised exploration provide advice to the Secretaries of
Exploration Licenses USA–1 and USA– plans for USA–1 and USA–4 meet the Commerce and the Interior on
4 that are held by the Lockheed Martin terms, conditions and restrictions of implementation of Section 4 of
Corporation (‘‘Lockheed Martin’’ or the DSHMRA and the licenses issued Executive Order 13158, on marine
‘‘Licensee’’). The application includes a thereunder. All electronically submitted protected areas (MPAs). The meeting is
revised exploration plan that sets forth comments must be received through the open to the public, and public comment
the activities to be conducted during the www.regulations.gov, Web site by the will be accepted from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00
extended period of the license. date noted below. Submissions made by p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. In

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Document Created: 2017-04-20 01:42:38
Document Modified: 2017-04-20 01:42:38

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of receipt of application to extend Deep Seabed Mineral Exploration Licenses USA-1 and USA-4; request for comments.
Dates		Individuals and organizations intending to submit comments on the extension request should do so by May 22, 2017.
Contact		Kerry Kehoe at 240-533-0782; email [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 18613

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration