30 U.S.C. § 1402 : US Code - Section 1402: International objectives

Search 30 U.S.C. § 1402 : US Code - Section 1402: International objectives

(a) Disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty
By the enactment of this chapter, the United States -
(1) exercises its jurisdiction over United States citizens and
vessels, and foreign persons and vessels otherwise subject to its
jurisdiction, in the exercise of the high seas freedom to engage
in exploration for, and commercial recovery of, hard mineral
resources of the deep seabed in accordance with generally
accepted principles of international law recognized by the United
States; but
(2) does not thereby assert sovereignty or sovereign or
exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or the ownership of, any
areas or resources in the deep seabed.
(b) Secretary of State
(1) The Secretary of State is encouraged to negotiate
successfully a comprehensive Law of the Sea Treaty which, among
other things, provides assured and nondiscriminatory access to the
hard mineral resources of the deep seabed for all nations, gives
legal definition to the principle that the resources of the deep
seabed are the common heritage of mankind, and provides for the
establishment of requirements for the protection of the quality of
the environment as stringent as those promulgated pursuant to this
chapter.
(2) Until such a Treaty is concluded, the Secretary of State is
encouraged to promote any international actions necessary to
adequately protect the environment from adverse impacts which may
result from any exploration for and commercial recovery of hard
mineral resources of the deep seabed carried out by persons not
subject to this chapter.