30 U.S.C. § 1902 : US Code - Section 1902: Research program

Search 30 U.S.C. § 1902 : US Code - Section 1902: Research program

(a) In general
The Secretary shall establish and carry out a program of research
on marine mineral resources.
(b) Program goal
The goal of the program shall be to -
(1) promote research, identification, assessment, and
exploration of marine mineral resources in an environmentally
responsible manner;
(2) assist in developing domestic technologies required for
efficient and environmentally sound development of marine mineral
resources;
(3) coordinate and promote the use of technologies developed
with Federal assistance, and the use of available Federal assets,
for research, identification, assessment, exploration, and
development of marine mineral resources; and
(4) encourage academia and industry to conduct basic and
applied research, on a joint basis, through grants, cooperative
agreements, or contracts with the Federal Government.
(c) Responsibilities of Secretary
In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall -
(1) promote and coordinate partnerships between industry,
government, and academia to research, identify, assess, and
explore marine mineral resources in an environmentally sound
manner;
(2) undertake programs to develop the basic information
necessary to the long-term national interest in marine mineral
resources (including seabed mapping) and to ensure that data and
information are accessible and widely disseminated as needed and
appropriate;
(3) identify, and promote cooperation among agency programs
that are developing, technologies developed by other Federal
programs that may hold promise for facilitating undersea
applications related to marine mineral resources, including
technologies related to vessels and other platforms, underwater
vehicles, survey and mapping systems, remote power sources, data
collection and transmission systems, and various seabed research
systems; and
(4) foster communication and coordination between Federal and
State agencies, universities, and private entities concerning
marine mineral research on seabeds of the continental shelf,
ocean basins, and arctic and cold water areas.
In carrying out these responsibilities, the Secretary shall ensure
the participation of non-Federal users of technologies and data
related to marine mineral resources in planning and priority
setting.