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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 4922 (95th)

Ocean Mining Incentive Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

14 March 1977

Last action

14 March 1977 · Introduced

Status

Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.

Sponsors

Rep. Fraser, Donald M. [D-MN-5], Rep. Bedell, Berkley W. [D-IA-6], Rep. Bingham, Jonathan B. [D-NY-22], Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT], Rep. Drinan, Robert F. [D-MA-4], Rep. Edgar, Robert W. [D-PA-7], Rep. Eilberg, Joshua [D-PA-4], Rep. Emery, David F. [R-ME-1], Rep. Harrington, Michael J. [D-MA-6], Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2], Rep. Moakley, John Joseph [D-MA-9], Rep. Meyner, Helen S. [D-NJ-13], Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8], Rep. Seiberling, John F. [D-OH-14], Sen. Simon, Paul [D-IL], Rep. Solarz, Stephen J. [D-NY-13], Rep. Spellman, Gladys Noon [D-MD-5], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Rep. Steers, Newton I., Jr. [R-MD-8], Rep. Wilson, Charles [D-TX-2]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

2 September 2025

Official sourceView documentsShare

Summary

Ocean Mining Incentive Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish an Office of Ocean Mining Incentives in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Directs the Office to establish a program of Federal insurance against ocean mining losses suffered during prototype operations. Specifies conditions and limitations with respect to such insurance coverage. Stipulates that such coverage may not exceed $100,000,000 in aggregate to any single firm. Stipulates that only those firms which have engaged in ocean mining research and development for at least five years and have expended at least $20,000,000 with respect to such activities shall be eligible for coverage. Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to accelerate environmental assessment of deep seabed mining through preparation of a general programmatic environmental impact statement as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Requires the use of such assessment as a basis for regulations governing the conduct of prototype mining operations. Imposes civil and criminal penalties upon ocean mining operations for violations of environmental requirements established by this Act or for unreasonable interference with lawful use of the high seas by any person. Authorizes injunctive relief in the United States district courts to prevent serious or irreparable damage to the marine environment from prototype operations or to prevent unreasonable interference with lawful uses. Expresses the support of Congress for the objectives of the United States Conference on the Law of the Sea. Declares it the sense of Congress that this Act be considered transitional in nature pending implementation of future diplomatic or legislative proposals. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as necessary for (1) the administration of this Act, and (2) for the ocean mining insurance fund established by this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 14 March 1977

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 14 March 1977

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 14 March 1977

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

Leesvertaling

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Sponsors

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Sources

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