standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

He observed that the Regulations, under development for two
decades since well before ISA came into existence, provided a total
framework for the development of deep seabed exploration. They set out
rules, to be followed by operators under contract with the Authority, for both
prospecting and exploration – in other words, all activities relating to
polymetallic nodules short of exploitation, which is to be dealt with in
subsequent parts of an international mining code for the deep oceans.
He outlined the system under which commercial and noncommercial
entities, governmental or non-governmental, may apply for
exploration contracts with the Authority. As part of this process, each
applicant must submit a plan of work detailing exactly where it proposes to
explore and committing itself to monitoring the local marine environment so
as to prevent harmful consequences. The plan of work and contract are
subject to approval by the Authority before any exploration can take place.
Once the contract is in force, the role of the Authority will be to follow the
operator’s activities closely by monitoring annual reports. In the event of an
incident likely to cause environmental harm, the Authority may issue
emergency orders to prevent, contain or repair the damage.
In discussing the Regulations, the Workshop concentrated not so
much on their content as on how they would be applied and adapted to
take account of the gradually emerging body of knowledge about the deepsea
environment. They were described as the second level of a hierarchy in
which the top rung is occupied by the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea. The third level, of particular interest to the Workshop, consists
of recommendations developed by LTC to guide contractors in carrying out
their contractual obligations relating to the environment.
Outlining the recommendations, Lenoble cited their three main
elements. The first prescribes criteria for the environmental baseline
studies that contractors must conduct to gain precise information, to be
shared with the Authority, about the pristine condition of the areas they plan
to explore before any human activities take place. These studies are to be
followed by environmental impact assessment during the course of
exploration. Finally, the recommendations specify exactly what contractors
should look for when monitoring any activities that might harm the
environment.
Discussion in the Workshop highlighted the need for flexibility in
developing and applying the recommendations. Participants expressed
particular interest in the role that the international scientific community
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