Guide to Laws and Regulations Governing Hard Mineral Mining on the U.S. Continental Shelf

摘要

The guide has been organized around four primary topics: an introduction to state/federal jurisdiction; federal laws applicable in federal waters; federal laws applicable in state waters; and state laws applicable in state waters. A number of headings and subheadings divide the material into manageable sections and provide quick access to issues of interest. Federal laws and regulations are covered in greater depth than laws at the state level. Emphasis is placed on the federal regulatory scheme in order to highlight the new hard mineral mining regulations, and because much of the federal legislation also applies in state waters. Case studies of three decidedly different state legal regimes - Mississippi, Alaska, and Oregon - are presented to illustrate the variety of marine hard mining policies currently in place in the various coastal states. The reader is cautioned that the laws and regulations governing offshore hard mineral mining are complex and subject to rapid change.