ISA Prepares for Legal and Technical Commission Meetings in Kingston

Two ISA Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) meetings have been scheduled to be held in Kingston in 2014.

The first session of the ISA LTC meetings will be held in Kingston from 3-14 February and the second session will take place during the Authority's 20th Session from 7-25 July.

In an attempt to balance the workload of the Commission between the two sessions, some items on the provisional agenda will be taken up in February as a matter of priority. These include the consideration of pending contractor applications from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, UK Seabed Resources Ltd., Government of India and Ocean Mineral Singapore Pty Ltd., and the development of Regulations on exploitation.

The LTC currently consists of 25 members who are elected by the Council for a period of 5 years on the basis of personal qualifications relevant to the exploration, exploitation and processing of mineral resources, oceanography, economic and/or legal matters relating to ocean mining and related fields.

It is entrusted with various functions relating to activities in the deep seabed area including the review of applications for plans of work, supervision of exploration or mining activities, assessment of the environmental impact of such activities and provide advice to the International Seabed Authority’s Assembly and Council on all matters relating to exploration and exploitation of non-living marine resources.

The Commission has, since its inception developed the Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in the Area;  the Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Sulphides in the Area and the Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Cobalt-Rich Ferromanganese Crusts in the Area.