standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

PART I
Regulations of the International Seabed Authority
for Exploration for Deep Seabed Polymetallic
Nodules and Recommendations for the Effective
Protection of the Marine Environment from
Harmful Effects which May Arise from
Exploration/Mining
INTRODUCTION
The Workshop to Standardize the Environmental Data and
Information Required by the Mining Code and the Guidelines for Contractors
began with presentations describing the three documents that formed the
backdrop for its work:
−
−
Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic
Nodules in the Area of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction,
approved by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on 13 July
2000 1 ;
Guidelines for the assessment of the environmental impacts
from the exploration for polymetallic nodules in the Area,
recommended at a Workshop organized by the Authority at
Sanya, China, in 1998 2 ; and
− Recommendations for the guidance of the contractors for the
assessment of the possible environmental impacts arising from
exploration for polymetallic nodules in the Area, drafted by the
Authority’s Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) 3 .
The Regulations and recommendations were outlined by Mr. Jean-
Pierre Lenoble of France, member of the LTC, who chaired the Commission
during much of the time it spent in drafting both of these documents.
21 INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY