Exclusive Economic Zone: International Training Course In Managing Energy And Nonenergy Mineral Resources

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Minerals Management Service has developed a 2- to 3-week training course designed to acquaint government personnel of other countries with the issues they need to consider as they proceed to develop their nations Exclusive Economic Zones. The course is also applicable to the newly emerging democracies just learning how to develop and manage their mineral resources in a market-oriented economy. The objectives are to help upgrade safety of operations, ensure a reasonable concern for environmental effects, and, in general, help to produce a more level "playing field" for operators working throughout the world. The course is taught on a cost reimbursable basis, with funding provided either by the host government, the Agency for International Development, or an agency of the United Nations. The course presents the information in such a way as to explain each issue and then discuss the way(s) it is being addressed throughout the world. The information is packagedin six teaching modules, which are described in this paper:Conveying Exploration and Development RightsAssessing Environmental InformationEvaluating Mineral ResourcesManaging OperationsManaging RevenuesManaging Information portions of the course, that were applicable to onshore mineral development, were used from September 1992 to March 1993 to assist the Government of Hungary develop its new Hungarian Mining Office. The second half of this paper describes that experience. THE MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE ROLE The Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the U.S. Department of the Interior administers mineral resource development in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The total area of the U.S. EEZ managed by the MMS is approximately 1.4 billion acres (570 millionhectares). The MMS is also responsible for collecting, verifying, and disbursing bonuses, rents, and royalties for the offshore leases as well as all leases on onshore Federal lands. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the MMS activities that correlate training program modules. Specifically the MMS:Administers and conveys mineral rights to private companies based onresource estimates and a balancing of economic assessments and economic analyses;Assesses the potential effects of mineral resource exploration, development, and production on marine, coastal, and human environments;Develops and maintains estimates of mineral reserves and undiscovered resources;Regulates and inspects exploration, development, and production activities to ensure they are conducted safely and with environmentally appropriate methods;Manages funds received in the form of bonuses, rents, and royalties for all offshore leases as well as leases on onshore Federal and Indian lands; andManages large amounts of information and data to provide support for decisions on mineral resource development The MMS is engaged in three categories of-international activitiesParticipation in Department of State activities that require the technical expertise of the MMS in order to fulfill U.S. obligations under international law or treaty or in areas which have potential to affect the domestic programs MMS manages;Exchange of cooperative research and technological developments with other offshore producing nations when supportive of domestic activities; and