Federal-state conflict over ocean hard minerals governance: Coastal state responses to federal prospecting regulations

Abstract

This paper describes the conflict surrounding the US Minerals Management Service's regulatory thrust to govern ocean mining in the US Exclusive Economic Zone. It explains the differences of view over the source of authority to pursue ocean mining and describes how the Service attempted to reduce conflict through joint federal-state task forces. It details the content of the first stage of its regulatory regime, that of prospecting, and summarizes the state responses to it. The paper concludes that while some conflict is inevitable each level of government should work together to ensure a balanced system of governance.