---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2462"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2462"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2462"
units:
  - "Chapter 44B — Antarctic Mineral Resources Protection"
---

# §2462. Definitions


For the purposes of this chapter:

- (1) The term “Antarctica” means the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) south of the Antarctic Convergence as defined in [section 2432(1) of this title](/usc/16/2432.md?p=1).
- (2) The term “Antarctic mineral resource activity” means [prospecting](#7), [exploration](#4), or [development](#3) in [Antarctica](#1) of [mineral resources](#5), but does not include scientific research within the meaning of article III of the Antarctic Treaty, done at Washington on December 1, 1959.
- (3) The term “development” means any activity, including logistic support, which [takes](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) place following [exploration](#4), the purpose of which is the exploitation of specific mineral resource deposits, including processing, storage, and transport activities.
- (4) The term “exploration” means any activity, including logistic support, the purpose of which is the identification or evaluation of specific mineral resource deposits. The term includes exploratory drilling, dredging, and other surface or subsurface excavations required to determine the nature and size of mineral resource deposits and the feasibility of their [development](#3).
- (5) The term “mineral resources” means all nonliving natural nonrenewable resources, including fossil fuels, minerals, whether metallic or nonmetallic, but does not include ice, water, or snow.
- (6) The term “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, [trust](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=4), association, or any other entity existing or organized under the laws of the United States, or any officer, employee, agent, department, or other instrumentality of the Federal Government or of any [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof.
- (7) The term “prospecting” means any activity, including logistic support, the purpose of which is the identification of mineral resource potential for possible [exploration](#4) and [development](#3).
- (8) The term “Under Secretary” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–594, § 3, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2976.)