--- kind: "section" citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1411" title: "30" title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining" number: "1411" heading: "Prohibited activities by United States citizens" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1411" units: - "Chapter 26 — Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources" - "Subchapter I — Regulation of Exploration and Commercial Recovery by United States Citizens" --- # §1411. Prohibited activities by United States citizens - (a) **Prohibited activities and exceptions—** - (1) No [United States citizen](/usc/30/1403.md?p=14) may engage in any [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) or [commercial recovery](/usc/30/1403.md?p=1) unless authorized to do so under— - (A) a license or a permit issued under this subchapter; - (B) a license, permit, or equivalent authorization issued by a [reciprocating state](/usc/30/1403.md?p=11); or - (C) an [international agreement](/usc/30/1403.md?p=7) which is in force with respect to the [United States](/usc/30/1403.md?p=13). - (2) The prohibitions of this subsection shall not apply to any of the following activities: - (A) Scientific [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1), including that concerning [hard mineral resources](/usc/30/1403.md?p=6). - (B) Mapping, or the taking of any geophysical, geochemical, oceanographic, or atmospheric measurements or random bottom samplings of the [deep seabed](/usc/30/1403.md?p=4), if such taking does not significantly alter the surface or subsurface of the [deep seabed](/usc/30/1403.md?p=4) or significantly affect the environment. - (C) The design, construction, or testing of equipment and facilities which will or may be used for [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) or [commercial recovery](/usc/30/1403.md?p=1), if such design, construction, or testing is conducted on shore, or does not involve the recovery of any but incidental [hard mineral resources](/usc/30/1403.md?p=6). - (D) The furnishing of machinery, products, supplies, services, or materials for any [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) or [commercial recovery](/usc/30/1403.md?p=1) conducted under a license or permit issued under this subchapter, a license or permit or equivalent authorization issued by a [reciprocating state](/usc/30/1403.md?p=11), or under an [international agreement](/usc/30/1403.md?p=7). - (E) Activities, other than [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) or [commercial recovery](/usc/30/1403.md?p=1) activities, of the Federal Government. - (b) **Existing exploration—** - (1) [Subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A) shall not be deemed to prohibit any [United States citizen](/usc/30/1403.md?p=14) who is engaged in [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) before June 28, 1980, from continuing to engage in such [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5)— - (A) if such citizen applies for a license under [section 1413(a) of this title](/usc/30/1413.md?p=a) with respect to such [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) within such reasonable period of time, after the date on which initial regulations to implement [section 1413(a) of this title](/usc/30/1413.md?p=a) are issued, as the [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) shall prescribe; and - (B) until such license is issued to such citizen or a final administrative or judicial determination is made affirming the denial of certification of the application for, or issuance of, such license. - (2) Notwithstanding [paragraph (1)](#b-1), if the President by Executive order determines that immediate suspension of [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) activities is necessary for the reasons set forth in [section 1416(a)(2)(B) of this title](/usc/30/1416.md?p=a-2-B) or the [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) determines that immediate suspension of activities is necessary to prevent a significant adverse effect on the environment or to preserve the safety of life and property at sea, the [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) is authorized, notwithstanding any other requirement of this chapter, to issue an emergency order requiring any [United States citizen](/usc/30/1403.md?p=14) who is engaged in [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) before June 28, 1980, to immediately suspend [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) activities. The issuance of such emergency order is subject to judicial review as provided in chapter 7 of title 5. - (3) The timely filing of any application for a license under [paragraph (1)(A)](#b-1-A) shall entitle the applicant to priority of right for the issuance of such license under [section 1413(b) of this title](/usc/30/1413.md?p=b). In any case in which more than one application referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) is filed based on [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) plans required by [section 1413(a)(2) of this title](/usc/30/1413.md?p=a-2) which refer to all or part of the same [deep seabed](/usc/30/1403.md?p=4) area, the [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) shall, in taking action on such applications, apply principles of equity which take into consideration, among other things, the date on which the applicants or predecessors in interest, or component organizations thereof, commenced [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) activities and the continuity and extent of such [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) and amount of funds expended with respect to such [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5). - (c) **Interference—** No [United States citizen](/usc/30/1403.md?p=14) may interfere or participate in interference with any activity conducted by any [licensee](/usc/30/1403.md?p=8) or [permittee](/usc/30/1403.md?p=9) which is authorized to be undertaken under a license or permit issued by the [United States](/usc/30/1403.md?p=13) to the [licensee](/usc/30/1403.md?p=8) or [permittee](/usc/30/1403.md?p=9) under this chapter or with any activity conducted by the holder of, and authorized to be undertaken under, a license or permit or equivalent authorization issued by a [reciprocating state](/usc/30/1403.md?p=11) for the [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) or [commercial recovery](/usc/30/1403.md?p=1) of [hard mineral resources](/usc/30/1403.md?p=6). [United States citizens](/usc/30/1403.md?p=14) shall exercise their rights on the high seas with reasonable regard for the interests of other states in their exercise of the freedoms of the high seas. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 96–283, title I, § 101, June 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 557.)