---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1468"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "1468"
heading: "Regulations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1468"
units:
  - "Chapter 26 — Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources"
  - "Subchapter III — Enforcement and Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §1468. Regulations

- (a) **Proposed regulations—** Not later than 270 days after June 28, 1980, the [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) shall solicit the views of the agency heads referred to in [section 1419(b) of this title](/usc/30/1419.md?p=b) and of interested [persons](/usc/30/1403.md?p=10), and issue, in accordance with [section 553 of title 5](/usc/5/553.md), such proposed regulations as are required by or are necessary and appropriate to implement subchapters I and II and this subchapter. The [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) shall hold at least one public hearing on such proposed regulations.
- (b) **Final regulations—** Not later than 180 days after the date on which proposed regulations are issued pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) shall solicit the views of the agency heads referred to in [section 1419(b) of this title](/usc/30/1419.md?p=b) and of interested [persons](/usc/30/1403.md?p=10), consider the comments received during the public hearing required in [subsection (a)](#a) and any written comments on the proposed regulations received by the [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12), and issue, in accordance with [section 553 of title 5](/usc/5/553.md), such regulations as are required by or are necessary and appropriate to implement subchapters I and II and this subchapter.
- (c) **Amendments—** The [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) may at any time amend regulations issued pursuant to [subsection (b)](#b) as the [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to provide for the conservation of natural resources within the meaning of [section 1420 of this title](/usc/30/1420.md), protection of the environment, and the safety of life and property at sea. Such amended regulations shall apply to all [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) or [commercial recovery](/usc/30/1403.md?p=1) activities conducted under any license or permit issued or maintained pursuant to this chapter; except that any such amended regulations which provide for conservation of natural resources shall apply to [exploration](/usc/30/1403.md?p=5) or [commercial recovery](/usc/30/1403.md?p=1) conducted under an existing license or permit during the present term of such license or permit only if the [Administrator](/usc/30/1403.md?p=12) determines that such amended regulations providing for conservation of natural resources will not impose serious or irreparable economic hardship on the [licensee](/usc/30/1403.md?p=8) or [permittee](/usc/30/1403.md?p=9). Any amendment to regulations under this subsection shall be made on the record after an opportunity for an agency hearing.
- (d) **Consistency—** This chapter and the regulations issued under this chapter shall not be deemed to supersede any other Federal laws or treaties or regulations issued thereunder.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–283, title III, § 308, June 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 581.)