---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1904"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "1904"
heading: "Marine mineral research centers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1904"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — Marine Mineral Resources Research"
---

# §1904. Marine mineral research centers

- (a) **In general—** No later than 90 days after October 19, 1996, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall designate 3 centers for marine mineral [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and related activities.
- (b) **Concentration—** One center shall concentrate primarily on [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) in the continental shelf regions of the United States, 1 center shall concentrate primarily on [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) in deep seabed and near-shore environments of islands, and 1 center shall concentrate primarily on [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) in arctic and cold water regions.
- (c) **Criteria—** In designating a center under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall give priority to a university that—
  - (1) administers a federally funded center for marine minerals [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1);
  - (2) matriculates students for advanced degrees in marine geological sciences, nonenergy natural resources, and related fields of science and engineering;
  - (3) is a United States university with established programs and facilities that primarily focus on [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6);
  - (4) has engaged in collaboration and cooperation with industry, governmental agencies, and other universities in the field of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6);
  - (5) has demonstrated significant engineering, development, and design experience in two or more of the following areas;[^1]
    - (A) seabed exploration systems;
    - (B) marine mining systems; and
    - (C) marine mineral processing systems; and
  - (6) has been designated by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) as a State Mining and Mineral Resources [Research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) Institute.
- (d) **Center activities—** A center shall—
  - (1) provide technical assistance to the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) concerning [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6);
  - (2) advise the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) on pertinent international activities in [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) development;
  - (3) engage in [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1), training, and education transfer associated with the characterization and utilization of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6); and
  - (4) promote the efficient identification, assessment, exploration, and management of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) in an environmentally sound manner.
- (e) **Allocation of funds—** In distributing funds to the centers designated under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall, to the extent practicable, allocate an equal amount to each center.
- (f) **Limitations—**
  - (1) **Administrative expenses—** Not more than 5 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section during a fiscal year may be used by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) for expenses associated with administration of the program authorized by this section.
  - (2) **Construction costs—** None of the funds made available under this section may be used for the construction of a new building or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building (including site grading and improvement and architect fees).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The semicolon probably should be a colon.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 204, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3998.)