PUBLIC LAW 96-283—JUNE 28, 1980
94 STAT. 561
environment which cannot be avoided by the imposition of reasonable restrictions. (E) For purposes of subparagraph (D), "logical mining unit" "Logical mining unit. means— (i) in the case of a license for exploration, an area of the deep seabed which can be explored under the license in an efficient, economical, and orderly manner with due^ regard for conservation and protection of the environment, taking into consideration the resource data, other relevant physical and environmental characteristics, and the state of the technology of the applicant as set forth in the exploration plan; or (ii) in the case of a permit, an area of the deep seabed— (I) in which hard mineral resources can be recovered in sufficient quantities to satisfy the permittee's estimated production requirements over the initial 20-year term of the permit in an efficient, economical, and orderly manner with due regard for conservation and protection of the environment, taking into consideration the resource data, other relevant physical and environmental characteristics, and the state of the technology of the applicant set out in the recovery plan; (II) which is not larger than is necessary to satisfy the permittee's estimated production requirements over the initial 20-year term of the permit; and (III) in relation to which the permittee's estimated production requirements are not found by the Administrator to be unreasonable. (b) PRIORITY OF RIGHT FOR ISSUANCE.—Subject to section 101(b), priority of right for the issuance of licenses to applicants shall be established on the basis of the chronological order in which license applications which are in substantial compliance with the requirements established under subsection (a)(2) of this section are filed with the Administrator. Priority of right shall not be lost in the case of any application filed which is in substantial but not full compliance with such requirements if the applicant thereafter brings the application into conformity with such requirements within such reasonable period of time as the Administrator shall prescribe in regulations. (c) EuGiBiLiTY FOR CERTIFICATION.—Boforo the Administrator may certify any application for issuance or transfer of a license for exploration or permit for commercial recovery, the Administrator must find in writing, after consultation with other departments and agencies pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, that— (1) the applicant has demonstrated that, upon issuance or transfer of the license or permit, the applicant will be financially responsible to meet all obligations which may be required of a licensee or permittee to engage in the exploration or commercial recovery proposed in the application; (2) the applicant has demonstrated that, upon issuance or transfer of the license or permit, the applicant will have the technological capability to engage in such exploration or commercial recovery; (3) the applicant has satisfactorily fulfilled all obligations under any license or permit previously issued or transferred to the applicant under this Act; and (4) the proposed exploration plan or recovery plan of the applicant meets the requirements of this Act and the regulations issued under this Act.
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