The International Seabed Authority (ISA) released additional standards and guidelines for stakeholder consultation for a period of 60 days, until 7 June 2021.

The standards and guidelines are designed to complement the draft regulations for the exploitation of mineral resources in the international seabed area (the Area), which are currently being developed by ISA. The standards and guidelines are being produced following a three-phased approach.

Phase one corresponds to standards and guidelines that are required to guide the initial consideration and development of application of a plan for exploitation and that have been identified as necessary to be in place by the time the draft exploitation regulations are adopted. Phase two will include standards and guidelines deemed necessary to be in place prior to receiving an application for a plan of work for exploitation and phase three will include standards and guidelines deemed necessary to be in place before commercial mining activities in the Area commence.

The standards and guidelines open for consultation today correspond to the remaining standards and guidelines under phase 1 and include:

• Draft guidelines for the establishment of baseline environmental data
• Draft guidelines on tools and techniques for hazard identification and risk assessment
• Draft standard and guidelines for the safe management and operation of mining vessels and installations
• Draft standard and guidelines for the preparation and implementation of emergency response and contingency plans
• Draft guidelines for the preparation of environmental management and monitoring plans
• Draft standard and guidelines for environmental impact assessments
• Draft guidelines for the preparation of an environmental impact statement

Please visit this link to access the consultation on the latest set of standards and guidelines.

For enquiries on the consultation, please contact:
Mr. Nathan Eastwood, Legal Officer, Office of Legal Affairs, ISA, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.