Sec. 4. Strategic seabed critical mineral access
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Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, shall— expedite the process for reviewing and issuing licenses for exploration and permits for commercial recovery under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act ( 30 U.S.C. 1401 et seq. ); and carry out subparagraph
(A)in a manner ensuring efficiency, predictability, and competitiveness for United States companies. Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall— establish an expedited process for reviewing and approving permits for prospecting and granting leases under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. ); and carry out subparagraph
(A)in a manner ensuring efficiency, predictability, and competitiveness for United States companies. Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, and in cooperation with commercial and other nongovernmental organizations, shall develop a plan to map priority areas of the seabed and outer Continental Shelf of the United States, to include extended areas of the outer Continental Shelf, such as those with abundant or accessible seabed mineral resources, to accelerate data collection and characterization. Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall— identify critical minerals that may be derived from seabed mineral resources; and in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Energy, determine which critical minerals derived from seabed mineral resources are essential for applications such as defense infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy. Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Interior, and Secretary of Energy, shall engage with key partners and allies to offer support for seabed mineral resource exploration, extraction, processing, and environmental monitoring in areas within the jurisdictions of such key partners and allies, including by— seeking scientific collaboration and commercial development opportunities for United States companies; and developing a prioritized list of foreign countries for engagement. The Secretary of State shall determine whether an entity is a key partner or ally for the purposes of paragraph
(1)based on several factors, including— existing agreements with the United States; alignment with strategic interests of the United States; and participation in joint initiatives. The Secretary of State shall notify the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Interior, and Secretary of Energy of any determination made under subparagraph (A). Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act— the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Energy, and in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that identifies private sector interest in and opportunities for seabed mineral resource exploration and mining on the outer Continental Shelf, in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and in areas within the jurisdiction of a foreign country that expresses interest in partnering with United States companies with respect to seabed mineral resource development; and the Secretary of the Interior, jointly with the Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report regarding the feasibility of an international benefit-sharing mechanism for seabed mineral resource extraction and development that occurs in an area beyond the jurisdiction of any country. Nothing in this Act— impairs or otherwise affects the authority granted by law to any executive department or agency; or creates any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, any department, agency, or entity of the United States, any officer, employee, or agent of the United States, or any other person.
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