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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaacit0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DOCUMENT RESUME
02465 - [11612601]
Results of the Third Law of the Sea Conference 1974 to 1976.
ID-77-37; B,-145099. June 3, 1977. 33 pp. * appendix (1 pp.).
Report to the Congress; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Materials: International Policies and Practices
(Including Seabed Resources) (1803); Envircumental
Protection Programs: Bnergy/Environmental Protection
Conflicts (2204) .
Contact: International Div.
Budget Function: International Aff&irs (150); Natural Resources,
Environment, and Energy: Water Resources and Power (301';
Natural Vesources, Ervironment, and Energy: Pollution
Control and Abatement (304).
organization concerned: Deparment of State; National Security
Council.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on International
Relations; Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; Congress.
G.O examined U.S. participation in the various sessions
of the Third Law of the Sea Conferenc.e (1974-1976) and the
status of the issues as they stood before the conference session
scheduled for Ray 23, 1977. The intention of the conference was
to reach agreement on a comprehensive treaty covering all the
uzes of the oceans. The most important issues were: the breadth
of the territorial sea; transit passage through, under, and
over international straits use4 for navigation; use and
conservation of tha living resources of the sea; coastal states'
rights to the mineral resources of the Continental Shelf;
explaitation of the minerals of the deep seabed; protection of
the marine environment; marine scientific research; and a system
for settling disputes arising from the interpretation and
applicrtion of the treaty. Findings/Conclusions: New U.S.
proposals for ar acceptable deep seabed mining regime were
presented at the last conference session. They were to be
considered during the intersessional period and ciuld be the
basis for discussion at the next session. The greatest degree of
agreement was reached on the breadth of the territorial sea,
transit passage of straits, and coastal resource rights in the
economic zone. The high seas status of the economic zone
remained to be resolved. There was agreement on many of the
environmental protection articles. However, the United States
has encountered opposition to the right of a coastal state to
set ship construction, design, equipment, and manning standards
in thi territorial sea. Agreement was not reach-d on
requirements for permitting scientific research in the economic
zone. Although there was general agreement on the need for a
dispute-settlement mechanism in the treaty, there were
differences of opinion on the details. Congress expresse4 its
support of U.S. positions at the start of the conference. Since
that time, however, these positions have been modified.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaacit0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)