General. NOAA encourages any United States citizen who engaged in exploration for deep seabed hard mineral resources before June 28, 1980, to file not later than February 1, 1981, a written notice with the Administrator, in care of: The Director, Office of Ocean Minerals and Energy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, Page Building 1, Suite 410, 2001 Wisconsin Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20235. Such notice shall not constitute an application for a license or permit and shall not confer or confirm any priority of right to any site.

Content of pre-enactment exploration Notice. If a notice of exploration commenced prior to June 28, 1980, is filed pursuant to paragraph (a) it should be in writing and include the following:

Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the United States citizens responsible for exploration operations to whom notices and orders are to be delivered;

A description of the citizen or citizens engaging in such exploration including:

Whether the citizen is a natural person, partnership, corporation, joint venture, or other form of association;

The state of incorporation of state in which the partnership or other business entity is registered;

The name of registered agent and places of business;

Certification of essential and non-proprietary provisions in articles of incorporation, charter, or articles of association; and

Membership of the association, partnership, or joint venture, including information about the participation of partners and joint venturers, and/or ownership of stock.

A general description of the exploration activities conducted prior to June 28, 1980, including:

The approximate date that the citizen, or predecessor in interest, commenced exploration activities;

A general estimate of expenditures made on the exploration program prior to June 28, 1980;

A statement of whether the citizen intends to file an application for an exploration license pursuant to section 101(b)(1)(A) of the Act after NOAA issues regulations implementing section 103(a) of the Act; and

A statement of whether the citizen intends to continue to engage in exploration as allowed by section 101(b) of the Act, pending a final determination on his application for an exploration license.

Exclusion of location information. The information submitted in the notice of pre-enactment exploration required by this section shall not include the location of past or future exploration or prospective mine sites.