Following the adoption of its agenda during Part I of the thirtieth session, the LTC will consider, inter alia, reports on the status of exploration contracts, the annual report of contractors, and a review of environmental impact statements (EIS) submitted by contractors. The LTC will conclude its review of the EIS submitted by contractors and make a recommendation to the Council on whether the Secretary-General should incorporate the EIS into the program of activities under the exploration contract.
The LTC will also evaluate the progress of training programs offered by contractors in line with their contractual obligations with the ISA. Finally, the LTC will review progress in relation to the development of regional environmental management plans in priority areas.
During this session, one of the key priorities of the LTC is to progress work in relation to the development of environmental threshold values, including the potential application of a zone-of-influence approach for determining threshold values related to toxicity, turbidity and settling of resuspended sediments, as well as underwater noise and light pollution.
As a core part of the governance regime for the Area, the key role of the LTC is pivotal in bridging the technical and policy dimensions of deep-seabed resource management. On behalf of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and Chef de Cabinet, Mr. Bruno Pozzi, highlighted the important role of the LTC, emphasizing that their work, “serves as the backbone to the foundational principles of the ISA and its mandate in organizing and controlling activities in the Area. From preparing drafts of regulations for exploration and exploitation to providing relevant oversight to the work and activities of contractors and ensuring that the technical aspects of the work of the ISA are undertaken with the best available scientific evidence and knowledge.”