"Impact Reports" : A Domestic Law Analogy for International Legislation

Proposals submitted to the Seabeds Committee of the United Nations General Assembly and by the Report of the President's Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources contain blueprints for the establishment of international agencies with respect to seabed exploitation, the duration and extent of licenses of seabed areas, the quantum of the interest granted, the conditions of forfeiture and the destination of revenues. They do not, however, offer concrete proposals for combatting the pollution effects of deep sea mining and merely, at best, make some pious reference to the need for taking environmental issues and interests into account. In the following pages one concrete proposal will be made and supported on the basis of both the utility and relevance of the concept of "Impact Reports".