**Woods Hole Science Center**

**Project:** Law of the Sea Studies

***IMPACT:** This project is not likely to fulfill the exciting
integrative science intended in the Science Strategy document, but its
immediate purpose -- delimiting the extended continental shelf of the
United States -- is probably the most important land expansion of the
United States in the 21^st^ century, with the potential to add at least
one million square kilometers of seafloor for U.S. exclusive rights. It
rivals the addition of the Exclusive Economic Zone in terms of its
importance to governance and sovereign land rights. Resources in the
extended continental shelf region are estimated to be \$1.2 trillion.*

**Statement of Problem:** The United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) sets forth a process by which a coastal nation
(hereafter called State) may establish the outer limits of its extended
continental shelf, i.e., that portion of the shelf that extends beyond
200 nautical miles (nm). Although the U.S. is not party to UNCLOS, it is
in the U.S. national interest to collect accurate and precise data on
the outer limits of its extended continental shelf in accordance with
international law (primarily Article 76 of UNCLOS). Article 76 uses
sediment thickness as one of its formulae lines, and geological
framework of the margin contributes to using "evidence to the contrary"
in establishing the formula lines. Most nations take upwards of the
10-year time limit to identify the appropriate boundaries. Ratification
of UNCLOS by the United States is anticipated although it is not known
when.

**Objectives to Accomplish:**

-   Conduct geoscientific assessments of potential US entitlement of the
    juridical continental shelf beyond 200 nm.

-   Review, compile, collect (if warranted and authorized) and
    synthesize geologic and geophysical data from offshore seabed areas
    beyond 200 nm.

-   Advise the Department of State about the geologic criteria used in
    submissions to UNCLOS made by other States.

-   Collaborate with other U.S. Federal agencies and academic
    institutions as needed to achieve these objectives.

-   Contribute to developing the databases, reasoning, and documents
    that set forth the extended continental shelf boundary.

**Work Strategy:**

Characterize the types, locations, and quality of existing geologic and
geophysical data available in the public and proprietary domains for the
areas currently identified. Identify areas of data deficiencies,
establish new data requirements, and initiate plans for appropriate
field programs. As needed, compile, synthesize, and interpret existing
geological and geophysical data about the U.S. margins that will be
required for making submissions to the UN. Provide scientific advice as
needed to other Federal agencies (particularly DOS) that are working on
similar UNCLOS issues in areas of interest to the U.S. Conduct
background literature searches that provide knowledge and context for
understanding the continental margins of the submissions by other States
and prepare reports for DOS at an appropriate level of detail.

Project Chief: Deborah R. Hutchinson, <dhutchinson@usgs.gov>,
508-457-2263