30 CFR § 580.2 - What is the purpose of this part?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t30/s580.2"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "30 CFR § 580.2 - What is the purpose of this part?"
title_number: 30
title_name: "Mineral Resources"
section_number: "580.2"
section_name: "What is the purpose of this part?"
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "OFFSHORE"
part_number: "580"
part_name: "PROSPECTING FOR MINERALS OTHER THAN OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Section 104, Public Law 97-451, 96 Stat. 2451 (30 U.S.C. 1714), Public Law 109-432, Div C, Title I, 120 Stat. 3000; 30 U.S.C. 1751; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 43 U.S.C. 1334; 33 U.S.C. 2704, 2716; E.O. 12777, as amended; 43 U.S.C. 1331  43 U.S.C. 1337."
regulatory_source: "76 FR 64623, Oct. 18, 2011, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "580"
---


# 580.2 What is the purpose of this part?

The purpose of this part is to:

(a) Allow you to conduct prospecting activities or scientific research activities on the OCS in Federal waters related to hard minerals on unleased lands or on lands under lease to a third party.

(b) Ensure that you carry out prospecting activities or scientific research activities in a safe and environmentally sound manner so as to prevent harm or damage to, or waste of, any natural resources (including any hard minerals in areas leased or not leased), any life (including fish and other aquatic life), property, or the marine, coastal, or human environment.

(c) Inform you and third parties of your legal and contractual obligations.

(d) Inform you and third parties of:

(1) The U.S. Government's rights to access G&G data and information collected under permit on the OCS;

(2) Reimbursement we will make for data and information that are submitted; and

(3) The proprietary terms of data and information that we retain.