30 USC § 1901 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t30/s1901"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "30 USC § 1901 - Definitions"
title_number: 30
title_name: "MINERAL LANDS AND MINING"
section_number: "1901"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 31
chapter_name: "MARINE MINERAL RESOURCES RESEARCH"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 201, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3994; amended Pub. L. 106–193, § 4, May 2, 2000, 114 Stat. 236.)"
---


# § 1901. Definitions

In this chapter:

**(1)** The term “contract” has the same meaning as “procurement contract” in section 6303 of title 31.

**(2)** The term “cooperative agreement” has the same meaning as in section 6305 of title 31.

**(3)** The term “eligible entity” means—

**(A)** a research or educational entity chartered or incorporated under Federal or State law;

**(B)** an individual who is a United States citizen; or

**(C)** a State or regional agency.

**(4)** The term “grant” has the same meaning as “grant agreement” in section 6304 of title 31.

**(5)** The term “in-kind contribution” means a noncash contribution provided by a non-Federal entity that directly benefits and is related to a specific project or program. An in-kind contribution may include real property, equipment, supplies, other expendable property, goods, and services.

**(6)** The term “marine mineral resource” means—

**(A)** sand and aggregates;

**(B)** placers;

**(C)** phosphates;

**(D)** manganese nodules;

**(E)** cobalt crusts;

**(F)** metal sulfides;

**(G)** for purposes of this section and sections 1902 through 1905 of this title only, methane hydrate; and

**(H)** other marine resources that are not—

**(i)** oil and gas;

**(ii)** fisheries; or

**(iii)** marine mammals.

**(7)** The term “methane hydrate” means—

**(A)** a methane clathrate that is in the form of a methane-water ice-like crystalline material and is stable and occurs naturally in deep-ocean and permafrost areas; and

**(B)** other natural gas hydrates found in association with deep-ocean and permafrost deposits of methane hydrate.

**(8)** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 201, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3994; amended Pub. L. 106–193, § 4, May 2, 2000, 114 Stat. 236.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2000—Par. (6)(G), (H). , added subpar. (G) and redesignated former subpar. (G) as (H).

Pars. (7), (8). , (3), added par. (7) and redesignated former par. (7) as (8).

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

> “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Marine Mineral Resources Research Act of 1996’.”

, , , provided that: