Environment (Seabed Minerals Activities) Regulations 2023.

These Regulations apply to the administration and management of environmental matters relating to seabed minerals activities being undertaken in the Cook Islands exclusive economic zone pursuant to a license issued under the Seabed Minerals Act 2019. These Regulations lay down rules for the breach of general duties and restriction on seabed minerals activities; specified seabed minerals activities requiring consent or project permit; the procedures of application for consent to undertake tier 2 seabed minerals activities during exploration and for a project permit to undertake tier 3 seabed minerals activities during exploration or mining; environmental impact assessment for the identification, prediction, and evaluation of the effects and risks of the proposed activity on the marine environment; environmental management and monitoring plan demonstrating that the effects on the environmental factors will be appropriately managed and kept to an acceptable level; principles for closure and content of closure plan; the duty of the license holders to cooperate and disseminate environmental information; applicable standards and guidelines relating to the environmental assessment, and management and monitoring of activities; method for determining fees; and the monitoring, compliance, and enforcement of activities.