The Republic of Nauru’s Stakeholder Consultation Portal
Nauru Ocean Resources Incorporated (NORI) Collector Test Campaign Updates
Beginning Friday, May 27, 2022: Please visit the NORI-D Project website at https://metals.co/nori/ for informational updates. Direct questions about the NORI-D project and upcoming stakeholder engagement opportunities to stakeholders@nori.nr. Thank you!
The Republic of Nauru Welcomed Stakeholder Consultation for the NORI Collector Test Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
The Republic of Nauru, as the Sponsoring State to Nauru Ocean Resources Incorporated (NORI), invited all stakeholders with an interest in NORI’s upcoming Collector Test Campaign and the collection of deep-sea nodules to participate in a consultation process and two-part stakeholder community webinar series beginning Fall 2021 and concluding Spring 2022.
The goal of the stakeholder consultation process was to provide the stakeholder community — citizens of the Republic of Nauru, scientists, government and non-governmental officials, industry representatives, and other interested members of the public — with the opportunity to discuss, review, comment, and guide revisions to the NORI Collector Test EIS received by the International Seabed Authority. Stakeholder consultation is recommended by the ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission. The Republic of Nauru committed to a process that was transparent, inclusive, and efficient, and benefitted from receiving the diverse knowledge and perspectives of the stakeholder community during the consultation process.
Stakeholders Joined for a Webinar Series Via Zoom
During the first stakeholder community webinar, participants were introduced to the planned Collector Test Campaign and EIS as well as the stakeholder consultation process. Following the close of public comment on Friday, November 19, 2021, stakeholders were encouraged to join a second webinar on Monday, March 7, 2022 to receive a high-level summary of feedback received from the stakeholder community and revisions to the EIS. Webinars were convened using Zoom and recorded. Webinar agendas, materials, recordings are available for download by clicking “Click Here for Webinar #1 (or #2) Resources” to the right under “Stakeholder Community Webinars.”
Please read the stakeholder consultation summary report for a detailed understanding of the Republic of Nauru’s stakeholder consultation process for the NORI Collector Test campaign EIS. This report includes information about the topics of discussion during the webinar series and participation of stakeholders in the consultation process.
Note that verbal comments during webinars were taken into consideration by the Republic of Nauru but did not constitute formal public comment. Stakeholders were encouraged to follow instructions to submit written comments using the electronic form below or via email during the public comment period.
Learn about the Collector Test Campaign & Environmental Impact Statement
The EIS describes NORI’s plans to test a polymetallic nodule collector system in the NORI-D lease area of the eastern Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and Mexico. The proposed 60-day Collector Test is a key part of NORI’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process. The one-fifth scale Prototype Collector Vehicle will collect polymetallic nodules from the seafloor at a depth of 4,000-5,500 meters. During the Collector Test, the performance of the system and the ecological and environmental conditions will be monitored. The scientific, environmental, and engineering data collected and lessons learned during the Collector Test will increase understanding of the performance of the technology and potential effects on the deep-sea ecosystem. If approved by the ISA, the Collector Test is scheduled to take place Q3 2022. You can access the original, full EIS report below. The revised EIS based on stakeholder feedback is available for download within the “Webinar #2 Resources.”
Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental Impact Statement: Executive Summary
Environmental Impact Statement: Appendices 1-2
Environmental Impact Statement: Appendix 3, Part 1
Environmental Impact Statement: Appendix 3, Part 2
Environmental Impact Statement: Appendices 4-5
Environmental Impact Statement: Study Team
Environmental Impact Statement: References
Scientists inspect biological samples taken from the NORI-D lease area during the recent Environmental Expedition in December 2020. Source: NORI
Stakeholder Community Webinars
Webinar #1: An Introduction to the NORI Collector Test EIS and the Stakeholder Consultation Process
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
1:00pm PT // 4:00pm ET
Webinar #2: A Review of Stakeholder Feedback and NORI Collector Test EIS Revisions
Monday, March 7, 2022
1:00pm PT // 4:00pm ET
NORI’s deep-sea research program will take in over 100 hundred individual studies and will conduct five environmental expeditions in 2021, all aboard its research vessel, the Maersk Launcher. Source: NORI
NORI has collected 86 tonnes of deep-sea nodules to date as part of its efforts to define the resource within its contract areas, seen here graded according to size and shape. Source: NORI
Stakeholders Participated in the Consultation Process & Submitted Written Comments
Stakeholders were asked to submit written comments by Friday, November 19, 2021. Public comments were not accepted after the deadline and in any other form unless an agreement was reached before the deadline. The Republic of Nauru received 19 public comment submissions with over 600 stakeholder comments on the EIS by the end of the public comment period. Public comment submissions and a summary of NORI’s responses to comments were shared with the ISA in March 2022 and are available within the “Webinar #2 Resources” above under “Stakeholder Community Webinars.”
Contact Us
Contact us with questions or concerns about the stakeholder consultation process.
Kane Amandus
First Secretary
Permanent Mission of Nauru to the UN
New York
Email: EISconsultation@nauruun.org
Scientists prepare to launch a multi-core from the stern of the Maersk Launcher as part of Environmental Expedition in May 2021, which focussed on the pelagic component of the marine environment. Source: NORI
