Development of Environmental Threshold Values
Background
In November 2022, the Council adopted its Decision relating to the development of binding environmental threshold values (ISBA/27/C/42). Through that decision, the Council recognized the importance of establishing measurable requirements concerning levels of environmental harm from activities in the Area, including the maximum level of harm that may be considered acceptable. The Council further requested the establishment of an intersessional expert group (IEG) to support the Legal and Technical Commission in this work.
The IEG was established in 2023 and conducted its work through expert subgroups focusing on:
- Toxicity;
- Turbidity and settling of resuspended sediments; and
- Underwater noise and light pollution.
The resulting draft report presents the scientific and technical foundations for future development of environmental threshold values and provides a framework intended to support the ongoing development of Standards and guidelines under the Mining Code.
Public Consultation on the Report of the Intersessional Expert Group on the Development of Environmental Threshold Values
The Authority invites comments and submissions on the Report of the Intersessional Expert Group (IEG) on the Development of Environmental Threshold Values.
The consultation forms part of the process established by the Council under decision ISBA/27/C/42, which mandates the development of binding environmental threshold values, including early warning thresholds, to support the effective protection of the marine environment under article 145 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Council further decided that the Legal and Technical Commission should consider the report of the IEG following a formal stakeholder consultation.
The report synthesizes the current state of knowledge, proposes approaches and methodologies for threshold development, identifies indicators to define threshold metrics and define threshold levels, and considers key knowledge limitations and future research priorities.
The consultation seeks input on the proposed approach and methodologies for developing environmental threshold values, considering the integration of ecological reference points into a zone-of-impact model, the identification of relevant indicators and monitoring approaches, and the treatment of uncertainty and precaution.
Consultation Documents
The report will be made available online on 3 August 2026.
The template for submission of comments will be made available online on 3 August 2026.
How to Submit Comments
Stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments supported, where possible, by scientific evidence; technical or operational experience; environmental monitoring data; regulatory experience; and/or peer-reviewed literature. Comments should focus on technical and substantive matters, not on editorial issues (e.g. grammatical, formatting).
Comments should be submitted by email using the template below. Please include the subject line: “Public Consultation – IEG Report on Environmental Threshold Values”
Consultation Template: Available on 3 August 2026
Submission deadline: 2 November 00:00 UTC-5
Submission email: oser@isa.org.jm
Who Can Participate?
The ISA welcomes submissions from Member States and other stakeholders of the Authority, including observers; exploration contractors; intergovernmental organizations; scientific and academic institutions; non-governmental organizations; industry associations and representatives; environmental organizations; and general public.
Next Steps
Following the closure of the consultation:
- All submissions will be compiled on this webpage and reviewed by the Commission with the support of the Secretariat.
- A summary of comments received will be prepared and made publicly available.
- The Legal and Technical Commission will consider the revised IEG report together with stakeholder submissions.
- The Commission will formulate recommendations for consideration by the Council in accordance with decision ISBA/27/C/42.
Related Documents
- ISBA/27/C/30 – Normative environmental thresholds for deep-seabed mining submitted by the delegation of Germany
- ISBA/27/C/42 – Council Decision relating to the development of binding environmental threshold values
- Terms of Reference of the Intersessional Expert Group: PDF
