ABSTRACT This is an overview and discussion of the regulatory and programmatic activities of the Office of Strategic and International Minerals (OSIM), Minerals Management Service (MMS), U.S. Department of the Interior. The OSIM is responsible for providing policy and program direction to all minerals activities (other than oil, gas, and sulphur) on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). INTRODUCTION Management of the Federal interest in mineral resources of the U.S. continental shelf involves a myriad of domestic and international legal issues, Federal-State relationships, resource evaluations, environmental concerns, and consideration of the need of the United States for the strategic and critical minerals found on the U.S. continental shelf. The Truman Continental Shelf Proclamation1 asserted rights to the mineral resources of the U.S. continental shelf. In 1953, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act2 (OCSLA) authorized the Department of the Interior (DOl) to lease minerals in the OCS, the continental shelf adjacent to the 50 States. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is the DOl bureau responsible for administration of the OCSLA. In the fifties, sixties, and seventies, interest was almost exclusively in oil, gas, and sulphur. Specific provisions of the OCSLA describe in detail authorities and duties of DOl for leasing these minerals. One short section, section 8(k)3, covered, in 69 words, the leasing of all other minerals, the "hard minerals." There was only occasional Interest in the development of OCS hard minerals intensified as a result of continuing geologic research by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and academic institutions and as a result of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) proclamation4 of President Reagan in 1983. The need to address the political, legal, regulatory, and economic issues involved in OCS hard minerals development and for a regulatory climate and certainty conducive to industry initiative in development of these minerals led to establishment of OSIM by MMS in 1983. The organization and goals of this MMS strategic and international minerals program, the leasing authority of DOl for marine minerals in the continental shelf, the early DOl leasing activities, MMS's approach, the status of OCS marine mining projects, and considerations on modifying or passing new laws relating to the mineral resources of the continental shelf and EEZ are all discussed. THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL MINERALS Organization The OSIM was established by MMS to provide a central focus for policy and program issues concerning leasing of the OCS for minerals other than oil, gas, and sulphur. The OSIM Program Director reports directly to MMS's Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management (Offshore). The office draws on the technical capabilities of all Offshore components in pursuing the program's goals and objectives. The OSIM organization consists of 14 professionals and supporting staff. There are two staff groupings: the Program Analysis and Issues Management Staff, dealing with programmatic and policy activities, and the Project Development and Coordination Staff, dealing with project-specific activities.