Comment from Abgrall, Nico

To the reviewers We demand that no exploration licence be granted to American Deep Sea Minerals, for a project whose legitimacy is solely based on one sided American legislation that disregards international agreements and regulations to come. The deep sea beds are a so far untouched environment that no one nation has rights to. The project would beyond any doubt generate an environmental crisis in an ecosystem that not only hosts wild life but also supports lives and economies of neighboring nations. Pretense of discussions with French Polynesia are misleading and dishonest. We urge NOAA to act with integrity and judgement based on scientific knowledge and full integration of all parties. NOAA must remain impartial and not cede to pressure from American companies looking for profit and gain at the expense of a fragile and common ecosystem they have absolutely no right to damage. The current administration has demonstrated on and on their absolute disregard for the environment, NOAA must provide a barrier to blatantly profit driven destruction of our environment.