Seabed mining ban and exceptions

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the mining, extraction, and removal of minerals from the seabed shall be prohibited in state marine waters. (b) No permit shall be issued for or in connection with the development or operation of any facility or infrastructure associated with the mining, extraction, or removal of minerals from the seabed within state marine waters. (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the collection of sand from state marine waters to replenish beaches in the State shall be permitted; provided that prior approval from the board is obtained. (d) This section shall not be construed to prohibit scientific research or collections conducted by or on behalf of an educational, scientific, or research institution or a governmental agency. (e) Nothing contained in this section shall diminish, alter, or amend any existing rights, privileges, or practices of the Native Hawaiian people, nor shall the obligations of the State to the Native Hawaiian people be absolved. (f) As used in this section, "minerals" means natural deposits of valuable minerals, including metals and placer deposits of metals, nonmetallic minerals, gemstones, ores, gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, manganese, silica, chrome, platinum, tungsten, zirconium, titanium, garnet, phosphorous, polymetallic nodules, and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts.