US Deep-Sea Mining Initiative

The United States government is advancing plans for deep-sea mining in its Pacific territories, a move facing significant opposition from local leadership.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to accelerate the exploitation of seabed minerals. Following this, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) initiated a "request for information and interest" regarding mining leases in the waters of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

Simultaneously, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) simplified the permit process for seabed mining by reducing required environmental assessments and public comment periods. The Trump administration also expanded its search for seabed minerals, announcing a new survey of over 100,000 square kilometers in American Samoa waters.

Territorial Opposition

Guam's Governor, Lou Leon Guerrero, has voiced strong opposition, stating that Guam, as a US territory, lacks sovereign control over its waters and was not consulted before BOEM's request. Concerns include potential impacts on fish and marine ecosystems. Guam is preparing legal and scientific challenges to the plans.

Leaders from Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are united in their position, advocating for a pause in deep-sea mining activities until more scientific evidence on the consequences is available.

Rationale and Concerns

The Trump administration cites national security, energy independence, and advanced manufacturing as reasons for pursuing deep-sea minerals, such as nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese. The US relies heavily on foreign sources, particularly China, for these materials, and domestic supply is seen as crucial for resilience and technological leadership.

Deep-sea mining involves using robots to vacuum polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor for processing. Environmental groups and many Pacific island nations are worried about the sediment disturbance's impact on fish and other species. Recent research suggesting that seabed nodules might generate oxygen further highlights the need for more study.

Josh Tenorio, Guam's lieutenant governor, described the proposal as a "violent proposal for deep-sea mining with limited research and with limited ethical supervision."

BOEM's Stance and Advocacy Efforts

BOEM stated that it is exploring the potential for commercial leases but has not made a decision to grant them. The bureau emphasizes that the request for information is an initial step in a multi-phase process designed to assess industry interest, environmental, and cultural impacts, and ensure science-based decisions with public input and consultation with territorial governments and Indigenous communities. BOEM has extended the comment period in response to territorial leaders' concerns.

Opponents have launched a bipartisan campaign across US territories, gathering over 60,000 public comments, letters, and petition signatures. Advocates, including Angelo Villagomez from the Center for American Progress and Neil Weare from Right to Democracy, highlight the widespread unpopularity of the initiative within the territories. Legal challenges are also anticipated.

Territorial leaders hope to leverage their islands' strategic importance to the US, particularly regarding defense, in their efforts to oppose deep-sea mining. Sheila Babauta, former congresswoman for the Northern Marianas, emphasized the importance of local communities advocating for their culture and environment in their relationship with the United States.