U.S. Proposes Deep-Sea Mining Leases Near American Samoa

The U.S. government has moved closer to possible deep-sea mining near American Samoa, but the proposed action would not authorize commercial extraction.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced on July 16, 2026, that it had completed an environmental assessment and made a Proposed Leasing Notice available for mineral exploration in federal waters near the territory. The notice was published in the Federal Register on July 17.

A final leasing notice and sale date have not been issued. If BOEM proceeds, the agency must provide at least 30 days’ notice before any sale.

What the proposed leases would cover

BOEM’s proposal could involve up to two leases covering approximately 16.6 million acres each. An alternative structure would use five smaller leases.

The leases would initially allow activities such as bathymetric mapping, geological and geophysical surveys, biological sampling, and oceanographic measurements. The purpose would be to learn more about potential mineral deposits and the surrounding seafloor.

That is different from approving a mine. The proposed leases would not permit commercial extraction of minerals. A company seeking to move beyond preliminary exploration would need to submit a separate delineation, testing, or mining plan. BOEM approval and additional environmental review would also be required, according to the agency’s environmental assessment.

Why the environmental questions remain unsettled

BOEM’s assessment concludes that the proposed preliminary activities are not expected to cause substantial adverse impacts if required safeguards are followed. At the same time, the agency identifies major gaps in knowledge about deep-ocean biodiversity, ecological functions, and baseline conditions, particularly at abyssal depths.

That uncertainty is central to the debate. Surveys and limited sampling could provide information needed for future decisions, but they could also disturb parts of an ecosystem that remain poorly studied. The assessment does not establish that commercial mining would be environmentally safe or that it will ultimately proceed.

American Samoa’s territorial position

The proposal also creates a political tension between federal mineral policy and the territorial government’s stated opposition. The American Samoa government lists Executive Order 006-2024, which established a moratorium on deep-seabed mining exploration and exploitation activities under territorial authority.

The order applies to the territory’s jurisdiction and does not automatically control federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf. That distinction means the territorial moratorium and the federal leasing process can exist at the same time, even though they reflect sharply different policy positions.

The Associated Press reported that the proposal has drawn opposition from residents and territorial officials, adding a local political dimension to the federal process.

How international rules fit in

The American Samoa proposal should not be confused with mining in international waters. The International Seabed Authority governs mineral activities in the international seabed area beyond national jurisdiction. The ISA says exploration contracts exist, but commercial exploitation in international waters has not been approved.

For now, the immediate change is procedural: BOEM has proposed a federal leasing step and completed an environmental assessment. The next major milestones are a final leasing notice, any decision to hold a sale, and—if exploration later produces a commercial proposal—separate plans and environmental reviews for mining itself.

Sources

Look for updates to this story

Discover more from Interactive News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.