U.S. Initiates Groundbreaking Deep-Sea Mineral Assessment Near American Samoa After Three Decades

The Department of the Interior is shaking things up with its first mineral lease sale evaluation in over three decades, focusing on deep-sea critical minerals off the coast of American Samoa.This bold step is part of a larger initiative by President Trump aimed at boosting domestic mineral production.

“Critical minerals are essential for enhancing our nation’s resilience and protecting our interests,” remarked Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “By responsibly tapping into deep-sea resources, we’re not just fueling economic growth but also bolstering national security.”

This move follows an Executive Order from President Trump titled “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources,” which emphasizes seabed mineral development as vital to U.S. security—especially in light of growing activities from China and Russia in the Pacific, alongside America’s reliance on foreign sources for these crucial materials.

On April 8, 2025, Impossible metals—a U.S.-based firm—filed a formal request for a lease sale with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The evaluation process will prioritize scientific research and public input while ensuring environmental care.

To kick things off, BOEM will publish a request for information in the Federal Register to gather insights from various stakeholders like Indigenous island communities, ocean users, industry players, and government entities. this feedback will help shape BOEM’s understanding of geological conditions as well as cultural impacts related to existing activities such as fishing and navigation.

The scope here is massive; the Interior Department oversees around 3.2 billion acres of Outer Continental Shelf—more than all U.S. land combined! Officials estimate that these waters could hold over 1 billion metric tons of polymetallic nodules packed with manganese, nickel, copper, and other essential minerals. The potential economic benefits are huge to—with estimates suggesting an increase in GDP by $300 billion over ten years along with creating about 100k jobs.

However, there are hurdles ahead. while mining can be authorized within U.S. territorial waters (up to 200 nautical miles offshore), international waters introduce complex jurisdictional challenges.

The International Seabed Authority operates under the UN Convention on the Law of the sea—which hasn’t been ratified by the U.S.—and continues discussions about standards for deep-sea mining focused on environmental concerns.

Environmental advocates have raised alarms about possible irreversible damage to marine ecosystems due to deep-sea mining practices; they argue for an outright ban on such operations. On the flip side, proponents suggest that this approach could lessen reliance on land-based mining—which often faces pushback from local communities due to its disruptive nature.

This initiative fits into broader efforts by current governance officials aimed at ramping up domestic mining capabilities—including expediting permits for ten projects nationwide and streamlining approval processes for federal land projects.

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