US Proposes Deep Sea Mining Leases in Pacific Territories

The Marine Mineral Administration proposed auctioning deep sea mining leases for 28 million hectares of seafloor off the coasts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The agency, operating under the U.S. Department of the Interior, intends to secure critical minerals like polymetallic nodules for electronics and defense to compete strategically with China. A separate leasing process is also underway for 12.4 million hectares of seafloor in American Samoa.

Pacific territories have responded with strong opposition. Guam's government expressed unequivocal opposition based on environmental risks, while Northern Mariana Islands Governor David Apatang stated his administration would approach the plan with extreme caution. Apatang demanded rigorous scientific baseline studies and transparency before any activity begins.

On August 19, environmental groups in Hawaii and American Samoa launched legal proceedings to halt the auctions. The plaintiffs allege that federal agencies failed to evaluate the destructive impact these operations would have on marine ecosystems and the regional tuna industry.