Home / Environment / US Auctions Seabed for Mining Near American Samoa
US Auctions Seabed for Mining Near American Samoa
17 Jul
Summary
- US government plans to auction millions of acres for deep-sea mining.
- Environmentalists and 43 countries call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining.
- US seeks minerals for technology, military, and electric vehicles.
The U.S. government is preparing to auction vast underwater territories surrounding American Samoa for deep-sea mining, a move set to provoke international criticism. The proposed lease sale covers 33 million acres, marking a departure from previous administrations that respected the U.N. International Seabed Authority's oversight.
This unilateral action comes as the Trump administration expedites mining permits amid significant environmental concerns. Over 43 nations have advocated for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, citing potential harm to marine ecosystems and the release of suffocating dust. However, the U.S. and other nations are keen to extract copper, iron, and zinc for technological and defense needs.
Environmental groups and community representatives in American Samoa decry the accelerated leasing process. They argue it disregards local voices and threatens the region's environment and cultural heritage for corporate gain. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has proposed issuing leases for preliminary activities like geophysical surveys and biological sampling.
Despite acknowledged data gaps regarding deepwater biodiversity, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management suggests minimal impact on nearshore and offshore habitats. The process is regulated by NOAA, which streamlined exploration and commercial operations applications, aligning with a presidential executive order to expedite seafloor mining permits. This contrasts with the International Seabed Authority, which has authorized exploration but not commercial mining.
