CNMI groups sue US over deep sea mining plan covering 67 million acres
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) groups have taken the United States federal government to court over its controversial plan to open more

![Halfway through the descent for the deepest #Okeanos dive of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition! This week they headed down to a depth of 3.67 miles to explore the eastern side of a basin within the Samoa Basin. [NOAA photo] deep sea photo](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/noaa_exploration.jpg?itok=1Z2hoDG0)






![The meeting brought together the Governor of Guam, Lourdes “Lou” Leon Guerrero, American Samoa Head of Delegation Folasaitu Sorepa Fata Thomas, Assistant Director of Port Administration Michael McDonald, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lundy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular, International and Ocean Affairs Bill W. Hague, and others. [Facebook photo] Pacific Islands Leaders meeting participants](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/pacific_islands_leaders_meeting_p.jpg?itok=EvyQxuiC)

![Image of damage in Hanapēpē, Hawaii, following Hurricane Lowell. [Photo credit:Annabelle Le Jeune] Road damage n Hanapēpē, Hawaii, following Hurricane Lowell](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/road_damage.jpg?itok=Ix0xtKXR)