Pacific voices condemn US plan for offshore mineral extraction off American Samoa
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Pacific leaders and environmental advocates have condemned a United States government proposal to advance plans for an offshore mineral lease sale in federal wa

![The US government has proposed for deep-sea mining leases in federal waters off American Samoa. [Photo: US DOI / BOEM] DEEP SEA MINING LEASE AREA](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/american_samoa_lease_area.jpeg?itok=CbiEbagr)


![[courtesy photo] retired Army Command Sgt. Major Charles Tobin](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/img_2293_0.jpeg?itok=u44b2Sz7)
![Swains Island residents have been reduced to “2 fishing boats and a 12-foot rubber dinghy” as transportation to access its island. The rubber dinghy in May 2026 capsized in the channel throwing three overboard, narrowly avoiding a serious disaster. The Swains Island faipule is requesting a $300,000 FY 2027 budgeted amount for Swains Island Transportation. [courtesy photo] RUBBER DINGY](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/image_3.png?itok=KSYp1e2N)




