deep sea mining
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 24, 2026, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) commenced an additional mapping expedition aboard NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer focused on unexplored deepwater regions near American Samoa. The expedition follows NOAA’s recently completed...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Lou Leon Guerrero, the governor of Guam, learned about the government’s plan to mine her people’s waters the same way everyone else did: by reading the news.
It was November 12, and her advisor had sent her an article link — apparently, a journalist had inquired about it...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Swains Island Representative Su'a Alex Eli Jennings has introduced legislation aimed at turning American Samoa's existing deep-sea mining moratorium into permanent territorial law, strengthening protections for the territory's marine environment and natural resources....
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Guam's governor is demanding formal consultation over a proposed deep sea mineral lease sale in federal waters off the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said Guam was left out of a process afforded to the CNMI.
Leon Guerrero...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Pulaali‘i Nikolao Pula has submitted his formal comments to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regarding the proposed PACM-1 offshore mineral lease sale.
The Governor’s comments were informed by public comments submitted to his office, the work of...
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 than 67 million acres of ocean around the Marianas to potential deep-sea mining.
Our Commonwealth 670 and...
This field of polymetallic nodules seen during Dive 04 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping expedition at a depth of approximately 3.2 miles. They contain nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese — long been considered important to industrial supply chains, including some EV batteries. Many newer...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Conservation groups are trying to stop what would be the first U.S. sale of deep-sea mining rights off American Samoa, arguing that federal wildlife officials approved the move without fully examining risks to endangered species.
HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW
As Courthouse News...
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A legal environmental group sued the U.S. government on Tuesday, a month after the Trump administration announced plans to auction off massive sections of water surrounding American Samoa for potential deep-sea mining.
Earthjustice filed the federal lawsuit against the...
[Editor’s Note: Michael J. McDonald is an Assistant Director for Port Administration- American Samoa, and heads the ASG committee that leads American Samoa’s engagement on the critical issues of Deep Sea Minerals (DSM).]
President Trump’s July 20, 2026 Executive Order on Securing America’s Defense...