deep sea mining
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...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — "Don't Mine the Moana" is a powerful rallying cry and peaceful protest movement led by Indigenous Pacific Islanders, environmental groups like Greenpeace, and organizations such as Finafinau.
They are fighting against commercial deep-sea mining across the Pacific Ocean...
[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).]
For several years, the public conversation surrounding deep-sea minerals (DSM...
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 waters off American Samoa.
They say the move - despite about 70,000 public comments submitted during the process...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Interior issued a notice that it will advance deep-sea mining in waters off the coast of American Samoa and hold a lease sale. If it proceeds, this would be the first deep-sea mining leasing in the world.
The American Samoan government is united in strong...
Washington, D.C — Trump administration has announced a proposed deep sea mining lease sale in federal waters near American Samoa, marking the world’s first attempt to commercially mine the deep sea. The move is a major step toward opening U.S. waters to commercial deep sea mining and comes despite...