Interior Advances Trump Executive Order on Deep Seabed Mining

Interior Advances Trump Executive Order on Deep Seabed Mining

Deep sea leasing near American Samoa to mine critical minerals would threaten rare and undiscovered ocean species

Contacts

Miranda Fox, Earthjustice, mfox@earthjustice.org

The Department of Interior issued a notice today stating that on Monday, June 16, it will begin a 30 day "Request for Information and Interest" comment period on a commercial lease sale in the Pacific outer continental shelf near American Samoa for deep seabed mining of critical minerals. This follows President Trump's Executive Order in April asking federal agencies to move toward issuing permits for commercial scale deep seabed mining.

The following is a statement from Addie Haughey, Earthjustice Legislative Director for Lands, Wildlife, and Oceans:

"Research shows that deep seabed mining poses an immense threat to ocean ecosystems that are still being explored. Every scientific expedition into the deep sea reveals undiscovered species that have the potential to provide innovations like medicines that could benefit humankind. Mining the seafloor won't solve our supply chain problems. Market uncertainty, a lack of processing capacity, and technological advancements all call into question the value of this dangerous mining proposal. Advancing President Trump's executive order could result in supporting an untested industry with few guardrails for mining that has never before been allowed in U.S. or international oceans."

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