The Trump administration has advanced what may become the first federal offshore mineral lease sale in modern US history, taking another step toward establishing a domestic deep-sea mining industry aimed at reducing dependence on imported critical minerals.
Rather than announcing an auction, the newly created Marine Minerals Administration on Thursday released a Proposed Leasing Notice covering portions of the US Outer Continental Shelf offshore American Samoa. The document lays out the proposed commercial terms for a future lease sale and begins another required stage of the federal leasing process.
Acting MMA Director Matt Giacona said the proposed notice is intended to create greater certainty for industry while also encouraging local economic participation through hiring American Samoan workers, contracting local businesses, and using the Port of Pago Pago where practical.
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Unlike previous policy statements, the latest action begins defining the commercial framework that companies would bid under if a lease sale proceeds.
Despite the significance of the announcement, several regulatory hurdles remain. According to the Marine Minerals Administration, publication of the Proposed Leasing Notice does not approve mining operations, exploration activities, or lease awards. Before any competitive sale can occur, regulators must complete remaining pre-sale requirements and publish a final Leasing Notice in the Federal Register at least 30 days before any auction date.
The current proposal follows earlier milestones that began in 2025, including a Request for Information and Interest, identification of potential leasing areas, and environmental analysis covering waters near American Samoa.
American Samoa has emerged as the administration’s initial proving ground for offshore mineral leasing after federal agencies spent more than a year evaluating industry interest and environmental considerations.
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The region is believed to contain polymetallic seabed resources that may include nickel, cobalt, manganese, and copper, metals viewed as strategically important for electric vehicles, defense manufacturing, and other industrial applications.
The leasing proposal also contains provisions designed to increase economic benefits within the territory through local employment and business participation.
Supporters argue domestic seabed mineral production could strengthen US supply chain resilience and reduce reliance on overseas producers for strategically important metals.
Environmental organizations maintain that commercial deep-sea mining should not move forward until scientists better understand potential impacts on marine ecosystems. Greenpeace described the proposal as an unprecedented step toward commercial deep-sea mining and criticized the administration for advancing leasing despite opposition from Pacific communities and ongoing scientific uncertainty.
The debate illustrates that regulatory approval alone is unlikely to determine the industry’s future. Commercial viability, environmental permitting, financing, and processing infrastructure remain major variables before any US offshore mineral production could become operational.
