US proposes seabed mining auction off Northern Mariana Islands

Aug 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. ‌Interior Department on ​Monday ​proposed a sale this year of deep-sea mining leases in U.S. waters surrounding the Northern Mariana Islands, the latest ‌step in President Donald Trump's push to expand domestic ⁠supplies of critical minerals.

• The Marine Minerals Administration proposed an offshore minerals auction covering ‌about 67 million acres of ‌seabed east and west of the U.S. Pacific territory.

• The sale would be held on Dec. 16, 2026, in California, with ​leases awarded through a competitive bidding process.

• The leases would allow companies to explore for and potentially develop deposits of critical ⁠minerals used in batteries, electronics and defense technologies.

• Acting MMA Director Matt Giacona said in a ​statement the proposal is intended to support U.S. access to minerals needed for supply chains, manufacturing and national ​security.

• Officials will first consider comments from ‌the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands before deciding whether to move forward, the MMA said in ⁠a notice proposing the sale.

• A spokesperson for Governor David Apatang was not immediately available for comment. In comments submitted to the administration in January, ⁠Apatang said he neither supported nor opposed seabed mining, citing the need for additional ​information on its environmental impacts.

• Last month, the Trump administration proposed leasing more than 31 million acres of seabed off American Samoa for deep-sea mining as ‌part of a broader effort to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals.

• Environmental groups ‌have opposed deep-sea mining, arguing that more research is needed on its ⁠effects on marine ecosystems. Supporters ‌say mining could provide ​a new source of minerals used in electric vehicles, electronics and military equipment.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by ‌David Gregorio)

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