The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced key developments in its offshore critical minerals planning, with the completion of Area Identification offshore American Samoa and the release of a Request for Information and Interest for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
These actions mark significant progress in BOEM’s efforts to responsibly evaluate leasing opportunities for critical minerals on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, supporting U.S. manufacturing, national security, and economic resilience.
These efforts further the directives in President Trump’s April 2025 Executive Order 14285, “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources,” which call for the rapid development of domestic capabilities for the exploration, characterization, collection, and processing of seabed mineral resources through streamlined permitting without compromising environmental and transparency standards.
“The Pacific Outer Continental Shelf holds vast potential for critical minerals that power American manufacturing and defense technology. These resources are key to ensuring the United States is not reliant on China and other nations for its critical minerals needs,” said Acting BOEM Director Matt Giacona. “These initial steps—inviting public input in Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and completing Area Identification offshore American Samoa—ensure that BOEM’s decision-making is locally informed, environmentally sound, and done in a scientific manner.”
BOEM completed the area identification, which determines the specific areas on the Outer Continental Shelf that will undergo environmental review of proposed commercial leases for critical minerals in the form of an environmental assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act.
“We are in the first step in the process of understanding what are the potential economic benefits and environmental impacts a lease sale would have for American Samoa,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs William Hague. “If done right, this could produce great economic return for our fellow Americans in the territory.”
The environmental assessment will analyze the action of leasing and authorization of preliminary activities. Preliminary activities are defined as actions that have no significant adverse impact on natural resources and only allow a leaseholder to characterize the environment. This environmental review will include necessary consultations under environmental and other statutes including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
(Dreamstime photo of Northern Mariana Islands)