BOEM: Guam, CNMI moratorium won’t stall seabed mining in federal waters
- Admin
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Guam and the Northern Marianas’ call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining will have no bearing on the U.S. plan to lease federal waters for mineral extraction, the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management said, adding that the quantity of public comments will not be a deciding factor either.
John Romero, BOEM’s public affairs officer, assured the territories that any decision to explore the ocean floor will be coordinated with territorial governments, Indigenous communities and stakeholders.
BOEM timed out the public comment period on Jan. 12, receiving more than 60,000 submissions, mostly opposing deep-sea mining in the Marianas region.
“All feedback received will be considered and future decisions will be guided by science and intergovernmental consultation—not solely by comment volume,” Romero said in an email.
The legislatures of Guam and the CNMI last week adopted separate resolutions declaring a moratorium on deep-sea mining and urging the federal government to halt its plan to award commercial leases for mineral extraction in the region.
Sen. Therese Terlaje subsequently introduced a bill prohibiting the extraction of seabed minerals from the territorial waters and barring the issuance of permits for associated infrastructure development and operation.
Romero, however, pointed out that local statutes don't extend to federal jurisdictions. “Territorial moratoria, such as Guam’s resolution, apply within territorial waters, not federal waters of the outer continental shelf,” he said.
The target area, approximately 35,483,044 acres with an approximate water depth of 3,700-25,100 feet, lies within the federal waters. The southern boundary area is roughly equidistant between Guam and Rota. The closest distance from Saipan is about 128 statute miles.
The global energy transition and digital technology are driving surging demand for critical minerals, fueling President Donald Trump’s ambition to outpace China in this emerging trillion-dollar industry.
But CNMI Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds raised concerns about a lopsided legal and economic framework governing offshore mineral leasing, which the U.S. government is pursuing at the expense of local communities.
“Unlike offshore oil and gas development, mineral leasing lacks established provisions for revenue sharing, long-term planning or local economic participation,” she said.
King-Hinds said local communities get the short end of the stick, as they will face the mining activity’s environmental and social impacts without a corresponding economic benefit.
“The goal is to make sure the commonwealth is fully considered as this process unfolds,” she said. “That means being prudent about how federal authority is exercised, clear about what existing law does and does not provide, and deliberate before moving toward actions with long-term consequences for our islands.”
Romero clarified that BOEM’s request for information is an optional, early-stage step to gather input and does not authorize leasing or mining.
“The agency will review all comments carefully before deciding whether to proceed to the subsequent phases,” he said, emphasizing the bureau’s “commitment to transparency and responsiveness to territorial concerns.”
“BOEM will analyze submissions and determine whether to move forward with area identification—a planning step that defines specific tracts for further environmental review,” Romero added.
The environmental analysis will follow the National Environmental Policy Act process, he said.
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King-Hinds said offshore mineral activity should be evaluated alongside existing federal uses in the area, including military training and testing that have already undergone extensive environmental review.
“Additional disturbance to the seabed or marine environment could interact with impacts previously assessed, reinforcing the need for a coordinated federal approach,” she added.
In American Samoa, BOEM completed area identification in November 2025 following an RFI.
“The area ID defines an area for environmental analysis but does not authorize leasing,” Romero said. “BOEM is preparing an environmental assessment and continuing consultations with governmental agencies, territorial leaders and Indigenous communities.”
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