Trump Administration Moves Closer to Pacific Seabed Mining Lease Sale

The Trump administration is moving closer to a potential offshore critical minerals lease sale near the Northern Mariana Islands, advancing another piece of its broader effort to develop seabed mineral resources in U.S. waters.

The Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) on Monday published a Proposed Leasing Notice covering federal waters off the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or CNMI, laying out proposed terms and conditions for a possible commercial mineral lease sale.

The notice identifies offshore blocks under consideration and includes proposed lease stipulations and information for potential bidders. The agency also completed an Environmental Assessment examining the potential impacts of