The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has moved forward with the next step for possible offshore mineral leasing near the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). This expansion not only widens the area being considered but also shifts the process into an environmental review phase, as the government seeks to strengthen domestic supplies of essential minerals.
Last week, BOEM announced that it completed the “Area Identification” step for potential Outer Continental Shelf mineral leasing offshore CNMI. This important milestone helps decide which areas will proceed to environmental analysis according to the National Environmental Policy Act.
While BOEM stressed that this action does not authorize mining or commit the government to a lease sale, it does secure the geographic areas for further review.
The area of interest appears to have increased.
BOEM's latest announcement includes regions both east and west of the Northern Mariana Islands, expanding beyond the initial zones mentioned in a 2025 Request for Information. During that earlier period, more than 65,000 public comments were submitted, showing strong and divided opinions on the future of deep-sea mining in U.S. waters.
BOEM plans to create an Environmental Assessment to study the potential effects of leasing and some preliminary activities, like high-resolution geophysical surveys, seabed sampling, and oceanographic measurements. Any future proposal for mining would need more environmental reviews, regulatory approvals, and public feedback.
This initiative aligns with a larger federal effort to quicken the development of local mineral resources.
In April 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing agencies to expedite offshore critical mineral development, positioning seabed resources as vital for national security and economic strength.
U.S. officials believe that domestic waters may hold significant deposits of polymetallic nodules abundant in manganese, nickel, and copper—key materials for defense systems, battery production, and advanced electronics.
“The Pacific Outer Continental Shelf has enormous potential for critical minerals that support American manufacturing and defense technologies,” said Acting BOEM Director Matt Giacona.
The CNMI process is similar to progress being made offshore American Samoa, where BOEM has also finished Area Identification connected to a potential commercial lease request submitted in 2025, marking the first request in over 30 years.
Changes in policy by the Interior Department announced last year have sped up the timeline further, allowing longer prospecting permits and removing certain steps that previously delayed the identification of leasing areas.
Supporters of offshore mining argue that it could lessen dependence on foreign suppliers—especially China—while avoiding some of the environmental and geopolitical risks linked with land-based mining.
However, the expanded CNMI review area is facing criticism.
Oceana has accused the administration of widening the potential mining area without allowing for new public input.
“This reckless expansion of ocean mining prioritizes corporate profits over the health of our oceans,” stated Julia Singer, the group's Defense Campaign Director. “The administration increased the size of the area proposed for harmful deep-sea mining after the public comment period ended, effectively sidelining the American public from having a say on these new regions.”
Environmental groups warn that seabed mining could cause permanent harm to delicate deep-sea ecosystems, while legal and jurisdictional issues remain unresolved—especially outside U.S. waters, where oversight is handled by the International Seabed Authority.
For the moment, BOEM is emphasizing that the process is still in its early stages.
However, with the U.S. government accelerating its efforts in seabed resources and the review area expanding, the Pacific is quickly becoming a key battleground in the global quest for critical minerals.