U.S. begins formal review of seabed mining application in international waters

The federal government said it had received an application from the Metals Company to explore seabed mining in international waters, marking the first formal step in the administration’s effort to encourage the controversial industry. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posted the company’s applications for public comment and scheduled public hearings for late January.

Alison Gillespie, a NOAA spokeswoman, said the agency was "working to ensure that the review of the applications goes forward without undue delays." The Metals Company declined to comment. The Metals Company, based in Canada, has said it hopes to begin commercial mining operations in the Pacific Ocean in 2027.

Parts of the ocean floor contain mineral-rich nodules used in clean-energy technologies; the Trump administration has emphasized their importance for national security. The depths of the ocean have never been commercially mined, and the company already holds exploration permits through the International Seabed Authority and conducted a test in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in 2022.

The U.S. permit process largely sidesteps the International Seabed Authority, which regulates seafloor mining under the Law of the Sea; the United States has not ratified that agreement. The company’s U.S. application overlaps substantially with its existing exploration areas, and it updated an agreement with Nauru in June to allow for the conflicting permits.

Key Topics

Politics, Noaa, International Seabed Authority, Clarion-clipperton Zone, Nauru, Seabed Mining