Interior Takes First Step to Implement Trump Executive Order on Deep Seabed Mining
Deep seabed mining has never before been permitted
Contacts
Becca Bowe, Earthjustice, rbowe@earthjustice.org
Last month, President Trump signed an executive order asking federal agencies to move toward issuing permits for commercial scale deep seabed mining, something that has never been permitted in U.S. or international waters.
On May 20, the Department of Interior issued a press release to announce it would be taking the first step to implement this order, by launching a process for a potential offshore lease sale near American Samoa.
The following is a statement from Addie Haughey, Earthjustice Legislative Director for Lands, Wildlife, and Oceans:
“This decision could result in permits being issued to an untested, opaque industry for activity that has never before been allowed in U.S. or international oceans. Science tells us that deep seabed mining would pose enormous threats to ocean ecosystems, for little gain. We will be monitoring this unprecedented process closely.”
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