The Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) announced the availability of a proposed leasing notice for a potential American Samoa outer continental shelf mineral lease sale in November.
The notice outlines the proposed terms and conditions for the sale and advances the leasing process to support responsible access to critical minerals needed to strengthen U.S. supply chains.
“Critical minerals have become a strategic asset in global competition, and China’s dominance in the supply of many of these materials creates unacceptable risks for America’s energy, defense and manufacturing sectors,” said Acting MMA Director Matt Giacona.
“This proposed leasing notice provides information on proposed sale terms and conditions so industry and other interested parties can engage with greater certainty while also requiring that the lessee makes every reasonable effort to hire American Samoans, use businesses in American Samoa for the work, and make use of the Port of Pago Pago. Advancing this notice is an important step toward building a secure domestic critical minerals supply chain, strengthening U.S. economic and national security, and ensuring America can compete and win in the 21st century.”
The proposed leasing notice outlines the terms and conditions for the potential sale, including blocks under consideration, information to lessees, and proposed lease stipulations. Two individual lease areas have been identified for the sale: Lease Area 1 is approximately 16,332,256 acres and Lease Area 2 is approximately 15,170,979 acres.
The notice, its supporting materials and the environmental analysis are available here.
If the process moves forward, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will complete the remaining pre-sale requirements, including publishing a final leasing notice in the Federal Register at least 30 days prior to the sale date.
Source: BOEM