MOYLAN, KING-HINDS CALL FOR EXTENSION OF COMMENT PERIOD ON POTENTIAL DEEP-SEA MINING NEAR GUAM AND ROTA

MOYLAN, KING-HINDS CALL FOR EXTENSION OF COMMENT PERIOD ON 

POTENTIAL DEEP-SEA MINING NEAR GUAM AND ROTA

(Hagåtña, Guam) — Guam Delegate James C. Moylan and CNMI Delegate Kimberly King-Hinds have formally urged the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to extend the public comment period on a proposed commercial leasing action that could open portions of the Outer Continental Shelf between Guam and Rota to deep-sea mineral exploration.

In a joint letter to Acting Director Matthew Giacona, the delegates pressed BOEM to extend the comment window for the Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands – Request for Information and Interest (RFI) by an additional 120 days. The current 30-day period, they warned, is insufficient for island residents, scientists, fishermen, and local leaders to provide the comprehensive feedback needed for a decision of this magnitude. This joint letter  echoes concerns raised by the Governors of Guam and the CNMI, emphasizing the need for federal decision-making on deep-sea mining to meaningfully account for the realities and priorities of island communities. 

“The proposed leasing area sits roughly equidistant between Guam and Rota, meaning any exploration or extraction activity could have direct interterritorial impacts,” the delegates wrote. “Deep-sea mining technologies carry significant risks to fisheries, marine ecosystems, and the interconnected economies of the Marianas. Our communities deserve the time and opportunity to make their voices heard.” 

The delegates also called on BOEM to work with the Department of the Interior to enter into a formal coordination and consultation agreement with Guam and the CNMI under Section 19 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Such an agreement would ensure that both territorial governments have a direct role in evaluating any future activity in the shared waters between the islands. 

“Those who know these waters best must be at the table. A consultation agreement is essential to ensuring that federal decision-making reflects the realities of island communities and minimizes potential harm,” the delegates wrote. They emphasized that collaboration with territorial leaders is consistent with longstanding commitments to avoid unilateral federal action in the region. 

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