The US government could greenlight its first deep-sea mining ventures within the next several months, a move aimed at securing domestic supplies of critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum indicated that permits for seabed mineral extraction may be issued soon. As of now, commercial operations remain unlicensed, requiring the government to navigate two distinct approval pathways: one for lease sales within US territorial waters and another for exploration and commercial recovery requests on the international seabed.

Dual approval channels move forward

The permitting framework splits into two mechanisms. For US territorial waters, companies must first secure exclusive rights to a specific seabed area through a lease process, followed by a separate permit for actual extraction, during which environmental and scientific data are assessed. On the high seas beyond national jurisdiction, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under the Department of Commerce, issues exploration and commercial recovery permits based on the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. Starting in January, NOAA adopted a consolidated review process, allowing firms to apply for exploration and commercial recovery status simultaneously, thereby trimming redundant procedural timelines.

An executive order from the White House in 2025 directed federal agencies to accelerate seabed mineral development. The policy objective is to bolster the resilience of critical mineral supply chains and curtail reliance on overseas processing and supply networks.

First commercial application under official review

NOAA is currently examining a consolidated application filed by the US arm of The Metals Company. The proposed project targets the Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Hawaii and Mexico, where polymetallic nodules rich in nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese would be collected from the seabed. Regulators have confirmed the application meets admission standards, yet this milestone simply advances the request into formal review, not an approval. The application is now in a public comment window closing on 19 October, with a public hearing scheduled for 13 October. Following these steps, an environmental impact statement must be prepared before any final decision on exploration and commercial recovery permits is made.

Historically, the US has issued only two deep-sea exploration permits, both held by Lockheed Martin since 1984. The count for commercial recovery permits remains at zero. If the government approves the first commercial project within months, it would mark a critical turning point in US deep-sea mining governance.

Private sector races for domestic seabed leases

Beyond international waters, several firms are advancing lease applications within US jurisdiction. An Associated Press investigation revealed that at least nine companies have held discussions with federal authorities about acquiring seabed mineral rights, with potential zones near American Samoa, the Mariana Islands, and waters off Alaska. Impossible Metals has pushed for a lease initiation near American Samoa, proposing the use of underwater robots to selectively harvest polymetallic nodules with what the company describes as reduced disturbance to benthic habitats. Nonetheless, these sites still require public consultation, lease auctions, and environmental review, meaning near-term lease acquisition does not equate to immediate commercial production.

International law and environmental risks remain contentious

The US is not a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Trump administration asserts that American firms can be licensed for international seabed activity under domestic law, a stance likely to clash with the UN-backed International Seabed Authority over jurisdictional authority. That body has spent years negotiating seabed mining regulations but has yet to finalize a system for commercial extraction.

Opponents argue that large-scale collection of polymetallic nodules could disrupt deep-sea ecosystems that regenerate over extremely long timescales, affecting sediments, biodiversity, and oceanic carbon cycling. More than 30 nations have already endorsed a moratorium or pause on deep-sea mining. Even if US regulators issue permits, projects may still confront environmental litigation, international legal disputes, and challenges related to equipment fabrication and ore-processing facility construction.