The Executive Director of the American Samoa Economic Development Council, John Wasko welcomes the announcement by the US Department of Interior that it’s initiating the process to evaluate a potential mineral lease sale in the waters off shore of American Samoa.
On April 8, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management received a formal request for a lease sale from US based company Impossible Metals. In response, the Bureau will begin a multi-step evaluation process grounded in science, public engagement and environmental stewardships, said the DOI.
The American Samoa Economic Development Council is a local nonprofit organization that’s working to seek new opportunities to develop American Samoa’s economy. One of its initiatives is to make American Samoa the Asia Pacific hub for extracting and processing valuable metals on the territory’s seafloor.
Commenting on behalf of the Council, Executive Director John Wasko said, “This is a positive step by the Trump administration to fast track America’s need for renewable energy. American Samoa is positioned to be the Asia Pacific hub for receiving and refining electric vehicle renewable batteries and national security critical minerals.”
DOI said the first formal step will be the publication of a request for information and interest in the federal register. This notice will seek input from the indigenous island community, ocean users, industry stakeholders, government agencies and the public.
An executive order that former Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga issued in July last year places a moratorium on seabed mining in the waters of American Samoa. The moratorium applies to the mining, extracting, or removal of minerals.
