Greenpeace USA has expressed deep disappointment that the U.S. Department of Interior is considering seabed mineral leasing near American Samoa.
Greenpeace USA’s Deep Sea Mining Campaign Lead Arlo Hemphill said in a statement, “This move disregards the sovereignty and voices of Pacific communities and opens the door to an industry that threatens their environment, culture and livelihoods.
“The Pacific is not a sacrifice zone. Its people should not be forced to host a destructive industry they’ve clearly rejected. We urge the American public to stand in solidarity with those communities and send a resounding message during the public comment period: the deep sea is not for sale.”
Deep sea mining company, Impossible Metals, submitted a request in April to commence a leasing process for the exploration and potential mining of critical minerals in the deep sea off the coast of American Samoa.
