The American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA) has issued the following:
“Over the past week, several news organizations reported that the American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA) was involved and supported deep sea mining in the Pacific or have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). These news articles may have been referencing the American Samoa Economic Development Council (ASEDC). This press release is being sent to inform the public that ASEDA is not involved in any way with deep sea mining nor with ASEDC. ASEDA refers any questions related to deep sea mining to the Governor’s Office of American Samoa. We make no comment related to ASEDC as we have no meaningful knowledge of this organization other than references from news outlets.”
As KHJ News reported, the Executive Director of ASEDC, John Wasko has clarified that there was an error in a press release about the MOU, incorrectly identifying that it was signed between American Resources Corporation and ASEDA. When in fact the MOU was between American Resources Corporation and ASEDC, a local group that’s exploring seabed mining and refining industry opportunities for American Samoa.
