Interior extends public comment period on minerals lease sale

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As originally published in Samoa News, on June 12, 2025 the U.S. Department of the Interior announced its intent to publish a Request for Information and Interest (RFI) for commercial leasing for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) seabed critical minerals offshore American Samoa.  

Now the Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is extending the comment period until 11:59 p.m. ET on August 15 in response to a request from Governor Pulaali’i N. Pula.

“As we extend the comment period, we emphasize our commitment to an open process that ensures the voices of the people of American Samoa are heard and respected,” said BOEM Pacific Regional Director Doug Boren. “We look forward to our continued engagement with the Government of American Samoa.”

The Department says any future lease sale will be subject to robust environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and will comply with all applicable laws, including the Endangered Species Act and National Historic Preservation Act.

The development builds on the Department’s May 2025 action to evaluate new opportunities for critical mineral development as directed by President Trump’s Executive Order on Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources.

(Source: DOI)