US Deep Sea Mining regulator, NOAA, to allow comments from public as part of licensing process
US agency tasked with issuing deep sea mining licences says it's working as fast as possible, but still has to follow processes outlined in law.
The United States government agency tasked with issuing deep sea mining licences for areas outside US jurisdiction says it will be accepting public comments as part of the regulatory review process.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, made the announcement on its website today as part of a broader guidance on how its licensing process will work.
The agency is currently reviewing an application submitted on April 29 by The Metals Company (TMC), following US President Donald Trump's executive order. That order instructed NOAA to expedite commercial licensing under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA).
In its update today, NOAA noted that DSHMRA allows for public input at certain points in the regulatory process, and that it will be announcing those opportunities through the Federal Register Notice process.
NOAA said it remains 'committed to an expeditious review of applications' but emphasised that “there are multiple steps before an exploration license or commercial recovery permit is issued”.
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Next steps in the review process
According to NOAA, its National Ocean Service is responsible for evaluating and processing applications, while final approval rests with the NOAA Administrator.
NOAA says it will release information about applications deemed to be in full compliance with the Act as those move into the formal review phase.
The Metals Company has already said it is awaiting confirmation from NOAA on whether its application meets full compliance standards, and expects that determination by end of June.
In its most recent earnings call, TMC described NOAA as “transparent, flexible, and supportive,” and said there was “an air of excitement” amidst the review process.
Licensing regime
NOAA's permitting distinctions mirror those of the International Seabed Authority, where exploration licenses authorise a U.S. company to conduct surveys, research, and test mining of polymetallic nodules in specified areas beyond national jurisdiction; whilst commercial recovery permits authorise an eligible U.S. company to conduct recovery in specified areas beyond national jurisdiction for marketing or commercial purposes.
The US Government has never issued a commercial recovery permit for deep sea mining outside its Exclusive Economic Zone, but issued two exploration licences in 1984 to defence giant Lockheed Martin.
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