Executive Summary
The U.S. is advancing seabed mining on its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for critical minerals, driven by Executive Order 14285 to secure domestic supplies. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has initiated leasing processes for areas offshore American Samoa, CNMI, Virginia, and Alaska. These efforts face environmental concerns and potential geopolitical friction, particularly with Russia over extended continental shelf claims.
Why It Matters
This document outlines U.S. efforts to secure critical mineral supplies through seabed mining, which has implications for national resource security, environmental policy, and potential geopolitical disputes, especially with Russia in the Arctic.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. government, under Executive Order 14285, is actively pursuing seabed mining on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to secure critical mineral supplies.
Source evidence · PDF page 1
President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14285 of April 24, 2025, “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources.” One potential source of offshore critical minerals is the federally managed U.S. outer continental shelf (OCS; Figure 1).
- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has initiated leasing processes for critical mineral exploration and development in four key offshore areas: American Samoa, CNMI, Virginia, and Alaska.
Source evidence · PDF page 2
In response to EO 14285 and pursuant to its statutory authority under OCSLA (43 U.S.C. §1337(k)), BOEM has initiated the process for four potential mineral lease sales in federal waters offshore of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Virginia, and Alaska.
- Potential seabed mining activities on the U.S. extended continental shelf (ECS), particularly in Alaska, could lead to geopolitical disagreements with Russia, which does not recognize the U.S. ECS claim.
Source evidence · PDF page 2
Russia, a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, “does not recognise” the U.S. ECS, as the United States is not a party to the convention.
Strategic Relevance
Securing critical minerals is vital for national defense and economic stability, reducing reliance on foreign sources. The expansion of seabed mining represents a strategic move to bolster domestic supply chains, but it also introduces new environmental and geopolitical challenges, particularly concerning international maritime claims and resource competition.