Republican reps from island communities against Trump's deep sea mining push

Deep sea mining in the Marianas and American Samoa was a topic of contention in Washington during an oversight hearing on Friday. Companies supporting the Trump Administration’s push to fast track deep sea mining say its critical to national security, but republican representatives from island communities are speaking-up in opposition.

Delegate Kimberly King-Hinds  from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands said, "In places like the Marianas, American Samoa and Guam, we don’t get the luxury of being wrong. Any decision impacting our ocean is permanent."

On Capitol Hill Friday, representatives from the CNMI, Guam and American Samoa speaking up during an oversight hearing on deep sea mining. This comes as the White House moves to fast track permitting for offshore mining, saying it’s a matter of national security to counter growing interest and competition with China. Guam congressman James Moylan said, "We understand the need for minerals, but no national strategy should move forward by putting the burden on communities that have already carried so much."

Representative Amata Radegawen added, "To the indigenous people of American Samoa, the ocean is not just the backbone of our local economy, it is sacred."

This comes as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration finalized a rule this week to streamline regulations for deep sea mining in international waters into a single, faster review process.  The metals company was the first to send in their application just today. Its CEO testified they’re looking at commercial production as soon as next year. 

Gerard Baron CEO of The Metals Company said, "China has identified deep seabed minerals as a strategic priority and is investing heavily. I commend the administration for recognizing critical minerals as a national security matter and offshore mining as a solution."

While companies welcome cutting regulatory red tape, it’s a red flag for island communities who will be directly impacted by the operations.   Radegawen continued, "I understand that we are discussing federally controlled waters, but as it stands, the people of American Samoa are opposed to deep sea mining in and around the territory."

"We’re not against this," Moylan emphasized. "We are against actions taken without consultation or consent, and the federal actions that happen to us instead of with us."