The Trump administration is formally vetting two applications from a Canadian mining company that wants to explore international waters for precious metals.
NOAA plans to hold virtual hearings later this month on two applications that a subsidiary of The Metals Co. submitted this summer, according to a Federal Register notice. The Vancouver-based company has said it hopes to begin commercial mining in a part of the Pacific Ocean dubbed the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in 2027.
President Donald Trump has prioritized deep-sea mining, a process through which mineral-rich nodules are extracted from the ocean floor. In April he signed an executive order calling for permits in both domestic and international waters.
It’s a prospect that has alarmed environmental groups concerned about damage to pristine seafloor habitats, and nearly 40 countries have called for a moratorium or ban on seabed mining.
