Skip links

On June 25, the United States Department of the Interior (DOI), a department within the federal government that manages the nation’s natural resources, announced plans to accelerate the initiation of deep-sea mining in U.S. waters, effectively enacting President Trump’s executive order that calls for fast-tracking the industry. As part of this effort to briskly move things along, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), an agency within DOI, will be introducing various policy changes, such as expediting the permitting process, extending the duration of prospecting permits and reducing the timelines for environmental reviews. Critics have raised concerns over these developments, not only due to the controversial nature of deep-sea mining, but also because of the hurried pace at which BOEM is advancing these plans.  While deep-sea mining has not yet started anywhere in the world, many experts warn that the industry could cause irreversible harm to marine ecosystems that are already under substantial stress from human-driven climate change and other environmental pressures. Industry proponents, however, argue that deep-sea mining is vital for securing reliable supplies of critical minerals needed for the green transition, energy security and defense. The majority of deep-sea mining interest has focused on polymetallic nodules — potato-sized rocks containing nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese — but mineral deposits can also be found on the cobalt-rich crusts of seamounts or ridges, or the sulfide deposits around hydrothermal vents.  These unassuming brown blobs are polymetallic nodules (also called manganese nodules) and contain valuable metals. Image by Hannes Grobe via Wikimedia…This article was originally published on Mongabay

Research

Featured News

Droughts are a ‘slow-moving global catastrophe,’ report finds

Hello July 8, 2025
0

“Drought is a silent killer. It creeps in, drains resources and devastates lives in slow

Melting glaciers and ice caps could unleash wave of volcanic eruptions, study says

Hello July 8, 2025
0

Research in Chile suggests climate crisis makes eruptions more likely and explosive, and warns of

U.S. federal agency clears ways for deep-sea mining — and companies are lining up

Hello July 8, 2025
0

On June 25, the United States Department of the Interior (DOI), a department within the

Bangladesh to save critically endangered orchids and trees

Hello July 8, 2025
0

Bangladesh has initiated efforts to revive five species of plants currently listed as critically endangered

Nepal sees positive outcome from reforestation project using local knowledge

Hello July 8, 2025
0

KATHMANDU — A decade ago, people from Salija village in western Nepal traveled several hours

Yorkshire Water announces hosepipe ban after driest spring in 132 years

Hello July 8, 2025
0

Restrictions to be brought in from Friday after region receives just 15cm of rainfall between

Young secondary forests may be the planet’s most overlooked carbon sink

Hello July 8, 2025
0

Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and

‘No warning at all’: Texas flood survivors question safety planning and officials’ response

Hello July 7, 2025
0

People who lost everything describe leaving homes and express anger at poor preparedness and officials