Posted on June 24, 2026
The more recent development is that BOEM announced on June 22 that it will publish a Request for Information and Interest (RFI) in the Federal Register on June 23, 2026, seeking industry nominations and public comments regarding potential offshore critical-mineral leasing areas off Virginia. The action stems from a lease request submitted by Odyssey Marine Exploration for heavy mineral sands and phosphorite deposits that may contain titanium, zirconium, rare earth elements, and phosphate.
According to BOEM, the RFI is intended to gather:
- Industry interest in potential lease areas
- Geological and mineral resource information
- Environmental and cultural considerations
- Input from fishermen, maritime users, states, tribes, and the public before any leasing decision is made.
This Virginia proposal is particularly noteworthy for the dredging industry because Odyssey has stated that it would work with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation if the project advances to development. The concept involves recovering heavy mineral sands through shallow-water dredging rather than deep-sea nodule mining.
