Posted on August 19, 2026
The Marine Minerals Administration today published a Proposed Leasing Notice for a potential critical minerals lease sale in federal waters off the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or CNMI.
The Proposed Leasing Notice advances the leasing process to support responsible access to domestic critical minerals needed to strengthen U.S. supply chains, enhance energy readiness, improve the affordability of domestic manufacturing, and sustain the technologies that power the nation’s modern economy.
“Critical minerals are essential to America’s national security, economic strength and resource sovereignty,” said Matt Giacona, acting director of the MMA. “The United States cannot afford to depend on foreign nations for the resources that power our economy and support our defense industrial base. The Marine Minerals Administration is working to unlock the critical mineral potential of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf responsibly, transparently and with the rigorous environmental review the American people expect.”
The Proposed Leasing Notice outlines the terms and conditions for the potential sale, including blocks under consideration, information to lessees and proposed lease stipulations. In addition, the MMA has completed an Environmental Assessment analyzing the potential impacts of issuing commercial leases in federal waters near the CNMI, a commonwealth of the United States comprising 14 islands in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, including Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
The Proposed Leasing Notice, its supporting materials and the Environmental Assessment are now available online. A Notice of Availability for the PLN will be published in the Federal Register Aug. 18, 2026.
Issuance of the Proposed Leasing Notice does not affirm that a lease sale will be held, nor does it guarantee that any exploration or collection activities will occur should the MMA move forward with a sale. If the MMA does decide to move forward with the lease sale, the agency will publish a Final Leasing Notice in the Federal Register at least 30 days prior to the sale date.
For additional details, including maps and leasing forms, visit: www.boem.gov/cnmi-2026.
As of July 10, 2026, the Department of the Interior has reunified the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement into the Marine Minerals Administration, which will oversee the responsible development of the nation’s offshore energy and marine mineral resources with an integrated focus on safety, environmental protection and efficient oversight. For more information, visit https://www.doi.gov/mma-reunification.
