US aims to issue deep-sea mining permits within months, Interior Secretary Burgum says
TMC•Permit process and companies involved
When asked when the federal government could issue deep-sea permits, Burgum said: "Those discussions are going on right now," adding that, "You'll be hearing more in the weeks and months ahead because there's some exciting developments that are coming on that front."
Burgum's Interior Department oversees the Marine Minerals Administration, which must approve any permits to mine U.S. territorial waters.
The MMA review process would start with a lease sale to give private companies exclusive access to mine part of the seabed. That would be followed by a process to consider an operational permit, which would take into account a range of scientific data.
Separately, Trump aims to have the Commerce Department issue international permits, a step that could set up a clash with the United Nations-backed International Seabed Authority, which has been trying to set standards for more than 25 years.
