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Story summary
- The Trump administration announced a notice to auction 33 million acres around American Samoa for deep-sea mining on July 17, 2026.
- Acting director Matt Giacona said critical minerals are essential and China’s dominance poses risk to America.
- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management proposes 17-million-acre survey leases and a mining plan, while attorney J.V. Langkilde and spokesperson Seumalu Elora Raymond warned the plan ignores local voices and could damage ecosystems near Rose Atoll.
