Guam Delegate James Moylan and CNMI Delegate Kimberly King-Hinds are urging federal regulators to give island communities more time to weigh in on a proposal that could open waters between Guam and Rota to deep-sea mineral exploration. In a joint letter issued Monday, the delegates asked the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to extend its public comment period by 120 days.
The request responds to BOEM’s current 30-day review window for the Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals RFI, which the delegates argue is too short for a matter carrying significant environmental, cultural, and economic implications. Their stance aligns with concerns raised by both territorial governors, who have cautioned that federal decisions on seabed mining must reflect the realities of the region.
“The proposed leasing area sits roughly equidistant between Guam and Rota, meaning any exploration or extraction activity could have direct interterritorial impacts,” the delegates wrote, noting risks to fisheries, marine ecosystems, and the connected economies of the Marianas. They said residents, scientists, fishermen, and local leaders need adequate time to provide informed input.
Moylan and King-Hinds also pressed BOEM to work with the Department of the Interior to establish a formal consultation agreement with Guam and the CNMI under Section 19 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Such an agreement, they wrote, is essential to ensuring federal decisions avoid unilateral action and meaningfully include those “who know these waters best.”