The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has extended by 30 days the public comment period on a proposal to lease waters near the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for deep-sea mining, following advocacy by the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration. The new deadline for comments is Jan. 12, 2026, according to a release issued Sunday.
While the extension represents progress, territorial leaders said it does not go far enough to allow for meaningful public engagement. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said island communities need more time to consult scientists, cultural leaders and residents on proposals that could affect the region’s oceans. “Decisions about our ocean must be made with care, not on an accelerated timeline,” she said.
Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio raised Guam’s concerns directly with federal officials during a recent mission to Washington, D.C., meeting with defense and Interior Department leadership as well as CNMI Delegate Kim King-Hinds. Tenorio said short review periods place island jurisdictions at a disadvantage when federal proposals carry potential environmental, cultural and economic impacts. “Guam cannot be an afterthought in federal decision-making,” he said.
BOEM issued a request for information on Nov. 12 regarding commercial leasing for Outer Continental Shelf minerals offshore the CNMI, marking the first step toward possible mineral collection. The proposed area lies east of the Marianas Trench National Marine Monument and extends into waters between Rota and Guam. Guam and CNMI leaders had jointly requested a 120-day extension, but BOEM granted only an additional 30 days. The administration urged the public to submit comments as it continues to push for a more deliberate and inclusive federal review process.