Governor Lou Leon Guerrero is seeking a voice for Guam in plans by the Trump administration to sell leasing rights for underwater mineral mining in the deep waters of the Marianas, according to a release from Adelup.
The governor wrote a letter this week to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Acting Director Mike Olsen and Director Douglas Boren, requesting that the Department of Interior "obey" federal mandates recognizing Guam as an "adjacent State," to the deep-sea mining effort.
"Pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and its implementing regulations, the PLN 'shall be sent to the Governor(s) of any adjacent State(s) 60 days prior to publication of the final Leasing Notice for their review and comment," the governor said in her letter to the federal officials.
She also asked DOI to recognized Guam's official consultation status in the process, which could potentially lead to a sale of a lease area just 47 miles from Guam.
"The leasing of seabed minerals is unprecedented, and that novelty makes careful, formal consultation all the more necessary to safeguard Guam’s environment, economy, and people.” she added.
She contended that an Environmental Assessment acknowledges ports, infrastructure and communities both in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will be impacted by preliminary exploration and mining operations including disruptions to commercial and subsistence fisheries, strain on island ports and infrastructure, air quality degradation and environmental risks to shared marine ecosystems and socioeconomic and cultural impacts on Guam's residents.
"The Secretary of Interior 'shall' consider comments submitted by the Governor(s) of adjacent states and shall respond to them in writing before publishing the final leasing notice. The secretary's written response 'shall' state 'the reasons for accepting or rejecting the Governor(s) recommendations, or for implementing any alternative mutually acceptable approach identified in consultation with the Governor(s) as a means to provide a reasonable balance between the National interest and the well-being of the citizens of the adjacent State," the governor said in the letter.
According to the Leon Guerrero although the CNMI governor received the announced public leasing notice, Guam did not.
"Both Guam and CNMI unambiguously meet the regulatory definition of 'adjacent State.' Both should have been consulted," Leon Guerrero said.
Leon Guerrero contended that she has "repeatedly" sent formal communication raising the "serious concerns" about the impact of the proposed lease on Guam. She called on the DOI to immediately provide Guam with the formal Proposed Leasing Notice and allow the full statutory 60-day review period for public and governmental evaluation prior to taking further administrative steps.