Earthjustice Lawsuit Challenges Deep-Sea Mining Auctions Near American Samoa
The environmental group Earthjustice has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government, challenging its plans to auction off vast areas of seabed around American Samoa for potential deep-sea mining. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of two local groups, argues…
Fort Myers Naples, FL, August 18, 2026 —
An environmental law organization, Earthjustice, has initiated a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government to contest plans for auctioning significant portions of the seabed near American Samoa for deep-sea mining. The legal action was filed on behalf of two local community groups.
The lawsuit contends that the National Marine Fisheries Service has not sufficiently evaluated the potential environmental consequences of the proposed mining activities. Earthjustice asserts that the agency has also failed to adhere to critical environmental protection statutes, including the Endangered Species Act.
The scope of the proposed deep-sea mining operations is substantial, encompassing an estimated 33 million acres of seabed. These areas are targeted for the extraction of minerals essential for the production of batteries and electronic devices. The initiative has brought forth considerable concerns regarding the preservation of marine ecosystems, the safeguarding of endangered species, and the potential impact on the cultural heritage and practices of the Samoan people.
Details regarding the specific minerals targeted and the exact timeline for the proposed auctions were not provided in the available information. The lawsuit seeks to halt the auction process and compel a more thorough environmental review before any decisions are made regarding deep-sea mining activities in the region.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
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