Earthjustice sues over American Samoa deep-sea mining

Earthjustice, a legal environmental nonprofit, filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. United States — National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on behalf of United States — Faasao Amerika Samoa and Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi. The lawsuit seeks to halt the Trump administration's plans to auction off 33 million acres of seabed off United States — American Samoa for deep-sea mining, arguing that the United States — National Marine Fisheries Service's determination that the leases would not affect critical habitat or endangered species was 'wholly arbitrary and capricious.' The lawsuit demands compliance with the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws. The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, is expediting mining permits for critical minerals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese, despite environmental concerns and calls for a moratorium. The International — International Seabed Authority has not authorized any commercial deep-sea mining. The U.S. also published a proposed leasing notice for 69 million acres around the United States — Northern Mariana Islands. The move has been condemned by scientists and environmentalists, including the Center for Biological Diversity.