Despite environmental warnings, America puts the deep sea for mining at auction

The United States intends to auction vast marine areas off American Samoa for deep-sea mineral exploration, in an unprecedented step that reflects the tendency of President Donald Trump’s administration to accelerate the granting of mining licenses despite environmental warnings and international objections.
The proposed areas include about 51,000 square miles of water, according to a notice published by the US government.
The decision represents a departure from the approach of previous US administrations that adhered to the rules of the United Nations International Seabed Authority, which has been discussing for years a legal framework that regulates mining in international waters.
More than 43 countries oppose deep-sea mining, calling for a ban or moratorium, amid scientific warnings that these activities may cause serious damage to marine ecosystems through noise, sediments and dust that threaten marine organisms.
On the other hand, the United States and other countries are seeking to exploit the seabed to obtain strategic minerals, including copper, iron, and zinc, to meet the growing demand from the technology sectors, military industries, and electric cars.