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Panel debates deep-sea mining bill as industry pushes permits and scientists warn of risks
Summary
H.R. 4018 would direct federal agencies to expedite permitting and seabed mapping for offshore critical minerals; industry speakers highlighted large nodule resources and U.S. strategic needs, while Democrats and environmental groups warned of inadequate study, limited public input, and international law concerns.
Lawmakers and witnesses debated H.R. 4018, a bill to codify executive action aimed at expanding U.S. access to offshore critical minerals via expedited permitting and seabed mapping.
Hans Schmidt, chief executive of Ocean Minerals LLC, told the committee his company’s license area in the Cook Islands contains polymetallic nodules with large quantities of manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earth elements. Schmidt said his firm’s surveys identified “more than 80,000,000 tons of manganese, 2,500,000 tons of cobalt, 1,400,000 tons of nickel, 750,000 tons of copper, and significant amounts of rare…
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