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Legislature orders seabed-mining ban bill onto session agenda, citing BOEM activity
Summary
Senator Talay moved to place Bill 253 — an act to prohibit seabed mining in Guam waters — on the session agenda citing Bureau of Ocean Energy Management action and regulatory changes; the motion was ordered without objection.
Senator Talay (Cesar Azamasi) moved to place Bill 253-38 COR, an act to add a new section to Guam Code Annotated prohibiting and deterring seabed mining, onto the session agenda, saying the measure is time-sensitive because the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is advancing offshore mineral development and proposing regulatory changes that could reduce territorial consultation. The motion to place the bill on the agenda was ordered without objection.
On the floor the sponsor argued the bill would protect Guam's marine environment and prevent the island from being used as a staging area for deep-sea mining operations; supporters urged immediate action to send a clear message that Guam will not facilitate seabed-mining activities that could harm ecosystems and the economy.
The measure had a committee hearing in April and a committee report in May, and supporters urged the body to act quickly to adopt the bill before federal activity progressed further.
