The Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) has published a Proposed Leasing Notice (PLN) for a potential critical minerals lease sale in federal waters off the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

The proposed sale covers roughly 67–69 million acres of seabed east and west of the Northern Mariana Islands. A competitive auction is tentatively set for December 16, 2026, in California.

Leases would allow companies to explore (and potentially develop) deposits of minerals used in batteries, electronics, defense technologies, and other high-demand applications.

Acting MMA Director Matt Giacona framed the move as a national-security and economic priority: the United States “cannot afford to depend on foreign nations for the resources that power our economy and support our defense industrial base.”

The agency says that it has completed an Environmental Assessment for the leasing step itself. A full environmental impact statement for actual mining would come later, once a lessee submits detailed development plans.

Officials will first consider comments from the CNMI governor before deciding whether to issue a final leasing notice. Local leaders and neighboring Guam have raised concerns about the pace of the process, potential environmental effects on the deep ocean, and limited formal input opportunities for some Pacific territories.

A Notice of Availability for the PLN was published in the Federal Register on August 18, 2026. The Governor of the CNMI has 60 days to review and comment. If the sale proceeds, a Final Leasing Notice would be published in the Federal Register at least 30 days prior. 

Issuance of the PLN does not affirm that a lease sale will be held, nor does it guarantee that any exploration or collection activities will occur. Any future development beyond preliminary activities would require additional plans and separate environmental reviews. 

This is one of several recent steps under the current administration aimed at accelerating access to offshore critical minerals, including similar proposals near American Samoa and streamlined permitting pathways for deep-seabed activities in international waters. Whether the December auction proceeds — and under what conditions — remains subject to the remaining review steps and local feedback.

The Proposed Leasing Notice, supporting materials, Environmental Assessment, maps, and related information are available on the agency’s website (www.boem.gov/cnmi-2026 or the CNMI activities page).