Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In case you’re wondering what’s new after the local public outcry about the US through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) planning to sell leases that would allow offshore mining of certain areas of outer continental shelf (OCS) for American Samoa — on November 10, 2025, in a press release, BOEM announced the completion of another step in its regulatory pathway — the Area Identification, or Area ID, for potential critical minerals leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore for American Samoa.

It should be noted that the American Samoa government (ASG) has not given public updates of BOEM’s plans since its last held meeting in August this year. In that public meeting, ASG brought together both sides of the issue — pros & cons — to present their views, and told the public that the BOEM process is a lengthy one. No more has been heard from the ASG on the issue.

(Samoa News did reach out to the ASG for comment on the current progress of the issue, and was told the Governor’s Office should issue an update soon — however to date no comment has been received.)

The BOEM announcement noted that the first step was the publication of a Request for Information and Interest, or RFI, in the Federal Register on June 16, 2025 (90 FR 25369), which initiated a 30-day public comment period, later extended an additional 30 days at the request of the Governor of American Samoa.

It points out that the next step was the Area ID — which defines specific areas that will undergo further environmental analysis to assess their suitability for possible leasing.

The Area ID decision was informed by industry nominations, public comments, and feedback from local government and stakeholders, BOEM states in its press release.

BOEM further notes that the Area ID is not a decision to lease, but a planning step that ensures future decisions are grounded in environmental analysis, public input, and intergovernmental coordination.

For the American Samoa public, it should be noted that the BOEM website lists its “Regulatory Pathway for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Minerals Leasing For American Samoa” and the progress it has made so far:

Request for Information and Interest
RFI for information and interest published in the Federal Register.

Identification of Areas
Areas to be considered for leasing.

Environmental Analysis
Analysis for the lease sale.

Proposed Leasing Notice
Published in the Federal Register.

Leasing Notice
Published in the Federal Register

Competitive Lease Sale