Critical Minerals At A Critical Point: NOAA's Decision Point

On December 23, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) formally announced receipt and commencement of public review of exploration license applications for deep seabed mining under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA).¹

This marks a significant procedural milestone in NOAA's oversight of potential deep-sea mining activities by U.S. entities in international waters and underscores the current U.S. administration's focus on bolstering U.S. access to critical minerals, in part through seabed mineral resource development.²

Regulatory and Jurisdictional Framework

Deep seabed mining refers to the extraction of critical mineral deposits on or below the ocean floor. Polymetallic nodules and other seabed resources contain high concentrations of nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, and rare earth minerals, which are key inputs for electric vehicle batteries, grid-scale energy storage, energy infrastructure, and advanced defense