The U.S. Department of the Interior announced it is streamlining the responsible development of critical minerals in federal offshore waters. These vital resources are essential for the U.S.’s energy, technology, and defense needs.
The new reforms focus on cutting red tape and boosting efficiency while maintaining robust environmental protections, including:
- Extending exploration permits from 3 years to 5 years.
- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will identify leasing areas without requiring formal Requests for Information, potentially reducing delays by months.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will support BOEM and BSEE with research and the latest scientific data on mineral resources, environmental impacts, and seafloor ecosystems to inform responsible offshore development.
- BOEM will offer favorable lease terms, including lower minimum bids and waivers for some rental fees, to encourage greater participation.
- After a lease is issued BOEM and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) will fast-track permitting for offshore critical mineral projects by using emergency procedures, minimizing paperwork for mapping, testing, and site development, and, at the lessee’s request, consolidating exploration, testing, and mining plans into a single review..
These coordinated efforts can significantly accelerate the development of critical minerals within U.S. federal waters.
