The US Department of the Interior (DoI) has announced policy updates aimed at accelerating the exploration and development of offshore critical minerals, which are essential for the nation’s energy, technology and defence sectors.
These measures are part of the Trump administration’s strategy to fortify US leadership by simplifying regulations and expediting approval processes, ensuring responsible mineral development.
Acting Assistant Secretary Adam Suess said: “We are making decisive moves to secure America’s leadership in critical minerals – resources that power our economy, protect our national security and support modern life.
“By eliminating unnecessary delays and maintaining strong environmental protections, we are creating a clear path for responsible development that strengthens both our communities and our country.”
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) are revising policies to enhance efficiency and predictability in the offshore minerals programme.
These revisions cover early exploration to post-lease operations and production, aiming to reduce delays, enhance coordination and offer industry certainty while maintaining environmental protections.
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By GlobalDataFor prospecting, the BOEM will utilise streamlined environmental reviews and extend permit durations from three to five years. This grants companies additional time to conduct their work without disruptions.
To expedite leasing, the BOEM will immediately identify potential development areas, bypassing initial formal requests for information and inter-agency task forces. This could save significant time, ranging from two months to over a year.
The BOEM will also commence environmental assessments during the lease sale phase, reserving comprehensive environmental impact statements for later if required. These initiatives are expected to shorten delays and public comment periods.
Additionally, the BOEM will offer attractive lease terms such as reduced minimum bids and fee waivers.
Upon lease issuance, the BOEM and BSEE will facilitate expedited permitting for offshore critical mineral projects, streamlining approvals and consolidating exploration, testing and mining plans into a single review process.
The BSEE will oversee operations, ensuring adherence to stringent environmental, permitting and safety standards.
Supporting these efforts, the US Geological Survey (USGS) will provide updated scientific data on critical mineral resources and the environmental and geological implications of seabed development through its Global Seabed Mineral Resources project.
Acting Assistant Secretary Scott Cameron said: “USGS science is critical to securing America’s future. By expanding our understanding of where critical minerals are found – on land and the seafloor – we are strengthening the foundation for national security, economic growth and supply chain resilience.”
The DoI also recently approved an expansion of the Bull Mountains coal mine in Montana, allowing Signal Peak Energy to mine an additional 22.8 million tonnes (mt) of federal coal and 34.5mt of non-federal coal.
This could extend the mine’s life by up to nine years, supporting more than 250 jobs in Musselshell and Yellowstone Counties.
