THE United States has entered a new phase of deep-sea mining activity. What was once a single-company process has become a competitive landscape, with three separate applications now moving through NOAA’s federal permitting system. As of late March 2026, The Metals Company (TMC), American Metal Resources (AMR), and SeaX, Inc. are all seeking authorization to explore or potentially extract minerals from the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ), an area of international waters known for its metal-rich seabed.
For residents, policymakers, and community groups tracking this fast-moving issue, the summary below outlines each application in straightforward terms.
1. TMC: The First to Clear a Major Federal Milestone
TMC remains the furthest along in NOAA’s review process. It was the first company to use NOAA’s new “Consolidated Rule,” which allows exploration and commercial recovery plans to be evaluated together.
Docket IDs: NOAA-NOS-2025-0702 & NOAA-NOS-2025-1330
Status: Substantially Compliant (as of March 9, 2026)
Meaning: NOAA has determined that TMC’s 65,000 km² proposal meets required technical standards. This enables the agency to begin a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) covering both exploration and potential extraction.
Next Step: TMC’s Q1 2026 earnings call on March 26, where the company is expected to discuss its timeline for early “pre-commercial” collection trials.
2. AMR: A New Entrant With a Defense-Oriented Strategy
AMR formally entered the permitting process on March 23, 2026, when NOAA published its application in the Federal Register.
Docket ID: NOAA-NOS-2026-0034
Status: Application Received/Information Complete
Focus: AMR positions itself as a supplier for the U.S. defense industrial base, emphasizing minerals such as nickel and cobalt. The company is also seeking support under PL 119-21, which prioritizes domestic mineral security.
Public Hearing: April 21, 2026 (3 p.m.–5 p.m. ET)
Public Comment Deadline: May 22, 2026
3. SeaX, Inc.: A Slower, Research-Centered Approach
SeaX submitted its application on the same day as AMR. (SeaX is not a subsidiary of Deep Sea Minerals Corp. and has no affiliation with it, contrary to what was earlier stated.)
Docket ID: NOAA-NOS-2026-0035
Status: Application Received/Information Complete
Strategy: SeaX proposes a 24-month environmental data-collection phase before seeking any commercial recovery rights. This approach contrasts with TMC’s more accelerated timeline.
Public Hearing: April 22, 2026 (3 p.m.–5 p.m. ET)
Public Comment Deadline: May 22, 2026
The entry of AMR and SeaX indicates growing private-sector interest in federal initiatives supporting “domestic mineral development,” including the 2025 Executive Order promoting offshore resource exploration.
At the same time, Guam, the CNMI, and American Samoa continue to advocate for a 10-year moratorium on deep-sea mining. Their joint stance — known as the Unified Pacific Position —remains a significant consideration for NOAA during the Environmental Impact Statement phase for all three applications.
TMC may have an early lead, but the April hearings for AMR and SeaX will provide the first indication of how NOAA intends to manage multiple overlapping proposals within the same region of international waters.
NOEL M. SORIA
Saipan, CNMI
