The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced a proposed rule to modernize and consolidate the application process for U.S. companies seeking to explore and commercially recover polymetallic nodules from the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction.
Published on July 7, 2025, the rule aims to update parts of the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) regulations, first established in the 1980s, to reflect major technological advancements and accumulated industry knowledge.
Why the update?
Under current U.S. law, companies must first obtain an exploration license before applying for a separate commercial recovery permit. This step-by-step approach made sense in the early days, when seabed mining was largely experimental and technological capabilities were limited.
Today, advances in autonomous underwater vehicles, deep-sea sensors, artificial intelligence, and marine mapping have dramatically improved the industry’s ability to explore and assess deep ocean resources. NOAA now proposes allowing qualified applicants to submit a single, consolidated application for both exploration and commercial recovery, speeding up timelines and reducing administrative burden.
Why this matters
Seabed minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese are increasingly seen as critical to supporting the global transition to clean energy technologies and electric vehicles. The U.S. has historically relied on imports for many of these minerals, exposing supply chains to geopolitical risks and price volatility.
By streamlining domestic deep seabed mining regulations, NOAA’s proposal aligns with the April 2025 Executive Order 14285, which prioritizes U.S. leadership in offshore mineral development and reducing dependence on foreign sources.
The new rule is designed to encourage responsible investment by lowering regulatory barriers and providing a clearer path to commercial-scale operations, while maintaining strict environmental and technical standards.
Lockheed Martin remains the only U.S. company holding active DSHMRA exploration licenses (USA-1 and USA-4), both issued in 1984. No commercial recovery permits have yet been granted, highlighting the slow progress in bringing deep seabed mining projects into production.
If adopted, NOAA’s updated framework could accelerate the emergence of a domestic deep sea mining industry — potentially unlocking access to strategic minerals on the seafloor and strengthening U.S. mineral independence.
For full details, the proposed rule can be found on NOAA’s Deep Seabed Mining website.
