Key points
- The Marine Minerals Administration has published the Final Leasing Notice for Lease Sale PACM-1, the first Outer Continental Shelf minerals lease sale, offshore American Samoa.
- The sale is scheduled for November 19, 2026 and offers two lease areas; the notice goes on public display in the Federal Register on October 20, 2026.
- The notice sets out the areas offered, the sale schedule, lease terms and stipulations, rental and royalty rates and information for bidders.
- A lease only authorizes preliminary work such as mapping; exploration, testing and commercial harvesting need further MMA approvals after the auction.
Notice outlines lease terms ahead of the November 19 auction
WASHINGTON, DC / October 19, 2026 / The Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) announced today the availability of a Final Leasing Notice for an Outer Continental Shelf minerals lease sale offshore American Samoa for Lease Sale PACM-1. The notice sets out the areas offered for lease, the sale schedule, lease terms and stipulations, rental and royalty rates, and information for prospective bidders. The notice gives prospective bidders and the public a clear account of how the sale will proceed. Lease Sale PACM-1 is scheduled for November 19, 2026, and will offer two areas offshore American Samoa.
“Critical minerals are no longer just commodities; they are a vital strategic asset in global competition, essential for reaching our energy efficiency goals, strengthening our national defense, and securing domestic supply chains,” said acting MMA Director Mike Olsen. “MMA recognizes the ocean floor surrounding American Samoa carries cultural, economic, and environmental significance, requiring that the pursuit of National Security and energy readiness is balanced with rigorous environmental stewardship. As MMA evaluates potential deep-sea resources, its priority remains guided by science, environmental review, and meaningful engagement with the people and leadership of American Samoa.”
The Final Leasing Notice, maps and supporting materials are available at boem.gov/american-samoa. The notice is scheduled to go on public display in the Federal Register on October 20, 2026, with the auction taking place on November 19, 2026.
A winning bid and securing a lease along the OCS, by itself, does not authorize immediate permission to harvest deep-sea minerals; it only authorizes preliminary activities like mapping. MMA will manage a multi-stage post-auction regulatory process before a company can begin physical exploration, testing, or full-scale commercial harvesting.
MMA is offering two lease areas for bid in Lease Sale PACM-1 as identified in the map below.
The Final Leasing Notice, including maps, supporting materials, and leasing forms, are now available at www.boem.gov/american-samoa.
About the Marine Minerals Administration
As of July 10, 2026, the Department of the Interior has reunified the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement into the Marine Minerals Administration, which will oversee the responsible development of the nation’s offshore energy and marine mineral resources with an integrated focus on safety, environmental protection and efficient oversight. For more information, visit https://www.doi.gov/mma-reunification.
