Notice2026-10975
Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Application for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period and Virtual Public Hearing
Primary source
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Published
June 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NOAA has received an application for a license to conduct seabed mining exploration activities that is fully compliant with the applicable information requirements of the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA or the Act) and the Act's implementing regulations. As part of the application review process, NOAA will hold one virtual public hearing on American Deep Sea Minerals, Inc.'s (ADSM) application and will accept written comments on the application submitted electronically via the instructions below.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 32957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10975]
[[Page 32957]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket Nos.: 260513-0131]
XRIN 0648-XA004
Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Application for Deep
Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment
Period and Virtual Public Hearing
AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of application for deep seabed mining
exploration licenses; request for comments; notice of virtual public
hearing.
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SUMMARY: NOAA has received an application for a license to conduct
seabed mining exploration activities that is fully compliant with the
applicable information requirements of the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral
Resources Act (DSHMRA or the Act) and the Act's implementing
regulations. As part of the application review process, NOAA will hold
one virtual public hearing on American Deep Sea Minerals, Inc.'s (ADSM)
application and will accept written comments on the application
submitted electronically via the instructions below.
DATES: Comments on the application must be received by August 3, 2026.
The virtual public hearing is scheduled for July 1, 2026, from 3 p.m.
to 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Instructions for attending the virtual
public hearing are provided below.
ADDRESSES: The ADSM application is electronically available at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NOS-2026-0892">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NOS-2026-0892</a>. You may send comments,
identified by docket number, by either of the following means:
Written Comments
Submit all public written comments on ADSM's Application via the
Federal <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> e-Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NOS-2026-0892">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NOS-2026-0892</a> or go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and enter ``NOAA-NOS-
2026-0892'' in the search bar.
Comments must be submitted by the date and electronic method
described below to ensure that the comments are received, documented,
and considered by NOAA. Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. Comments that are not related to the application
or that contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate
language will not be considered. To ensure full consideration by NOAA,
comments must be submitted in English. Comments that are not submitted
in English may not be posted to the public dockets on <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>
or considered by NOAA. All relevant comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA will
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you
wish to remain anonymous).
Virtual Public Hearings
You may submit oral comments on ADSM's Application during the July
1, 2026 meeting.
NOAA will conduct a virtual public hearing via Adobe Connect. Each
person who wants to attend the virtual public hearing must
electronically register by June 29, 2026, 5 p.m. ET. Attendance at the
virtual public hearing will be limited to 1,000 individuals. Any person
who registers and wants to speak at a virtual public hearing should
indicate that they want to speak during registration. To register for
either hearing, use the following link: <a href="https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/emfv1sxqp0tr/event/event_info.html">https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/emfv1sxqp0tr/event/event_info.html</a>. Each
registered participant will receive an Adobe Connect link for the
virtual public hearing.
Once the virtual public hearing starts, NOAA will describe the
virtual public hearing logistics. NOAA will then start the public
comment part of the virtual public hearing and will call on speakers on
a first come/first served basis through the raised hand function of
Adobe Connect. NOAA will then unmute the person speaking. Each speaker
will have three minutes to speak on the ADSM application. If a speaker
does not respond when they are called on, NOAA will move to the next
speaker. At the three-minute mark for each speaker, NOAA will mute that
speaker. Speakers cannot allot their time to another speaker. Once all
speakers have spoken or at the scheduled end of the virtual public
hearing, whichever is earlier, NOAA will end the virtual public
hearing. NOAA retains discretion to extend the virtual public hearing
if appropriate and feasible. NOAA will record the hearing and will
include transcripts of the hearing on the public docket for the ADSM
application on the <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> website at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NOS-2026-0892">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NOS-2026-0892</a>. The names provided by
each speaker will also be published as part of the transcripts.
The virtual public hearing does not replace the process for
submission of written comments. NOAA will not respond during the
hearing to oral comments or questions. To ensure full consideration by
NOAA, oral comments must be in English. Comments that are not in
English may not be transcribed or considered by NOAA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Cole, 301-233-2998,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8deffff4ece3a3eee2e1e8cde3e2ececa3eae2fb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="680a1a110906460b07040d2806070909460f071e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 2, 2026, NOAA received an
amended application from ADSM for a license to conduct seabed mining
exploration activities within the seabed area beyond national
jurisdiction in the South Penrhyn Basin of the South Pacific Ocean.
NOAA has determined that the application is fully compliant with the
applicable information requirements of the Act and its implementing
regulations. Under DSHMRA, NOAA shall publish notice of all license
applications and, subject to applicable public disclosure limitations,
interested persons are afforded the opportunity to examine the relevant
application materials and to submit written and oral comments to NOAA.
NOAA has determined that the ADSM application is the relevant material
for examination during the notice of application. 30 U.S.C. 1426(a)(1).
This application is electronically available at the location listed in
the ADDRESSES section. Please note that the statements made in the
application do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the views
of the U.S. Government.
(Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1426(a)(1).)
Neil A. Jacobs,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA
Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-10975 Filed 6-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P
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