NOAA seeks comment on deep-sea mining plan near Cook Islands

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking public comments on a Canadian company’s application to explore deep-sea mining projects in Pacific Ocean waters near the Cook Islands, further expanding the Trump administration’s efforts to foster seabed mineral extraction under U.S. law even outside of domestic waters. According to a Federal Register notice set to be officially published on June 2, NOAA is moving forward with a Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act application fro