Samoan chiefs and groups sue to block American Samoa deep-sea mining lease sale

HONOLULU — A council of matai, or chiefs, from American Samoa's Manu‘a Islands and two community groups have sued in federal court to block a Nov 19 lease sale that would allow deep-sea mining off the coast of American Samoa.

Faleula o le Manu‘atele, Fa‘asao Amerika Samoa (FAS) and Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, represented by Earthjustice, are asking the court to declare the sale unlawful. They also want it to vacate the final leasing notice that the Marine Minerals Administration published the same day. The groups argue that the agency lacks the authority to sell the leases under treaty requirements that must be met before any mineral leasing in American Samoa. They also argue that the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act does not authorize mineral leasing in any U.S. territory and that the agency is violating its own leasing regulations.

"We are bringing this case to protect the Samoan lands and waters that hold histories, feed families, and shelter sacred beings before deep-sea mining causes irreversible destruction," Earthjustice attorney Chris Eaton said.