A Canadian deep-sea mining company may become the first to commercially mine the international seabed under a controversial U.S. executive order that bypasses United Nations regulations. A recent legal analysis suggests that this could place Canada in violation of international law.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently announced that an application made by Vancouver-based The Metals Company (via their U.S. subsidiary, TMC USA) is fully compliant with NOAA regulations. The next steps include publication of a draft environmental impact statement for public comment, which TMC expects will lead to a permit to mine the seabed by the first quarter of 2027.
