Governor, Lt. Governor Host Public Workshop to Help Guam Comment on Federal Deep-Sea Mining Proposal

The Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor will host a free public workshop on January 7, 2026, to provide assistance to submit comments on the federal government’s deep-sea mining proposal for waters near the Marianas Trench, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

“Our Ocean, Our Voice: A Community Workshop for Comments on Deep Sea Mining” will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Guam Museum in Hagåtña and is open to all community members at no cost. Support will be available to help residents understand the proposal and craft effective public comments before the January 12, 2026 deadline.

“Our ocean is not a commodity. It is our lifeline, our heritage, and our responsibility to protect for generations to come,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, who also serves as co-chair of the Guam Green Growth initiative. “We strongly encourage every member of our community to make their voices heard on this critical issue. This workshop will help ensure that our people can provide meaningful input on a proposal that could have profound impacts on our marine environment, our culture, and our future.”

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposal targets approximately 35.5 million acres of seafloor east of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, an area roughly equal in size between Guam and Rota. The proposal has sparked widespread concern across the Pacific territories over potential environmental damage to one of the world’s deepest and most biodiverse ocean ecosystems. 

Governor Leon Guerrero and CNMI Governor David Apatang jointly requested a 120-day extension to the public comment period, arguing that 30 days was insufficient time for island governments and communities to conduct comprehensive reviews and consultations. While federal officials granted an additional 30 days, many community leaders have said more time is needed to adequately assess the environmental, economic, cultural, and jurisdictional implications of deep-sea mining in the region.

Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio added, “The implications of deep-sea mining do not start and end with us. Our children, their children, and the future generations of our people will have to deal with whatever is brought upon them because of deep-sea mining.  We owe it to them to make sure their best interests are considered now.”

The workshop aims to address these concerns by providing community members with the resources and support they need to participate effectively in the federal comment process. Attendees will receive guidance on how to access the federal docket at regulations.gov (docket number BOEM-2025-0351-0001), how to structure their comments, and what information is most valuable to include in public testimony.

Governor Leon Guerrero added, “There must be more scientific research to understand the true impacts of this form of mineral extraction. Little research has been conducted on the ocean’s depths, including the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining.”

Along with the support for comment writers, the event will host several prominent environmental experts who will be providing insight about deep-sea mining.  Speakers will include:  

• ⁠Julian Aguon J.D. – Principal Attorney, Blue Ocean Law
• ⁠⁠Theresa “Isa” Arriola Mook, Ph.D. – Director of Operations, Blue Ocean Law
• Jeffrey C. Drazen, Ph.D. – Deep Sea Ecologist, University of Hawaii at Manoa
• ⁠⁠Sean D.L.G Macduff Ph.D. – Superintendent, Marianas Trench Marine National Monument 

The proposed mining area lies entirely within federal waters, and critics have raised concerns about the potential for irreversible harm to marine ecosystems, cultural heritage sites, Indigenous food systems, and traditional navigation routes. The area is also believed to contain World War II-era shipwrecks and aircraft, as well as ancestral seafloor sites.

Community members, environmental organizations, cultural groups, and anyone concerned about protecting the Marianas’ ocean resources are encouraged to attend the January 7 workshop. Walk-ins are welcome, and no registration is required. 

The event will be facilitated by The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, and Guam Green Growth.  To register to attend the event, visit tinyurl.com/DSMGUAM.