Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) Exploration Licenses

Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) Exploration Licenses is sponsored by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is responsible for issuing exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits to U. S.

companies for polymetallic nodules containing critical minerals from the deep seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Mining Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Mining Remotely operated vehicle traverses over an extensive field of polymetallic nodules on the deep sea floor. Credit: NOAA. What is NOAA’s role in deep seabed mining?

Deep seabed mining is the extraction of critical mineral resources from the ocean floor. The deep seabed has valuable resources like manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements. Critical minerals are used in everything from defense systems and batteries to smartphones and medical devices.

Access to these minerals is a key factor in the resilience of U.S. supply chains. Before a U.S. citizen, including a U.S. company, may engage in deep seabed mining activities in ocean floor areas beyond national jurisdiction, they must obtain appropriate government authorizations.

The Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) charges NOAA with the responsibility for issuing to U.S. companies licenses for exploration and permits for commercial recovery of polymetallic nodules containing manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper from the deep seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

For ocean floor areas within U.S. national jurisdiction, the primary legal authority for offshore mining activities is the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act , which is administered by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates deep seabed mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction for countries that are parties to the Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC).

The U.S. is not a party to the LOSC. Under DSHMRA, the U.S. may issue exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits to U.S. companies in areas beyond national jurisdiction, provided all statutory and regulatory requirements are met. On April 24, 2025, the President signed Executive Order 14285 establishing policies to advance U.S. leadership in seabed mineral exploration and responsible commercial recovery.

Applying for a DSHMRA license or permit For DSHMRA applications regarding exploration licenses or commercial recovery permits by U.S.-based companies, NOAA’s National Ocean Service provides the review and processing of these applications, with final approval by the NOAA Administrator.

NOAA is committed to the expeditious review of DSHMRA applications for exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits, and NOAA has provided instructions to assist potential applicants in the process of developing an application. DSHMRA and its implementing regulations provide details on the required information for license and permit applications.

There are multiple steps before an exploration license or commercial recovery permit is issued. DSHMRA provides an opportunity for public comment at certain points in the regulatory process. NOAA will announce opportunities for public comments through the Federal Register notice process.

U.S. companies that are considering applying for a DSHMRA exploration license or commercial recovery permit are advised to submit a pre-application consultation request to nos. dshmra@noaa. gov .

NOAA’s Small Business Compliance Guide for DSHMRA provides general information for small businesses to comply with DSHMRA regulations as revised by NOAA’s January 2026 final rule . Instructions for electronic filing of DSHMRA applications can be found here . Applications that are not submitted in compliance with these instructions may not be accepted by NOAA.

Final rule to consolidate deep seabed mining license and permit review public comment process On January 21, 2026, NOAA issued the final rule: Deep Seabed Mining: Revisions to Regulations for Exploration License and Commercial Recovery Permit Applications . The final rule revises some provisions of DSHMRA’s implementing regulations for exploration license and commercial recovery permit applications.

NOAA accepted public comments on the proposed rule from July 7, 2025 through September 5, 2025, via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal and two virtual public hearings . More information is available in the Federal Register notice for the final rule, and more information about the federal rulemaking process is available here .

DSHMRA applications, licenses, and permits Exploration License: Authorizes a U.S. company to conduct surveys, research, and test mining of polymetallic nodules in specified areas beyond national jurisdiction. Commercial Recovery Permit: Authorizes an eligible U.S. company to conduct recovery of polymetallic nodules in specified areas beyond national jurisdiction for marketing or commercial purposes.

Existing DSHMRA Exploration Licenses Lockheed Martin Corporation holds two exploration licenses (USA-1 and USA-4) issued in 1984. Existing DSHMRA Commercial Recovery Permits Public notices of DSHMRA applications are posted in the Federal Register and publicly-releaseable versions of the applications are available on regulations. gov .

The applications list will be updated as new information becomes available. American Deep Sea Minerals Inc. Application Application Type: Exploration License Federal Register notice (posted June 2, 2026) Public Comment Period : June 2, 2026 - August 3, 2026 NOAA held a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

American Metal Resources Application Application Type: Exploration License Federal Register notice (posted March 23, 2026) Public Comment Period : March 23, 2026 - May 22, 2026 Federal Register notice extending public comment period to May 26, 2026 (posted April 7, 2026) NOAA held a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Registration information .

--> Application Type: Exploration License Federal Register notice (posted March 23, 2026) Public Comment Period : March 23, 2026 - May 22, 2026 Federal Register notice extending public comment period to May 26, 2026 (posted April 7, 2026) NOAA held a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Registration information .

--> The Metals Company USA: Application A Application Type: Exploration License Federal Register notice (posted December 23, 2025) Public Comment Period : December 23, 2025 - February 23, 2026 NOAA held virtual public hearings on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, and Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

The Metals Company USA: Application B Application Type: Exploration License Federal Register notice (posted December 23, 2025) Public Comment Period : December 23, 2025 - February 23, 2026 NOAA held virtual public hearings on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, and Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Determination of Certification: May 26, 2026. For additional information, please email nos.

dshmra@noaa. gov NOAA accelerates permitting timeline for deep seabed mining applications (2026) ‘The next gold rush’: President Trump unlocks access to critical deep seabed minerals (2025) Deep seabed mineral development: A media resource guide (2025) Regulations, Statutes, and Guidance DSHMRA Statute 30 U.S.C. 1401, et seq.

DSHMRA Exploration License Regulations 15 CFR part 970 DSHMRA Commercial Recovery Permit Regulations 15 CFR part 971 Deep Seabed Mining Technical Guidance Document (1981) DSHMRA Paperwork Reduction Act Application Instructions DSHMRA Privacy Act Statement and PRA Burden Statement Scientific Information and Assessments State of the Science: Deep-Sea Mining (2025) Deep Seabed Mining Programmatic EIS (1981) Deep Ocean Mining Environmental Study (1977) Contact: nos.

dshmra@noaa. gov