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America’s Offshore Critical Minerals
Below you will find answers to common questions that help explain the importance, uses, and supply dynamics of critical minerals, and BOEM’s role.
Critical Minerals and Their Importance
What are critical minerals?
Critical minerals are non-fuel minerals essential to the United States economy and national security and include nickel, copper, cobalt, and dozens of others. They are used in batteries, electronics, renewable energy systems, defense technologies, and manufacturing of everyday products. The list of critical minerals is maintained and updated every three years by the USGS.
Why are offshore critical minerals important?
Offshore critical mineral resources help reduce reliance on foreign sources, strengthen domestic supply chains, and support United States energy independence, manufacturing, and national security.
How do offshore minerals support United States security?
They reduce dependence on imports, secure domestic supply chains for defense and technology, and support economic resilience.
BOEM's Role
What does the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) do regarding critical minerals?
BOEM manages the development of mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), evaluates marine minerals deposits, and oversees leasing and environmental and technical reviews. BOEM does not recover or harvest minerals directly.
How large is the Outer Continental Shelf managed by BOEM?
BOEM manages about 3.2 billion acres of the federal seabed, or OCS. This is over 40% more than the land area of the United States.
Does BOEM have jurisdiction over the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?
Yes. BOEM’s jurisdiction covers the OCS, which includes submerged lands beyond state waters (starting 3 nautical miles offshore, or 9 miles in some states) out to the outer limit of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone—typically 200 nautical miles from shore. BOEM regulates mineral and energy resources in this area under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
Who does BOEM collaborate with?
BOEM works with the Department of War, United States Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and other federal and state agencies for resource evaluation and environmental research, as well as operational oversight.
Location, Types, and Uses of Critical Minerals
Where are offshore critical minerals found?
- Alaska OCS: Heavy mineral sands, ferromanganese crusts
- Atlantic OCS: Heavy mineral sands, phosphorites, crusts, polymetallic nodules
- Gulf of America OCS: Heavy mineral sands, brine lakes
- Pacific Coast OCS: Phosphorites, polymetallic sulfides
- Remote Pacific OCS: Nodules, crusts
What are the main types of marine mineral deposits?
- Polymetallic nodules: Manganese concretions on deep-sea plains (4,000–7,000 meters)
- Ferromanganese crusts: Cobalt-rich crusts on seamounts (600–7,000 meters)
- Polymetallic sulfides: Hydrothermal deposits near underwater volcanoes
- Heavy mineral sands: Nearshore placers (less than 200 meters depth)
- Phosphorites: Sedimentary rocks or sediments on continental shelves/slopes (less than 1,000 meters)
Why are critical minerals important to daily life and industry?
They are essential for:
- Batteries: cobalt, lithium, manganese, antimony, nickel
- Energy production: aluminum, lithium, manganese
- Building materials: aluminum, chromium, magnesium, nickel, zinc, tin, niobium
- Electronics and lighting: cerium, europium, lanthanum, gadolinium, yttrium
- Transportation: palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, aluminum, nickel, cobalt
- Defense and information technology: germanium, gallium, rare earth elements
- Health care: bismuth
Environmental Protection
How does BOEM ensure environmental protection during mineral exploration?
BOEM conducts environmental reviews pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, among other environmental laws. BOEM partners with the United States Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and other federal agencies to assess and mitigate impacts on ecosystems, such as like deep-sea corals and hydrothermal vent communities.
Regulations and Leasing
Where can I find the regulations for leasing offshore critical minerals?
Offshore critical minerals leasing is covered by existing competitive mineral leasing rules. The rules are in Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 580–582:
- Part 580: Prospecting
- Part 581: Leasing process
- Part 582: Operations under a lease
Do I need a permit to explore offshore minerals?
Yes. Under Part 580, you must get a BOEM permit (or file a notice for certain research) before conducting geological or geophysical work offshore. The rules differ somewhat between commercial and scientific research.
How does the leasing process work?
Under Part 581, BOEM uses competitive bidding:
- Identifies areas and seeks public input
- Publishes notices and holds an auction
- Awards leases to the highest qualified bidder
What happens after a lease is issued?
Under Part 582, lessees must submit delineation, testing, and mining plans for approval and then follow rigorous safety and environmental standards for offshore operations. A minerals lease does not authorize delineation, testing, or harvesting of minerals. It only allows preliminary activities—such as mapping, geological surveys, and further submission of plans for BOEM review. No project can proceed to harvesting of minerals without BOEM review and approval of required plans. Lessees are subject to monitoring and inspection by BOEM, by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Does the issuance of a Request for Interest (RFI) indicate that a lease sale will be held?
Not necessarily. An early step in the lease-sale process, an RFI asks industry for nominations of specific areas and minerals of interest; and asks all interested parties - including the public - for information on other ocean uses, socioeconomic and environmental information, and recommendations on auction format and lease terms. That input is used to identify potential lease areas, right-size tracts and blocks, understand multiple uses, and inform lease terms and auction format in any subsequent notices. The RFI does not prejudge any Secretarial decision. BOEM will consider input, consult partners and complete required analyses before any decision is made.
How long is the leasing process?
Leasing processes involve public comment, consultation, and environmental analysis. The full leasing process for marine minerals can take a year or more, including opportunity for public involvement.
Has BOEM (or its predecessor agency, the U.S. Minerals Management Service) ever conducted a competitive minerals lease sale on the U.S. OCS?
No. In the early 1990s, the federal government went through the steps, including the solicitation of bids, to hold a gold lease sale in federal waters off Nome, Alaska. However, no bids were received, and the prospective sale was canceled.