Governor Apatang Emphasizes CNMI Protections in Review of Proposed Pacific Mineral Lease Sale

The CNMI Office of the Governor acknowledges receipt of the Marine Minerals Administration (MMA), formerly known as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Proposed Leasing Notice for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Pacific Mineral Lease Sale (Lease Sale PACM-2).

The announcement marks the initiation of the statutory 60-day governor's review window, during which Governor David M. Apatang will conduct a thorough interagency evaluation of the proposed terms, environmental safeguards, and economic stipulations.

While acknowledging the federal government's strategic focus on identifying and strengthening critical mineral supply chains, Governor Apatang emphasized that the Commonwealth's evaluation will remain firmly anchored in the protection of the people, environment, and marine resources of the CNMI.

"Our administration approaches this announcement with extreme caution," Governor Apatang said.

"While MMA's proposed action covers preliminary data collection rather than commercial extraction, we must ensure that no activity, survey or otherwise, takes place without rigorous scientific baseline studies, complete transparency, and explicit protections for our marine resources."

The CNMI Governor's Office highlights that the proposed notice outlines initial survey frameworks across five focus areas. In response, the Commonwealth's formal executive review will focus on establishing and enforcing non-negotiable prerequisites before any final leasing decisions are made:

1. Precautionary Scientific Rigor: No offshore preliminary operations should proceed without established environmental baselines developed through independent, peer-reviewed scientific analysis.

2. Mandatory Fishery Protections: Clear spatial buffers and enforceable Fisheries Communication Plans
   (FP) must be mandated to prevent physical or acoustic interference with local commercial and
   subsistence fishing activities.

3. Equitable Economic and Infrastructure Terms: Should federal surveys proceed, the CNMI must
   receive binding commitments regarding local workforce development, port infrastructure investments,
   and priority contracting opportunities for island businesses.

4. Active Territorial Co-Management: Federal agencies must ensure that CNMI environmental officials and traditional leaders have an active role in reviewing survey plans, evaluating monitoring data, and safeguarding territorial interests.

   
   "We welcome dialogue with the Department of the Interior and the Marine Minerals Administration, but our priority remains unchanged," Governor Apatang said. "We will thoroughly examine the proposed terms over the next 60 days to ensure that the ecological integrity of our waters and the long-term well-being of the CNMI are fully safeguarded."

   
   The Governor's Office will continue coordinating with relevant CNMI agencies, community stakeholders, scientific experts, and federal partners throughout the review period and will provide additional information as the Commonwealth's evaluation progresses.