Guam pushes back as feds moves to fast track deep sea mining

Acting Governor Josh Tenorio says federal plans to explore for deep-sea minerals near the Marianas are moving too fast, and without enough input from the island. As federal and local officials met behind closed doors yesterday at Adelup, protesters gathered outside, making it loud and clear that Guam’s ocean and future are at stake.

Community members protested outside Adelup for hours on Thursday, as federal officials met inside with Guam agency leaders about a push to fast track deep sea mining and how it affects our region. Dededo resident John Leon Guerrero said, "It has severe, devastating consequences to our environment. Not only is it going to remain in one isolated area wherever the mining is going to be done, but there’s a great potential it will spread throughout our environment."

Senator Therese Terlaje added, "We want BOEM to know that the people of Guam do not agree with deep sea mining and the region. The risks to Guam are utter destruction to our economy and our way of life."

Some demonstrators stayed along the road. Another protester, Monaeka Flores wih Prutehi Guahan, even brought her message inside the building, proclaiming loudly, "No deep sea mining in the Marianas!" She used a megaphone outside the conference room until security personnel forcibly removed her. 

She continued to yell, "WE DO NOT CONSENT!"

Inside, the acting governor said the process is moving rapidly and without enough consultation. "Nobody in GovGuam was consulted or notified before the RFI was issued around the waters in the Northern Marianas," Tenorio mentioned.  He says federal officials told him they could identify a potential exploration area in just weeks or months.

He says that timeline is "unsettling," especially after what happened in American Samoa, where a mining zone grew after public comments closed. Tenorio added, "I also told them we’re not interested in being guinea pigs out here and that matters of technology and environmental consequence are very, very high and very, very top of concern."

Local agency heads also raised “significant amount of concerns” about military use of the region, possible impacts to shipping lanes, and whether Guam would see any economic benefit at all.

"Right now, there is no statutory framework in the federal government that would even allow the federal government to give or share revenues with the Government of Guam," the acting governor said. Tenorio says the administration is now pushing for more public meetings, a federal-territorial task force, and resources so Guam can independently study the impacts.

But the biggest concern: whether the federal government has already made up its mind. "We’re all afraid this is going to move forward," Tenorio said. "I’m going to be part of the movement that is going to figure out how to put a stop to our threats, our environment and our people."

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has not announced any public meetings for Guam. 

Tenorio says federal officials tried to assure him that deep sea mining activities will be 5-10 years away, but admits he’s not comfortable with that kind of assurance with how rapidly BOEM is moving forward.