The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Tuesday has released a Proposed Leasing Notice outlining a Dec. 16 mineral lease sale for five massive offshore areas surrounding the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Although the latest announcement about the lease area does not mention Guam, the closest proposed tracts come within 57 miles of Saipan and 46 miles of Guam.
The sale, designated PACM‑2, would auction more than 67 million acres of unleased Outer Continental Shelf blocks for potential development of polymetallic nodules, ferromanganese crusts and marine sulfide deposits, according to BOEM’s notice.
The auction will be held in or near Camarillo, Calif., and conducted as an in‑person ascending oral auction, live‑streamed for public viewing. Only qualified bidders may attend. BOEM said each lease will carry a 20‑year primary term, a minimum bonus bid of $3 million, and royalty rates ranging from 2% to 7% depending on location and production year.
Two lease areas lie east of the CNMI and three to the west, with individual tracts ranging from roughly 10.9 million to 18 million acres. BOEM emphasized that all oil, gas, sulfur and fissionable source materials remain reserved to the federal government. The agency also released proposed stipulations covering endangered species protections, fisheries communication, port utilization, community investment, and coordination with the Department of War.
The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management will decide whether to proceed after receiving comments from the CNMI governor, as required under federal regulations. BOEM will publish a Final Leasing Notice at least 30 days before the sale.
Gov. David Apatang said his administration will issue a statement in regard to the BOEM announcement.
