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Interior delays offshore mineral lease amid brewing concerns

The Trump administration is taking more time to mull the first mineral lease sale in decades in U.S. waters off American Samoa at the request of the U.S. territory's governor, who opposes the effort. The Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Tuesday said it's extending a public comment period on its proposal to advance deep-sea mining off the territory's shores by a month. The comment period will now go through Aug. 15. Last month, BOEM began collecting feedback on a plan to conduct leases in waters off the U.S. territory and said the comment period would end Wednesday. The move is notable given a California company, Impossible Metals, is seeking permission to explore the seas there for minerals like cobalt, lithium and nickel. Advertisement 'As we extend the comment period, we emphasize our commitment to an open process that ensures the voices of the people of American Samoa are heard and respected,' BOEM Pacific Regional Director Doug Boren said in a statement. 'We look forward to our continued engagement with the Government of American Samoa.'