Yassamin Ansari Warns Against Deep Sea Mining Due to Ecological and Economic Risks

Deep Sea Mining: A Risky Proposition

• ⚠️ The industry raises more questions than answers, with no commercial operations existing globally despite decades of promises.
• 💰 Companies like The Meadows have spent significant capital with delayed timelines and a history of bankruptcy, indicating it's neither economically viable nor worth the risk.

Environmental and Community Impacts

• 🔬 Deep sea ecosystems are extraordinarily fragile, with a monitored test site not recovering after 50 years, highlighting our limited understanding of these environments.
• 🏝️ Communities like American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands have unanimously opposed mining off their coasts, yet their concerns are being ignored.
• 🌎 The international community, including 40 countries, urges caution, but the current administration is considering permits for mining in international waters.

Alternative Solutions for Critical Minerals

• ♻️ Instead of deep sea extraction, focus should be on recycling and developing a circular economy to recover minerals from existing products.
• ⛏️ Minerals can also be extracted from tailings of existing mines, which are mining waste already brought to the surface.
• 🤝 Collaborate with allies to build diverse and resilient supply chains.
• 🏞️ Pursue responsible on-land mining with proper environmental reviews, tribal consultation, and community consent, ensuring royalties benefit taxpayers.

National Security and International Relations

• ⚖️ Issuing deep sea mining permits could isolate the US from allies, undermine international legal frameworks, and compromise freedom of navigation.
• 💡 Pursuing a risky, unprofitable industry is not a sound national security strategy, especially when proven alternatives exist.