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American Samoa Government - PR001-11192025
Posted: November 19, 2025
Tali Amerika Samoa i le Fa’asalalauga a le BOEM i Sa’iliga o Minerale
Itū-Sami Loloto o lo’o Fuafua i le Vaega Patino o le Konetineta
FAGATOGO, Amerika Samoa - Sa aloa’ia e le Mālō o Amerika Samoa le Ofisa o Pulega o Malosi’aga i le Vasa (BOEM) a le Unaite Setete, e uiga i fa’asalalauga mae’ae’a o fa’agasologa o le vaega o le itū-sami. i le fa’atauga o lisi ua fa’amauina ai vaega patino o le Konetineta (Outer Continental Shelf). O le a faia se iloiloga o le si’osi’omaga mo lisi fuafuaina mo minerale tāua i le tulaga o iloiloga Fa’alesi’osi’omaga, e tusa ai ma le Tulafono o Faiga Fa’avae o le si’osi’omaga a le atunu’u (NEPA).
O le saunoaga ma le finagalo fa’aalia o lana Afioga a le Kovana Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula, “E matuā te’ena e Amerika Samoa so’o se fa’atauga lisi e ono a’afia ai le tamaoaiga fa’alenatura o le sami, auā o faigafaiva ma le si’osi’omaga o le gataifale o lo’o fa’alagolago i ai o tatou tagata. Ma so’o se gāoioiga i le OCS o lata ane, e tatau lava ona fa’amuamua le puipuia malu o le si’osi’omaga, auā o lo’o fa’amamaluina foi lea vaega tāua i la tatou aganu’u auā Amerika Samoa ma lona tamaoaiga.
” ‘A ’o tau fa’amautū lenei fa’amoemoe, o le fa’aeteetega o le fa’afeagai ma faiga i le vave ona lisi, o le finagalo lea o Pulaali’i, ma e silafia lelei e le pulega ia fa’agasologa ma faiga a le Feterale. “Amerika Samoa ia fa’amalosi lo tatou auai atoatoa i la’asaga ma fuafuaga uma a le BOEM, i le iloiloga o le si’osi’omaga, ma faiga filifiliga. Ua tapena le Mālō e galulue fa’amalosi ma tu’u atu atoatoa mo ni fa’atalanoaga, ma u’una’ia pea o tatou atugaluga, aemaise lava e uiga i a’afiaga e ono ali’ae mai, e a’afia ai o tatou faiga faiva, ma ia atagia mai ia vaega taūa i su’esu’ega a le BOEM,” O le finagalo lea o le Kovana.
Ua sauni le Mālō o Amerika Samoa e māta’ituina pea nei atina’e ma u’una’ia le BOEM ina ia tu’ufa’atasia se sao mo le Teritori ma ni porokalama ma fa’amatalaga fa’apea ni ata mo a’afiaga o le si’osi’omaga. O lo‘o tamau pea Amerika Samoa mo le puipuiga o ana puna’oa e maua mai le gataifale auā ona tupulaga faia’e i le taimi nei, ma le lumana’i.
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American Samoa Responds to BOEM Update on Deep-Sea Mineral Exploration in Adjacent Outer Continental Shelf
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa - The American Samoa Government acknowledges the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)’s recent press release regarding the completion of the Area Identification step of the lease sale process, which determines the specific area of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that will undergo an environmental review for proposed leases for critical minerals in the form of an environmental assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
“American Samoa has been clear, we oppose any lease sale that risks irreversible harm to our ocean ecosystems,” said Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula. “Our people depend on healthy fisheries and a pristine marine environment. Any activity in the adjacent OCS must prioritize rigorous environmental safeguards and respect the cultural and economic interests of American Samoa.”
While maintaining this position of caution and opposition to premature leasing, the Pula Administration recognizes that federal processes will proceed. Accordingly, American Samoa insists on full inclusion in all stages of BOEM’s planning, environmental review, and decision-making process.
“We are prepared to engage constructively, provided that American Samoa continues to be kept fully informed, actively consulted, and that our concerns - particularly regarding potential impacts to our fisheries - are given priority in BOEM’s analysis,” Governor Pula continued. “Transparency and meaningful government-to-government consultation are essential.”
The American Samoa Government will continue to monitor developments closely and urges BOEM to incorporate the Territory’s input into the draft programmatic environmental impact statement. American Samoa remains committed to protecting its marine resources for current and future generations.
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