# 2025-10955: Federal Officials Consider Leasing Minerals Off American Samoa 2025-10955, Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Offshore American Samoa-Request for Information and Interest, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, Ocean Energy Management Bureau published 2025-06-16, effective 2025-04-08; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-02). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10955 - As of: 2026-11-02 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2025-10955 - Title: Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Offshore American Samoa-Request for Information and Interest - Type: Notice - Agencies: Interior Department; Ocean Energy Management Bureau - Citation: 90 FR 25369 - Published: 2025-06-16 - Effective: 2025-04-08 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-11-02 ## In one line Federal Officials Consider Leasing Minerals Off American Samoa ## Summary The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is exploring the idea of leasing mineral rights offshore American Samoa after getting a request to do so. They’re asking companies and the public to share their thoughts and interest by July 16, 2025. This is just the first step—no leases are guaranteed yet, but it could lead to new business opportunities and jobs in the area. ## Abstract On April 8, 2025, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) received an unsolicited request that Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) minerals be offered for lease in an area offshore American Samoa. After reviewing the request, BOEM decided to initiate the first steps that could potentially lead to a lease sale by publishing this request for information and interest (RFI). This RFI is not a final decision to lease and does not prejudge any future Secretarial decisions concerning leasing on the American Samoan OCS. This RFI requests information and comments on, and indications of interest in, the leasing of OCS minerals in and around the area submitted in the unsolicited lease sale request, hereby referred to as the RFI Area. BOEM will consider information and interest received in response to this RFI when considering whether to proceed with additional steps leading to the offer of OCS minerals for lease offshore American Samoa. Those interested in providing comments or information should provide the information requested in section 6, "Types of Information and Comments Requested," of this RFI. Those interested in leasing in and around the RFI Area for OCS mineral development should provide the information described in section 7, "Requested Information for Indications of Interest." BOEM may or may not offer a lease for commercial OCS mineral development offshore American Samoa after further consultations, public participation, and environmental analyses. ## Effects PRIA read - Deadline to Indicate Leasing Interest: benefit, low. If you want BOEM to consider your comments or an indication of interest in leasing Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) minerals offshore American Samoa, BOEM must receive your submission by July 16, 2025. Indications of interest should be sent electronically to [email protected] or by mail to BOEM Pacifi… - Possible New Offshore Mining Jobs: benefit, medium. BOEM published this RFI after receiving an unsolicited lease request (submitted April 8, 2025) and states that future leasing could lead to new business opportunities and jobs offshore American Samoa. This RFI is an initial step and does not guarantee a lease sale. - Lease Payment Structure Proposed: benefit, medium. BOEM states a minerals lease is expected to require no rental payment for the first five years (per 30 CFR 581.27) and requests comments on what a reasonable rental rate would be beginning in the sixth lease year. BOEM also intends to issue minerals leases with an ad valorem royalty, include a mini… - Confidentiality and Public Disclosure Rules: mixed, low. BOEM will protect trade secrets and commercial or financial information labeled confidential under FOIA Exemption 4 and 30 CFR 581.7; respondents should label such material 'Contains Confidential Information.' BOEM says the identities of those indicating interest become public record, but BOEM will… - Protections for Indigenous Cultural Information: benefit, low. BOEM states it will engage with the Indigenous Peoples of American Samoa about economic, environmental, and public health concerns and will protect confidential information shared by Indigenous Peoples to the extent authorized by Federal law. Under Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation… - Large Area Identified for Potential Leasing: mixed, medium. The RFI Area identified in the unsolicited request covers about 18.1 million acres (73,222 km2), with water depths of approximately 4,600–20,000 feet (1,400–6,000 meters), and includes 3,355 whole or partial OCS lease blocks; BOEM invites nominations of specific blocks or acreage within or around t… ## Related documents - [2026-15953](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15953): Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf-Revisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer…, 2026-08-06 - [2026-09208](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-09208): Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations; Extension of Public Comment Period, 2026-05-08 - [2026-04517](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04517): Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations, 2026-03-09 - [2026-21604](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-21604): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Oil Spill Financial Re…, 2026-10-22 - [2026-21462](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-21462): American Samoa Outer Continental Shelf Pacific Mineral Lease Sale 1, 2026-10-20 - [2026-20892](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20892): Notice of Availability of the Proposed Notice of Sale for the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas One Big Beautiful Bill Act Lea…, 2026-10-13 ## Sources - [2025-10955 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/16/2025-10955/commercial-leasing-for-outer-continental-shelf-minerals-offshore-american-samoa-request-for) - [2025-10955 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-06-16/pdf/2025-10955.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2025-10953, Request for Comments Concerning the Biennial Review of Country Eligibility for…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10953) - [Next: 2025-10956, New Postal Products](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10956) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10955 (as of 2026-11-02).