Comment Deadline: April 1, 2026 | 11:59 PM EDT
The federal government is considering whether to open large areas of Alaska’s offshore waters to commercial mineral exploration and potential mining.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently issued a Request for Information and Interest (RFI) covering roughly 113 million acres of the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf. The areas under consideration include:
- Norton Sound Heavy Mineral Sands
- Goodnews Bay Heavy Mineral Sands
- Aleutian Arc
- Canada Basin
- Chukchi Borderland
- Gulf of Alaska seamounts
These regions include everything from shallow coastal sediment systems near the Seward Peninsula to deep-sea ecosystems thousands of meters below the ocean surface.
The Northern Alaska Environmental Center (NAEC) has submitted formal comments raising concerns about the ecological risks associated with mineral leasing in these areas.
With the comment period now extended through April 1, there is still time for the public to weigh in.
Why These Waters Matter
Many of the areas identified in the BOEM request are ecologically complex and highly productive marine environments.
Shallow regions like Norton Sound contain dynamic sediment systems—sand bars, glacial deposits, and alluvial fans—that support marine life and fisheries. These nearshore habitats are closely connected to salmon migration pathways that ultimately sustain river systems across Interior Alaska.
Disturbance of heavy mineral sands in these environments could:
- Generate sediment plumes that spread through marine habitats
- Alter benthic ecosystems on the seafloor
- Disrupt marine food webs that support salmon, crab, and forage species
These marine systems are also deeply tied to subsistence and commercial fisheries that support coastal and Interior communities.
Concerns in Deep Ocean Areas
The proposal also includes deep-sea regions such as the Canada Basin and Chukchi Borderland, where ecosystems exist thousands of meters below the surface.
Deep ocean environments are among the least studied ecosystems on Earth. Many species grow slowly, and recovery from disturbance may take decades—or longer.
Areas like hydrothermal vents and seamounts near the Aleutian Arc and Gulf of Alaska often support unique biological communities that could be permanently damaged by mining activities.
Scientists still lack baseline ecological data for many of these regions, making it difficult to predict or manage potential impacts.
A Precautionary Approach Is Needed
BOEM’s request focuses on areas believed to contain heavy mineral sands and critical minerals. But the presence of mineral resources does not automatically mean development is environmentally appropriate.
Many of the marine areas under consideration are interconnected with fisheries, wildlife habitat, and subsistence systems that are already under pressure.
Salmon populations in the Yukon and other Alaska river systems have experienced historic declines in recent years, leading to widespread subsistence restrictions. Marine ecosystems that support these species are a critical part of the broader food web.
Before any leasing or exploration moves forward, NAEC believes the federal government must ensure:
- Comprehensive environmental analysis
- Baseline ecological research
- Evaluation of cumulative impacts
- Protection of fisheries and subsistence resources
- Meaningful consultation with Tribal governments
Without these safeguards, advancing toward offshore mineral leasing could pose serious risks to Alaska’s marine ecosystems.
Public Comments Are Open
The public comment period for BOEM’s Request for Information has now been extended through April 1, 2026.
Public input will help inform whether federal agencies move forward with identifying lease areas for future mineral development.
If you care about the future of Alaska’s oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities, now is the time to speak up.
NAEC has also organized a sign-on letter supported by our Board and members highlighting ecological and subsistence concerns related to offshore mineral leasing in Alaska waters. You can sign on here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfm4JUJvtIq3fr4hd31ZKeHgdaTITwrlJeZcnoEq4WkXrwhuQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=115916971743209437256