On July 9, Governor Josh Green signed the Hawai’i Seabed Mining Prevention Act (SB 2575) into law, following the bill’s successful passage in the Hawaii Senate and Assembly. The new law prohibits the mining, extraction, and removal of minerals from the seabed in Hawai‘i’s marine waters while allowing exceptions for beach replenishment and scientific research – aligning with precautionary principles and protecting Native Hawaiian rights. Surfrider’s Hawai’i chapters supported the bill through public education and grassroots advocacy.
While the ban only covers waters out to three miles from shore from HawaiĘ»i, it reflects a growing opposition to deep-sea mining across the globe. Industry interest in seabed mining is exploding, but government oversight in international waters remains severely lacking. The United Nations has designated the International Seabed Authority to govern activities, but they have limited authority and have yet to establish regulations or a scientific review process. The passage of the Hawaii bill is indicative of increasing pushback from U.S. states, countries, Indigenous peoples, and the public to seabed mining proposals in the world’s ocean. - Surfrider
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Hawai'i bans seabed mining
Would-be miners will of course scurry, shrieking, to the courts. But ultimately this SCOTUS is more or less partial to states' rights, so we'll see.
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Considering that there is the potential for cobalt, nickel and copper, I would have thought that Pete Stauber would be backing legislation to prevent Hawaii, California, et al from taking potential mining jobs from Minnesota.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I read a story about undersea mining, it triggers memories of the 1950's television program, Sea Hunt staring Lloyd Bridges ... and stories of mining for uranium and manganese ... so these efforts have been going on for a long time.