California-based company Impossible Metals asked the Trump administration earlier this month to auction off mining leases for areas off the coast of American Samoa, which would be within US-controlled waters. Trump’s executive order also directs the Secretary of the Interior to expedite the process for leasing areas for mining within US waters.

President Donald Trump is trying to fast track a brand new, highly controversial industry – mining critical minerals in the deep sea.

President Trump signed an executive order Thursday that aims to jump-start mining on the ocean floor. Large-scale deep sea mining has never been done — though some companies have pushed for it —