# MMA Opens American Samoa Offshore Lease Sale

The Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) issued the final leasing notice for Lease Sale PACM-1, offering two offshore mineral lease areas near American Samoa. The auction is scheduled for November 19, 2026, 30 days from today. Successful bidders may conduct preliminary activities such as mapping, but the lease does not authorize physical exploration or mineral harvesting; those activities require further regulatory review.

- Prospective bidders should prepare for the November 19 auction and assess the two offered areas against their preliminary mapping plans.
- A winning bid provides a path to preliminary lease activities, not authorization to explore or harvest minerals; companies should account for further regulatory review before planning those operations.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Environment
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 20, 2026

### Government Entities
- Marine Minerals Administration (MMA)
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
- Department of the Interior (DOI)

### Sources
- [MMA Announces Final Leasing Notice for first-ever Offshore Mineral Lease Sale | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management](https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/press-releases/mma-announces-final-leasing-notice-first-ever-offshore-mineral-lease-sale) - BOEM