The United States plans to auction large areas of ocean waters around American Samoa as part of its process for advancing potential deep-sea mining, according to reporting from The Independent and the Winnipeg Free Press. The proposed auctions would cover sections of the surrounding marine area, making those regions available for companies seeking mineral extraction from the seabed. The initiative fits within a broader U.S. effort to develop access to resources in offshore areas and to establish the regulatory and leasing framework needed for deep-sea operations. The coverage focuses on the government’s intention to put the relevant waters up for sale rather than on any specific mining project already underway. Details such as the size of the areas, the timing of the auction, and the specific minerals targeted are not provided in the excerpts shared. The announcements also come amid continuing public and policy debate globally over the environmental impacts and governance of deep-sea mining, though the cited materials center on the auction plan itself.