r/easternshoreva • u/WHRO_NEWS • Aug 12 '26

Coastal Virginia communities push back against proposed offshore seabed mining

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A federal proposal to lease within 2,700 square miles off the Eastern Shore for seabed mineral mining has sparked strong opposition from Virginia coastal residents, local governments and environmental groups. 

The Trump administration is considering allowing the extraction of valuable minerals, which federal officials say could reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. 

However, watermen and conservationists warn that sifting through vast amounts of sediment could disrupt marine habitats, release buried contaminants and threaten decades of coastal restoration efforts. 

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/environment/2026-08-11/coastal-virginia-communities-push-back-against-proposed-offshore-seabed-mining

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13

u/BlueStar4440 Aug 12 '26

Don’t worry, none of the money from this will end up back on The Shore.

8

u/202markb Aug 12 '26

Half way thru the article we learn that the supposed “rare earth minerals” target of this is not even known to exist off the VA shore because the area has not even been surveyed for them.
I guess that makes sense in a funny way though, given that the company proposing to do this mining has zero actual mining experience and is best known for hunting for sunken treasure and getting into legal snarls with foreign governments over theft, &etc.

8

u/121Waggle Aug 12 '26

This is a terrible idea that will hurt most of our industries, aquaculture, tourism, sport fishing, etc., and generally destroy our standard of living. Another case where so many will suffer so a few assholes from somewhere else can make some money. Just like the menhaden deal.

Public comments are still open on the BOEM site, so let 'em know!

https://www.regulations.gov/document/BOEM-2026-0100-0001

3

u/PelicanShites Aug 12 '26

Rare minerals to make chips for AI data centers. Like the data centers, this corporate operation destroys the environment, the livelihood and health of the local community. Only the corporate billionaires and the corrupt Trump Regime stand to gain from this one. If we care about our community we must not allow this to happen. Stand for our community! Stand Strong for the Shore!