TMC the metals company Inc. (Nasdaq: TMC) has reached another major regulatory milestone, with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) formally certifying its USA B exploration license application.
The certification marks an important step in the approval process and allows NOAA to begin preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed exploration activities. The USA B area covers approximately 122,000km² of seafloor, hosting an estimated 1.02 billion tonnes of polymetallic nodules containing nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese.
The milestone follows NOAA’s recent confirmation that TMC’s consolidated application for the USA A exploration license and commercial recovery permit is fully compliant with regulatory requirements, reinforcing progress across both project areas.
The certification initiates the next phase of approvals, with NOAA expected to release a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS, followed by draft environmental documentation and a public consultation process before a final decision is made on the license.
Gerard Barron, chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, commented, “The certification of our USA B exploration license application represents another important step in the regulatory process. Exploration is a critical stage in unlocking the potential of polymetallic nodules, and we look forward to progressing through the environmental assessment phase.”
TMC has spent more than a decade building a comprehensive environmental and technical dataset, including multiple studies and field programs, which will support the ongoing permitting process and future exploration activities.
The company continues to advance its regulatory pathway, with further milestones expected as it progresses toward potential commercial development.
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