Trump Administration Advances Offshore Critical Minerals Development Off Virginia

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is moving forward with the next step in evaluating offshore critical mineral development off the coast of Virginia, issuing a Request for Information and Interest (RFI) aimed at gauging industry appetite and gathering public input on potential leasing areas.

The notice, scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on June 23, opens a 30-day public comment period and marks an early stage in BOEM’s planning process. The agency emphasized that the RFI does not represent a decision to hold a lease sale.

The initiative is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to