Deep-Sea Mining Pushback: American Samoa environmental group Fa’asao Amerika Samoa and the Conservation Council for Hawaii sued the U.S. government over deep-sea mining plans near the territory, challenging how risks to threatened species were assessed ahead of a Nov. 19 lease sale. Local Governance & Energy: The American Samoa Chamber of Commerce raised concerns about a solar energy project under construction at Pago Pago International Airport, asking for proof of environmental remediation, FAA review, and glint/glare analysis near the runway. Public Info for Industry Decisions: The American Samoa government launched deepseainfo.as.gov to share science, documents, and updates on deep-sea minerals, saying it won’t advocate a predetermined outcome while keeping residents engaged in federal decisions. Port & Shipping Infrastructure: Port Administration finalized an execution plan for the American Samoa Seaports Master Plan, funded by MARAD’s RAISE program, using an 8-task framework to assess facilities, model capacity, and map 5-, 10-, and 20-year cargo demand. Policy & Oversight: Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata told IGIA the territory opposes seabed mining and raised concerns about “unchecked” deep-sea mining and autonomous AI systems. Energy Planning Support: Hawaiʻi State Energy Office opened applications for the DOE Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) for coastal, remote, and island communities, with a Nov. 18 deadline. Business & Community: Young people in Samoa are increasingly using Facebook to sell food, clothing, and beauty products as side hustles, citing easier customer reach without storefront costs.