Seabed Mining Fight: 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 risk assessments for threatened species ahead of a Nov. 19 lease sale. Local Opposition: Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata used a federal insular affairs meeting to renew opposition to seabed mining in Samoan waters, linking the issue to ocean stewardship and calling for indigenous voices to be heard. Solar at Pago Pago Airport: The American Samoa Chamber of Commerce raised concerns about a solar project under construction at Pago Pago International Airport, asking for proof of environmental reviews, aviation safety checks, and whether past contamination history was considered. Marine Life Record: Scientists say a globally endangered leopard shark was filmed off Samoa for the first verifiable time, a boost for conservation planning in newly protected waters. Energy Resilience Support: Hawaiʻi’s State Energy Office opened applications for the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project, offering technical help for reliable, resilient energy systems in Pacific communities. Flood Preparedness Tool: NOAA expanded Flood Inundation Mapping to nearly 100% coverage, aiming to help territories and communities plan for river flooding. Tsunami Readiness: Samoa recognized 17 villages for strengthening tsunami preparedness, underscoring community evacuation planning 17 years after the 2009 disaster. Health & Safety: CDC spotlighted American Samoa’s lead poisoning prevention work, including building a lead surveillance baseline after launching the program without dedicated funding.