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U.S. starts review of huge deep-sea metals zone for TMC (NASDAQ: TMC)

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Rhea-AI Filing Summary

TMC the metals company Inc. reports that the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the USA-B exploration license application submitted by its subsidiary, TMC USA, under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. The USA-B area in the Clarion Clipperton Zone covers about 122,000 km2 of seafloor and hosts an estimated 1.02 billion tonnes of polymetallic nodules containing nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese and rare earth elements, based on TMC’s 2025 technical report. NOAA’s action is described as a key step in a transparent regulatory review that will include a draft EIS and draft terms, conditions and restrictions, a public comment period, and a final decision on whether to issue the exploration license.

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Filing Explained

Separately from the USA-B review, TMC says its subsidiary is advancing a consolidated USA-A application for an exploration license and commercial recovery permit, submitted January 22, 2026 and determined fully compliant on April 28, 2026; this remains an application-stage regulatory milestone, not a permit issuance.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
USA-B area size 122,000 km2 Seafloor in the Clarion Clipperton Zone covered by the USA-B application area
Estimated polymetallic nodules 1.02 billion tonnes Estimated tonnage of nodules in USA-B area based on 2025 Technical Report Summary
Peer-reviewed studies 37 Number of peer-reviewed studies published using TMC’s dataset from Eastern CCZ
USA-B application certification date May 26, 2026 Date NOAA certified the USA-B exploration license application
USA-A compliant determination date April 28, 2026 Date NOAA determined the USA-A consolidated application to be fully compliant
Environmental Impact Statement regulatory
"NOAA has published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement"
An environmental impact statement is a formal report that evaluates the likely effects a proposed project or plan will have on air, water, land, wildlife and local communities; it lays out potential harms, proposed mitigation measures, and alternatives. Think of it as a project’s environmental report card and repair plan: regulators use it to decide permits, and investors use it to assess delays, extra costs, legal risks and reputation exposure tied to environmentally sensitive issues.
Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act regulatory
"license application submitted ... under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act"
A "Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act" is a law that creates the rules and permits for finding, testing and mining metal-rich deposits on the ocean floor beyond coastal waters. It sets who can get rights, what environmental safeguards and fees apply, and how disputes or liabilities are resolved. Investors care because the law determines whether a project can proceed, how costly and risky it will be, and how returns and legal exposure are shared—much like a property title and zoning rules decide the value and cost of building on land.
Clarion Clipperton Zone technical
"The USA-B application area in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean"
Terms, Conditions and Restrictions regulatory
"draft Terms, Conditions and Restrictions for TMC USA’s proposed exploration activities"
benthic plumes technical
"NOAA conducted further research into benthic plumes through its Benthic Impact Experiments"
A benthic plume is a cloud of sediment and particles stirred up near the seafloor when activities like dredging, seabed mining, pipeline laying, or natural disturbances disturb bottom material; think of it as the dust cloud that rises when you sweep a floor, but underwater and close to the bottom. For investors it matters because such plumes can trigger environmental damage, regulatory scrutiny, cleanup costs, project delays, and reputational risk that can affect a company’s permits, timelines and financial outlook.

FAQ

What did TMC (TMC) announce regarding NOAA and the USA-B exploration license?
TMC announced that NOAA has published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for TMC USA’s USA-B exploration license application, marking a key step in the U.S. regulatory review process under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act.

How large is TMC’s USA-B application area and what resource does it contain?
The USA-B area covers about 122,000 km2 of seafloor and hosts an estimated 1.02 billion tonnes of polymetallic nodules, containing high grades of nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese and meaningful quantities of rare earth elements according to TMC’s 2025 technical report summary.

What are the next regulatory steps NOAA plans for TMC’s USA-B application?
NOAA plans to publish for public comment a draft EIS and draft Terms, Conditions and Restrictions (TCRs) for TMC USA’s proposed USA-B exploration activities, then consider comments, finalize the EIS, and make a final determination on issuing the exploration license and its TCRs.

How does the USA-B application relate to TMC’s broader U.S. strategy?
TMC states that the NOI for the USA-B license and progression of the USA-A consolidated exploration and commercial recovery application are expected to advance TMC USA’s broader strategy to unlock the full potential of its U.S. nodule resource under the U.S. regulatory regime.

What scientific work has TMC reported in support of its deep-sea operations?
TMC reports over a decade of scientific research and offshore engineering, with 37 peer-reviewed studies already published using its Eastern Clarion Clipperton Zone dataset and expectations that exploratory activities under USA-B will generate significant new data and additional peer-reviewed publications.

When did NOAA previously certify TMC’s USA-B application?
NOAA earlier certified TMC USA’s USA-B exploration license application on May 26, 2026, and later determined a separate consolidated application for the USA-A area to be fully compliant on April 28, 2026, according to the company’s disclosure.

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Understanding 8-K Material Events →
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT 

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August ​17, 2026

 

 

TMC THE METALS COMPANY INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

British Columbia, Canada 001-39281 Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)		 (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

1111 West Hastings Street, 15th Floor
Vancouver, British Columbia
(Address of principal executive
offices)		   V6E 2J3
(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (888) 458-3420

 

Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)  

Name of each exchange on
which registered

TMC Common Shares without par value   TMC   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one TMC Common Share, each at an exercise price of $11.50 per share   TMCWW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On August 17, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register for the exploration license application submitted by the Company’s subsidiary, The Metals Company USA LLC, under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. The press release is furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.

 

The information in this Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Except for historical information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1), this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) contains forward-looking statements which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Please refer to the cautionary note in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding these forward-looking statements.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.  

 

Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Press Release dated August 17, 2026
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  TMC THE METALS COMPANY INC.
     
Date: August 17, 2026 By: /s/ Craig Shesky
  Name: Craig Shesky
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

NOAA Publishes Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement for TMC USA’s USA B Exploration License Application

 

·The publication of a Notice of Intent (“NOI”) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) represents a key milestone in the transparent regulatory approval process for TMC USA’s USA-B exploration license application
·The USA-B application area covers ~122,000 km2 of seafloor containing an estimated 1.02 billion tonnes of polymetallic nodules with high grades of nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and meaningful quantities of many rare earth elements
·Publication of the NOI in the Federal Register follows NOAA’s earlier certification of the USA-B exploration license application on May 26, 2026

 

NEW YORK, August 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TMC the metals company Inc. (Nasdaq: TMC) (“TMC” or the “Company”), a leading developer of the world’s largest resource of critical metals essential to energy, defense, manufacturing and infrastructure, today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) has published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register for the exploration license application submitted by the Company’s subsidiary, The Metals Company USA LLC (“TMC USA”), under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (“DSHMRA”) and its implementing regulations.

 

The USA-B application area in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (“CCZ”) of the Pacific Ocean covers ~122,000 km2 of seafloor and hosts an estimated 1.02 billion tonnes of polymetallic nodules based on TMC’s Technical Report Summary for the Initial Assessment published in August 2025. In addition to the USA-B exploration license application, TMC USA is also advancing a consolidated application for an exploration license and commercial recovery permit for the USA-A area, which was submitted to NOAA on January 22, 2026, and determined to be fully compliant on April 28, 2026.

 

Gerard Barron, CEO and Chairman of The Metals Company, commented: “The publication of this Notice of Intent is another milestone in NOAA's methodical review process. We welcome the opportunity to participate in a rigorous Environmental Impact Statement process that invites public input and builds on more than a decade of our own environmental research and engineering, alongside 50 years of environmental research and a dozen other commercial and academic disturbance tests in the CCZ. As we’ve said from the beginning, good regulation should be transparent, predictable and grounded in rigorous baseline studies and impact assessment, and today’s announcement demonstrates that process is continuing as intended.”

 

 

 

The publication of the NOI follows the earlier certification of TMC USA’s application for an exploration license over the USA-B area and represents another key step in a steady, transparent cadence of expected regulatory milestones:

 

·NOAA will publish for public comment a draft EIS and draft Terms, Conditions and Restrictions (“TCRs”) for TMC USA’s proposed exploration activities on the USA-B area
·Following the public comment period, NOAA will consider comments and the EIS will be finalized
·NOAA will then make a final determination on the issuance of the license and its associated TCRs

 

The Company and its partners have conducted over a decade of scientific research, environmental baseline and impact data collection, and offshore engineering, building one of the most comprehensive datasets ever assembled on polymetallic nodules and their surrounding ecosystems. To date, independent academics have published 37 peer-reviewed studies based on the Company’s dataset collected from Eastern CCZ. Earlier this year, TMC began sharing key findings from its Environmental Impact Assessment publicly as part of two new video series, highlighting how its dataset addresses environmental concerns and how innovation has reduced its environmental footprint. The exploratory activities outlined as part of TMC USA’s USA B exploration license application are expected to generate significant new data in Central and Western CCZ and, with all academics involved free to publish, the Company anticipates that hundreds more papers will be published over the coming months and years.

 

NOAA has played a central role in advancing scientific understanding of deep seabed mining impacts since the 1970s, including conducting environmental research cruises in the CCZ, monitoring early nodule collection trials, and publishing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement covering the CCZ in 1981. In the 1980s and 1990s, NOAA conducted further research into benthic plumes through its Benthic Impact Experiments program where the agency used a custom-built machine to simulate and study seafloor disturbance. The agency issued comprehensive DSHMRA implementing regulations in 1981 (for exploration licenses) and 1989 (for commercial recovery permits) and has maintained an active licensing program since that time, with multiple exploration licenses renewed on a five-year basis.

 

 

About The Metals Company

 

The Metals Company is a developer of lower-impact critical metals from seafloor polymetallic nodules, on a dual mission: (1) supply metals for energy, defense, manufacturing and infrastructure with net positive impacts compared to conventional production routes and (2) trace, recover and recycle the metals we supply to help create a metal commons that can be used in perpetuity. The Company has conducted more than a decade of research into the environmental and social impacts of offshore nodule collection and onshore processing. More information is available at www.metals.co.

 

 

 

Contacts

 

Media | media@metals.co

Investors | investors@metals.co

 

Forward-Looking Statements 

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as anticipates, believes, could, estimates, expects, intends, may, plans, possible, potential, should, will, would and variations of these words or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company’s strategy to pursue exploration and commercial recovery of seafloor polymetallic nodules under the U.S. regulatory regime; NOAA’s anticipated publication for public comment of a draft EIS and draft Terms, Conditions and Restrictions for TMC USA’s proposed exploration activities on the USA-B area and its consideration of the comments received; the anticipated timing, scope and sequencing of the EIS process, including the duration of any public comment period; the finalization of the EIS and NOAA’s final determination on whether to issue the exploration license and the terms, conditions and restrictions that may be attached to it; the estimated resource potential of the USA-B area, including the estimated tonnage and grades of polymetallic nodules and the presence of rare earth elements; the expectation that exploratory activities under the USA-B exploration license will generate significant new scientific data and that additional peer-reviewed papers will be published based on that data; and the Company’s expectation that publication of the NOI for the USA-B exploration license application, together with the progression of the USA-A consolidated application, advances TMC USA’s broader strategy to unlock the full potential of its U.S. nodule resource. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, among other things, NOAA’s review of the USA-B exploration license application and any determinations made during that review, including with respect to the scope of any exploration license that may ultimately be granted; the outcome and timing of regulatory reviews by NOAA under DSHMRA; the scope, timing and outcome of the review conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), including the nature and volume of public comments received and any resulting changes to the proposed action; the absence of any mandatory statutory deadline under DSHMRA for completion of NOAA’s review; the risk that any terms, conditions and restrictions ultimately imposed by NOAA are more restrictive than anticipated or render the proposed activities commercially unviable; potential legal challenges in U.S. courts by third parties who claim to be adversely affected or aggrieved by NOAA’s actions, and the risk that TMC USA’s priority rights in the application areas are terminated or successfully challenged; the need for continued policy support from the U.S. executive branch and agencies including NOAA and the Department of Commerce, and the effect of shifts in U.S. political priorities, legal interpretations or agency leadership; opposition to deep-seabed mining from governments, non-governmental organizations and other third parties; the ability to obtain permits from the U.S. government; changes in environmental, mining and other applicable laws and regulations; risks related to strategic partnerships and technology sharing; uncertainties relating to the accuracy of resource estimates; the Company’s need for additional capital to fund the exploratory activities contemplated by the USA-B application and its other development plans, and the availability of such capital on acceptable terms; the outcome of any pending or future litigation; and other risks and uncertainties described in greater detail in the section entitled Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2026, in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed on May 14, 2026, in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, filed on August 13, 2026, and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether because of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. 

 

 

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

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