A fascinating article – well worth reading.
Non-Grok summary – Mother Nature has created enormous resources of valuable metals on the deep sea-bed – multiples of terrestrial reserves. Half a century of data collection and trials have shown these metals are technically and economically recoverable from water depths in the 20,000 feet range. But development has been blocked, mainly by international bureaucracy and NGOs (if there is even a difference).
Good news! Finally the US is moving ahead on its own, ignoring the international whiners.