The owner of American Samoa's StarKist cannery wants the territory's help to sway the federal government.
Workers at Starkist cannery Photo: supplied
The US-based company is applying for a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency concerning discharge into the ocean from its Pago Pago cannery.
A territorial official says StarKist's expansion plans in American Samoa are predicated on the permit's approval.
The cannery is one of the territory's largest employers and is a main source of revenue for the American Samoan economy.
The territory's governor has urged the EPA to rule in favour of the company's plans.