I believe Fedgov is a signator to a treaty that makes all resources in space the "common property of all mankind", thus not exploitable by mere private entities.Don't know if that treaty ever made it through Senate ratification or not, though actual Constitutional procedure doesn't seem to matter any more.
Personally, if it were me, I'd mine whatever I want and when the UN asks for its cut, I'd say "sure" and drop several tons of iron from space stright down to the UN building in NY.
Space mining will eventually bring untold riches to us all. A single decent-sized asteroid could well contain more iron and other metals than have mined in the history of mankind, and it's all available with zero "environmental impact".
Despite what the treaty says, is there any dispute that the USA OWNS the Apollo Moon rock samples?
I think the treaty would bar the USA from CLAIMING the Moon in whole.
Asteroids are a different ball game. For example, if you capture your asteroid in a giant mylar bag (which would be a good idea to control pieces drifting off), then you OWN it. If you are productively mining it; you own it.
THAT is established space law regardless of what some UN bureaucrat says.