LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO
JUNE 14, 2019
Dear Gary,
Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) released a report recommending that critical steps be taken to ensure a reliable supply of minerals here in the U.S. The report is the culmination of months of collaboration between the DOC, the Department of Interior and the Department of Defense, among other agencies.
I am encouraged by the report’s call for a more efficient mine permitting system. The mining industry’s recommended approach to addressing this critical issue includes processes that encourage domestic mineral production such as:
Improving access to domestic critical mineral resources on federal lands and reducing federal permitting timeframes;
Launching concurrent reviews in which federal agencies would conduct any consultations or reviews concurrently rather than sequentially to expedite the process; and
Establishing timelines for each major step of the process including: scoping of the analysis; baseline studies required under applicable law and use of existing studies already conducted for state or federal authorizations; draft EIS or similar analysis under NEPA; submission and review of public and agency comments; publication of any required public notices; and final decisions.
The report could not come at a more critical moment in time. The most recent USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries Report found that the our nation remains import dependent for 18 key minerals resources and more than 50 percent import-dependent for an additional 30 mineral commodities used in everyday manufacturing and defense applications. Our reliance on foreign nations for minerals such as rare earths has put our supply chains at risk.
That’s why our decisionmakers must take immediate action to reform the mine permitting process and encourage domestic mining. Recent proposals from Sen. Murkowski and Rep. Amodei demonstrate positive momentum in Congress. Help us by working with federal lawmakers to support these bills for a stronger, more secure future for our nation.
To learn more about the report, read our blog post.
Thank you,
Hal Quinn
NMA President and CEO
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