US Magnetic Materials Association Applauds Inclusion of Rare Earth Inventory Assessment in Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Authorization Bill
The United States Magnetic Materials Association (USMMA), a trade association representing high performance magnet producers and suppliers, today applauded congressional defense authorizers for including a provision in the final version of the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to conduct a rare earth inventory assessment at the Department of Defense.
The provision, originally included in the bill as an amendment by Congressman Mike Coffman (R-CO), would require the Defense Logistics Agency to conduct an assessment of rare earth materials, and forms of those materials, required to support the needs of the Department of Defense. It would also consider potential market impacts and steps the department could implement to use the inventory as a catalyst to development of secure sources of rare earth oxides, metals, alloys and magnets. Finally, the assessment will consider the viability of potential producers in the next five years. Findings and recommendations based on the report would be submitted to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for review.
?This is a huge step toward re-establishing a secure, multi-source rare earth industry here in the United States,? said Ed Richardson, president of the USMMA. ?We applaud the armed services committees for their foresight and thank Congressman Coffman for his tireless work on this important issue.?
The NDAA authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and other defense-related programs. The final legislation, called the Conference Report, was settled on after the House and Senate passed two different versions of the bill.
The NDAA now heads back to the House where lawmakers hope to have a final up-or-down vote by Wednesday. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill later this week. It may still face a challenge from President Obama, who previously threatened to veto the legislation over a number of unrelated policy issues. The NDAA has passed every year for the past 50 years.
USMMA members include:
Electron Energy Corporation (EEC) offers unmatched expertise in rare earth magnets, assemblies and systems. Founded in 1970, EEC is an ITAR and DFARS-compliant, US supplier, that develops and produces custom Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) and Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) sintered permanent magnets and assemblies. EEC is dedicated to improving rare earth magnet performance to meet the most technically demanding applications in aerospace, military, medical, electronics, and motion control markets.
Thomas & Skinner is the world leader in high-performance magnets and magnetic materials used in strategic weapons systems. Our cast and sintered alnico magnets, magnetic assemblies, and transformer laminations are considered the best in the industry. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ceramic Magnetics, Inc., Thomas & Skinner is also a leading manufacturer of soft ferrite magnets. We are committed to providing our customers with the highest-quality, highest-performing magnetic materials available.
U.S. Rare Earths, Inc., an American natural resources development company based in Salt Lake City and New York City, holds large resources and reserves of high-grade rare earth metals and the largest documented high-grade thorium properties in the world within its properties in Idaho, Montana, and Colorado, including 80% of known and estimated U.S. reserves.
Arnold Magnetic Technologies (Arnold) produces cast and sintered Alnico, RECOMA® brand Samarium Cobalt (SmCo), bonded Ferrite and Neodymium magnets, all varieties of magnetic Assemblies, and ultra-thin precision foil and strip. Arnold's Alnico, SmCo and silicon steels are DFARS compliant and work done at any of our six (6) US-based facilities is also ITAR compliant. We also offer Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets and have multiple fabrication facilities for magnets and assemblies utilizing all commercially available magnet materials.
Great Western Technologies Inc. is a leading production facility in North America for rare earth materials, powders, and custom vacuum-grade specialty alloys. GWTI provides research and development, process development, consulting, and innovative products and services to clients worldwide. GWTI, in partnership with its parent company, Great Western Minerals Group Ltd., is part of the first vertically integrated structure in North America to produce and process rare earth elements for advanced technology and alternative energy markets.
Lynas Corporation is creating a reliable, fully integrated source of supply from mine through to customers, and aims to become the benchmark for security of supply and environmental standards in the global Rare Earths industry. Lynas has developed a mine at its rich deposit of Rare Earths at Mt Weld in Western Australia, and will produce separated rare earth products from its Advanced Materials Plant which shall commence production in Q3 2011.
Ucore Rare Metals Inc. is a Canadian resource exploration company focused on rare metal ores, among the primary input materials of technology applications in the 21st century. Ucore maintains holdings across North America including Bokan Mountain, estimated to be one of the most significant Dysprosium and other Heavy Rare Earth deposits within the United States.
Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp. is a North American based mining company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties. Their flagship property, Round Top Mountain in Hudspeth County, Texas, is held under a 20-year renewable lease from the State of Texas to explore and develop a rare earth-uranium-beryllium prospect which includes niobium, tantalum and gallium.
Stans Energy Corp. is focused on developing the materials necessary to meet the clean energy demands of the future. Their goal is to build and produce our licensed properties containing rare earths, uranium, and associated metals in the near term. Stans company growth will come from acquiring, and participating in the development of, resource properties located in areas of the former Soviet Union.
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