Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has introduced the American Mineral Security Act of 2015 (S. 883), designed to secure the nation’s mineral supply chain and reduce its growing dependence on imported minerals vital to the manufacturing industry. This legislation, which differs from the bill Murkowski introduced last Congress with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), contains specific requirements for the federal land management agencies to reduce delays in the federal permitting process for new mines. It also eliminates the cap on the number of minerals that can be considered critical and broadens the definition of critical minerals to include those that are important in currency.
“Minerals are critical to every aspect of our daily lives. We rely on them for everything we do and everything we make – from our smallest computer chips to our newest energy technologies to our most advanced defense systems,” Murkowski said in a press release. “Despite this, as highlighted just this weekend by 60 Minutes, we are alarmingly dependent on foreign sources for dozens of minerals. Instead of ignoring this situation as it grows worse, my bill offers a chance to change course. It would improve our mineral security and protect our manufacturers for decades to come.”
According to the National Academy of Sciences, more than 11,300 kg of new minerals are needed per person, per year in the US to make the items we use for basic human needs, infrastructure, energy, transportation, communications, and defense. Yet the US Geological Survey reports that America is more than 50% dependent on foreign nations for at least 43 separate mineral commodities, and a recent survey of manufacturing executives found that more than 90% worry about “supply disruptions outside of their control.”
The bill requires the Director of the USGS to establish a list of minerals critical to the American economy and provides a comprehensive set of policies to address issues associated with their discovery, production, use, and re-use.
To improve the efficiency of the notoriously slow federal permitting process for new mines, the American Mineral Security Act includes a series of reasonable steps to reduce delays and ensure timely decisions. The seven to 10 years it currently takes to approve a new mine in the US is often singled out as a serious liability for competitiveness and ability to draw investment.
NMA applauded Sen. Murkowski’s bill and in a statement to the press, President and CEO Hal Quinn said, “Sen. Murkowski’s bill […] will modernise the permitting system for US mining to better position our country to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Simply, her bill will better prepare our country to meet the competitive challenges we face in strengthening future economic growth and the US manufacturing revival.”
Oicture courtesy of US Mine Corp.