NMA applauds critical minerals legislation

“The U.S. mining industry applauds Sen. Heller and Rep. Amodei for introducing this important legislation, which addresses a key issue for the country’s future economic growth and job creation. The US is blessed with abundant mineral wealth essential for our basic infrastructure needs, our national defense systems and the consumer products we use every day. Yet we are burdened by a painfully slow mine permitting process that can take seven to 10 years.

“The result places the US at a competitive disadvantage and forces us to increasingly rely on foreign producers for minerals we can produce domestically. Our dependence on foreign minerals has doubled in the past 20 years. Today, less than half of the mineral needs of US manufacturing are met from domestically mined minerals, a trend that will only worsen unless we reform the permitting process responsible for it. Our broken permitting process also hinders the creation of high-wage jobs supported by minerals mining.

“This legislation carefully addresses the deficiencies of our outdated and underperforming permitting system. It provides for efficient, timely and thorough permit reviews and incorporates best practices for coordination between state and federal agencies.

“Using our country’s minerals responsibly and efficiently is a bi-partisan priority for putting Americans – including our miners – back to work. NMA urges Congress to support this common-sense legislation designed to make the most of our skilled workforce and abundant wealth of natural resources.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/18012017/nma-applauds-critical-minerals-legislation/