Fifteen groups have joined forces to form a new organisation to campaign for reinvigorated minerals science and information functions in the US federal government. The Mineral Science and Information Coalition (MSIC) will lobby to improve funding to federal programmes in minerals science, research, information, data collection and analysis.
Reliable supplies of minerals key to US economy
“Reliable supplies of mineral resources underpin the US economy and national security,” said the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) – one of the founder members or MSIC – in a press release. “To maintain robust supply chains of critical mineral materials and make well-informed land-use decisions, the US Government and industry must have accurate, timely information on mineral resources and on the domestic and global flow of minerals and mineral materials.”
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Despite this, federal funding for the US Geological Survey’s Mineral Resources Program has dropped by 30% in constant dollar terms over the past decade, the SME continued. “The data collected and produced by the US Geological Survey is exceptionally important to a wide array of both producers and users,” said Dr P. Patrick Leahy, the chairman of MSIC and executive director of the American Geosciences Institute. “However, anytime you lose 30% of your buying power you have to go through the process of prioritisation.”
“The coalition asks Congress and the administration to increase investment in and support for federal minerals research, information gathering, analysis and forecasting to sustain economic prosperity and ensure national security,” the SME press release concluded.
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Members of MSIC
Current members of the MSIC include the following:
- The Aluminum Association.
- The American Exploration & Mining Association.
- The American Geosciences Institute.
- The Associated Equipment Distributors.
- The Association of American State Geologists
- The Geological Society of America.
- The Industrial Minerals Association – North America.
- The Interstate Mining Compact Commission.
- The Materials Research Society.
- The National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
- The National Mining Association.
- The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association.
- The Portland Cement Association.
- The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc.
- The Society of Economic Geologists.
Other groups are in the process of joining MSIC.
Adapted from press release by Jonathan Rowland