Six proposed bills would codify various presidential executive orders
Six mining-related bills were on the docket this week when U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R) chaired a House subcommittee hearing.
Stauber led a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Hearing on legislation, including his recently introduced bill to codify certain provisions of President Trump’s newly enacted mining executive orders that “will help put the United States on a path toward mineral dominance.”
“While the United States is blessed with many mineral deposits, including a major copper-nickel deposit located right in my district, our burdensome permitting process and the policies implemented by previous anti-mining administrations have kept these critical minerals in the ground and left us increasingly dependent on foreign adversaries like Communist China,” said Stauber.
Stauber hailed Trump’s return to office and said, “He has given us the chance to reverse course by signing executive orders to increase American critical mineral production. I am proud to introduce legislation that codifies key provisions of these EOs into law, bringing much-needed certainty and consistency to America’s mining policies as we work to achieve mineral dominance.”
Stauber’s legislation identifies priority projects, instructing the Secretary of the Interior to submit to Congress a list of each mining project on federal lands for which an approval application has been submitted.
Within 10 days of submission, it directs the Secretary to identify each priority project that can immediately be approved and take all necessary steps to expedite these projects.
The bill also calls for the government to examine mining potential on federal land, instructing the Secretary of Interior to provide a list of active, inactive and proposed hard rock mining projects on federal land.
Another provision relates to regulatory review and calls for the Secretary of the Interior, within 90 days of enactment of the legislation, to suspend or rescind agency actions that hinder the development of domestic mining projects.
There’s a 180-day window for the Interior Department to submit a report to include recommendations for changes to current law needed to streamline mining projects as well as a nationwide review of state and local laws that “impede mineral exploration and development.”
Other provisions include an analysis of the economic impact of mineral commodities for which the United States is import-reliant, and detailed geologic mapping of the United States.
Stauber has previously been successful in passing pro-mining legislation in the U.S. House, but the measures have failed to take hold in the U.S. Senate.
Stauber has been a persistent advocate for mining in northeastern Minnesota, including proposed the Twin Metals Minnesota and NewRange (PolyMet) copper- nickel projects on the east end of the Iron Range.
Momentum related to copper-nickel mining projects has shifted back and forth over the last decade, based on party control.
Proposed copper-nickel mining projects remain the source of contentious debate, with supporters arguing that the projects will bring hundreds of badly-needed, well-paying jobs to the region and bolster the area economy.
Opponents contend the projects are too environmentally risky given the area’s water-rich environment and would do more economic harm than good, ravaging the amenity-based economy and destroying property values.
