The following statement was released today by National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Hal Quinn praising the Senate for passing the “Energy Modernization Policy Act of 2016,” which includes modernization of the federal permitting systems to improve access to minerals critical for energy, manufacturing and technological innovation:
“The ‘Energy Modernization Policy Act of 2016,’ passed by the Senate today, includes much needed improvements in the nation’s permitting systems for metal and mineral mines to better position our country to achieve a truly all-of-the-above energy portfolio. Simply put, mineral security is a critical element to U.S. energy systems and Senator Murkowski’s bill promotes better access to the raw materials that make it all possible.
“Although the U.S. is home to one of the world’s largest mineral reserves, access to these resources is hampered by protracted permitting delays. Our outdated and duplicative permitting process can last on average seven to 10 years, discouraging investment and jeopardizing the growth of downstream industries, technological innovation and supply-chain security.
“We applaud the Senate for advancing policies that responsibly utilize our significant resource abundance in order to strengthen both our energy supply and economy. We now call on Congress to build on this achievement and conference the Senate-passed minerals provisions with those included in H.R. 1937, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act, which passed the House for the fourth time last October.”
- Date: Wednesday, 20 April 2016 15:01
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 April 2016 15:01