WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) applauded action in the U.S. House of Representatives to advance several important pieces of legislation designed to support responsible minerals mining projects in the U.S.
“We’re seeing the administration, the regulatory agencies and even the courts repeatedly overstep their legal authority, further compounding the already significant obstacles to responsible U.S. mining. In recent weeks we’ve seen the House has clearly said ‘enough,’” said Rich Nolan, NMA president and CEO. “Our dangerous mineral import reliance, which has left our manufacturing lines subject to the whims of our geopolitical adversaries, is entirely self-imposed. Through these thoughtful pieces of legislation, Reps. Stauber, Curtis, Amodei and Peltola recognize that smart policies can ensure that responsible mining and environmental protection can proceed together, and when they do, our supply chains and our economy are more secure. I encourage the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass these important bills.”
The NMA specifically supports the following bills:
- H.R. 2925 – Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2024 (Reps. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) and Mary Peltola (D-Alaska)) – The bill, in response to an irresponsible 2022 court decision (Center for Biological Diversity et al. v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service et al.) from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, would codify the federal framework under the Mining Law, returning it the way it existed prior to the court decision without expanding mining activities in protected or withdrawn areas. The bill passed by a vote of 216-195, today.
- H.R. 3195 – Superior National Forest Restoration Act (Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.)). The bill would rescind the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) unwarranted mineral withdrawal of more than 225,000 acres in Northern Minnesota while also directing the U.S. Forest Service to reissue cancelled mineral leases for the Twin Metals Minnesota project and complete necessary environmental and regulatory reviews for all mine plans of operations within the Superior National Forest within 18 months. The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 212 to 203 last week.
- H.R. 3397 – Western Economic Security Today Act of 2024 (Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah)) – The bill would nullify the Bureau of Land Management’s recently finalized rule titled, Conservation and Landscape Health, which deliberately opens the door for abuse of the areas of critical environmental concern process to create de facto and unauthorized land withdrawals absent any transparency, guardrails or deadlines. The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 212 to 202 last week.
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