Two bills aimed at reforming the permitting processes for mining and environmental reviews have been introduced by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).
Rich Nolan, the president and CEO of the National Mining Association, is an advocate of the new bills.
“Senators Barrasso and Capito have long been champions for commonsense solutions to fix the broken permitting and environmental review processes that have hampered access to our natural resources and imperiled our supply chains; this week they have introduced two pieces of legislation that can meaningfully improve both and place the U.S. firmly back on competitive footing,” said Nolan in a statement.
He added that if they can’t find a way to get a mine permitted, laws introduced by congress and the Biden administration to help the process are “irrelevant.”
“Serious mine permitting reforms are sorely needed, and we applaud Sens. Barrasso and Capito for leading the way,” said Nolan.
Sen. Barrasso, who is the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the Spur Permitting of Underdeveloped Resources (SPUR) Act with Sen. Capito as one of several cosponsors, according to a news release. The bill aims to increase domestic energy and mineral production, keep federal lands open for productive use, and speed up the permitting process for energy infrastructure projects.
“We need to lower prices for American families and unleash American energy. The way to do that is to impose strict deadlines and stop endless litigation. We must also block the administration from hijacking the permitting process to kill worthy projects. Our current system stifles development and undermines American energy security. Americans still know how to build things. Today’s broken process won’t allow it. That must change,” Barrasso said.
Capito, who is the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced the Revitalizing the Economy by Simplifying Timelines and Assuring Regulatory Transparency (RESTART) Act with Barrasso as a cosponsor.
“The current permitting and project review process slows the construction of roads and bridges, discourages domestic energy production, and minimizes investments made in our nation’s infrastructure, all of which has resulted in fewer jobs and higher prices for Americans,” Capito said.
In 2021, the U.S. imported $160 million worth of rare earth minerals, an increase from $109 million in 2020, according to a report from the U.S. Geological Survey. Of the imported minerals, 78% came from China.
Although the Biden Administration has tried to increase domestic production of lithium to spur a transition to green energy, mining projects face challenges related to environmental regulations, Greenwire reported.
“The actions we have seen from the administration have really been contrary to providing that domestic mineral production,” said Mark Compton, executive chairman for the American Exploration and Mining Association. “Right now, permitting is still creating an unfavorable environment for attracting mining investment in the United States.” China dominates the global supply chain for lithium, as well as other metals including cobalt, nickel, and graphite.
Federal laws governing domestic mining through environmental standards include the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1977, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1977, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, according to the American Geosciences Institute (AGI).
