Bill to streamline mine permit introduced in Congress

Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei  introduced the Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act (H.R. 4202), "aimed at streamlining the federal permitting process for mineral development" according to an interview on Mineweb.com.  He argued that the US is tied for last in the world in permitting mines due to permitting delays.  [Right, location of proposed Rosemont Copper mine south of Tucson. Opponents of the mine are carrying out a well-publicized campaign aimed at delaying the federal permitting process in hopes of making the project untenable]

The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012 will require the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture "to more efficiently develop domestic sources of strategic and critical minerals and mineral materials; including rare earth elements."
The measure defines strategic and critical minerals as those that are necessary for national defense and national security requirements; for the nation's energy infrastructure including pipelines, refining capacity, electrical power generation and transmission; to support domestic manufacturing, agriculture, housing, telecommunications, health care and transportation infrastructure; and for the nation's economic security and balance of trade.

The bill would  "limit the total review process for mining permits to a maximum of 30 months unless signatories agree to an extension."

Amodei said H.R. 4202 "ensures American mineral mining projects are not indefinitely delayed by frivolous lawsuits by setting reasonable time limits for litigation" including setting a 90-day  time limit to file a legal challenge to an energy project. The bill requires legal challenges to a mining project be filed in the judicial district where the project is located, and limits any preliminary injunctions to halt mining projects to 60 days unless the court finds clear reason to extend the injunction.   A subcommittee legislative hearing on the bill is scheduled for April 26.

The measure defines strategic and critical minerals as those that are necessary for national defense and national security requirements; for the nation's energy infrastructure including pipelines, refining capacity, electrical power generation and transmission; to support domestic manufacturing, agriculture, housing, telecommunications, health care and transportation infrastructure; and for the nation's economic security and balance of trade.