Critical Mineral Dominance Act
Critical Mineral Dominance Act
Plain Language Summary
# Critical Mineral Dominance Act Summary **What the Bill Does** The Critical Mineral Dominance Act directs the Department of the Interior to streamline and expand mineral mining on federal lands—including national forests and public lands. The bill requires the Interior Department to identify mining projects that can be approved quickly and take steps to speed up their approval process. It also calls for identifying federal lands suitable for hardrock mining (minerals like copper, lithium, and rare earth elements) and studying how to extract minerals from mining waste and coal byproducts. **Who It Affects and Why** The bill primarily affects mining companies seeking to operate on federal lands, environmental groups concerned about public land use, and communities near mining operations. Supporters argue it addresses supply chain vulnerabilities for critical minerals needed in technology, defense, and renewable energy.
Critics worry it could weaken environmental protections on public lands. The bill reflects broader concerns about U.S. dependence on other countries (particularly China) for minerals essential to modern manufacturing and clean energy. **Current Status** The bill passed the House of Representatives. It now awaits consideration in the Senate, where it faces uncertain prospects given the legislative priorities and partisan divisions in Congress.
CRS Official Summary
Critical Mineral Dominance ActThis bill directs the Department of the Interior to address mineral supply chain vulnerabilities, including by accelerating and expanding mineral production on federal land (i.e., National Forest System land, public lands, and any land that may be leased for the exploration, development, or production of hardrock minerals).Interior must (1) identify priority mining projects on federal lands that can be immediately approved, and (2) take all necessary and appropriate steps to expedite those projects.Interior must also identify active, inactive, or proposed mining projects on federal land that have the potential to (1) increase production of hardrock minerals or their byproducts, (2) expand existing operations to include such byproducts, or (3) produce hardrock minerals from mine tailings or coal byproducts. Further, Interior must identify certain federal land with potential for hardrock mining. Interior must prioritize identifying land where a mining project (1) can most quickly be fully permitted and operational, and (2) would have the greatest potential effect on the robustness of the domestic mineral supply chain. Interior must (1) suspend, revise, or rescind agency actions that place undue burdens on mining projects; (2) recommend changes to current law necessary to expand U.S. production of hardrock minerals; and (3) review state and local laws that impede development of domestic mining and mineral exploration projects.Interior must also report on the dollar value and overall economic impact of the United States' reliance on imports of certain mineral commodities.Finally, Interior must prioritize efforts to accelerate geologic mapping.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.