What is the Arizona Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee's role in supporting the mining industry?

Our Committee hears bills and presents information on all of our natural resource industries. That includes mining, agriculture, forestry, and of course energy and water. Our goal is to pass good legislation and stop bad legislation.

We have presentations to educate the members and the public on the importance of our natural resource industries. Mining today is a lot different than 50 years ago. Health and safety issues are a top priority and the importance of mining is critical in our everyday life. Arizona only has 13% of land in private property - that's our tax base. Our economy needs the mining industry to be successful to help keep Arizona's future bright. The figures speak for themselves: Arizona is ranked first among all states for non-fuel mineral resources, our copper accounts for 74% of all US production and the industry creates approximately 75,000 jobs.

Can you highlight any recent initiatives toward educating the public on mining?

For several years we have been working on a new interactive Mining, Mineral, Natural Resources, Education Museum (AMMRREM). The Arizona legislature funded (US$12 million) for the upgrading of the building and I hope we can have a ribbon cutting/grand opening in 2023. We want classrooms of children to visit and to spark their interest in mining, learn about the importance of minerals and metals, and what is produced from the mining industry. We would like to have a simulator there so the children can dig and operate the big machinery as well as a pan for gold. We want to grow young engineers.

How does the Committee work to address community concerns regarding mining?

We hear from communities, and we find that if there is an education process in these communities where the people are assured that the health, safety, and water issues are tackled, they will see the benefits of mining rather than the drawbacks.

With all the talk about renewables and projections of increased mandated usage, we will need to increase mining by 1000%. Mines should not take 10 or 20 years to get operating. We need to work together to get these projects approved.

How is the Committee tackling the current challenges in Arizona?

In the 2022 legislative session, we passed a US$1.4billion funding package for water projects. We are setting up an Executive Board to review projects for many different types of projects. We will be looking at how to bring new waters to Arizona. This could be desalinization, bringing flood waters into Arizona, and other ways to bring new waters into the state. We have funds for recharge projects and water conservation projects to use less water. Water reuse will be a big topic for next year's session. Arizona only saves 5% of the rain we get. 95 to 98% of our rains we get evaporate before it gets into the ground. We need to do a better job of saving and recharging those waters.

We regularly consult with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. I work on an annual basis with them to identify statutes that can be repealed that we don't need or no longer apply. The ADEQ Director recently testified before Congress regarding the Good Samaritan bill and mentioned Arizona's Good Samaritan Resolution. We have passed other resolutions in support of the mining industry, good forest management, and other issues that address our natural resource industries.

What will the Committee prioritize in the next 12 months?

We will be working closely with the University of Arizona and its mining school on several issues. The Mining, Mineral, Natural Resources, Education Museum is one project I look forward to getting open. The committee will continue to advocate for the support of the mining industry. Indeed, during my last trip to Washington, DC, we touched on the need for critical minerals- which Arizona is endowed with- for national security. Finally, we will continue to strive towards educating the public. There is a good future for mining.