How does the National Mining Association (NMA) help address the industry’s challenges?

The United States is in the most intensive minerals and metals era since World War II. Demand is soaring, exploration continues to grow, but far too few projects are coming online as quickly as they are needed. The pressure is immense to meet the demands driven by electrification, artificial intelligence, energy needs, and renewable energy projects. These sectors depend on mined materials and the status quo is insufficient. Third-party forecasts indicate a looming deficit without more investment in the mining sector.

This creates significant opportunities for current operators, juniors and exploration companies, with industry looking to the government for support in permitting projects in a responsible yet streamlined way. That is where the NMA steps in. We are actively working with the federal government on the permitting reform that is sorely needed in the US. Our goal is to maintain the highest environmental, safety and labor standards in the world, while addressing the challenge highlighted by the S&P report that in the US it takes an average of 29 years to bring a new mine online. This timeline must be reduced to meet the growing demands of modern life. How will the proposed legislative reforms impact mining projects in the US?

A broad group of bipartisan congressional allies is growing, aligned behind the need for permitting reform, and we have seen an important bill move forward in the Senate. The legislation includes key judicial reforms aimed at addressing lengthy legal challenges to mining projects. It also brings much-needed clarifications on ancillary use, specifically regarding the ability to use public lands for essential activities like setting up mining infrastructure and depositing waste rock near mine sites. Proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are pivotal. NEPA governs the timelines and deadlines by which the federal government must make environmental decisions on projects. These reforms are essential to ensuring that decisions are made transparently and within a reasonable timeframe, which is currently one of the biggest obstacles to advancing new mining projects. If passed, it would be a major win for the mining industry. How can the US remain competitive on the global market while maintaining high standards?

The United States lags 20 years behind China in developing and advancing its minerals strategy. We believe "Made in America" should be "Mined in America," and to make that a reality, we must reshore our minerals supply chains, even if it can’t happen overnight. There is strong bipartisan concern over China's dominance in locking up global supply chains. Recently, we have seen China weaponize materials like antimony and gallium by manipulating supply and restricting exports. China has been dumping materials, like lithium, to crush prices in the market. Russia has dealt a blow by wiping out the only US palladium and platinum-producing mine in Montana. These actions highlight the urgent need for the United States to strengthen its position in critical mineral supply chains. What progress has been made in reducing the environmental impacts of mining operations?

About five years ago, the NMA launched a sustainability task force to share ideas and promote best practices across the industry. Many of our members publish annual sustainability reports, providing transparency on their progress in community engagement, and environmental and labor standards. Companies are focused on lowering electricity and diesel consumption and aiming to recycle 100% of the water used on-site. They are making great strides in minimizing energy use and improving sustainability across their operations. We are proud to see Arch Resources become the first US mining company to adopt the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) standard, and we expect others to follow. Do you have a final message?

Through efforts like NMA TV, campaigns such as "Minerals Make Life", and other efforts, we are working to educate the public about the critical role minerals play in everyday life. Communicating with policymakers and the public is key to what associations like ours do, and we are fully committed to bridging this knowledge gap.