Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production

Page 1

DateIssued:March20,2025

Topic:EnvironmentalJustice,Energy

WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?

Thisexecutiveorderprioritizesexpandingdomesticmineralproductionto enhancenationalsecurityandeconomicresilience.Itdirectsfederal agenciestoexpeditethepermittingprocessforhigh-prioritymineral projectsbyplacingthemonthePermittingDashboardforaccelerated review.

Theordermandatesidentifyingandprioritizingfederallandswithknown mineraldepositsforminingactivities,ensuringthatregulatorybarriersare minimized.Additionally,theNationalEnergyDominanceCouncil(NEDC), establishedthroughanexecutiveorderbyPresidentDonaldTrumpon February14,2025,shouldsolicitindustryfeedbackonregulatoryobstacles andstrategiestostreamlinemineralproduction.

Tofacilitateinvestment,theorderinvokestheDefenseProductionActto providefinancialsupportfordomesticmineralproduction.Itestablishesthe NationalSecurityCapitalForumtoconnectprivateinvestorswithmineral projectsandreducesregulatoryhurdlesforaccessingfunding.

TheSecretariesofDefenseandEnergyareauthorizedtousetheirleasing powerstoenteragreementswithprivateentitiesformineralproductionon federallands,eitherthroughnewdevelopmentormodificationsofexisting structures.

Furthermore,agenciesresponsibleforfinancingmineralsupplychain securitymustrescindcertaindisclosurerequirements,wherelegally permissible,toeasefinancialrestrictionsandaccelerateprojectfunding.

HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?

Thisexecutiveordermandatesanaggressivetimelinetoaccelerate domesticmineralproductionbystreamliningregulatoryprocesses, prioritizingfederallanduse,andenhancingfinancialsupport.

Within10days,theheadofeachrelevantexecutivedepartmentoragency mustsubmitlistsofongoingmineralprojectstotheChairoftheNational EconomicDevelopmentCouncil(NEDC),whowillcoordinatewithagency headstoidentifyandexpeditepriorityprojects.TheSecretaryoftheInterioris requiredtoprovidealistoffederallandswithmineraldeposits,ensuringland useplansundertheFederalLandPolicyandManagementActfavormining.

Additionally,within15days,theNEDCChairwilldesignateselectprojectsfor transparencyonthePermittingDashboard,fast-trackingtheirapproval undertheFixingAmerica’sSurfaceTransportationAct.Within15daysof receivingthissubmission,theExecutiveDirectorofthePermittingCouncilwill publishtheselectedprojectsandsetschedulesforexpeditedreview.

Within30days,theSecretariesofDefense,Interior,Agriculture,andEnergy willidentifyfederallandssuitableforprivatemineraldevelopment, prioritizingsitesthatcanbequicklypermittedandoperational.The SecretariesofDefenseandEnergy,alongsidetheSmallBusiness Administration(SBA)andotherrelevantagencies,willensureprivateentities leasingfederallandscanaccessfinancialandtechnicalsupport.The SecretaryofDefensewilldesignatemineralproductionasapriorityunder theIndustrialBaseAnalysisandSustainmentProgram,whiletheCEOofthe DevelopmentFinanceCorporation(DFC)andtheSecretaryofDefensewill proposeadedicatedmineralinvestmentfund.ThePresidentoftheExportImportBankwillissueguidanceonfinancingtoolstosupportbothdomestic productionandglobalmineralfeedstockaccess.TheAssistantSecretaryof DefenseforIndustrialBasePolicyshallconvenemineralbuyersandinitiatea requestforbidstosupplyminerals.

Within45days,theSBAAdministratorwillsubmitlegislative recommendationstoenhancesmallbusinessfinancingformineral productionandimplementnecessaryregulationstosupporttheseefforts.

HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?

TheorderincludesprovisionsfortheSBAtoenhancefinancing opportunitiesforsmallbusinessesinvolvedinmineralproduction.This couldprovideBlack-ownedcompanieswithbetteraccesstofundingand governmentcontracts.

Fast-trackingmineralprojectsmayleadtoinvestmentsininfrastructure, suchasroadsandutilities,inareaswhereminingoperationsexpand.If managedfairly,thiscouldbenefitunderservedcommunities.Ifmineral productionprojectscreateincreasedemploymentopportunities,Black communities,especiallythoseinregionswithhighunemploymentrates, couldgainnewjobsinmining,transportation,andrelatedindustries.

Historically,Blackcommunitieshavebeendisproportionatelyaffectedby environmentalhazards.Prioritizingmineralproductiononfederallands andstreamliningregulationsmayweakenenvironmentalprotection, resultingingreaterpollution,watercontamination,andairqualityissues innearbycommunities.

Expeditedminingprojectscouldimpactlanduseinwaysthatmay overlooktheneedsofBlackruralcommunities.IffederallandsnearBlackmajoritycommunitiesaredesignatedforextraction,itcouldleadto displacement,landdegradation,orlossofaccesstotraditionallands.

Whiletheorderpromoteseconomicgrowthinmineralproduction,itdoes notexplicitlyoutlinepoliciesensuringthatBlackandminoritymine workers,businesses,orcommunitiesreceiveequitablebenefits.Without intentionalinclusion,thewealthgeneratedmaybypasshistorically marginalizedcommunities.

“WearecommittedtoworkingwithyourAdministrationtoaccomplish thosegoals,butwewillfightbackagainstyoureffortstodismantlethe federalresponsetoclimatechange,gutourbedrockpollution regulations,andrunroughshodoverlandmarkenvironmental protections.”FullStatement HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?

MembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)havedemonstrateda commitmenttoenvironmentaljusticeandsustainabledevelopmentfor decades.InJanuaryof2025,theHouseSustainableEnergyand EnvironmentCoalition(SEEC),whichincludesRep.MarilynStrickland, CBCSecretary,andRep.SydneyKamlager-Dove,CBCWhip,issueda lettertoPresidentTrumpabouthisexecutiveactionsthateliminated fundingtoaddressclimatechangeinmarginalizedcommunities:

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