Since its inception, ARPN has advocated for more robust domestic resource development.

The U.S. mine permitting process has long inhibited domestic development, and has exacerbated U.S. dependence on foreign metals and mineral supplies.  As the pace of technological change accelerates, driven by advances in materials science, these ever-deepening resource dependencies are weakening the U.S. economy and compromising national security.

Thankfully, we’ve seen some recent steps in the right direction. The release of Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke’s draft list of minerals critical to U.S. national security has sparked a long-overdue national conversation about critical minerals and domestic resource development, to which ARPN has contributed with public comments and a new report highlighting the interrelationship between Gateway Metals and their Co-Products.

As stakeholders move towards the formulation of a comprehensive action plan to promote domestic resource development, it is clear that regulatory reform is key to reversing our over-reliance and strengthening U.S. resource development — which is why in the coming months, ARPN will step up its work in this area.

ARPN’s Regulatory Reform Project will focus on five objectives:

Bring predictability to mine permitting.
Whether that is setting time-frames for regulatory rulings, establishing a lead-agency approach to project review, or recognizing the national security imperatives of critical mineral supply – the common thread is bringing predictability to the permitting process.

Support sound science.
Expert opinion is an essential part of all mine development.  In recent years, sham “scientific studies” based on hypothetical scenarios rather than actual mine plans have had a chilling effect on U.S. mine development.  We need to press for sound science, with rigorous peer review and transparent methodologies.

Eliminate regulatory overreach.
Regulatory overreach that unnecessarily extends government agency authority to kill projects at will — particularly in regards to expansion of powers under the Clean Water Act — should be rolled back.

Connect mining to manufacturing…
The desire to spark a renaissance in American manufacturing will only succeed to the extent that the U.S. has reliable access to raw materials including essential metals and minerals.  We cannot reshore American jobs when we outsource our metals and minerals production.

…And connect resource development to infrastructure development.
Our nation’s crumbling infrastructure is overdue for a comprehensive re-build.  And beyond bridges, roads and tunnels, the U.S. energy grid and Internet backbone must be modernized.  All depend on reliable raw material supply.

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