Examining Core At Twin Metals

Legislative Outreach

This page connects you with information about legislation and other issues important to the mining industry.

WMC Supports Section 45X (IRS code) Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit. The tax refers to direct and indirect material material costs related to the domestic extraction of raw maerials that are value added activities.

Support for Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 (S.2781).

Proposed Rule Change to amend the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual to adopt listing standards for natural asset companies. WMC states the rule must be revised to clearly state that a NAC cannot involve public lands.

WMC Comments on Proposed Rulemaking to Revise NEPA regulations. The Women’s Mining Coalition (WMC) submitted comments on the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) proposed rulemaking to revise its regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)1, Docket Number CEQ-2023-0003 as published on July 31, 2023, in the Federal Register, Vol. 88 No. 1452 (Proposed Rule).

WMC Thanks Sen. Joe Manchin for supporting a request to add copper to the critical minerals list.

Stibnite Gold Project Comments

Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project Comments

Updated NAGPRA Regulations Comments
(NAGPRA: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act)

Comments on the Conservation and Landscape Health Proposed Rule (DOI/BLM) The Women’s Mining Coalition (WMC) has numerous serious concerns about the Department of the Interior’s/Bureau of Land Management’s (DOI’s/BLM’s) Conservation and Landscape Health Proposed Rule (“Proposed Rule”) that was published on April 3, 2023, in the Federal Register, Vol. 88, No. 63.

WMC Thanks Sen. Joe Manchin for supporting a request to add copper to the critical minerals list.

Stibnite Gold Project Comments

Comments on the Payette and Boise National Forests’ Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Stibnite Gold Project

Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project Comments

Scoping Comments for BLM’s Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed development of the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project, Esmeralda County, NV Federal Register Vol. 87, No. 243

Updated NAGPRA Regulations Comments

These comments regarding the Proposed Rules for 43 C.F.R Part 10 implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA, or the Act), RIN 1024-AE19, are respectfully submitted by the National Mining Association, the Women’s Mining Coalition, and the American Exploration & Mining Association on behalf of its members.

 

Coal Fact Sheet - Where it's found and what it is.

Part 1 of a multipart series. On a world-wide basis, coal is found on six of the seven continents. The Coal fact sheet includes information about types of coal and how it is used.

WMC Supports Good Samaritan Legislation (S. 3571) - WMC Comments

WMC responds to Interagency Working Group About Mining Law

WMC's Comments to the IWG

Letter From Congress on IWG's Request for Information

 

Mining Law Reform: Three Decades Later 

H.R. 7580: Proposed Legislation in Search of Problems: The Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act According to the April 2022 Fact Sheet from House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl Grijalva, the Mining Law of 1872 is in need of significant reform. We disagree!

 

Grand Canyon Protective Act 2022. Presented to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Legislative Hearing: Reforming the Mining Law of 1872 Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, May 12, 2022. Testimony of Debra W. Struhsacker

Hearing Page - with all submitted testimony and video of the May 12 hearing.

Lithium: The Lightest Metal has a Heavyweight Impact!
The USA has the lithium resources to develop its own battery supply chain, from mining of the minerals to the manufacturing of batteries, enabling our Nation to meet low carbon energy goals without the risk of supply disruption.

Comments on Interagency Efforts to Develop the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas - The Women’s Mining Coalition (WMC) submits comments in response to the Secretary of the Interior’s request for information on the types of conservation efforts that should be included in the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas that the Secretary is developing along with the other federal agencies that are participating in an Interagency Working Group.

Sage Grouse Conservation Comments - WMC comments in response to BLM's Notice of Intent to amend land use plans for greater sage grouse conservation.

Build Back Better Act Will Increase Mineral Imports and Weaken Supply Chains - The Build Back Better Act Will Nullify The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill’s Critical Minerals Provisions.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Contains Provisions to Increase Domestic Production of Critical Minerals and Stimulate Domestic Battery Materials Processing Capacity.

 

Hardrock Royalty Program Will Require More Mining - The Future Success Of A Hardrock Royalty Program Will Require More Mining.How Many Mines Are Subject To The U.S. Mining Law
Where A Future Hardrock Royalty Could Apply?
Federal land managers do not track mineral production and cannot answer this question.

 

Mining Investment Fact Sheet - A High Gross Royalty Would Threaten Billions of Mining Investment Dollars. Jeopardizes Capital Investments, Jobs, and Economic Opportunities in Western Mining States

Energy Transition - Where are Critical Minerals going to come from to meet our Future Energy Needs? The future of America’s energy transition is completely dependent upon the availability of critical minerals for modernizing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. U.S. decision makers need to have the information necessary to ensure our nation develops policies for an adequate and ethical supply of these minerals.

House Budget Bill Will Increase our Reliance on China for Critical Minerals

Hardrock Mining provisions will decrease domestic critical mineral production and thwart the nation's clean energy goals.

"Toxic Legacy of the Mining Law of 1872."

House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hosted a hearing on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 titled, “The Toxic Legacy of the Mining Law of 1872.” Debbie Struhsacker testified, representing the Women's Mining Coalition. Testimony is available at: https://naturalresources.house.gov/hearings/hybrid-emr-oversight-hearing_july-27-2021

The video of the hearing can be viewed on You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGYAZe7f1X8

Jim Cress and Debbie Struhsacker provided additional information that answered questions that were brought up during the hearing. The answers are more thorough than could be conveyed during the short time allowed in the hearing.

Responses of James F. Cress to Questions for the Record of Hearing Held July 27, 2021

Responses to Questions for the Record Submitted by: Debra W. Struhsacker on behalf of The Women’s Mining Coalition



WMC Comments on Executive Order about America's Supply Chains.

RE: Notice of Request for Comments on Executive Order ‘‘America’s Supply Chains’’ U.S. Department of Defense Docket ID: DoD–2021–OS–0022 Federal Register Vo. 86, No. 69, April 13, 2021, pp 19230-19231

The Women’s Mining Coalition (WMC) supports the Biden Administration’s efforts to promote resilient, diverse, and secure supply chains as directed in the February 24, 2021 Executive Order (E.O.) 14017, “America’s Supply Chains.” We appreciate this opportunity to submit these comments in response to the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) Request for Comments on E.O. 14017.

Read More of this excellent summary of the supply chain issues.

 

Nevada Net Proceeds of Minerals Tax

The Women’s Mining Coalition has been meeting virtually with Nevada legislators to discuss our concerns about the three resolutions to change the mining taxation provision in Nevada’s Constitution (AJR 1, SJR 2, and AJR 2) that passed during the August 2020 special legislative session.

(Read More)

White Papers

WMC presents white papers on particular issues important to the mining industry. This is a summary of recent letters and white papers prepared on critical topics.

These papers are available from WMC by contacting the Coordinator at: wearewmc@wmc-usa.org

SILVER: Economic Importance and Public Health Benefits of Silver

Policies are Needed to Enable Production of More Domestic Silver, Reduce Silver Imports, and Promote Research on Expanded Silver Uses in Medicine.

Mining Law Fifth Amendment Takings Analysis (AEMA)

This white paper discusses the protected rights and interests held by U.S. citizens who invest their time, effort, and capital to explore for, identify, and develop our country’s much-needed minerals under the General Mining Law. It addresses whether these rights and interests are protected by the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and evaluates past Congressional amendments and attempted changes to the General Mining Law which successfully avoided an unconstitutional taking.

 

30 Things Mining makes possible30 Things - Everyday Things Mining Makes Possible.
Everything comes from somewhere. If it didn't grow, it was mined. This fantastic document shows the elements in things like electricity, solar panels, meat & veggies, and so much more! Roads, lenses, cleaning products - all these products are made possible by mining.

The U.S. Mining Law’s Role in Strengthening Domestic Mineral Supply Chains. Maintaining this Law is Critical to Reducing our Reliance on China and Other Foreign Minerals. Recent Bills Would Reduce Domestic Mineral Production and Increase China’s and Russia’s Leverage Over Minerals Essential to our Economy, Defense, and Clean Energy

Gold - The Monetary, Investment, and Technology Metal - This WMC White paper is about policies that Promote Domestic Gold Exploration and Development Important to our Economic Recovery. (July 2020)

Mining's Role in Our Economic Recovery- The Covid Pandemic and economic crisis make the worst possible time for legislation that would reduce domestic mining and exacerbate supply chain vulnerabilities. (July 2020)

Lessons From China - White paper from WMC and American Agri-Women
America has a great wealth of critical minerals that will secure a clean independent technological and energy future, but only if we support and help develop the domestic mineral production and processing of our mineral resources. (May 2020)

Public Health Benefits of Copper- Copper has proven antimicrobial and anti-viral properties that could play an important role in fighting the COVID-19 virus and in minimizing the spread of other viruses and bacteria that could cause future pandemics. WMC White Paper (April 2020)

Combatting Coronavirus with Smarter Surfaces- The viruses and bacteria that make us sick can survive on hard surfaces, sometimes up to five days. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that we must rethink our approach to physical infrastructure. Antimicrobial surfaces that naturally kill viruses offer a clear solution. National Mining Association Infographic. (May 2020)