Mined in the USA: We hear a lot about 'energy independence,' but what about 'minerals independence?' It's just as important to have reliable domestic sources for the strategic and critical building blocks of our defense and economy

It is time that we as a Nation recognize the critical importance of minerals to our national security, our economy and our everyday lives. Mining makes every aspect of our lives possible. Most people never think about the pivotal role mining plays in their lifestyle and standard of living, but mined products are key to the advanced, technological, comfortable and more healthful existence we enjoy. 

Think about it. Try to name one thing you did today that wasn’t made possible in some way by mining. You were awakened at your home (mined) by an alarm (mined), and got out of bed (mined). You showered (mined), brushed your teeth with toothpaste (mined) and put on your clothes (mined). You hopped in your car (mined) and drove on roads (mined) to your place of business (mined) and immediately checked your email on your computer (mined). Well, this could go on all day — but you get the idea. 

Mining is a unique industry in that it is the basis for our entire way of life. Yet, few people ever give it a second thought — much less consider its significance. That needs to change. 

Every year, the average American uses hundreds of newly mined minerals. It is relatively easy to visualize that we need mining for items such as cars, televisions, computers, cell phones — and even our national security.

New hybrid cars use twice as much copper as cars powered by gasoline alone. Electric cars use even more. Computer chips are made from as many as 60 different minerals or their constituent elements. And the U.S. Department of Defense uses more than 750,000 tons of minerals annually. 

We have heard a lot over the years about the importance of energy independence, but it is equally as important — if not more so — that we become minerals-independent. Unfortunately, a lack of access to economically viable mineral deposits and a lengthy, inefficient federal permitting system has resulted in the U.S. being increasingly dependent on foreign sources of strategic and critical minerals. This vulnerability has serious national defense and economic implications.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. is more than 50 percent reliant on foreign countries for 30 different metals and minerals and 100 percent import-reliant for an additional 21 minerals, despite having the third-largest mineral wealth in the world. Our mineral dependency is at a record high — double what is was 20 years ago. Today, less than half of the mineral needs of U.S. manufacturing are met from domestically mined resources.

Importantly, the federal government is now taking steps to ensure we have a domestic supply of the minerals our society needs. In December, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13817, “A Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals,” which declares that it “shall be the policy of the federal government to reduce the nation’s vulnerability to disruptions in the supply of critical minerals, which constitutes a strategic vulnerability for the security and prosperity of the United States.”

The executive order focuses on the need to “increase private-sector domestic exploration, production, recycling and reprocessing of critical minerals … [to] reduce our dependence on imports, preserve our leadership in technological innovation, support job creation, improve our national security and balance of trade and enhance the technological superiority and readiness of our armed forces.”

Executive Order 13817 directs the secretary of the interior, in coordination with the secretary of defense and other departments and agencies, to develop and publish a list of critical minerals. The preliminary list, published in February, identified 35 mineral commodities as critical. That is an important first step, but there are many minerals of vital importance to our economic and national security that are absent from the list. 

For example, copper, silver, gold, lead, zinc, phosphate and other minerals are indispensable to our infrastructure and are essential components of consumer products, military and defense equipment, numerous manufacturing sectors, medical applications and other uses. The availability of minerals with widespread uses in infrastructure, manufacturing and consumer products is an issue of national importance because shortages of these minerals would create serious economic disruptions that would have a ripple effect throughout our economy.

On the legislative side, Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, is sponsoring the “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act (H.R. 520), which addresses permitting inefficiencies at the federal level. Under the bill, projects that provide minerals vital to job creation, energy infrastructure, American economic competitiveness and national security are considered to be “infrastructure projects” under President Obama’s 2012 Executive Order 13604, titled “Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects.” E.O. 13604 directed federal agencies to significantly reduce the time required to make permitting and review decisions on infrastructure projects.

It is important to note that the streamlining of the mine permitting process does not equate to reducing environmental protections. Environmental safeguards, an efficient regulatory system and environmental stewardship are vital components to any mining project.

It is more important than ever for the U.S. to responsibly utilize our own mineral and energy resources. In fact, it is a national imperative. But to really become a national priority, as a society we all need to make the connection between mining and our quality of life. 

We assume the things we need and want will always be there. We take for granted in this country that the lights will go on when we flip the switch and our heating and cooling systems will keep us comfortable. But the bottom line is, without mining to provide the foundational minerals and metals for the things we use every day, our society would be much different. Like food and water, energy and minerals are essential.

We welcome Executive Order 13817 and legislative efforts to allow the domestic mining industry to reach its true potential and fully contribute to our economic and national security. Considering the foundational importance of the mining industry to our way of life, these are issues that deserve our attention.

Today’s safe and environmentally responsible mining industry is vital to the state of Utah, our economy and quality of life. It always has been and always will be. Mining is woven into the fabric of our society and our daily lives. We are all connected to the mining industry and we all have a vested interest in making sure the industry thrives in Utah.

President Abraham Lincoln once declared, “Utah will yet become the ‘treasure house of the nation.’” More than a century and a half later, Lincoln’s vision is a reality and we are all better off for it. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of that.

Mark Compton is the president of the Utah Mining Association.