The US government has launched new approach to permitting for mining projects on federal lands that is aimed at improving efficiency, and has also established performance metrics for permitting processes.
The US Bureau of Land Management, which manages vast tracts of federal land, said companies looking to tap into public minerals could see a shortened review time with a new process for early coordination and engagement on projects, as the agency also takes steps to better-quantify permitting issues.
US miners have long pointed to lengthy permitting times as an obstacle to developing mines in the country. A growing need for minerals critical to the energy transition, defense and other uses has brought the issue to the political forefront.
"Pre-plan coordination" is a model developed by the BLM's Nevada office that speeds permitting with no loss of environmental protection or opportunity for public input, according to a Nov. 20 press release.
"This process brings together all levels of government — federal, state, local, and tribal — so that responsible mining projects can move forward efficiently, which is why our interagency working group on mining recommended its adoption nationwide," Steve Feldgus, the Interior Department's principal deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management, said in a statement.
The policy encourages operators to work with the BLM, state and local governments, tribes, and other agencies before submitting their mining plans. That allows potential projects to be shaped around likely concerns and also sets expectations for environmental review processes.
Once pre-coordination is complete, an operator would then submit its plan to the BLM to allow the agency to proceed with National Environmental Policy Act reviews, tribal consultation and all other required steps.
BLM said the policy stems from recommendations in a September 2023 report from the Biden-Harris Administration's Interagency Working Group on Mining Laws, Regulations and Permitting.
BLM also said it had finalized mine permitting performance metrics aimed at improving efficiency and transparency. The metrics will help BLM track the steps in the permitting process and identify opportunities for improvement. Specific metrics include the percentage of operators participating in pre-plan coordination, the percentage of milestones met during that process, the median time to complete NEPA review for projects, and other data.
The announcement is an encouraging first step and tracks with industry recommendations, said Ashley Burke, spokesperson for the National Mining Association.
"There is no one silver bullet that will address our perilous mineral import reliance, but incremental progress is still progress and we hope to see other recommendations that we have made implemented in the future to unlock America's unparalleled minerals potential," Burke told S&P Global Commodity Insights.