National Mining Association (NMA) president and CEO Rich Nolan said on Monday that maintaining the status quo on mine permitting was no longer viable and urged immediate reform of the process.

In response to senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso advancing a bipartisan permitting package in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Nolan described the legislation as an essential “first step” towards accelerating permitting procedures.

“Our manufacturing sector’s ability to produce the consumer and energy goods America needs is currently tied to China’s willingness to continue to provide the materials that feed those supply chains.

“America is home to both abundant natural resources and the environmental, labour and safety laws to ensure they are produced responsibly. With our mineral and energy demands only growing, we need to unlock our domestic potential,” he added.

According to a recent report by S&P Global, it takes an average of 29 years to bring a mine online in the US – longer than any other country assessed except Zambia, which takes 34 years.

“That poor performance is despite the fact that the US resource endowment is vast with the endowment of some key metals, such as copper, comparable to those of Canada and Australia combined.

“Uncertainty and litigation risk are factors that contribute to the US underperforming – both issues that are addressed, in part, in the bipartisan permitting package,” said Nolan.

The Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 will seek to strengthen the US’ energy security by accelerating the permitting process for critical energy and mineral projects of all types.

Manchin, from West Virginia, said that an outdated permitting system was stifling the nation’s economic growth, geopolitical strength and ability to reduce emissions.

“After over a year of holding hearings in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, thoughtfully considering input from our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and engaging in good faith negotiations, ranking member Barrasso and I have put together a commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation that will speed up permitting and provide more certainty for all types of energy and mineral projects without bypassing important protections for our environment and impacted communities,” commented Manchin.

Barrasso, from Wyoming, added that the Bill sought to secure future access to oil and gas resources on federal lands and waters.

“We fix the disastrous Rosemont decision so that we can produce more American minerals instead of relying on China. We permanently end President Biden’s reckless ban on natural gas exports. And we ensure we can strengthen our electric grid while protecting customers. This legislation is an urgent and important first step towards improving our nation’s broken permitting process.”