Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum declared that the permitting process for mining projects, which typically requires two years, will be reduced to as little as 28 days, thereby furthering President Donald Trump’s initiative to decrease the United States’ reliance on foreign suppliers.
On Wednesday, he announced that the president is aiming to expedite the initiatives for extracting coal, uranium, and various other valuable minerals. “The United States cannot afford to delay,” Burgum stated.
“President Trump has emphasized that our energy security is synonymous with national security, and these urgent measures demonstrate our steadfast dedication to safeguarding both.”
We are eliminating unnecessary delays to expedite the development of American energy and vital minerals—resources crucial for our economy, military preparedness, and global competitiveness. By shortening a multi-year permitting process to merely 28 days, the Department will act with urgency, determination, and a clear emphasis on enhancing the nation’s energy independence,” he stated.
Numerous projects have faced delays due to permitting procedures and legal actions initiated by left-leaning environmental organizations over the years, resulting in the United States becoming reliant on foreign nations—some of which are not particularly amicable—for essential resources, as reported by Just the News.
Furthermore, Democrats have consistently resisted the expansion of mining activities in the U.S., particularly concerning coal. Additionally, the publication highlighted that just one week prior to the announcement, Trump signed an executive order named ‘Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.’
Today, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) has declared enhancements in transparency, accountability, and predictability regarding the permitting review process for the initial set of critical mineral production projects, with numerous additional projects anticipated.
This initiative is a direct response to President Trump’s Executive Order aimed at implementing Immediate Measures to Boost American Mineral Production. By designating these transparency initiatives within the Permitting Council’s statutory framework, the President’s directive to promptly promote domestic production of the United States’ extensive mineral resources is being advanced, thereby creating jobs, fostering prosperity, and significantly diminishing our dependence on foreign nations,” stated the press release.
This marks the inaugural application of the Permitting Council’s transparency authority, and we anticipate demonstrating the numerous advantages that the Federal Permitting Dashboard can offer to essential infrastructure initiatives in alignment with President Trump’s Executive Order aimed at boosting American mineral production,” stated Manisha Patel, Acting Executive Director of the Permitting Council. “The Federal Permitting Dashboard serves as a crucial instrument for improving interagency collaboration and facilitating effective decision-making, and it will be instrumental in guaranteeing that these projects undergo the most streamlined review and authorization process possible, thereby delivering the benefits of advanced infrastructure to communities nationwide.
According to the press release, the chair of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) has submitted the initial list of mineral production projects, designated as transparency projects on the Federal Permitting Dashboard, in response to the Executive Order on Immediate Measures to Enhance American Mineral Production, to the Acting Executive Director of the Permitting Council.
This marks the initial phase—numerous additional projects are anticipated to be incorporated into the list progressively over the forthcoming weeks. The inclusion of these projects on the Permitting Dashboard as a transparency initiative renders the environmental review and authorization timelines for these essential mineral production projects accessible to the public, thereby enhancing transparency for all involved. The public accessibility of the dashboard guarantees that all stakeholders, including project sponsors, community members, and federal agency leaders, are informed about the current status of each project in the review process. This level of transparency fosters increased accountability, contributing to a more streamlined process.
The initial projects selected for acceleration comprised the Resolution Copper Project, the Stibnite Gold Project, the Warrior Met Coal Mines, the McDermitt Exploration Project, the South West Arkansas Project, the Caldwell Canyon Mine Project, the Libby Exploration Project, the Lisbon Valley Copper Project, the Silver Peak Lithium Mine, and the Michigan Potash.
