Mining in the United States has reached a pivotal moment. As we barrel toward an age of cleaner energy, more advanced technology, and more resilient infrastructure, our need for minerals grows. At the same time, our supply remains vulnerable and reliant on foreign sources. Industry leaders will gather at MINExpo in Las Vegas, Nevada, next week as demand for domestically mined materials continues to rise—and the industry’s needs and challenges have drawn unprecedented attention from the U.S. Congress.

“We are at a time right now unlike any time in my 45-year career, when both sides of the aisle are collaborating to improve mining in general. It is quite remarkable.”

Senior Mining Engineer Tim Arnold has never seen anything like it. “We are at a time right now unlike any time in my 45-year career, when both sides of the aisle are collaborating to improve mining in general. It is quite remarkable,” said Tim, who started his career as an hourly laborer at a mine in the 1970s and ascended to the role of chief operating officer. Tim is now part of Barr’s mining engineering practice, which has supported mine development, operation, closure, and reclamation for over five decades. Barr’s mining experts have helped clients navigate the obstacles keeping the bulk of U.S. mineral resources out of reach, which is why we’re excited about prospects to improve the status quo.

In the last several years, Democrats and Republicans alike have worked on legislation aimed at some of the industry’s toughest challenges. While much of it has yet to become law, the bipartisan support is encouraging. These are the biggest opportunities on our radar:

Permitting reform

Mine development in the U.S. is infamously sluggish. S&P Global recently reported that the nation has the second-longest average mine development time in the world—29 years from mineral discovery to production. S&P also reported that nationwide, only three mines have reached production since 2002. It’s widely understood that expanding domestic mining will require more efficient permitting. On July 31, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024. Presented by Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso, the bill chips away at this problem by addressing permitting reform across multiple energy-related industries, including hardrock mining. It proposes reforms to judicial review and would provide needed clarity to mining law on federal land. This bill now awaits a Senate vote.

Abandoned mine cleanup

With so much time and resources dedicated to mine development, little consideration has been given historically to mine closure.

With so much time and resources dedicated to mine development, little consideration has been given historically to mine closure. Though the practice of closing and remediating mines has advanced in leaps and bounds—and Barr has been at the forefront of mine closure planning that minimizes environmental and community impacts—thousands of abandoned mines across the country are still causing harm.

Third-party organizations want to clean them up, but under current law, doing so means assuming liability for pre-existing pollution. Co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators, the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 aims to relieve that burden. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate in July. If it passes the House of Representatives, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will initiate a pilot permitting program to authorize not-for-profit cleanup of low-risk abandoned mines. The bill also establishes a fund that supports similar permitting by land management agencies. By protecting these “Good Samaritans” and ensuring that they have the resources to conduct a successful cleanup, this pilot bill could lead to more expansive legislation that would open the door for collaborative and innovative remediation and reclamation of abandoned mine lands.

Boosting the mining workforce

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, more than half the current mining workforce in the U.S. will be retired and replaced by 2029, creating a harrowing skills and knowledge gap. And with mining-related academic programs in decline across the country, the industry may struggle to close that gap without support.

More than half the current mining workforce in the U.S. will be retired and replaced by 2029, creating a harrowing skills and knowledge gap.

The Mining Schools Act of 2023, unanimously passed by the Senate this year, may help meet future demand for expertise by providing federal grants to mining schools at public universities to expand mining education, training, and research. The bill awaits consideration in the House of Representatives. Next on deck to support a new generation of mining professionals will be mining companies and engineering firms like Barr, through educational support and internship programs.

Tangible change may arrive later than we’d like, even if these bills ultimately become law. Still, it’s heartening to see bipartisan support for mining reform. And when considered alongside concurrent innovations in mining technology and increased investment in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities, these efforts suggest that a new era in mining looms on the horizon—one that can grasp the United States’ vast mineral potential while upholding meaningful community engagement and robust environmental protections.

Let’s meet the future together. Contact our team to learn more about Barr’s mine engineering and environmental services.

About Tim Arnold

With more than four decades of experience that spans a wide spectrum of work, Senior Mining Engineer Tim Arnold is a trusted professional in the hardrock mining industry. Tim’s experience ranges from scoping studies through final feasibility studies, detailed design, and construction. As an operator, Tim managed mines with industry-leading commitments to safety and worked on several projects surpassing $1 billion in project value. He has extensive experience with mine permitting, including the NEPA process, state and local permitting, and community relations.