H.R. 4090: To codify certain provisions of certain Executive Orders relating to domestic mining and hardrock mineral resources, and for other purposes.

This bill aims to strengthen the United States' position in the production of hardrock minerals, including rare earth minerals, with several specific goals and actions outlined within it.

Key Goals

• **Job Creation:** The bill seeks to foster job opportunities and economic prosperity within the U.S. by enhancing domestic production of hardrock minerals.
• **Supply Chain Strengthening:** It aims to fortify the supply chains of the U.S. and its allies, reducing reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals.
• **National Security:** The legislation is positioned to enhance national security by ensuring a stable domestic supply of essential minerals.
• **Mitigating Foreign Influence:** It intends to diminish the global influence of adversarial nations on U.S. mineral resources.

Economic Analysis

• The Secretary of the Interior is required to conduct an analysis of the economic impacts of the U.S. reliance on imported minerals. This includes:
• Estimating the dollar value of dependence on imports for various minerals according to the U.S. Geological Survey's 2025 report.
• Evaluating the overall economic impact of mineral imports and exports.

Priority Projects

• Within ten days of the bill's enactment and annually afterwards, the Secretary must provide a list of mining projects on federal land that are awaiting permits or approvals.
• The Secretary is tasked with identifying priority mining projects that can be expedited for approval, aiming to accelerate domestic mining efforts.
• The Secretary must also identify projects that have the potential to increase production of hardrock minerals or their byproducts.

Identifying Mining Potential

• The bill mandates that the Secretary identify federal lands that could be leased for mining activities. This includes lands where:
• Mineral exploration is underway.
• Minerals are likely present but haven't been fully explored.
• Economically recoverable minerals are known to exist.

Regulatory Review

• Within 90 days of its enactment, the Secretary must review existing regulations that may hinder the development of domestic mining projects and submit a report recommending necessary changes.
• The review should include soliciting feedback from the mining industry on regulatory inefficiencies and potential strategies for expediting mining project approvals.

Geological Mapping

• The Secretary is directed to prioritize enhanced geological mapping across the U.S. to discover previously unknown deposits of hardrock minerals.
• A progress report regarding this mapping effort must be submitted within one year of the bill's enactment.

Definitions

• **Federal Land:** The bill defines this as lands managed by the federal government, including national forests and public lands available for mining.
• **Hardrock Minerals:** This includes various types of minerals such as base metals, precious metals, industrial metals, and certain gemstones, but excludes fossil fuels and other specific materials.

Relevant Companies

• RIO - Rio Tinto Group may see increased mining operations on federal lands related to hardrock and rare earth minerals.
• BHP - BHP Group, which engages in mining operations globally, could benefit from expanded possibilities and reduced regulatory barriers in the U.S.
• FCX - Freeport-McMoRan may increase production efforts for copper, which falls under hardrock minerals as the bill prioritizes such projects.
• NEM - Newmont Corporation may be affected as the focus on obtaining mining permits rapidly will allow for potential expansion of their projects on federal lands.