To Create a Clean Energy Future, Mining Reform Must Be Front and Center

The document argues that current U.S. policies are insufficient to protect communities and environments from the impacts of critical mineral extraction. Earthjustice proposes a four-part strategy: boosting the circular economy through recycling and efficiency, reforming the outdated 1872 mining law to mandate cleanup and royalties, setting high labor and environmental standards for imported minerals via certifications like IRMA, and applying a precautionary approach to deep seabed mining to protect ocean ecosystems.

• The U.S. lacks a sufficient policy framework to incentivize the collection and use of recycled minerals, such as electric vehicle batteries and phones, leaving it behind international partners in creating a circular economy.
• U.S. domestic mining is governed by an outdated 1872 law that does not require companies to clean up toxic waste or pay royalties for using public lands, contributing to over 500,000 abandoned mines across the West.
• Specific mining projects currently threaten indigenous lands and wilderness areas in the U.S., including the Rosemont Mine in Arizona, the Twin Metals Mine in Minnesota, and the Pebble Mine in Alaska.
• To ensure responsible mining globally, the U.S. should utilize trade agreements and certifications such as the Institute for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), which provides benchmarks for labor, environmental, and business standards.
• Deep seabed mining presents unknown risks to carbon cycles, biodiversity, and fisheries, necessitating a precautionary approach before exploitation begins.

APA

Miller-McFeeley, B. (2021). To Create a Clean Energy Future, Mining Reform Must Be Front and Center. Earthjustice. https://earthjustice.org/experts/blaine-miller-mcfeeley/to-create-a-clean-energy-future-mining-reform-must-be-front-and-center

Chicago

Miller-McFeeley, Blaine. To Create a Clean Energy Future, Mining Reform Must Be Front and Center. Earthjustice, 2021. https://earthjustice.org/experts/blaine-miller-mcfeeley/to-create-a-clean-energy-future-mining-reform-must-be-front-and-center.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Miller-McFeeley |first1=Blaine |title=To Create a Clean Energy Future, Mining Reform Must Be Front and Center |publisher=Earthjustice |date=28 June 2021 |url=https://earthjustice.org/experts/blaine-miller-mcfeeley/to-create-a-clean-energy-future-mining-reform-must-be-front-and-center |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{millermcfeeley2021create, author = {Miller-McFeeley, Blaine}, title = {{To Create a Clean Energy Future, Mining Reform Must Be Front and Center}}, publisher = {Earthjustice}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://earthjustice.org/experts/blaine-miller-mcfeeley/to-create-a-clean-energy-future-mining-reform-must-be-front-and-center}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }