UPDATING PERMITTING, NEPA, AND THE WAY WE APPROACH MINING

With a focus on Federal public lands, this presentation will address the competing objectives addressed by the General Mining Law and environmental regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as ongoing efforts to improve mine permitting. Following a review of NEPA process and practice, this presentation will address recent changes to NEPA and the Interagency Working Group’s Recommendations to Improve Mining on Public Lands report, and conclude with observations about NEPA best practices.