Critical Hardrock Mineral Production on Federal Lands

Current understanding

To be populated as evidence accumulates.

2026-03-04 — Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025: cross-connection with critical-mineral-consistency-act: USGS critical minerals list (which the Act would expand via DOE additions) is the definitional basis for what qualifies as a ‘critical mineral’ under federal lands production and permitting policies. (novelty: 2)
2026-04-27 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.: cross-connection with blm-plo-7917-minnesota-lands-withdrawal-disapproval: Reopening the Rainy River watershed acreage to mineral leasing intersects with broader federal policy to expand hardrock (including copper-nickel) mineral production on federal lands. (novelty: 3)
2026-02-05 — Critical Mineral Dominance Act: Critical Mineral Dominance Act (introduced) would direct Interior to identify and expedite priority hardrock mining projects on federal lands, rescind burdensome agency actions constraining production, and quantify costs of import reliance—a legislative push to expand domestic critical mineral supply beyond existing leasing frameworks. (novelty: 3)