#aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 ,r4 
#gfa  ,,an ,,act  ,to require !         
,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior & ! ,secret>y (  
,agriculture to m effici5tly develop    
dome/ic s\rces ( ! m9]als & m9]al       
mat]ials ( /rategic & critical          
importance to ,unit$ ,/ates economic &  
national security & manufactur+         
competitiv5ess4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is   
,act may be cit$ z ! ,national ,/rategic
 & ,critical ,m9]als ,production ,act ( 
#bjac4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds !     
foll[+3  7#a7 ,! indu/rialization ( ,*9a
 & ,india has driv5 dem& = nonfuel m9]al
 commodities1 sp>k+ a p]iod ( res\rce   
nationalism exemplifi$ by ,*9a's        
r$uction 9 exports ( r>e-e>? elem5ts    
necess>y = telecommunications1 milit>y  
te*nologies1 heal?c>e te*nologies1 &    
conv5tional & r5ewable en]gy            
te*nologies4  7#b7 ,! availability (    
m9]als & m9]al mat]ials are ess5tial =  
economic gr[?1 national security1       
te*nological innovation1 & ! manufactur+
 & agricultural supply *a94  7#c7 ,!    

exploration1 production1 process+1 use1 
& recycl+ ( m9]als contribute           
significantly to ! economic well-be+1   
security & g5]al welf>e ( ! ,nation4    
7#d7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates has va/ m9]al     
res\rces1 b is becom+ increas+ly dep5d5t
 ^u =eign s\rces ( ^! m9]al mat]ials1 z 
demon/rat$ by ! foll[+3  7,a7           
,tw5ty-five ye>s ago ! ,unit$ ,/ates 0  
dep5d5t on =eign s\rces = #cj nonfuel   
m9]al mat]ials1 #f ( :i* ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 import$ #ajj p]c5t ( ! ,nation's       
requirem5ts1 & = ano!r #af commodities !
 ,unit$ ,/ates import$ m ?an #fj p]c5t (
 ! ,nation's ne$s4  7,b7 ,by #bjaa !    
,unit$ ,/ates import dep5d5ce = nonfuel 
m9]al mat]ials _h m ?an d\bl$ f #cj to  
#fg commodities1 #ai ( :i* ! ,unit$     
,/ates import$ #ajj p]c5t ( ! ,nation's 
requirem5ts1 & = ano!r #bd commodities1 
import$ m ?an #ej p]c5t ( ! ,nation's   
ne$s4  7,c7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates %>e (      
worldwide m9]al exploration doll>s 0 #h 
p]c5t 9 #bjaa1 d[n f #ai p]c5t 9 ! e>ly 
#aiijs4  7,d7 ,9 ! #bjab ,rank+ (       

,c\ntries = ,m9+ ,inve/m5t1 out ( #be   
major m9+ c\ntries1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
rank$ la/ ) ,papua ,new ,gu9ea 9 p]mitt+
 delays1 & t[>ds ! bottom reg>d+        
gov]nm5t take & social issues affect+   
m9+4  #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3  7#a7
 ,/rategic & critical m9]als ,! t]m     
/rategic & critical m9]als means m9]als 
t are necess>y--  7,a7 = national def5se
 & national security requirem5ts2  7,b7 
= ! ,nation's en]gy infra/ructure1      
includ+ pipel9es1 ref9+ capacity1       
electrical p[] g5]ation & transmission1 
& r5ewable en]gy production2  7,c7 to   
support dome/ic manufactur+1            
agriculture1 h\s+1 telecommunications1  
heal?c>e1 & transportation              
infra/ructure2 or  7,d7 = ! ,nation's   
economic security & balance ( trade4    
7#b7 ,ag5cy ,! t]m ag5cy means any      
ag5cy1 dep>tm5t1 or o!r unit ( ,f$]al1  
,/ate1 local1 or tribal gov]nm5t1 or    
,alaska ,native ,corporation4  7#c7     
m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit ,! t]m   
m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit includes 

plans ( op]ation issu$ by ! ,bureau (   
,l& ,managem5t & ! ,=e/ ,s]vice pursuant
 to #dc ,,cfr #chji & #cf ,,cfr #bbh;,a 
or ! au?orities li/$ 9 #dc ,,cfr        
#cejc4ac1 respectively4  ,i ,developm5t 
( ,dome/ic ,s\rces ( ,/rategic &        
,critical ,m9]als  #aja4 ,improv+       
developm5t ( /rategic & critical m9]als 
,dome/ic m9es t w provide /rategic &    
critical m9]als %all be consid]$ an     
infra/ructure project z describ$ 9      
,presid5tial ,ord] ,improv+ ,p]=mance ( 
,f$]al ,p]mitt+ & ,review (             
,infra/ructure ,projects dat$ ,m>* #bb1 
#bjab4  #ajb4 ,responsibilities ( ! lead
 ag5cy  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! lead ag5cy )    
responsibility = issu+ a m9]al          
exploration or m9e p]mit %all appo9t a  
project lead :o %all coord9ate & consult
 ) coop]at+ ag5cies & any o!r ag5cy     
involv$ 9 ! p]mitt+ process1 project    
propon5ts & contractors to ensure t     
ag5cies m9imize delays1 set & adh]e to  
timel9es & s*$ules = completion ( !     
p]mitt+ process1 set cle> p]mitt+ goals 

& track progress aga9/ ^? goals4  7b7   
,det]m9ation "u ,,nepa ,to ! ext5t t !  
,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act (  
#aifi applies to any m9]al exploration  
or m9e p]mit1 ! lead ag5cy )            
responsibility = issu+ a m9]al          
exploration or m9e p]mit %all det]m9e t 
! action to approve ! exploration or m9e
 p]mit does n con/itute a major ,f$]al  
action significantly affect+ ! quality (
 ! human environm5t )9 ! mean+ ( !      
,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act (  
#aifi if ! proc$ural & sub/antive       
safegu>ds ( ! p]mitt+ process alone1 any
 applicable ,/ate p]mitt+ process alone1
 or a comb9ation ( ! two processes      
toge!r provide an adequate me*anism to  
ensure t environm5tal factors are tak5  
into acc\nt4  7c7 coord9ation on p]mitt+
 process ,! lead ag5cy ) responsibility 
= issu+ a m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit
 %all enhance gov]nm5t coord9ation = !  
p]mitt+ process by avoid+ duplicative   
reviews1 m9imiz+ pap]work & engag+ o!r  
ag5cies & /akehold]s e>ly 9 ! process4  

,! lead ag5cy %all consid] ! foll[+ be/ 
practices3  7#a7 ,def]r+ to & rely+ ^u  
basel9e data1 analyses & reviews p]=m$  
by ,/ate ag5cies ) jurisdiction ov] !   
propos$ project4  7#b7 ,conduct+ any    
consultations or reviews concurr5tly r  
?an sequ5tially to ! ext5t practicable &
 :5 su* concurr5t review w exp$ite r ?an
 delay a decision4  7d7 ,s*$ule =       
p]mitt+ process ,at ! reque/ ( a project
 propon5t1 ! lead ag5cy1 coop]at+       
ag5cies & any o!r ag5cies involv$ ) !   
m9]al exploration or m9e p]mitt+ process
 %all ent] into an agreem5t ) ! project 
propon5t t sets "t limits = ea* "p ( !  
p]mitt+ process includ+ ! foll[+3  7#a7 
,! decision on :e!r to prep>e a docum5t 
requir$ "u ! ,national ,environm5tal    
,policy ,act ( #aifi4  7#b7 ,a          
det]m9ation ( ! scope ( any docum5t     
requir$ "u ! ,national ,environm5tal    
,policy ,act ( #aifi4  7#c7 ,! scope ( &
 s*$ule = ! basel9e /udies requir$ to   
prep>e a docum5t requir$ "u ! ,national 
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi4     

7#d7 ,prep>ation ( any draft docum5t    
requir$ "u ! ,national ,environm5tal    
,policy ,act ( #aifi4  7#e7 ,prep>ation 
( a f9al docum5t requir$ "u ! ,national 
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi4     
7#f7 ,consultations requir$ "u          
applicable laws4  7#g7 ,submission &    
review ( any comm5ts requir$ "u         
applicable law4  7#h7 ,publication ( any
 public notices requir$ "u applicable   
law4  7#i7 ,a f9al or any int]im        
decisions4  7e7 ,"t limit = p]mitt+     
process ,9 no case %\ld ! total review  
process describ$ 9 subsection 7d7 exce$ 
#cj mon?s unless agre$ to by !          
signatories ( ! agreem5t4  7f7          
,limitation on address+ public comm5ts  
,! lead ag5cy is n requir$ to address   
ag5cy or public comm5ts t 7 n submitt$  
dur+ any public comm5t p]iods or        
consultation p]iods provid$ dur+ !      
p]mitt+ process or z o!rwise requir$ by 
law4  7g7 ,f9ancial assurance ,! lead   
ag5cy w det]m9e ! am\nt ( f9ancial      
assurance = reclamation ( a m9]al       

exploration or m9+ site1 :i* mu/ cov] ! 
e/imat$ co/ if ! lead ag5cy 7 to        
contract ) a ?ird p>ty to reclaim !     
op]ations accord+ to ! reclamation plan1
 includ+ con/ruction & ma9t5ance co/s = 
any treatm5t facilities necess>y to meet
 ,f$]al1 ,/ate or tribal environm5tal   
/&>ds4  7h7 ,application to exi/+ p]mit 
applications ,?is section %all apply )  
respect to a m9]al exploration or m9e   
p]mit = :i* an application 0 submitt$   
be=e ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act if !
 applicant = ! p]mit submits a writt5   
reque/ to ! lead ag5cy = ! p]mit4 ,!    
lead ag5cy %all beg9 implem5t+ ?is      
section ) respect to su* application )9 
#cj days aft] receiv+ su* writt5 reque/4
  7i7 ,/rategic & critical m9]als )9    
,national ,=e/s ,) respect to /rategic &
 critical m9]als )9 a f$]ally adm9i/]$  
unit ( ! ,national ,=e/ ,sy/em1 ! lead  
ag5cy %all--  7#a7 exempt all areas (   
id5tifi$ m9]al res\rces 9 ,l& ,use      
,designations1 o!r ?an ,non-,developm5t 
,l& ,use ,designations1 9 exi/5ce z ( ! 

date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act f !        
proc$ures detail$ at & all rules        
promulgat$ "u "p #bid ( title #cf1 ,code
 = ,f$]al ,regulations2  7#b7 apply su* 
exemption to all additional r\tes &     
areas t ! lead ag5cy f9ds necess>y to   
facilitate ! con/ruction1 op]ation1     
ma9t5ance1 & re/oration ( ! areas (     
id5tifi$ m9]al res\rces describ$ 9      
p>agraph 7#a72 &  7#c7 cont9ue to apply 
su* exemptions aft] approval ( ! ,m9]als
 ,plan ( ,op]ations = ! unit ( !        
,national ,=e/ ,sy/em4  #ajc4           
,cons]vation ( ! res\rce ,9 evaluat+ &  
issu+ any m9]al exploration or m9e      
p]mit1 ! priority ( ! lead ag5cy %all be
 to maximize ! developm5t ( ! m9]al     
res\rce1 :ile mitigat+ environm5tal     
impacts1 s t m ( ! m9]al res\rce c be   
br\ght to ! m>ket place4  #ajd4 ,f$]al  
regi/] process = m9]al exploration & m9+
 projects  7a7 ,prep>ation ( ,f$]al     
,notices = ,m9]al ,exploration & ,m9e   
,developm5t ,projects ,! prep>ation (   
,f$]al ,regi/] notices requir$ by law   

associat$ ) ! issuance ( a m9]al        
exploration or m9e p]mit %all be        
delegat$ to ! organization level )9 !   
ag5cy responsible = issu+ ! m9]al       
exploration or m9e p]mit4 ,all ,f$]al   
,regi/] notices reg>d+ (ficial docum5t  
availability1 ann\ncem5ts ( meet+s1 or  
notices ( int5t to und]take an action   
%all be orig9at$ & transmitt$ to !      
,f$]al ,regi/] f ! (fice :]e docum5ts   
are held1 meet+s are held1 or ! activity
 is initiat$4  7b7 ,dep>tm5tal ,review (
 ,f$]al ,regi/] ,notices = ,m9]al       
,exploration & ,m9+ ,projects ,abs5t any
 extraord9>y circum/ance or except z    
o!rwise requir$ by any ,act ( ,congress1
 ea* ,f$]al ,regi/] notice describ$ 9   
subsection 7a7 %all und]go any requir$  
reviews )9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,int]ior or !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture & be publi%$ 9
 its f9al =m 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/] no lat] 
?an #cj days aft] its initial           
prep>ation4  ,,ii ,judicial review (    
ag5cy actions relat+ to ,exploration &  
,m9e ,p]mits  #bja4 ,def9itions = title 

,9 ?is title ! t]m cov]$ civil action   
means a civil action aga9/ ! ,f$]al     
,gov]nm5t conta9+ a claim "u section    
#gjb ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1   
reg>d+ ag5cy action affect+ a m9]al     
exploration or m9e p]mit4  #bjb4 ,timely
 fil+s ,a cov]$ civil action is b>r$    
unless fil$ no lat] ?an ! end ( !       
#fj-;day p]iod beg9n+ on ! date ( ! f9al
 ,f$]al ag5cy action to :i* x relates4  
#bjc4 ,"r to int]v5e ,! hold] ( any     
m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit may      
int]v5e z ( "r 9 any cov]$ civil action 
by a p]son affect+ rights or obligations
 ( ! p]mit hold] "u ! p]mit4  #bjd4     
,exp$ition 9 he>+ & det]m9+ ! action ,! 
c\rt %all endeavor to he> & det]m9e any 
cov]$ civil action z exp$iti\sly z      
possible4  #bje4 ,limitation on         
prospective relief ,9 a cov]$ civil     
action1 ! c\rt %all n grant or approve  
any prospective relief unless ! c\rt    
f9ds t su* relief is n>r[ly drawn1      
ext5ds no fur!r ?an necess>y to correct 
! violation ( a legal requirem5t1 & is !

 lea/ intrusive means necess>y to       
correct t violation4  #bjf4 ,limitation 
on attorneys' fees ,sections #ejd (     
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 & #bdab (
 title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code 7toge!r 
commonly call$ ! ,equal ,access to      
,ju/ice ,act7 d n apply to a cov]$ civil
 action1 nor %all any p>ty 9 su* a cov]$
 civil action receive paym5t f ! ,f$]al 
,gov]nm5t = _! attorneys' fees1 exp5ses1
 & o!r c\rt co/s4  ,,iii ,miscellane\s  
,provisions  #cja4 ,secret>ial ord] n   
affect$ ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be con/ru$
 z to affect any aspect ( ,secret>ial   
,ord] #ccbd1 issu$ by ! ,secret>y ( !   
,int]ior on ,decemb] #c1 #bjab1 )       
respect to pota% & oil & gas op]ators4  
,pass$ ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives        
,septemb] #ah1 #bjac4;,cl]k4