,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cghc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #h 7legislative day1 ,march #g71 #bjbb,mr4 ,wyden introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to establish a critical mineral environmental processing and mining cleanup program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,critical mineral environmental processing and mining cleanup program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,critical mineral ,the term critical mineral has the meaning given the term in section #gjjb7;a7 of the ,energy ,act of #bjbj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #afjf7;a774 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means an entity engaged in or intending to engage in-- 7,a7 the mining or manufacturing of critical minerals or the reprocessing or recycling of mine tailings1 smelter or refinery slags1 or residues2 or 7,b7 any other value-added1 mining-related1 manufacturing-related1 or processing-related use of critical minerals undertaken within the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,eligible mineral ,the term eligible mineral means each of the minerals identified by the ,secretary under subsection 7b77#b77;,a74 7#d7 ,manufacture ,the term manufacture1 with respect to a mineral1 means to process1 refine1 alloy1 separate1 smelt1 concentrate1 or beneficiate the mineral4 7#e7 ,program ,the term program means the competitive grant program established under subsection 7b77#a74 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7b7 ,program establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a program to award competitive grants to eligible entities for the manufacturing of eligible minerals4 7#b7 ,determination2 identification 7,a7 ,eligible minerals ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,national ,economic ,council1 shall identify as eligible minerals-- 7i7 the #aj critical minerals that are the most critical for manufacturing and energy independence2 and 7ii7 the #aj minerals that are the most critical to the ,united ,states to reduce energy dependence on mineral imports4 7,b7 ,suitable locations 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall identify ,federal and non-,federal land for which it is economically feasible and environmentally sound to mine the eligible minerals4 7ii7 ,requirement ,the ,secretary shall establish for each suitable location identified under clause 7i7 a mitigation plan to combat environmental and health risks posed by the mining and manufacturing of eligible minerals to-- 7,i7 federally recognized ,indian ,tribes2 7,,ii7 communities at risk of pollution from mining activities2 and 7,,iii7 clean drinking water sources4 7,c7 ,no duplication of efforts ,to the maximum extent practicable1 in carrying out subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b71 the ,secretary shall use existing analyses of the ,department of the ,interior1 including the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey4 7#c7 ,selection 7,a7 ,applications ,an eligible entity seeking a grant under the program shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7,b7 ,selection criteria ,in awarding grants under the program1 the ,secretary shall only award grants to eligible entities that-- 7i7 have documented interests in constructing1 expanding1 or modernizing facilities that carry out an activity or use described in subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of subsection 7a77#b72 and 7ii7 demonstrate strong labor protections1 including prevailing wage requirements4 7#d7 ,use of funds ,a grant under the program may be used for the environmental assessment1 processing1 mitigation1 and cleanup necessary to mine or manufacture eligible minerals on the ,federal and non-,federal land identified under paragraph 7#b77;,b77i74 7#e7 ,environmental laws ,in carrying out activities using a grant under the program1 an eligible entity shall comply with-- 7,a7 all applicable environmental laws 7including regulations72 and 7,b7 any other environmental standards determined to be necessary by the ,secretary4 7#f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbg4