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Mineral Resources and Policy

Members
    Mission

    Track, comment on, and provide the Association with input on federal legislation and regulations relating to the nation’s mineral resources. This includes issues involving federal lands and international policies. The committee provides updates as appropriate regarding state and federal administration of mining and mineral resources including leasing, exploration, development, royalties, oversight, reclamation, mine safety, and mineral data preservation. The committee reports and pursues opportunities for cooperation between the Association and mineral-related resource agencies, departments, institutions, and organizations.

    Responsibilities
    • Track the administration and funding of the USGS Minerals Program.
      • Assess and report to the Association on the USGS Minerals Program and related projects including the external grant program, mineral resources data collection, and minerals and mines data preservation. Pursue representation of AASG on a USGS Mineral Federal Advisory Committee (FACA).
    • Track congressional and state legislation relating to mining and mineral resource agencies
      • Assess and report to the Association relevant mineral resource agency projects, budgets and policies both domestic and offshore.
    • Explore collaborative agreements with Federal mineral resource agencies and National organizations.
    • Maintain a current AASG Position Statement for Mineral Resources.
      • Review and maintain a Minerals Position Statement for AASG liaison and distribution at other appropriate venues and on the AASG website.
    Goals
    • USGS Minerals Program
      • Advocate and support funding of External Mineral Research Grant Program
      • Secure an AASG Member as Representative to a USGS Minerals Program Review Committee (FACA): Follow through with USGS commitment to form a committee; Develop a process for nomination; Report nominations to EC for election (or selection) at annual meeting
      • Report status of Mineral Program to Association and solicit membership comment/action.
    • Track and Report on legislation and regulations
      • Establish a process to track current and proposed mineral related legislation and regulations (EMSRA, 1872 Mining Act, NEPA, and others).
      • Report and distribute summary information to the Association.
      • Alert Association to actions and proposals of time sensitive actions and plans.
      • Communicate with other AASG committees and EC regarding overlapping minerals related issues.
    • Implement existing MOA’s and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
      • Review and propose update of existing MOA with OSM, including data preservation of mines maps and data.
      • Review existing relevant collaborative agreements with BLM, USFS, and others.
    • AASG Minerals Position Paper
      • Review existing document.
      • Solicit comments and maintain format consistent with other Position Papers
      • Provide suggested revision to AASG for adoption.
    Membership Rules

    Members are appointed by the AASG President. The Chair will be a sitting State Geologist, appointed by the AASG President. The AASG President may appoint an Honorary Member to co-chair the Committee. The chair may create subcommittees to act on specific tasks.