113 S1600 IS: Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013
U.S. Senate
2013-10-29
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of
contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013
.(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definitions.TITLE I—Designations and policiesSec. 101. Designations.Sec. 102. Policy.Sec. 103. Resource assessment.Sec. 104. Study.Sec. 105. Agency review and reports.Sec. 106. Recycling, efficiency, and supply.Sec. 107. Alternatives.Sec. 108. Analysis and forecasting.Sec. 109. Education and workforce.Sec. 110. International cooperation.TITLE II—Mineral-specific actionsSec. 201. Administration.Sec. 202. Cobalt.Sec. 203. Lead.Sec. 204. Lithium.Sec. 205. Thorium.Sec. 206. Nontraditional sources for rare earth elements.TITLE III—MiscellaneousSec. 301. Repeal; authorization offset.Sec. 302. Administration.Sec. 303. Authorization of appropriations.2.In this Act:(1)(A)The term critical mineral means any mineral
or element designated as critical pursuant to section 101.(B)The
term critical mineral does not include—(i)fuel
minerals, including oil, natural gas, or any other fossil fuels; or(ii)water,
ice, or snow.(2)Critical
mineral manufacturingThe term critical mineral
manufacturing means—(A)the production,
processing, refining, alloying, separation, concentration, magnetic sintering,
melting, or beneficiation of critical minerals within the United States;(B)the fabrication,
assembly, or production, within the United States, of equipment, components, or
other goods with energy technology-, defense-, agriculture-, consumer
electronics-, or health care-related applications; or(C)any other
value-added, manufacturing-related use of critical minerals undertaken within
the United States.(3)The term Indian tribe has the meaning given
the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).(4)The term military equipment means
equipment used directly by the Armed Forces to carry out military
operations.(5)(A)The term rare earth element means the
chemical elements in the periodic table from lanthanum (atomic number 57) up to
and including lutetium (atomic number 71).(B)The
term rare earth element includes the similar chemical elements
yttrium (atomic number 39) and scandium (atomic number 21).(6)(A)In title I, the term Secretary means the Secretary
of the Interior.(B)In title II, the term Secretary means the
Secretary of Energy.(7)The
term State means—(A)a
State;(B)the District of
Columbia;(C)the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico;(D)Guam;(E)American
Samoa;(F)the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands; and(G)the United States
Virgin Islands.<enum>I</enum><header>Designations and
policies</header><section id="idcb1572e5198441629a98d8a3280293a1"><enum>101.</enum><header>Designations</header><subsection id="id3b9e1bcd3894422aaf3fafc5154b99e4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Draft
methodology</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register for public
comment a draft methodology for determining which minerals qualify as critical
minerals based on an assessment of whether the minerals are—</text><paragraph id="id108d40ff81074a14825a70c25e9360eb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>subject to
potential supply restrictions (including restrictions associated with foreign
political risk, abrupt demand growth, military conflict, and anti-competitive
or protectionist behaviors); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id966d14ad8408482a92c34bee6a3f3b96"><enum>(2)</enum><text>important in use
(including energy technology-, defense-, agriculture-, consumer
electronics-, and health care-related applications).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfbc3e3a455b4484cad39665d65ad6e4f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability of
data</header><text>If available data is insufficient to provide a quantitative
basis for the methodology developed under this section, qualitative evidence
may be used to the extent necessary.</text></subsection><subsection id="id41eb1aea54ce4f4590d8ba9d0d70692d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Final
methodology</header><text>After reviewing public comments on the draft
methodology under subsection (a) and updating the draft methodology as
appropriate, not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a description of the final
methodology for determining which minerals qualify as critical minerals.</text></subsection><subsection id="id8f8a951aa30e458a869c99cab885814d"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Designations</header><paragraph id="ide433e87d30fa4b1ba3bf7c2fcc53b13a"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For purposes of carrying out this title, the Secretary shall maintain a list of minerals and elements designated as critical, pursuant to the methodology under subsection (c), which shall not exceed 20 minerals and elements at any given time.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0e2c8959d1ec4d54b46cdcf0b76684dc"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Initial list</header><text>Subject to paragraph (1), not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal
Register an initial list of minerals designated as critical pursuant to the final methodology under subsection (c) for the purpose of carrying out this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1aee8d16c1be4651985d20d19d63d60c"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Subsequent
review</header><paragraph id="id4d441b7026ac4181bc05e87adf089535"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall review the methodology and
designations under subsections (c) and (d) at least every 5 years, or more
frequently if considered appropriate by the Secretary.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id53409aadbc9341e2aca4bd0142bca21a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Revisions</header><text>Subject
to subsection (d)(1), the Secretary may—</text><subparagraph id="idb0697bfdfc0d46dda9daaaff02a01e5f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>revise the
methodology described in this section;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id62954557f31d400594a2b2d61ee91f88"><enum>(B)</enum><text>determine that
minerals previously determined to be critical minerals are no longer critical
minerals; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8e892a175f2e4da3821d04bdcabeab56"><enum>(C)</enum><text>designate
additional minerals as critical minerals.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id160be34bbd9d4611819d2a6ef66edfad"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>On
finalization of the methodology under subsection (c), the list under subsection
(d), or any revision to the methodology or list under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit
to Congress written notice of the action.</text></subsection></section><section id="id8a1b664a9a7b4c40a65d4bba73112a6e"><enum>102.</enum><header>Policy</header><subsection id="id2ff412bed5394e4db9cc6085f1fe2daa"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 3 of the National Materials and Minerals Policy,
Research and Development Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1602">30 U.S.C. 1602</external-xref>) is amended in the second
sentence—</text><paragraph id="id90b9c8dcda6f4c07856d8ff92da9c13d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by
striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida93c45c70b1f450680dc0e311a490d88" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id5ea98f0c41fa474bbb40d8c03db56c28"><enum>(3)</enum><text>establish an
analytical and forecasting capability for identifying critical mineral demand,
supply, and other market dynamics relevant to policy formulation to allow
informed actions to be taken to avoid supply shortages, mitigate price
volatility, and prepare for demand growth and other market
shifts;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id16deba76467a4a60acaaf2631f9338f4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in
paragraph (6), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon at the
end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0033bb111a87454c8e358ac8ee5ded8c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in
paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idce65119c8a494a0bb22da32b5a3a4d18"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by
adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5d7d9385c28f4f0397037dd0af8ee015" style="OLC"><paragraph id="idff549b3c3033403e904c65ec94b39232"><enum>(8)</enum><text>encourage Federal
agencies to facilitate the availability, development, and environmentally
responsible production of domestic resources to meet national critical
material or mineral needs;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ided2d4ecd0820492b861665f311eb6a21"><enum>(9)</enum><text>avoid duplication
of effort, prevent unnecessary paperwork, and minimize unnecessary delays in the
administration of applicable laws (including regulations) and the issuance of
permits and authorizations necessary to explore for, develop, and produce
critical minerals and to construct critical mineral manufacturing facilities in
accordance with applicable environmental and land management laws;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd3f6da4c80534a79904dc36b1b09efdb"><enum>(10)</enum><text>strengthen
educational and research capabilities and workforce training;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id82c9f07477264834a5e731f9e2cf6a1d"><enum>(11)</enum><text>bolster
international cooperation through technology transfer, information sharing, and
other means;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2e5ad553e9404d179565263739e89e3b"><enum>(12)</enum><text>promote the
efficient production, use, and recycling of critical minerals;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida7b760c6acc94331a93294d8b7dac99b"><enum>(13)</enum><text>develop
alternatives to critical minerals; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id97f0277377b241aa8ce739ee21271b57"><enum>(14)</enum><text>establish
contingencies for the production of, or access to, critical minerals for which
viable sources do not exist within the United
States.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id741a71e76a80485e9559902b9fcf031e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Section 2(b) of the National Materials and Minerals
Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1601">30 U.S.C. 1601(b)</external-xref>) is amended by
striking <quote>(b) As used in this Act, the term</quote> and inserting the
following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id255151d0dfd94eefa0e47fa4fadcfe8d" style="OLC"><subsection id="id41ef714ccb1947d1aceb42d786e2c693"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this Act:</text><paragraph id="id783f84ba068946858e4b06eab247b0a2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Critical
mineral</header><text>The term <term>critical mineral</term> means any mineral
designated as a critical mineral pursuant to section 101 of the
<short-title>Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013</short-title>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb544c2133ad24649bdc68ef93813c5d7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Materials</header><text>The
term</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="id819c27b0d7a94ffeae345bbd8401336d"><enum>103.</enum><header>Resource
assessment</header><subsection id="idc49213dec9744d098293979fa93e9ffb"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, in consultation with applicable State (including geological surveys),
local, academic, industry, and other entities, the Secretary shall complete,
using established resource assessment methodologies and authorities of the
United States Geological Survey, a comprehensive national assessment of each
critical mineral that—</text><paragraph id="id092f5c89c8504f139733c79f34b50a17"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identifies and
quantifies known critical mineral resources, using all available public and
private information and datasets, including exploration histories;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idabe83adb45bd431e813f9e18330b0795"><enum>(2)</enum><text>estimates the
cost of production of the critical mineral resources identified and quantified
under this section, using all available public and private information and
datasets, including exploration histories;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id148b1f43fcfa4492a544c450c5b90f00"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provides a
quantitative and qualitative assessment of undiscovered critical mineral
resources throughout the United States on land available for mineral
production, including probability estimates of tonnage and grade, using all
available public and private information and datasets, including exploration
histories; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddb92149a51dd498e9471b8667f8cf039"><enum>(4)</enum><text>provides
qualitative information on the environmental attributes of the critical mineral
resources identified under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbed1155178424499bc8cb07a559cdf80"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Supplementary
information</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary (acting
through the Director of the United States Geological Survey) may carry out, consistent with applicable law, surveys necessary or appropriate to supplement existing information and datasets
available for determining the existence of critical minerals in the United
States.</text></subsection><subsection id="ida06f92b3b9df47ce88ce578ca1c06099"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical
assistance</header><text>At the request of the Governor of a State or the head of an Indian
tribe, the Secretary may provide technical assistance to State governments and
Indian tribes conducting critical mineral resource assessments on non-Federal
land.</text></subsection><subsection id="id75da3ab89a1a44ff970017efb2163656"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Prioritization</header><paragraph id="id30b97b5297184e098b761cf09d7856f2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may sequence the completion of resource assessments for each critical mineral such that critical minerals considered to be most critical under the methodology established under section 101 are completed first.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id05714fd107e24d30b32aa4bc54229baf"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>During the period beginning not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and ending on date of the completion of all of the assessments required under this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress on an annual basis an interim report that—</text><subparagraph id="id8252d5b93663418b951c47ac9d26daf4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identifies the sequence and schedule for completion of the assessments if the Secretary sequences the assessments; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3b516032a567472aa18fdcb0fd4e38e6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>describes the progress of the assessments if the Secretary does not sequence the assessments.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1899be139569445a8006ec5b16edb1bd"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Updates</header><text>The
Secretary may periodically update the assessment conducted under this section
based on—</text><paragraph id="idf48c7850563c47af9baeb0230f892e3e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the
generation of new information or datasets by the Federal Government; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id025be0397456418894b1769c1b552f11"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the
receipt of new information or datasets from critical mineral producers, State
geological surveys, academic institutions, trade associations, or other
entities or individuals.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id5ca87e2ff34547578642774ca9fad62b"><enum>104.</enum><header>Study</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences (referred to in this section as the <quote>Academy</quote>) under which the Academy shall provide an update of the 1999 report of the Academy entitled <quote>Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands</quote>, prepared pursuant to section 120 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/277">Public Law 105–277</external-xref>; 112 Stat. 2681–257), including an examination of—</text><paragraph id="id67a83122813846a690b52be1510fa41f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>regulatory changes implemented since 1999 and the extent to which the changes address recommendations made in the report;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4727a0acca784ce59d63a68f6f83123f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>additional steps that can be taken—</text><subparagraph id="ide0e0df3dc30e4ca99f5dc378b1c5c9e5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to improve the quality and timeliness of final decisions on applications, operating plans, leases, licenses, permits, and other use authorizations for hardrock mining activities on Federal land;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcb022458ce414705a62d68f8310c658a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of Federal land; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7356b17ba7754910a6c0528e8d5977bc"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to improve inspection and enforcement of hardrock mine and related sites on Federal land; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfd1499d533da4da084cc7b00d9ea8b58"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the number and location of abandoned hardrock mines.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id3cbd7d611dec46e2994a02fb602a9130"><enum>105.</enum><header>Agency review
and reports</header><subsection id="id88eaf7658b0e4af091e55cad9fb0fc46"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Performance
improvements</header><text>To improve the quality and timeliness of decisions, the Secretary (acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management) and the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service) (referred to in this section as the <quote>Secretaries</quote>) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, with respect to critical mineral production on Federal land—</text><paragraph id="id13bbf28fe704441684d4a15b8617c688"><enum>(1)</enum><text>ensure that
Federal permitting and review processes inform decisionmakers and affected
communities about the potential positive and negative impacts of proposed
mining activities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfac43cb224844ddb9d7b19cf8c2378c5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>ensure that mining activities are carried out in a manner that is consistent
with protecting the public health, welfare, safety, national security, and
environment of the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4462f7c763bc4606a5cea9ff62b9f1c2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>execute Federal permitting and review processes, consistent with available resources, with maximum
efficiency and effectiveness, while ensuring the health, safety, and security of
communities and the environment and supporting vital economic growth,
by—</text><subparagraph id="id02682cd6575b481a9494a0b39fde6d95"><enum>(A)</enum><text>setting and
adhering to timelines and schedules for completion of reviews and for inspection and enforcement activities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id72a200680c41434bbc8dcf7071c3266f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>setting clear
permitting performance goals and tracking progress against those goals;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbec8431ffab5445d815d04641ce1f4af"><enum>(C)</enum><text>encouraging early
collaboration among agencies, project sponsors, and affected stakeholders to
incorporate and address their interests and minimize delays;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3434455db1de4fb19fc2a5eb0c79bcf5"><enum>(D)</enum><text>providing for
transparency and accountability by using cost-effective information technology
to collect and disseminate information about individual projects and agency
performance;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb7bf2e0cb431435194996f772f960268"><enum>(E)</enum><text>achieving early
and active consultation with State, local, and tribal governments to avoid
conflicts or duplication of effort, resolve concerns, and allow for concurrent
rather than sequential reviews;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idea8847fe2e94420b93545e76da115abd"><enum>(F)</enum><text>providing demonstrable improvements in the performance of Federal permitting and review processes, including lower costs, more timely decisions, and a healthier and cleaner environment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1be57daa158a4645907bec23cdbd1491"><enum>(G)</enum><text>expanding and
institutionalizing permitting and review process improvements that have proven
effective;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf64c025b66444b0eae6471b502d924a9"><enum>(H)</enum><text>developing
mechanisms to better communicate priorities and resolve disputes among agencies
at the national and regional levels; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id949445f1930a475e9d112eb37dc844d2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>developing other
practices, such as pre-application procedures.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2f979d810abe45d9a6280561c08de293"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review and
report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of receipt of the
report of the study under section 104, the Secretaries shall submit to Congress
a report that—</text><paragraph id="idaa2a35c70c22413bad7080f41ebf55fe"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes the
recommendations from the study under section 104 that the Secretaries have
existing legal authority for and intend to implement, including estimated
timelines for the implementation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6d1bc6a1d5664335b3ed01df8c331e98"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifies
additional measures (including regulatory and legislative proposals, as
appropriate) that would—</text><subparagraph id="id6D243075AC094054A38B266BA5DFEBD8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>increase the effectiveness and operational efficiency
of agency management of permitting activities for the exploration and
development of domestic critical minerals; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddb9f8c5ce226463ca2ae6fdd3fd459de"><enum>(B)</enum><text>improve the effectiveness of environmental analysis and inspection and enforcement activities relating to critical mineral-related activities on Federal land;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id90cd8cadbe284790b5ee863ece691b1d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>identifies
options (including cost recovery paid by applicants) for ensuring adequate
staffing (including training programs) of Federal entities responsible for—</text><subparagraph id="id68D93AA64A654AF7A54B96F491526A4C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the
consideration of applications, operating plans, leases, licenses, permits, and
other use authorizations for critical mineral-related activities on Federal
land; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA55841898C404234936B2D858A746CCE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>environmental analysis and inspection and enforcement activities with respect to the critical mineral-related activities;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9264589d59e74c55880dd7e84aa4c14c"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in
coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, assesses
whether Federal laws (including regulations and tax provisions) or
policies are adversely affecting or are enhancing the global competitiveness of, or investment
in, the domestic critical minerals industry, including the critical minerals
manufacturing industry;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0e45d376492841218cba79455c3132ce"><enum>(5)</enum><text>quantifies the amount of time typically required to complete each step associated with the development and processing of applications, operating
plans, leases, licenses, permits, and other use authorizations for critical
mineral-related activities on Federal land; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc53d7ca03d10463cb9551332266d2726"><enum>(6)</enum><text>describes actions
taken pursuant to subsection (a).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idae9e1c8e6f7347e9a48fa4b9a537caa3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Annual
reports</header><text>Beginning with the first budget submission by the
President under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/31/1105">section 1105</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code, after submission
to Congress of the report under subsection (b), and for the next 10 annual
budget submissions thereafter, the Secretaries shall submit to Congress a
report on—</text><paragraph id="id7ADCE8DDC4C2427B8C27839EAF16B599"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the
implementation of recommendations, measures, and options identified in
paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (b);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4664ad707e1941f18973b32a17d75a5f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>achievement of,
or progress towards, the target levels of performance developed under
subsection (d);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3bca84a0075f4c438efb3bc1706ad5cd"><enum>(3)</enum><text>actions taken
under subsection (a); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id72ab102854114b3b906cd8681fe6ab3f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the quantity, type, and estimated value (by mineral type) of—</text><subparagraph id="id2144b03852d340e0863a1473b1f0ded2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>critical minerals produced on Federal land; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide039b2e61a7843cf96ebd06adaadd220"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all hardrock minerals produced on Federal land.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1f4782b3a6fb4fcea443230c02dc2f6a"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Metrics of
agency performance</header><paragraph id="id8ef50e555de2437b9ac6591e35d469fc"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not
later than 180 days after the date of the submission of the report under
subsection (b), the Secretaries, after public notice and comment, shall develop
and publish target levels of performance for agency management of activities
associated with the exploration for and development of domestic critical
minerals in accordance with applicable laws, against which actual achievement
or progress can be compared, in—</text><subparagraph id="id8e76888dd5b04ba284d162ef98ba393c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the timeliness of
decisions, taking into consideration the evaluation described in subsection
(b)(5);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id65AA3BF429CF4E09BF6F4472029388A3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>cost
savings; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd754407450ff47bb9e175f8ddc9310c6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>improved health and environmental performance.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id467b39ff97cf47eab27a3beb567b5242"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Incorporation
in annual performance plans</header><text>The Secretaries shall use the target
levels of performance under paragraph (1) as performance goals in the
appropriate agency performance plans under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/31/1115">section 1115</external-xref> of title 31, United
States Code.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0c5421b03ed846e6baad3c73423b6598"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Judicial
review</header><paragraph id="id405978b7d22c49c6a4c4fa4c4bd2a597"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Nothing in this section affects the judicial review of an
agency action under any provision of law.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd8d9260c2b1d452987b50d6cc92c5349"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>This
section—</text><subparagraph id="id551a4f53d5ef41389fcced73b2bc0d3e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is intended to
improve the internal management of the Federal Government; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4d09bc17dcb34bfe9d621586db3e3fe7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not create
any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity
by a party against the United States (including an agency, instrumentality,
officer, or employee) or any other person.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2854512dc5244cbd98688b75a31845c5"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>Nothing in this section relieves the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture of any obligation or duty under any other applicable law (including regulations).</text></subsection></section><section id="id2ca8293ca0e849ee8efe0b3e4ab6bae4"><enum>106.</enum><header>Recycling,
efficiency, and supply</header><subsection id="id6db852a407664080b17fc155146ea9c1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary of Energy shall conduct a program of research and development to
promote the efficient production, use, and recycling of critical
minerals throughout the supply chain.</text></subsection><subsection id="id7854eee484fc4600a3a0d159b9033542"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cooperation</header><text>In
carrying out the program, the Secretary of Energy shall cooperate with
appropriate—</text><paragraph id="ide475355dd7104c53bdc18175cf1bbbed"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Federal agencies
and National Laboratories;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idadb308edc90148fe921b386ffedeb16b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>critical mineral
producers;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA2D6BDC5C17240B2B855DBE14F09E973"><enum>(3)</enum><text>critical mineral processors;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3c115b45a008489f93e33e0c959774fe"><enum>(4)</enum><text>critical mineral
manufacturers;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id74c76aa427a54fe49036f04a83baf959"><enum>(5)</enum><text>trade
associations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id92bfb7d1cfd148b69a7eb3606cf52ed8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>academic
institutions;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb5479b09d032480aa57f5e556e4acde9"><enum>(7)</enum><text>small businesses;
and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idde4b496128fe4fa788892a4dd775eaeb"><enum>(8)</enum><text>other relevant
entities or individuals.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8c529e61113b474cae3b7da0cbf647f6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>Under
the program, the Secretary of Energy shall carry out activities that include
the identification and development of—</text><paragraph id="iddad7db4ccf7b4f3792afd40cb49130ff"><enum>(1)</enum><text>advanced critical
mineral extraction, production, separation, alloying, or processing
technologies that decrease the energy consumption, environmental impact, and
costs of those activities, including—</text><subparagraph id="ideed899141eb142f3b06aa8a308dea3ce"><enum>(A)</enum><text>efficient water and wastewater management strategies;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id83F312FAE77A4C6FBBC14C64F22210D0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>technologies and management strategies to control the environmental impacts of radionuclides in ore tailings; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2a443117ed354dbfb898accc8b95610c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>technologies for separation and processing;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9e63073171bf4ad58cc5fbab3d68a3bf"><enum>(2)</enum><text>technologies or
process improvements that minimize the use, or lead to more efficient use, of
critical minerals across the full supply chain;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id451e696f60c046a7b2bdd992f22deb43"><enum>(3)</enum><text>technologies,
process improvements, or design optimizations that facilitate the recycling of
critical minerals, and options for improving the rates of collection of
products and scrap containing critical minerals from post-consumer, industrial,
or other waste streams;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id54d49401fcc645e7ab5dcdd3d1c95028"><enum>(4)</enum><text>commercial
markets, advanced storage methods, energy applications, and other beneficial
uses of critical minerals processing byproducts; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id65b7509c9a98452f884069dbdd66dcb9"><enum>(5)</enum><text>alternative
minerals, metals, and materials, particularly those available in abundance
within the United States and not subject to potential supply restrictions, that
lessen the need for critical minerals.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idff78cc3cae06401d8693667e106ac891"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Energy shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the activities, findings,
and progress of the program.</text></subsection></section><section id="id2c240514f3a34eed84bb978e967eb30e"><enum>107.</enum><header>Alternatives</header><subsection id="id0e6ae5f027d74f769d7d7c0c47f1503d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary of Energy shall conduct a program of research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application to promote the development of
alternatives to critical minerals.</text></subsection><subsection id="id57cd9e24c5ec435d9c40bd4c0b409de0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cooperation</header><text>In
carrying out the program, the Secretary of Energy shall cooperate with
appropriate—</text><paragraph id="id6ba797f6b1174e3a8c805651c15f229d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Federal agencies
(including National Laboratories);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide8351653d20844a19420b9a6e7c907a5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>critical mineral
producers;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id54aa5e7a17cc42bcbc6646f5c8bf370e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>critical mineral
manufacturers;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida282a5cb17904455b9bc54a526c64e93"><enum>(4)</enum><text>trade
associations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide01dcfd296da4faab72a8bf198bbbcc2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>academic
institutions;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id50278cb0371d4c7cb3b1e8f2fcdff600"><enum>(6)</enum><text>small businesses;
and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddda836fdf1084e32917ea7b5ed02c8eb"><enum>(7)</enum><text>other relevant
entities or individuals.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id293a6af28424450680ee240a7d9a2bd7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>To
lessen the need for critical minerals, the program under this section shall
carry out activities that include the identification and development of—</text><paragraph id="idbd432f91edb742b68aadb56f46bb0cfb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>alternative
minerals, metals, and minerals used in energy technologies, particularly
those that are available in abundance in the United States and are not subject
to potential supply restrictions; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf555660194c0488a9d9f9282248d310b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>alternative energy technologies or alternative designs of existing energy
technologies, particularly those that use minerals in abundance in the United
States and are not subject to potential supply restrictions.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id896d10aa65484cb9beb6747849acdc39"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Energy shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the activities, findings,
and progress of the program under this section.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="id2ba6527872db415cb56ba9888b09ef06"><enum>108.</enum><header>Analysis and
forecasting</header><subsection commented="no" id="ide6c2a2cfc2c340debe5d0240df0b6951"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Capabilities</header><text>In
order to evaluate existing critical mineral policies and inform future actions
that may be taken to avoid supply shortages, mitigate price volatility, and
prepare for demand growth and other market shifts, the Secretary, in
consultation with academic institutions, the Energy Information Administration,
and others in order to maximize the application of existing competencies
related to developing and maintaining computer-models and similar analytical
tools, shall conduct and publish the results of an annual report that
includes—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id6eb78a8dbfd84193837461036477ec12"><enum>(1)</enum><text>as
part of the annually published Mineral Commodity Summaries from the United
States Geological Survey, a comprehensive review of critical mineral
production, consumption, and recycling patterns, including—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idd5e9dee7cf1442e4aa0ae4878fc5e83f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the quantity of
each critical mineral domestically produced during the preceding year;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id2c6afb4feda24dd7a865ab4c74526749"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the quantity of
each critical mineral domestically consumed during the preceding year;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id542b6ed065a340b1a42ac8bf5239dc06"><enum>(C)</enum><text>market price data
for each critical mineral;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id93ec06ea43944e73a4e5c90b2af132a9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an assessment
of—</text><clause commented="no" id="id31630b60003d450d9bac7e13f585f3ca"><enum>(i)</enum><text>critical mineral
requirements to meet the national security, energy, economic, industrial,
technological, and other needs of the United States during the preceding
year;</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="idd114cfc826304cacad74cdd6311f92c4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
reliance of the United States on foreign sources to meet those needs during the
preceding year; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="id4868896909164024811400f668578753"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the
implications of any supply shortages, restrictions, or disruptions during the
preceding year;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idaf553593804645759482ee2725c095f3"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the quantity of
each critical mineral domestically recycled during the preceding year;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id6338c2f605c64766afe205f3eec60ef7"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the market
penetration during the preceding year of alternatives to each critical
mineral;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id5faba094f7494645877125c969109579"><enum>(G)</enum><text>a
discussion of applicable international trends associated with the discovery,
production, consumption, use, costs of production, prices, and recycling of
each critical mineral as well as the development of alternatives to critical
minerals; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id31919ba2a9b44e53baa1eff1e4ac27d6"><enum>(H)</enum><text>such other data,
analyses, and evaluations as the Secretary finds are necessary to achieve the
purposes of this section; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id2c764ab466c64fac9ac10b07506a3978"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a
comprehensive forecast, entitled the <quote>Annual Critical Minerals
Outlook</quote>, of projected critical mineral production, consumption, and
recycling patterns, including—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idb33e2bb86c6b4b8c92de7ce2fb1299eb"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the quantity of
each critical mineral projected to be domestically produced over the subsequent
1-year, 5-year, and 10-year periods;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id3d612c8e7a604e189932e6d762bb1588"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the quantity of
each critical mineral projected to be domestically consumed over the subsequent
1-year, 5-year, and 10-year periods;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id455de4a7125e43ea9c7503186ca7f16b"><enum>(C)</enum><text>market price
projections for each critical mineral, to the maximum extent practicable and
based on the best available information;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idfa90e30d28da41e4ae89ae6563b9d286"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an assessment
of—</text><clause commented="no" id="idb7e00272bdb4464ea58ffa567daf3174"><enum>(i)</enum><text>critical mineral
requirements to meet projected national security, energy, economic, industrial,
technological, and other needs of the United States;</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="ide49cd042ef0544fb9978edacd6b6dc4d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
projected reliance of the United States on foreign sources to meet those needs;
and</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="id7a161090ed984a13b1bfd1443d8a6ff4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the
projected implications of potential supply shortages, restrictions, or
disruptions;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id3ec9bb3097df4793b19cce224d21a08c"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the quantity of
each critical mineral projected to be domestically recycled over the subsequent
1-year, 5-year, and 10-year periods;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id2f0e9d2ac1f34df4aa2221b3470a1048"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the market
penetration of alternatives to each critical mineral projected to take place
over the subsequent 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year periods;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id0de4c0b9d07b436e8ab182052ee2ad2d"><enum>(G)</enum><text>a
discussion of reasonably foreseeable international trends associated with the
discovery, production, consumption, use, costs of production, prices, and
recycling of each critical mineral as well as the development of alternatives
to critical minerals; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id4ed18ddf631742efa165d83397a96251"><enum>(H)</enum><text>such other
projections relating to each critical mineral as the Secretary determines to be
necessary to achieve the purposes of this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idc50e45d3eeff489e998badc1b3b42c5a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Proprietary
information</header><text>In preparing a report described in subsection (a),
the Secretary shall ensure, consistent with section 5(f) of the National
Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 (30 U.S.C.
1604(f)), that—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id8a34df85c08f49c099f5eed483010b23"><enum>(1)</enum><text>no
person uses the information and data collected for the report for a purpose
other than the development of or reporting of aggregate data in a manner such
that the identity of the person who supplied the information is not discernible
and is not material to the intended uses of the information;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idba5d9356593347e2b8569c98c1a4fe51"><enum>(2)</enum><text>no
person discloses any information or data collected for the report unless the
information or data has been transformed into a statistical or aggregate form
that does not allow the identification of the person who supplied particular
information; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id65d584b0f79e40d581e4918e1361b986"><enum>(3)</enum><text>procedures are
established to require the withholding of any information or data collected for
the report if the Secretary determines that withholding is necessary to protect
proprietary information, including any trade secrets or other confidential
information.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idcccd0128a5884be4b6e02316b91fa6d0"><enum>109.</enum><header>Education and
workforce</header><subsection id="id487deb576ef44b35966958a977969226"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Workforce
assessment</header><text>Not later than 1 year and 300 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor (in consultation with the
Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and
employers in the critical minerals sector) shall submit to Congress an
assessment of the domestic availability of technically trained personnel
necessary for critical mineral assessment, production, manufacturing,
recycling, analysis, forecasting, education, and research, including an
analysis of—</text><paragraph id="idcf24bf961db34911a3a60127b75d024e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>skills that are
in the shortest supply as of the date of the assessment;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id73216cabf78a478aaa6a1587c1200eb5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>skills that are
projected to be in short supply in the future;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7586f8a3bef24c17877ac9e2f920421f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the
demographics of the critical minerals industry and how the demographics will
evolve under the influence of factors such as an aging workforce;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddce4f07f6b514ca299d2aff0b6761ae1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the
effectiveness of training and education programs in addressing skills
shortages;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf198fd7a85be402eaf9ca6847d6af56d"><enum>(5)</enum><text>opportunities to
hire locally for new and existing critical mineral activities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2912856cf6ad4d449a224714091903d6"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the
sufficiency of personnel within relevant areas of the Federal Government for
achieving the policies described in section 3 of the National Materials and
Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1602">30 U.S.C. 1602</external-xref>);
and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd422e8447f434bf2bd1b67ac6b370214"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the
potential need for new training programs to have a measurable effect on the
supply of trained workers in the critical minerals industry.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6bfcb44e34f34c66b146abdadb1370ab"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Curriculum
study</header><paragraph id="id86ca224c11b34bf2ab0146cdcbcd6ba5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly
enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences and the
National Academy of Engineering under which the Academies shall coordinate with
the National Science Foundation on conducting a study—</text><subparagraph id="id0300f8eb49d44f328143dfe2aa172506"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to design an
interdisciplinary program on critical minerals that will support the critical
mineral supply chain and improve the ability of the United States to increase
domestic, critical mineral exploration, development, and manufacturing;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3ce9ef23d4a84a1e876ed1b824f0030a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to address
undergraduate and graduate education, especially to assist in the development
of graduate level programs of research and instruction that lead to advanced
degrees with an emphasis on the critical mineral supply chain or other
positions that will increase domestic, critical mineral exploration,
development, and manufacturing;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3b4b569f215f4abda82fe601118432da"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to develop
guidelines for proposals from institutions of higher education with substantial
capabilities in the required disciplines to improve the critical mineral supply
chain and advance the capacity of the United States to increase domestic,
critical mineral exploration, development, and manufacturing; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8836373e33794c70ab29811ca2b6ab04"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to outline
criteria for evaluating performance and recommendations for the amount of
funding that will be necessary to establish and carry out the grant program
described in subsection (c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id611d3488020e45c89a82e0447623b611"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a description of the results of the study required under
paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id40e25e57d1d5416b982e441fc8c86c7b"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Grant
program</header><paragraph id="idbaa12388ea574207a73a262fdf049b25"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary and the National Science Foundation shall jointly conduct a
competitive grant program under which institutions of higher education may
apply for and receive 4-year grants for—</text><subparagraph id="id00c6c22c09cc4fe290682eeb10722e8a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>startup costs for
newly designated faculty positions in integrated critical mineral education,
research, innovation, training, and workforce development programs consistent
with subsection (b);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8728371f770b4c18b32e4c117a89e20a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>internships,
scholarships, and fellowships for students enrolled in programs related to critical minerals; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbbac9d45eac146d09a09edead5ca0770"><enum>(C)</enum><text>equipment
necessary for integrated critical mineral innovation, training, and workforce
development programs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf239848644ee4a47a42770ea700e86d5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Renewal</header><text>A
grant under this subsection shall be renewable for up to 2 additional 3-year
terms based on performance criteria outlined under subsection (b)(1)(D).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id987c4ca79771438f9331f855533a8ca9"><enum>110.</enum><header>International
cooperation</header><subsection id="id71832e51854142e4850f4577b6c0ecdb"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy, shall carry out a
program to promote international cooperation on critical mineral supply chain
issues with allies of the United States.</text></subsection><subsection id="idaccf95a0b553485ba1c4b1538fec92dc"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>Under
the program, the Secretary of State may work with allies of the United
States—</text><paragraph id="idbe67357c0cc648719b4085393d3d761e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to
increase the global, responsible production of critical minerals, if a
determination is made by the Secretary of State that there is no viable
production capacity for the critical minerals within the United States;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc1b8d7691f89405d8482169077b8bc25"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to
improve the efficiency and environmental performance of extraction
techniques;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1a28f63e163a438c9971dfe0579c68e2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to
increase the recycling of, and deployment of alternatives to, critical
minerals;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb22a922c84864cdaa7c42d04aef8adda"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to
assist in the development and transfer of critical mineral extraction,
processing, and manufacturing technologies that would have a beneficial impact
on world commodity markets and the environment;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id64c0a0ea1b3748438fc42d9afa92d88e"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to
strengthen and maintain intellectual property protections; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb820ccc32b02471580d10378b66d53ae"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to
facilitate the collection of information necessary for analyses and forecasts
conducted pursuant to section 108.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Mineral-specific
actions</header><section id="id29ceebb4b5044f198fd9a77c836ef6b2"><enum>201.</enum><header>Administration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in this title or an amendment made
by this title affects the methodology or designations established under section
101.</text></section><section id="id50e93f198211425288a04590992dc2fc"><enum>202.</enum><header>Cobalt</header><subsection id="id97c972c2c3384e4d8236856692aa2bb2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>The
Secretary shall support research programs that focus on novel uses for cobalt
(including energy technologies and super-alloys), including—</text><paragraph id="id85a637c61ba84b2f90eb8d85cba1d10a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>use
in energy technologies (including, for purposes of this section,
rechargeable batteries, catalysts, photovoltaic cells, permanent magnets, and
fuel cells);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6254aec2bd3b464a895993775f41f283"><enum>(2)</enum><text>use
in alloys with military equipment, civil aviation, and electricity generation
applications; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2c2d6ac38d04400d951fd249b7870bd4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>use
as coal-to-gas and coal-to-liquid catalysts.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id03bb733c80084181b8baf5d989e4c57a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Categories</header><text>Research
under this section shall be conducted in—</text><paragraph id="ide26b392a7d0f47fe867db2b51509f274"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a
fundamental category, including laboratory and literature research; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id720fa8a09d2e469fac4b8a68b3eded9c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an
applied category, including plant and field research.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf461c3cc57f94247bd1b95489540bbe9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report describing—</text><paragraph id="idb67b9449167947488f2bad6ea1e17f34"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the
research programs carried out under this section;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcb1962fd79d54baeb0cf6bf2b19ac575"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the
findings of the programs; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7e3437b22aee43b0bb86d28fa6c6d2e3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>future research
efforts planned.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ida3f8fa0c856b45c097fe1a5f09e81c65"><enum>203.</enum><header>Lead</header><subsection id="idac972b44fe384b12a5389bc027aeac49"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall support research programs that focus
on advanced lead manufacturing processes, including programs that—</text><paragraph id="id91a17a33f3184e9bbf1fb2dc62c592b2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>contribute to the
establishment of a secure, domestic supply of lead;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6ea0dc6f5eac4c2995433ba0b93aa1c1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>produce
technologies that represent an environmental improvement compared to
conventional production processes; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4cd7d56be6374cd59c6673514d2d105b"><enum>(3)</enum><text>produce
technologies that attain a higher efficiency level compared to conventional
production processes.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id88f12d36a1c448438890da0d101ff7cd"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>In
carrying out the programs under subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate
with other entities to promote the development of environmentally responsible
lead manufacturing, including—</text><paragraph id="id34ac9ad3734f4c50af0a42eb06ebe6fc"><enum>(1)</enum><text>other Federal
agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2404adeb4dc3470bb5f785652046a66d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>States with
affected interests;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf70b662e66b7433fbf8079020874e5eb"><enum>(3)</enum><text>manufacturers;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0b701b6100d14154a5ec5ceec7213e6b"><enum>(4)</enum><text>energy
technology manufacturers, including producers of batteries and other energy
storage technologies; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idea23e8a1319e49b88947bd45fb129f99"><enum>(5)</enum><text>any
others considered appropriate by the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id444cf10785504e40986ae1ba372d6b2d"><enum>204.</enum><header>Lithium</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subtitle E of title VI of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/17241">42 U.S.C. 17241 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id641eef96f7f44c64814359b4495c88e7" style="OLC"><section id="id0ccd6217975b4428930f9e436d52719e"><enum>657.</enum><header>Grants for
lithium production research and development</header><subsection id="id9e97dad377a3446087d72d61eb295fd8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of
eligible entity</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible
entity</term> means—</text><paragraph id="id827173b471d943c5bffdb68bb0a6d490"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a
private partnership or other entity that is—</text><subparagraph id="id1208e7c1e3ea4e49924252dd383b00b8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>organized in
accordance with Federal law; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9124fb55eba846cfb38462d06ae44229"><enum>(B)</enum><text>engaged in
lithium production for use in advanced battery technologies;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb9b0d4756638434bbf247d0f29dee44a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a
public entity, such as a State, tribal, or local governmental entity; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7467181f7e354cb68b54eb393c7e3276"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a
consortium of entities described in paragraphs (1) and (2).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5a45182c12ef4626ad411aef593bde1b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grants</header><text>The
Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities for research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application of domestic industrial processes that
are designed to enhance domestic lithium production for use in advanced battery
technologies, as determined by the Secretary.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd06ca26b4aa94e1b90f8f088993af7b9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use</header><text>An
eligible entity shall use a grant provided under this section to develop or
enhance—</text><paragraph id="id8d0ef46737f443e8985a06d8eb51b8cc"><enum>(1)</enum><text>domestic
industrial processes that increase lithium production, processing, or recycling
for use in advanced lithium batteries; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6416ed30dc914947921252148808ba7e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>industrial
processes associated with new formulations of lithium feedstock for use in
advanced lithium
batteries.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="iddd513fc4db2a40d79284aaa6fc582a36"><enum>205.</enum><header>Thorium</header><subsection id="idaaee26354aea4b07affc179c1243f12e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The
Secretary, in consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, shall
conduct a study on the technical, economic, and policy issues (including
nonproliferation) associated with establishing a licensing pathway for the
complete thorium nuclear fuel cycle (including mining, milling, processing,
fabrication, reactors, disposal, and decommissioning) that—</text><paragraph id="id8fd1f47511b04d878f40dd42508e7866"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identifies the
gaps in the technical knowledge that could lead to a licensing pathway;
and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb39e56494f0342e8aa42f9e01e9a1fb1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>considers
technologies and applications for any thorium byproducts of critical mineral
production or processing.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6aa4d7a192344ca5907aefd94604f768"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cooperation</header><text>In
conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall cooperate with
appropriate—</text><paragraph id="id76cac5bc61024f36b4091e4109c617ea"><enum>(1)</enum><text>trade
associations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf620b7025058420fb173ac16b1ec8aee"><enum>(2)</enum><text>equipment
manufacturers;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8b3756fe950e434da7108c9cf01fbdc8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>National
Laboratories;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida50482b4714c41b78ac8d61d57bdd6d3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>institutions of
higher education; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id44978e9be36a4628975cab13a24a6c8a"><enum>(5)</enum><text>other applicable
entities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1e1bdbbf5fa34cf6a9bd5346c0b5a262"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report summarizing the findings of the study.</text></subsection></section><section id="id96e64cf1e957498db9f098d6b92ac217"><enum>206.</enum><header>Nontraditional sources for rare earth elements</header><subsection id="idaae24cae6b134d87a74d1ca552539221"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall conduct a program to identify, research, and develop rare earth elements from nontraditional sources that—</text><paragraph id="idb65f6b29c3f445019f5c7d618a83c46c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identifies and assesses the technological feasibility of extracting rare earth elements from nontraditional sources;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3dcc9fc4f2fc455d983e57b12cf551f5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>develops advanced rare earth element processing technologies to increase the economic viability and improve the environmental impact of recovering rare earth elements from identified nontraditional sources; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id558e5177304445deab1c06bf4d7dbcd8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provides technical assistance to industrial partners to develop and demonstrate rare earth element recovery from identified nontraditional sources.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd7f6267cf5ef4808b9de8d5cafda1eac"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the activities, findings, and progress of the program.</text></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Miscellaneous</header><section id="ide6e69ab80a5a4a54a36f3842d49db885"><enum>301.</enum><header>Repeal;
authorization offset</header><subsection id="id8e0b218d7f3448248de36dd7d55cd74a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Repeal</header><paragraph id="id4FEEFD23FE1A4D5894BB561BE2D78C31"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The National Critical Materials Act of 1984 (30 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.) is repealed.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4e22badc65fa42cfb24367f7cabfc49e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Section 3(d) of the National Superconductivity and
Competitiveness Act of 1988 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/5202">15 U.S.C. 5202(d)</external-xref>) is amended in the first
sentence by striking <quote>, with the assistance of the National Critical
Materials Council as specified in the National Critical Materials Act of 1984
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1801">30 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.</external-xref>),</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idBFBFD96DD4DD4EDB96954511C583BF26"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization
offset</header><text>Section 207(c) of the Energy Independence and Security Act
of 2007 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/17022">42 U.S.C. 17022(c)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting before the period at the
end the following: <quote>, except that the amount authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section not appropriated as of the date of
enactment of the <short-title>Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013</short-title> shall be reduced by $60,000,000</quote>.</text></subsection></section><section id="idae27a5ad04f14302a35fea65eb51b0f7"><enum>302.</enum><header>Administration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by
this Act modifies any requirement or authority provided by the matter under the
heading <quote>GEOLOGICAL SURVEY</quote> of the first section of the Act of
March 3, 1879 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/31">43 U.S.C. 31(a)</external-xref>).</text></section><section id="ida0288d18091047788cee464860f2ed3d"><enum>303.</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act and the amendments made by
this Act $60,000,000, of which—</text><paragraph id="id4b24b9a9547a4b4d8b091d5dcbb9768d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$2,000,000 may be
used to carry out section 101, to remain available until expended;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide180c7f3bdb64b18b5325135733dd181"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$20,000,000 may
be used to carry out the amendment made by section 103, to remain available
until expended;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf2405738aa4a4ae7898801154ba4234d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$2,000,000 may be
used to carry out section 104, to remain available until expended;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf01e304a0dff48659622cdba4ba9cd33"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$8,000,000 may be
used to carry out section 105, to remain available until expended;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7d84d50319894be28d5fb92caae1a855"><enum>(5)</enum><text>$1,5000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015 may be used to carry out each of sections 106 and 107, to remain available until expended;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0865b7993df7471d9fd70c6148710bff"><enum>(6)</enum><text>$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015 may be used to carry out section 108, to remain available until expended;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd43be73a8bc247558bfd93e6adb566c7"><enum>(7)</enum><text>$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015 may be used to carry out section 109, to remain available until expended;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7fec436789af4418bd2be6cb89ff11ea"><enum>(8)</enum><text>$500,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015 may be used to carry out section 110, to remain available until expended;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2a06a9f194784e77bdb3eb29e13b9c6d"><enum>(9)</enum><text>$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015 may be used to carry out each of sections 202, 203, 204, and 206 and the amendments made by those sections; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9b6479a356614609bb7779040ceda8e5"><enum>(10)</enum><text>$1,000,000 may be used to carry out section 205, to remain available until expended.</text></paragraph></section>