1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the
Critical Minerals Policy Act of
2011
.
(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 policies
Sec. 101. Designations.
Sec. 102. Policy.
Sec. 103. Resource assessment.
Sec. 104. Permitting.
Sec. 105. Manufacturing.
Sec. 106. Recycling and alternatives.
Sec. 107. Analysis and forecasting.
Sec. 108. Education and workforce.
Sec. 109. International cooperation.
TITLE II—Mineral-specific actions
Sec. 201. Administration.
Sec. 202. Cobalt.
Sec. 203. Helium.
Sec. 204. Lead.
Sec. 205. Lithium.
Sec. 206. Low-Btu gas.
Sec. 207. Phosphate.
Sec. 208. Potash.
Sec. 209. Rare earth elements.
Sec. 210. Thorium.
Sec. 211. Updated resource information.
TITLE III—Miscellaneous
Sec. 301. Offsets.
Sec. 302. Administration.
Sec. 303. Authorization of appropriations.
2.In this Act:
(1)The term applicable committees
means—
(A)the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;
(B)the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives;
(C)the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(D)the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.
(2)The term clean energy technology means a
technology related to the production, use, transmission, storage, control, or
conservation of energy that—
(A)reduces the need
for additional energy supplies by using existing energy supplies with greater
efficiency or by transmitting, distributing, storing, or transporting energy
with greater effectiveness in or through the infrastructure of the United
States;
(B)diversifies the
sources of energy supply of the United States to strengthen energy security and
to increase supplies with a favorable balance of environmental effects if the
entire technology system is considered; or
(C)contributes to a
stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations through reduction,
avoidance, or sequestration of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.
(3)
(A)The term critical mineral means any mineral
designated as a critical mineral pursuant to section 101.
(B)The
term critical mineral does not include coal, oil, natural gas, or
any other fossil fuels.
(4)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 clean energy technologies
(including technologies related to wind, solar, and geothermal energy,
efficient lighting, electrical superconducting materials, permanent magnet
motors, batteries, and other energy storage devices), military equipment, and
consumer electronics, or components necessary for applications; or
(C)any other
value-added, manufacturing-related use of critical minerals undertaken within
the United States.
(5)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).
(6)The term military equipment means
equipment used directly by the armed forces to carry out military
operations.
(7)
(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).
(8)
(A)In title I, the term Secretary means the Secretary
of the Interior—
(i)acting through
the Director of the United States Geological Survey; and
(ii)in
consultation with (as appropriate)—
(I)the Secretary of
Energy;
(II)the Secretary of
Defense;
(III)the Secretary
of Commerce;
(IV)the Secretary of
State;
(V)the Secretary of
Agriculture;
(VI)the United
States Trade Representative; and
(VII)the heads of
other applicable Federal agencies.
(B)In title II, the term Secretary means the
Secretary of Energy.
(9)The
term State means—
(A)a State;
(B)the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico; and
(C)any other
territory or possession of the United States.
(10)The
term value-added means, with respect to an activity, an activity
that changes the form, fit, or function of a product, service, raw material, or
physical good such that the resultant market price is greater than the cost of
making the changes.
(11)The term Working Group means the Critical
Minerals Working Group established under section 104(a).
<enum>I</enum><header>Designations and
policies</header>
<section id="ID78eeeba2a27e4c679052befe90c3590d"><enum>101.</enum><header>Designations</header>
<subsection id="ID57be11a3c38e44c0936f45b4215363e0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Draft
methodology</header><text>Not later than 30 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="id4B02C3F39EA74D9B9ECCD9A676EDA677"><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="idA6F1709A70DE420281313E28B3A79B7D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>important in use
(including clean energy technology-, defense-, and health care-related
applications).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID6ec5681ca4324f348d3ca5d91906fec9"><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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID66af9cd2053d43feb9a5cea07169aa65"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Review of
methodology</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After reviewing
public comments on the draft methodology under subsection (a) and updating that
draft methodology as appropriate, the Secretary shall enter into an arrangement
with the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering
to obtain, not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this
Act—</text>
<paragraph id="IDe608a205aae44f41b9b7a4832820e3ae"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a review of the
methodology; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4e1337ba2f074e1fb8aca3496c454582"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recommendations
for improving the methodology.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDe9b464c2b8ea4218a8797009c058aacb"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Final
methodology</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After reviewing
the recommendations under subsection (c), not later than 150 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="IDe76884ce5eaf4646a2165546e585f998"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Designations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a
list of minerals designated as critical, pursuant to the final methodology
under subsection (d), for purposes of carrying out this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID6eb454f3bba34f02b4c339c4ad2021f9"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Subsequent
review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The methodology and
designations developed under subsections (d) and (e) shall be updated at least
every 5 years, or in more regular intervals if considered appropriate by the
Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID844a5890b9f74c04bde7353490072701"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Notice</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On finalization of the methodology under
subsection (d), the list under subsection (e), or any update to the list under
subsection (f), the Secretary shall submit to the applicable committees written
notice of the action.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDbe090246f15e4938ba21f3d6d65113cf"><enum>102.</enum><header>Policy</header>
<subsection id="IDb96c2136f2fa41f1bb4bd55753568dee"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Policy</header><text>It
is the policy of the United States to promote an adequate, reliable, domestic,
and stable supply of critical minerals, produced in an environmentally
responsible manner, in order to strengthen and sustain the economic security,
and the manufacturing, industrial, energy, technological, and competitive
stature, of the United States.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID0b53c339cb4c46038c68a6532ce4dea7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>The
President, acting through the Executive Office of the President, shall
coordinate the actions of Federal agencies under this and other Acts—</text>
<paragraph id="ID3b0e6e67de794376a75b11bf7919fc50"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to encourage
Federal agencies to facilitate the availability, development, and
environmentally responsible production of domestic resources to meet national
critical minerals needs;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0853e28e31294038964f3a4fad6303b4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to minimize
duplication, needless paperwork, and 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 construct
and operate critical mineral manufacturing facilities in an environmentally
responsible manner;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDd2d83489e3324345a340da6c2a0372b0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to promote the
development of economically stable and environmentally responsible domestic
critical mineral production and manufacturing;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7c2bcf537f274cfa98c5eb3a4a98a7a5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to establish an
analytical and forecasting capability for identifying critical mineral demand,
supply, and other market dynamics relevant to policy formulation such that
informed actions can be taken to avoid supply shortages, mitigate price
volatility, and prepare for demand growth and other market shifts;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4f29ab49a07547ceb1f6795f04cef7f4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to strengthen
educational and research capabilities and workforce training;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4155f244a0c94a36b180d13692ac7c1b"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to bolster
international cooperation through technology transfer, information sharing, and
other means;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID52c883ec960346eeabb49520d9a01c54"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to promote the
efficient production, use, and recycling of critical minerals;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1a4efe90d75b420cbcbf4499a1a0e339"><enum>(8)</enum><text>to develop
alternatives to critical minerals; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDdeb81bca86b64567bf5d92f7d9cb3446"><enum>(9)</enum><text>to establish
contingencies for the production of, or access to, critical minerals for which
viable sources do not exist within the United States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID6716c5b5a2494948a28b3b035cfd8966"><enum>103.</enum><header>Resource
assessment</header>
<subsection id="IDfe5c8f759ec141f982bdd4e481dab8dd"><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 a
comprehensive national assessment of each critical mineral that—</text>
<paragraph id="IDfc8ce344cdcf463a98cfff1a96cd9faa"><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="ID02b655f2d3b943f886d06fe65660f2a6"><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="ID0a794ea98fd04c5f8dc5220dc8d22c02"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provides a
quantitative and qualitative assessment of undiscovered critical mineral
resources throughout the United States, including probability estimates of
tonnage and grade, using all available public and private information and
datasets, including exploration histories;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7CA9DB3F4E2E45F0BBD2874472912983"><enum>(4)</enum><text>provides
qualitative information on the environmental attributes of the critical mineral
resources identified under this section; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDa7aa97ccf4c8423fb5d4302c3efa9e1d"><enum>(5)</enum><text>pays particular
attention to the identification and quantification of critical mineral
resources on Federal land that is open to location and entry for exploration,
development, and other uses.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID84a816cbb98c46e5a0a2fa0c28793ab3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Field
work</header><text>If existing information and datasets prove insufficient to
complete the assessment under this section and there is no reasonable
opportunity to obtain the information and datasets from nongovernmental
entities, the Secretary may carry out field work (including drilling, remote
sensing, geophysical surveys, geological mapping, and geochemical sampling and
analysis) to supplement existing information and datasets available for
determining the existence of critical minerals on—</text>
<paragraph id="IDa2ee1e86dc574aa2ad5272e0d7a27c6e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Federal land that
is open to location and entry for exploration, development, and other
uses;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDf5da0de2a930440f93fe25363ab9ece4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Indian tribe
land, at the request and with the written permission of the Indian tribe;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID614584c14abd46fcbe2198125a155f64"><enum>(3)</enum><text>State land, at
the request and with the written permission of the Governor of a State.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID43e37b6ee5534acca9fbe6eaef1e492e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical
assistance</header><text>At the request of the Governor of a State or 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="ID5b90d0c4d3d64db5ac98c89721596ea7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Financial
assistance</header><text>The Secretary may make grants to State governments, or
Indian tribes and economic development entities of Indian tribes, to cover the
costs associated with assessments of critical mineral resources on State or
Indian tribe land.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDf08077b10b6c4dbdb507a5c0ac70d62c"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to the applicable committees a report describing the results of the
assessment conducted under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID71074f5482514c36b069da5e7a496aa5"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Prioritization</header>
<paragraph id="id29C9128B4E0F444E81CAAAEAEAA6C789"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary may sequence the completion of resource
assessments for each critical mineral such that critical materials considered
to be most critical under the methodology established pursuant to section 101
are completed first.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0D00652B3CD242DCA31A0EEB957C21E1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>If
the Secretary sequences the completion of resource assessments for each
critical material, the Secretary shall submit a report under subsection (e) on
an iterative basis over the 4-year period beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDa99bc4c9ba59488199975d0ce01e96f8"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Updates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall periodically update the
assessment conducted under this section based on—</text>
<paragraph id="IDf0e17e59fac04f4882688e8668638f5a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the generation of
new information or datasets by the Federal government; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1612C8F2CADF47BFB5DA716859CCF43D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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="idE0EB796155B441488F85DD02DA523C7F"><enum>104.</enum><header>Permitting</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD593C108B5014D6EB7BA441C4C6C4949"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Critical Minerals Working Group</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id705A8961DFCA418CBD69D7C474E927B9"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established within the Department
of the Interior a working group to be known as the <quote>Critical Minerals
Working Group</quote>, which shall report to the President and Congress through
the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBD3DD783D326404FAA2E63914DAE0469"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Composition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Working Group shall be composed of the
following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE38B6D19E74847C695E06279D7C15079"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior (or a
designee), who shall serve as chair of the Working Group.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDc2a343298153464b934669e3dceca6f4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A Presidential
designee from the Executive Office of the President, who shall serve as
vice-chair of the Working Group.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id551FB7686BDD473DAD9BBF97467D660D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Energy (or a
designee).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9CB2EB0E71EB4DD18A418F186F88E15A"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture (or a
designee).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE205591429AD47C7A2F51C3F5965F67B"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Defense (or a
designee).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idECD9D355187A48E5A8E106919EE2EEC2"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Commerce (or a
designee).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0351B30F04F0406DA02ACAD40963645B"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of State (or a
designee).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDc871b74fe96342f18b9151e25765c032"><enum>(H)</enum><text>The United States
Trade Representative (or a designee).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID62e0edcaf8804b4781e70a8d781ae1c0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>The Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency (or a designee).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDdd3064d817b541d49673df5ffc3b245b"><enum>(J)</enum><text>The Chief of
Engineers of the Corps of Engineers (or a designee).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID6876a996de5649ffa45a66b7106f8009"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>The
Working Group shall operate in consultation with private sector, academic, and
other applicable stakeholders with experience related to—</text>
<paragraph id="ID014efa2803954080adeac5100b44fd9b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>critical minerals
exploration;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID11ba1e3406da4497be7e7ef0acdf3cc4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>critical minerals
permitting;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID174af3df2d794df486a50f32cdb43096"><enum>(3)</enum><text>critical minerals
production; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1eae7da9050a47569f101ff134f7a87f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>critical minerals
manufacturing.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID5f19614c8a8e4d38999623433e59097d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
Working Group shall—</text>
<paragraph id="IDa58e3dc700484894920318e5da213aaa"><enum>(1)</enum><text>facilitate
Federal agency efforts to optimize efficiencies associated with the permitting
of activities that will increase exploration and development of domestic,
critical minerals, while maintaining environmental standards;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID9c35798ac69d4ecb9932b2b2cf572ed6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>facilitate
Federal agency review of laws (including regulations) and policies that
discourage investment in exploration and development of domestic, critical
minerals;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDcc65e71f5879410d975e217f1acf6bbb"><enum>(3)</enum><text>assess whether
Federal policies adversely impact the global competitiveness of the domestic,
critical minerals exploration and development sector (including taxes, fees,
regulatory burdens, and access restrictions);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDb942e32f7baa4fbe951d19a3485592f8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>evaluate the
sufficiency of existing mechanisms for the provision of tenure on Federal land
and the role of the mechanisms in attracting capital investment for the
exploration and development of domestic, critical minerals; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID72d308fc423d4705b414082d9687b4b1"><enum>(5)</enum><text>generate such
other information and take such other actions as the Working Group considers
appropriate to achieve the policy described in section 102(a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID9131ba2978a6430091ad63725a3cd933"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 300 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Working Group
shall submit to the applicable committees a report that—</text>
<paragraph id="IDe7d189618973478097cab3c85af341f0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes the
results of actions taken under subsection (c);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDb45aa4d3f57544129d4051ed01db2ec6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>evaluates the
amount of time typically required (including range derived from minimum and
maximum durations, mean, median, variance, and other statistical measures or
representations) to complete each step (including those aspects outside the
control of the executive branch of the Federal Government, such as judicial
review, applicant decisions, or State and local government involvement)
associated with the processing of applications, operating plans, leases,
licenses, permits, and other use authorizations for critical mineral-related
activities on Federal land, which shall serve as a baseline for the performance
metric developed and finalized under subsections (e) and (f),
respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8f609f35cc3c4937b476f30d15ee4881"><enum>(3)</enum><text>identifies
measures (including regulatory changes and legislative proposals) that would
optimize efficiencies, while maintaining environmental standards, associated
with the permitting of activities that will increase exploration and
development of domestic, critical minerals; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDd2b1da659ca94a0eb3454db037379c73"><enum>(4)</enum><text>identifies
options (including cost recovery paid by applicants) for ensuring adequate
staffing of divisions, field offices, or other entities responsible for the
consideration of applications, operating plans, leases, licenses, permits, and
other use authorizations for critical mineral-related activities on Federal
land.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID4ba60b6926944b7497a77afcc70abac2"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Draft
performance metric</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later
than 330 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and upon completion of
the report required under subsection (d), the Working Group shall publish in
the Federal Register for public comment a draft description of a performance
metric for evaluating the progress made by the executive branch of the Federal
Government on matters within the control of that branch towards optimizing
efficiencies, while maintaining environmental standards, associated with the
permitting of activities that will increase exploration and development of
domestic, critical minerals (referred to in this section as the
<term>performance metric</term>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID7ec81ff749864c82a3c998e277f68e7c"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Final
performance metric</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and after consideration of
public comments received pursuant to subsection (e), the Working Group shall
publish in the Federal Register a description of the final performance
metric.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID85596ea5127a45ddb9d92af5d16da2f6"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Annual
report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, using the performance metric under
subsection (f), and annually thereafter, the Working Group shall submit to the
applicable committees, as part of the budget request of the Department of the
Interior for each fiscal year, each report that—</text>
<paragraph id="ID365062a50ec44b8280f9a6887ab2b04b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes the
progress made by the executive branch of the Federal Government on matters
within the control of that branch towards optimizing efficiencies, while
maintaining environmental standards, associated with the permitting of
activities that will increase exploration and development of domestic, critical
minerals; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID50d4ff8811944bbea77ac6865810a137"><enum>(2)</enum><text>compares the
United States to other countries in terms of permitting efficiency,
environmental standards, and other criteria relevant to a globally competitive
economic sector.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID85ce31fd9cd3413dbffaea4a9e50e3d2"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Report of Small
Business Administration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not
later than 300 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator
of the Small Business Administration shall submit to the applicable committees
a report that assesses the performance of Federal agencies in—</text>
<paragraph id="ID6ac59389a86d463692b76bca21c86f2c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>complying with
chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the
<quote><act-name>Regulatory Flexibility Act</act-name></quote>), in
promulgating regulations applicable to the critical minerals industry;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID521caf4d60e541ddb96cf9e5ad7e7305"><enum>(2)</enum><text>performing an
analysis of regulations applicable to the critical minerals industry that may
be outmoded, inefficient, duplicative, or excessively burdensome.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id23683219666F415E89FFB6B5C1E7BAE8"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Judicial review</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB447BB9F127C433BBB5CE01D333DAF96"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this section affects any
judicial review of an agency action under any other provision of law.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7F796CD3D89146E685C41A5839721D0C"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This section—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBD3EF903C0CA43D0B0A9CD23784F9346"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is intended to improve the internal
management of the Federal Government; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id70F4CD635D8A423D952F8243139DA92A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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
thereof) or any other person.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID9509fa9ea29a4590bd81afb331d151c8"><enum>105.</enum><header>Manufacturing</header>
<subsection id="ID4424d53b7771443a9dbce86d08ea976b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Agreement</header><text>At
the request of the Governor of a State, the President (or a designee) may enter
into a cooperative agreement with the State for the processing of permits for
critical mineral manufacturing facilities (including those related to wind,
solar, and geothermal energy, efficient lighting, electrical superconducting
materials, permanent magnet motors, and batteries and other energy storage
devices) under which each party to the agreement identifies steps, including
timelines, that the party will take to optimize efficiencies, while maintaining
environmental standards, associated with the environmental review and
consideration of Federal and State permits for a new critical mineral
manufacturing facility.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDb9801cb081494352a7686852779dc537"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority under
agreement</header><text>In carrying out this section, the President may—</text>
<paragraph id="IDd9b8be994621438191915b05b0921b7d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>accept from an
applicant a consolidated application for all permits required by the Federal
Government, to the extent consistent with other applicable law;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1df4e54876b04184b0e4a60a2b62b92d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>facilitate
memoranda of agreement between Federal agencies to coordinate consideration of
applications and permits among Federal agencies; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3158fffcd5504499bff9dc320eef3647"><enum>(3)</enum><text>enter into
memoranda of agreement with a State, under which Federal and State review of
permit applications will be coordinated and concurrently considered, to the
maximum extent practicable.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID9ba30367231241e3b8a0ec04bd2653d3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>State
assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President may
provide technical, legal, or other assistance to State governments to
facilitate State review of applications to build new critical mineral
manufacturing facilities</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID70f00f4f24f34f54a19e500b679e5425"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Incentives for
Innovative Technologies</header><text>Section 1703(b) of the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16513(b)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5857835E533C41E0B743659354F71F9E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID684b04f82ed84c8d84bb18887267cb04"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Critical mineral
manufacturing related to the deployment of clean energy technologies (as
defined in section 2 of the <short-title>Critical Minerals
Policy Act of
2011</short-title>).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="ID1f17100dc02e438d96589db31496dc9f"><enum>106.</enum><header>Recycling and
alternatives</header>
<subsection id="IDb6f005892cab4e939c2d61b041acc22a"><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, and alternatives to,
critical minerals.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID7fe1f1b1114544829eb26e9616cc42e2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cooperation</header><text>In
carrying out the program, the Secretary of Energy shall cooperate with
appropriate—</text>
<paragraph id="ID27d730a22a1d4e7eb77d37c385b8a42b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Federal agencies
and National Laboratories;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5ef29f211fb443d28052ad0da3c6a27c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>critical mineral
producers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID52fc3a4b961a4b4ea36b0eb26e8b99f8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>critical mineral
manufacturers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID63a8562b9ebb4f1b94d219001a6f58e6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>trade
associations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDcce9ea33246646ffa0824dffdd919a90"><enum>(5)</enum><text>academic
institutions;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id74DEA3D4EF4844BE86BAC3156EB51E59"><enum>(6)</enum><text>small businesses;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDd665200654444c7c95e1ec6aac7fbefd"><enum>(7)</enum><text>other relevant
entities or individuals.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDd6bd112fd25440cb9baa0337aa3957a0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>Under
the program, the Secretary shall carry out activities that include the
identification and development of—</text>
<paragraph id="IDd49ef47ad061486a8edaf32d3a0681de"><enum>(1)</enum><text>advanced critical
mineral production or processing technologies that decrease the environmental
impact, and costs of production, of such activities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID10bef5430afe46dfae6e94e08c6c1bbb"><enum>(2)</enum><text>techniques and
practices that minimize or lead to more efficient use of critical
minerals;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDdb948d06cdfb48d8a286f4230fe3b65b"><enum>(3)</enum><text>techniques and
practices that facilitate the recycling of critical minerals, including options
for improving the rates of collection of post-consumer products containing
critical minerals;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID678aee0a29ae42f199f2bd6c8680ccaf"><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="ID96d0e19de8a04254851798fe40127ecc"><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="ID44176ff1a620467ca9271c9a1a735a76"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act and every 5 years
thereafter, the Secretaries shall submit to the applicable committees a report
summarizing the activities, findings, and progress of the program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID70d8a589818d4dc794bca28cba0d9186"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Incentives for
Innovative Technologies</header><text>Section 1703(b) of the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16513(b)) (as amended by section 106(d)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0BB371C5428D40A3A619D604A40F2C77" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID5ca5c3de3ecb46fe9242cb37b612844c"><enum>(12)</enum><text>Critical mineral
recycling and alternatives related to clean energy technologies (as defined in
section 2 of the <short-title>Critical Minerals Policy Act
of
2011</short-title>).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="ID1c8d3ceb6e9d49d1bcd6ee00c3469993"><enum>107.</enum><header>Analysis and
forecasting</header>
<subsection id="ID01b8cd716fe64532aeb9a85d8867f4c9"><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 id="IDc76e3d02795248c683a26e28f4186670"><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 id="ID8d1ce44cc38949e5ab5b8386e68e4766"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the quantity of
each critical mineral domestically produced during the preceding year;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDaf7ee11b8d8649febba88bae4c1a9c77"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the quantity of
each critical mineral domestically consumed during the preceding year;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDed144c1a60d94ab9832e201a8251070d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>market price data
for each critical mineral;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDe000e3ea4ff34539b34d0e2922d2f92c"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an assessment
of—</text>
<clause id="IDe64adf6329db42d6b083da308ebbbcac"><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 id="IDca843e71f8a34a0491d11a101a583ac7"><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 id="ID46ab07f8efef4c4eb027e0795d637742"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the
implications of any supply shortages, restrictions, or disruptions during the
preceding year;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID63c915077d194ec3aa3c70cba1f2cd05"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the quantity of
each critical mineral domestically recycled during the preceding year;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID539e44565f954edab1ad64e36fe136c7"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the market
penetration during the preceding year of alternatives to each critical
mineral;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID01f7610762b14241889452f21e61304e"><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 id="ID4705ea4ce3b44fa6b110947a59f12feb"><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 id="ID43f6944e112742d1bd8fd2590c2f26cd"><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 id="ID4d387916ec3e4d29b0fbf52160facda4"><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 id="IDe4923fd3c586431f9e0aea6b8ec0cb32"><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 id="ID3ba717390156443e9103fcfde0b1f3aa"><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 id="ID908c5ebe5d704bb792b6978223687f50"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an assessment
of—</text>
<clause id="IDc50b2af2599746fe9a4503e89e5263b8"><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 id="IDf3c21c160091412cb176de415bf2e2e9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the projected
reliance of the United States on foreign sources to meet those needs;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID553d8d0cbf2c4723865c18fbcc35bbea"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the projected
implications of potential supply shortages, restrictions, or
disruptions;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDcbd9f1423ccd4988a84a93a25f32623a"><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 id="IDff173e80a80549d4bfbedd26eaf393c8"><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 id="ID8286c5ce9da54c98a8c9427c873bc0ff"><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 id="IDab7bde28fc98490fb817050bb59ee3bc"><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 id="ID49a3fc81978d468382345ff44e0335fe"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Proprietary
information</header><text>In preparing a report described in subsection (a),
the Secretary shall ensure that—</text>
<paragraph id="id96BB8859DB574029A90F2BFBFE5D371A"><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 id="id15F7FC4060F44269B39145A5E54DE204"><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 id="idC5D9BFE323A4475E9CB6BA735EAC6706"><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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBC66244E4EA84D8298B3045CBA6FC1AF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>108.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Education and workforce</header>
<subsection id="ID6af79046a8c244b0a0757e4bef9c6189"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Workforce
Assessment</header><text>Not later than 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="IDa89514d7717945df9e0d6acabec11966"><enum>(1)</enum><text>skills that are
in the shortest supply as of the date of the assessment;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID27bc0b075ee04d2bae50efeb160e0656"><enum>(2)</enum><text>skills that are
projected to be in short supply in the future;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6a728a33174f43e59db3bc2e0a1ccd57"><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="ID40ddfa67cb0648f1ad82f63ef9d43286"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the effectiveness
of training and education programs in addressing skills shortages;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID56ac2c7b55ed48ee900575aa87cdec84"><enum>(5)</enum><text>opportunities to
hire locally for new and existing critical mineral activities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1ff99717bc8244d3a6fd34cadaa73019"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the sufficiency
of personnel within relevant areas of the Federal Government for achieving the
policy described in section 102(a); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDf632f185053f4ed2b7cdce3a04e47fc8"><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="IDc431cf55b9ba48f19e184f2f3a83a688"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Curriculum
Study</header>
<paragraph id="ID87ff2b22990d4504ab649d93c698f781"><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="ID4ad9556f558447659d4b35addc62d8ad"><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="ID500593bad7ef4840af68b7f0212d8f13"><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="IDe84309b742e545dd855e29192b706cab"><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="ID19bc95933e7f4e95a04ba0a9c5bdd799"><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="IDb06e92c78ba3458d90419bf6f568c1a2"><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="IDb4ea8f8709274a168379ab523e584cca"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Grant
program</header>
<paragraph id="IDc334c7476b284327b51ddb8c291011f3"><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="IDea282b9b6c71400586f14a54e8b42fd1"><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="ID36634e6a2ec24decb2e71be2c11633eb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>internships,
scholarships, and fellowships for students enrolled in critical mineral
programs; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID22e6fc4942da4009966ffd2929c8c81c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>equipment
necessary for integrated critical mineral innovation, training, and workforce
development programs.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDc822f7186e824a55abaf1c3505833ab5"><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="IDa677a568a5ec4e5e9e11d2b506ec12a4"><enum>109.</enum><header>International
cooperation</header>
<subsection id="IDaa2d2af453c74a6c82fdf0702ee1996a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary, 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="IDccb651f69d4a48aaafd3e550b344732c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>Under
the program, the Secretary may work with allies of the United States—</text>
<paragraph id="ID27a9cf54657c4ec280fb4570a79c14b4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to increase the
global, responsible production of critical minerals, if a determination is made
by the Secretary that there is no viable production capacity for the critical
minerals within the United States;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID22f156069a4146c98d0feb388a57dd8e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to improve the
efficiency and environmental performance of extraction techniques;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA0BE8F1B860A4E87AAB384D68F8828AA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to increase the
recycling of, and deployment of alternatives to, critical minerals;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5d80393146bb4dc4ae6021ee4e338c49"><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="IDd549cd8a6f1249558a2f1e6d323928e5"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to strengthen and
maintain intellectual property protections; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID837924cd410f41bfa06a283b10bb3ac3"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to facilitate the
collection of information necessary for analyses and forecasts conducted
pursuant to section 107.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Mineral-specific
actions</header>
<section id="IDb01cddc9703c4abc93e59cb0290b4d45"><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="IDdba17552eed049c3878b1eabe8cb8173"><enum>202.</enum><header>Cobalt</header>
<subsection id="ID7fe76434add64ac0806633a8cf315db7"><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="IDcb726eae2c184c7285e8e43c357d38b5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>use in clean
energy technologies (including, for purposes of this section, rechargeable
batteries, catalysts, photovoltaic cells, permanent magnets, and fuel
cells);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID56a82769193e426c9aa75a1eae952188"><enum>(2)</enum><text>use in alloys
with military equipment, civil aviation, and electricity generation
applications; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDf7e762bc1ec54e118e7d531229a8dbd3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>use as
coal-to-gas and coal-to-liquid catalysts.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDea8e6de0f358461f8cee906d5cf7b7f8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Categories</header><text>Research
under this section shall be conducted in—</text>
<paragraph id="IDa833c0416dbe487c91988d292b1dce6e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a fundamental
category, including laboratory and literature research; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDcf9f98a77a3e42fea2a8a406315a02ae"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an applied
category, including plant and field research.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDc8b8ee94e0e846b7a207b171459b353f"><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 the applicable committees a report describing—</text>
<paragraph id="id548B3AD098044A2689E962BCF9384C89"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the research
programs carried out under this section;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7482B30610904BF2A34E10934C7C51E4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the findings of
the programs; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id40C5A90ACBC04C4B9E0A65ACFAE1968D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>future research
efforts planned.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID295d76cf860f43e1abaf6d880d75553d"><enum>203.</enum><header>Helium</header>
<subsection id="IDe536dc6682184ead8cf1a6289cdfd530"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Incentives for
Innovative Technologies</header><text>Section 1703(b) of the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16513(b)) (as amended by section 106(e)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id69027D0B63E947568450EC299186F87A" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID71a405f4b2984a9e823dfe0f7105a6fe"><enum>(13)</enum><text>Helium
projects.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="IDd775c79859c6430d95c11dcd34c9bbd1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Resource
Assessment</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior shall update existing
resource information for helium in accordance with section 211.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID9438786a81d64fc6a6c49f23b44aa3c6"><enum>204.</enum><header>Lead</header>
<subsection id="IDd1d2c220f7cc4b0a8761ae0d2074f3d9"><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="ID60617b41ea3f4d42803ebc8b2abee6c6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>contribute to the
establishment of a secure, domestic supply of lead;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7499766856d44822ad9cc19a05a676fc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>produce
technologies that represent an environmental improvement compared to
conventional production processes; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4104f748e62547049f1be848b8167cf1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>produce
technologies that attain a higher efficiency level compared to conventional
production processes.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID8d45acd800864a918b4d531e6ba949ff"><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="ID9b401137d9bf47cf85b20b56387e2956"><enum>(1)</enum><text>other Federal
agencies;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID80f05285c2964e56a7689a9998897afe"><enum>(2)</enum><text>States with
affected interests;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID628a5bcd4a7c4340a954c36aed7b15c3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>manufacturers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDe048586041b64280a740c8bbf09925fd"><enum>(4)</enum><text>clean energy
technology manufacturers, including producers of batteries and other energy
storage technologies; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID28327285ee5e48ba952bb983f7b8f4f4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>any others
considered appropriate by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDd642c8dd90514ad288fa21d577372acb"><enum>205.</enum><header>Lithium</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subtitle E of title VI of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17241 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id509F3A6AD31F4B48A12F67EABCDED925" style="OLC">
<section id="IDd280788abe7d48fab1f181821bd94e06"><enum>657.</enum><header>Grants for
lithium production research and development</header>
<subsection id="IDbeb9d639a62f423ea435c56e7ac578b5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of
Eligible Entity</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible
entity</term> means—</text>
<paragraph id="IDda6ebf90a1b74152b811358b105e8cab"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a private
partnership or other entity that is—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDe0e6909965844986bce0a55f31748d96"><enum>(A)</enum><text>organized in
accordance with Federal law; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5ea49dbb738c484dafde084a27826d7f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>engaged in
lithium production for use in advanced battery technologies;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID37c5f8d834eb42eb9e195f13a62a26da"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a public entity,
such as a State, tribal, or local governmental entity; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2cc5b0f836b14b60bbbe56013b193b83"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a consortium of
entities described in paragraphs (1) and (2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID393cb49667bb4ae79c6ab92cc5a3e94d"><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="ID2480134ee68546fd87bfc2e6646e20b9"><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="IDc30404078f1641079bdd54e572c9cd51"><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="ID73bc1cf43b824e379bc6e4b9a39fdb7f"><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 commented="no" id="ID2e3954be690940998f14ca6e046c7dc1"><enum>206.</enum><header>Low-Btu
gas</header>
<subsection id="ID39820e2eaa9245edb13d09fd09a5058a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of
low-Btu gas</header><text>In this section, the term <term>low-Btu gas</term>
means a fuel gas with a heating value of less than 250 Btu per cubic foot
measured as the higher heating value resulting from the inclusion of
noncombustible gases, including nitrogen, helium, argon, and carbon
dioxide.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDd86772e985a646a18995447384b5ca0a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>The
Secretary shall support programs of research, development, commercial
application, and conservation to expand the domestic production of low-Btu gas
and helium resources, including the programs described in subsection
(c).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID968a3f44fee84bd69916b3725241c561"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Programs</header>
<paragraph id="IDeccdc75c95744636b976b21ecff3a0d7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Membrane
technology research</header><text>The Secretary, in consultation with
appropriate agencies, shall support a civilian research program to develop
advanced membrane technology that is used in the separation of gases from
applications, including technologies that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID744371f102ab444abcda389881f20242"><enum>(A)</enum><text>remove
constituent gases that lower the Btu content of natural gas; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9e6a88e0e6a54b2291ca21dbf1c7c3e3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>remove gases from
landfills and separate out methane.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDd88c2e00d8d641eea8906ab1543ade88"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Helium
separation technology</header><text>The Secretary shall support a research
program to develop technologies for separating, gathering, and processing
helium in low concentrations that occur naturally in geologic reservoirs or
formations, including low-Btu gas production streams.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID76a49a2f33544c77a9448258825d9623"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Industrial
helium program</header><text>The Secretary, working through the Industrial
Technologies Program of the Department of Energy, shall support a research
program—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID3e33d26bc0cf4bf592f335ea1f1b69c2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to develop
technologies for recycling, reprocessing, and reusing helium; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDab6d51bf00ac4b369a4fdb4d6388e854"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to develop
industrial gathering technologies to capture helium from other chemical
processing, including ammonia processing.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID4de6ebe38c394f23bd58ddbc5fcb4cda"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Incentives for
innovative technologies</header><text>Section 1703(b) of the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16513(b)) (as amended by section 203(a)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7A16CD2CB0EB47DAB903FBA492A0E443" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID8e0f9bc3209146cda97c272242c120f4"><enum>(14)</enum><text>Projects
promoting low-Btu gas (as defined in section 206(a) of the
<short-title>Critical Minerals Policy Act of
2011</short-title>).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="ID08e3946d95cc4c36863f44b25f99fc01"><enum>207.</enum><header>Phosphate</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior shall update
existing resource information for phosphate in accordance with section
211.</text>
</section><section commented="no" id="idAF2DAE649A844321BFD95DBA80F6234B"><enum>208.</enum><header>Potash</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior shall update
existing resource information for potash in accordance with section 211.</text>
</section><section commented="no" id="idA4B3431AB6DC4E68AD343024735086D4"><enum>209.</enum><header>Rare earth
elements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of the
Interior shall update existing resource information for rare earth elements in
accordance with section 211.</text>
</section><section commented="no" id="id620B245181E84453AE6DF21DFCEB7062"><enum>210.</enum><header>Thorium</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="ID3eb08120519349549fc7558751b2336b"><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 commented="no" id="id8FB73A63827B44C795B6B4F4DDD57926"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identifies the
gaps in the technical knowledge that could lead to a licensing pathway;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id1D9724133AAD4CC8800AD76A2727236A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>considers
technologies and applications for any thorium byproducts of critical mineral
production or processing.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="IDa1b180e12d3c4ab6a8534691246026ed"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cooperation</header><text>In
conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall cooperate with
appropriate—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="ID8038465f80064694ab53268963978c0c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>trade
associations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="ID57f7f953ed8d4d46ae64cd583b6650ff"><enum>(2)</enum><text>equipment
manufacturers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="ID7cd466af93d54cf88f1dced59a32ac82"><enum>(3)</enum><text>National
Laboratories;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="IDc4e684a2b0164e419b4d8c5ba4d7558b"><enum>(4)</enum><text>institutions of
higher education; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="ID5b4c9c03f2824edca50cbf0295e9d376"><enum>(5)</enum><text>other applicable
entities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="ID92e737451fa140af9818dfba829e9445"><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 the applicable committees a report summarizing the findings of the
study.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDede915bfe03c44a89d1d3afd12067bca"><enum>211.</enum><header>Updated
resource information</header>
<subsection id="ID9c520f10f99a4d57b8ef53c4a6eee9ef"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Resources</header><text>Not
later than 21 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
the Interior shall complete an update of existing resource information for
helium, phosphate, potash, and rare earth elements.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID8017b9fe206e412b962858cdb3ed085c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In
updating resource information under this section, the Secretary of the Interior
shall consult with—</text>
<paragraph id="ID3deead2319b44d3183d3e08cdcdb6ef4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the heads of
appropriate State geological surveys;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDc2dd522862ca4d4c838f824b0487bfd8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>mineral
producers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID74b0fb19590842e98859ee8c119e9dc3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>mineral
processors;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5a7620be3f304ba585b51de5c443c36d"><enum>(4)</enum><text>trade
associations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8161d20b446e4a84bf909d794fb9a03a"><enum>(5)</enum><text>academic
institutions; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5e76e2a9eed246f28099f13c005e7f43"><enum>(6)</enum><text>such other
entities or individuals as the Secretary of the Interior considers
appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDd3f52bbaf95d430cbd71aaabc45140c1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitation</header>
<paragraph id="idB00006D73645451995BFA7D12BFFD945"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Resource information updates carried out pursuant to this
section shall be limited to collection of existing information.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5F2849ED68D44577B386D36B83437049"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>If
any mineral covered by this section is designated as a critical mineral under
section 101, this section shall not apply.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID385cc6c4b9fe499c921df2f4af3c105c"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
the Interior shall submit to the applicable committees written notification
certifying that the resource information for helium, phosphate, potash, and
rare earth elements is up-to-date.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Miscellaneous</header>
<section id="ID345701bbf50448aea259d3cab1e4b608"><enum>301.</enum><header>Offsets</header>
<subsection id="idADBFDF00C79544D5B5E30A6B9FE4CEDB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The following Acts
are repealed:</text>
<paragraph id="IDd69537d29b474b78aabe28c3e7b94068"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The National
Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 (30 U.S.C.
1601 et seq.), other than subsections (e) and (f) of section 5 of that Act (30
U.S.C. 1604).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID63406ffd5e714405be63c4d5c8dcd857"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The National
Critical Materials Act of 1984 (30 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9E7E21BC07004155A9BA7F364F228037"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Section 3(d) of the National Superconductivity and
Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 5202(d)) 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
(30 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.),</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idF3397CA1560C4C5097154EA615071678"><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><header-in-text level="appropriations-major" style="appropriations">Geological Survey</header-in-text></quote> of the first
section of the Act of March 3, 1879 (43 U.S.C. 31(a)).</text>
</section><section id="id5055FBF3BE0D49F99A8ABFC21D2A7F50"><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 $106,000,000, of which—</text>
<paragraph id="ID999fe508eb8d4982b227465d870a6f0a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$1,000,000 shall
be used to carry out section 101, to remain available until expended;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2fa2abbf6b784e4583ed775bd385677c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$20,000,000 shall
be used to carry out section 103, to remain available until expended;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID174439af454b4a0289ebcd26f6a05ec8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$5,000,000 shall
be used to carry out section 104, to remain available until expended;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2f65585d87fc491c9cc0dad99ad649c2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$1,500,000 for
each of fiscal years 2011 through 2016 shall be used to carry out section 106
and the amendment made by that section, to remain available until
expended;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6905ae4fc22a49668a4e47cf958fc967"><enum>(5)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idBE5F055C1A53476C930CF86FB973F029"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$2,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2011 and 2012 shall be used to carry out section 107, to remain
available until expended; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id98E824BF330C4901A57AD5E144A926B5" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2013 through 2016 shall be used to carry out section 107;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDe53fb61a3d7247c6b8b80349a1c22909"><enum>(6)</enum><text>$5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2011 through 2016 shall be used to carry out section 108,
to remain available until expended;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8b36546f446046cc87da774a2bdb5d90"><enum>(7)</enum><text>$1,500,000 for
each of fiscal years 2011 through 2016 shall be used to carry out section 109,
to remain available until expended;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDe4f4c61acfec4f3fb113b46cf59df066"><enum>(8)</enum><text>$1,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014 shall be used to carry out sections 202,
204, 205, 206, and 210 and the amendments made by those sections; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID20356367e3554015aba997c755d25285"><enum>(9)</enum><text>$4,000,000 shall
be used to carry out section 211, to remain available until expended.</text>
</paragraph></section>