American Elements Urges Senate Pass Critical Minerals & Rare Earths Mining Law

LOS ANGELES, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles-based American Elements which supplies rare earths, neodymium, lithium, indium and other green technology elemental materials to the U.S. Military & National Laboratories and 40% of the Fortune 50, including GE, Honeywell, GM and Boeing today urged Senate Democrats to pass the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act. The House passed the bill on Thursday. The law fast tracks new critical metal mines by setting timeframes for reviews, challenges and the filing of lawsuits. It presently takes an average 40 years to site a new metal mine in the U.S. today.

"The U.S. Environmental Movement is simply shooting itself in the foot on this one," said Michael Silver, CEO of American Elements. "It is time environmentalists who object to this law appreciate the whole supply chain to building the energy efficient non-polluting America we all hope for our children. They cannot both oppose critical mineral mining and demand the government build a green technology future. The two approaches are mutually exclusive", he added.

To build an electric car, wind turbine or fuel cell requires lanthanum rare earth metal and neodymium metal. Solar panels require indium metal. Advanced batteries require lithium metal. Yet America mines virtually none of these minerals in large part because the green technologies that make them essential were only recently discovered by science & industry.

"Only the environmental community has the bona fides and clout to distinguish between critical mineral mining and other more sensitive mining activities and craft and pass regulations which harmonize environmental protection with the mining of these essential green technology metals. Even the most ardent environmentalist would agree we do not have 40 years to begin dealing with carbon emissions and global warming. Now is the time to appreciate the fundamental relationship between metal mining and America's energy independent future and to do what is necessary to realize that future as soon as possible," said Silver.

For further information on the new National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act or to schedule an interview with Mr. Silver on the subject, please contact Janet Walker, Communications Director, American Elements Academics & Periodicals Department at [email protected].

SOURCE American Elements