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Minerals Policy

The vitality of the modern American economy is firmly rooted in the ready availability of metals and minerals that are essential to our way of life and our national security. The United States ranks among the world's largest producers and consumers of minerals and metals. They are key components in consumer and industrial technologies, in homes, offices and cars, and play a critically important role in shaping American's national security through their use in the manufacture of military equipment, aircraft and weapons systems that are vital to the nation's defense.

Many metals and minerals are found in abundance in the U.S. and are mined primarily in the Western states, where hard rock mining provides sustainable employment and revenue for hundreds of rural communities.

Today, America's storehouse of minerals and metals is of growing value. As mature economies like ours find greater application for minerals and metals in advanced products and technologies - from computers to hybrid engines - emerging economies require them as building blocks for the construction of new cities, transportation and communications networks and industries. Metals are mined in America under comprehensive environmental conditions, and land disturbed during mining operations must be reclaimed according to state and federal regulations.