US Interior Department Boosts Critical Mineral Recovery Efforts

#US prioritizes recovery of critical minerals from mine waste

Posted on July 25, 2025 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

A worker in an orange hard hat and safety vest examines mineral piles at a mining site, with American flag visible in the background and machinery in operation.

WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) – The U.S. Interior Department on Thursday took steps to increase recovery of critical minerals, used in everything from electric vehicles to high-tech weapons, from mine waste, coal refuse, tailings and abandoned uranium mines.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed his department to streamline federal regulations on the recovery of the minerals such as rare earths, lithium and cobalt from the waste.

The order directs the department to update guidance on making mine waste recovery projects eligible for federal funding and speed up reviews of plans to recover uranium and other minerals from abandoned mines. It also directs the U.S. Geological Survey to map and inventory federal mine waste sites.