Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning metals and non-metals miners, explorers and prospectors. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Mining? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Manufacturing and Oil & Gas.

Dates: 2025-07-13 to 2025-07-19

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🇺🇸 US Federal GR News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Canadian Federal GR News

Natural Resources Canada and Northwest Territories Pilot AI-Based Drill Core Scanning for Critical Minerals

Natural Resources Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories have announced a joint initiative to apply artificial intelligence and digital scanning to the analysis of historic drill core samples from the Slave Geological Province. The pilot project, announced July 14 in Charlottetown, will digitize and analyze existing cores from the Northwest Territories Geological Survey’s collection. This process is intended to identify zones of high potential for critical mineral development, specifically lithium, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements. All resulting data will be made available to industry through a centralized digital platform. The effort is designed to reduce exploration risk and aid in the reevaluation of prior discoveries, as well as inform new mineral development opportunities in the region. The project will be a cornerstone for a proposed Canadian Digital Core Library, which federal officials have positioned as a resource for unlocking mineral value without additional disturbance to the land.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canadian Competition Bureau Approves Schlumberger Acquisition with Conditions on Oilfield Services Competition

The Competition Bureau has finalized a consent agreement with Schlumberger Limited to resolve competition concerns regarding its proposed acquisition of ChampionX Corporation. Both companies operate in Canada’s oilfield services market. Following a review, the Bureau concluded that the transaction could lessen competition in the supply of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutters, PCD bearings, and quartz transducers—essential inputs for drill bits and various directional drilling and well completion services. Under the agreement, Schlumberger will divest US Synthetic, a ChampionX subsidiary and key supplier of the affected products, and license intellectual property relating to quartz transducers from Quartzdyne. The Competition Bureau has stated these measures adequately address anti-competitive risk. The consent agreement is available via the Competition Tribunal.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Implementation Framework Published for Right to a Healthy Environment under CEPA

Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada have published the final implementation framework for the 'right to a healthy environment' under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). The announcement follows Royal Assent of Bill S-5 in June 2023 and subsequent draft publication and consultations in late 2024. The framework was released July 19 and is accessible via the Government of Canada’s Environmental Registry. It sets out how the right will be operationalized in the federal administration of CEPA, outlining relevant protections and procedures for interested parties.

Sources: Gazette, Part I: www.gazette.gc.ca

US Federal GR News

White House Grants Two-Year Regulatory Relief for Taconite Iron Ore Processing Facilities

On July 17, President Trump issued a proclamation granting taconite iron ore processing facilities a two-year extension to comply with the EPA’s 2024 Taconite Rule. The exemption applies to compliance deadlines for stationary sources engaged in taconite processing, specifically facilities operated by United States Steel Corporation and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. in Minnesota and Michigan. The proclamation cites a lack of commercial availability of required emissions-control technology, risk of facility shutdowns, and national security interests, permitting facilities to adhere to prior emissions standards for the duration. The White House cites economic and defense considerations tied to domestic steel supply as key factors in the decision.

Sources: White House Announcements: www.whitehouse.gov

Presidential Fact Sheet Outlines Regulatory Relief for Coal, Iron Ore, and Chemical Facilities

A White House fact sheet, released July 17, details four executive orders granting two-year regulatory relief from several EPA environmental rules affecting coal-fired plants, taconite iron ore processors, and certain chemical manufacturers. These exemptions allow facilities to operate under previously applicable standards, in place before the 2024 regulations. The document indicates that this decision was driven by concerns about energy reliability, supply chain stability for materials critical to defense and advanced manufacturing, and the costs associated with rapid compliance. The fact sheet references anticipated impacts of the rules, including possible electricity shortages and increased dependency on foreign supplies.

Sources: White House Announcements: www.whitehouse.gov

BLM Rescinds Acreage Cap Regulations for Hardrock Mineral Permits and Leases

The Bureau of Land Management has issued a direct final rule rescinding paragraph (f) of 43 CFR 3503.37, which imposed a per-state maximum acreage for hardrock mineral permits and leases—excluding coal and oil shale. Effective September 15, unless significant adverse comments are received, the rule also repeals 43 CFR Subpart 3517, which governed exemptions from these limitations. Justification for the change is based on lack of statutory mandate, regulatory streamlining, and reduction of paperwork under OMB Control Number 1004-0121. The new rule is expected to reduce annual reporting requirements and administratively reserve the removed sections in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

BLM Removes Redundant Regulation on Mining Claims and Millsites on Powersite Withdrawals

A direct final rule issued July 17 by the Bureau of Land Management rescinds regulation 43 CFR 3737.1, which previously addressed use of mining claims and mill sites on lands withdrawn as powersites. BLM characterizes the rule as redundant with regulations in 43 CFR subpart 3715. This change, effective September 15 absent significant adverse comment, leaves a regulatory gap marked as 'reserved' in the CFR. The agency notes that the rescission is technical and aligns with existing statutory and administrative requirements.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

MSHA Lists Affirmative Decisions on Petitions for Modification of Safety Standards

The Mine Safety and Health Administration published a summary of all granted petitions for modification of mandatory safety standards between January 1 and June 30, 2025. The listing details dozens of mines nationwide and covers modifications relating to permissible electric equipment, refuge areas, oil and gas wells, and other technical standards. Modifications generally involve use of alternative technology or practices that MSHA determined provide equivalent protection, and may affect operations employing newer or non-standard equipment. Full documentation, including detailed conditions for each granted petition, is available through MSHA’s online databases.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

Canadian Provincial GR News

Alamos Gold, Contractors Fined for Fly Rock Incident at Ontario’s Magino Mine

Ontario courts have fined Alamos Gold Inc. and two contracting firms a total of $177,500 under the Environmental Protection Act relating to a 2021 fly rock incident during blasting operations at the Magino Gold Project, resulting in injury to a member of the public.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Saskatchewan’s Subsurface Mineral Offering Generates Over $1 Million in Revenues amid Lithium Interest

Saskatchewan’s first subsurface mineral public offering this fiscal year generated over $1 million in revenue, driven predominantly by lithium exploration interests. Four permits, likely prospective for lithium in formation water, received bids, with Millennium Land Ltd. placing the highest.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.saskatchewan.ca

Saskatchewan Research Council Adds Full-Scale Laser Ore Sorting Unit

The Saskatchewan Research Council has introduced a new full-scale laser ore sorter at its Minerals Liberation Sorting Centre, expanding available sensor-based sorting services to mining industry clients.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.saskatchewan.ca

Saskatchewan Resource Sector Expects Increased Investment and Production

Saskatchewan announced projected total mining investment above $7 billion for 2025, attributing sector growth to incentives, expansion in uranium and potash production, and emerging sectors including lithium, copper, and helium.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.saskatchewan.ca

Northern Quebec Action Plan Supports Cree Nation Entrepreneurship

A $700,000 financial agreement between the Société du Plan Nord, Société de développement de la Baie-James, and Cree Nation Government will back entrepreneurship initiatives in Eeyou Istchee as part of Quebec’s 2023–2028 Northern Action Plan.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• A New Mining Model Is Emerging -- And Wall Street Is Paying Attention: Investors are monitoring new business models in the mining sector.
• ReElement Technologies Applauds the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative and Highlights the Power Localized Refining Solutions: Industry response to global critical minerals collaboration.
• Lifezone Metals Files the Feasibility Study Technical Report Summary for the Kabanga Nickel Project in Tanzania: New feasibility study filed for major African nickel project.
• Orla Mining Files Updated Technical Report on Camino Rojo to Include the Initial Underground Mineral Resource: Technical update provides first underground resource details.
• A New Mining Model Built for Speed, Scale and Profit: Coverage of operational changes in mining for greater efficiency.
• Renewable Energy Fuels XRP Mining: JOPE Miner Leads Industry Transformation: Sector looks at renewable-powered digital mining platforms.
• Clearwater, B.C., braces for potential of massive mine that could nearly double its population: Report on pending environmental assessment and community impact.
• Powered by AI and Green Energy, Invro Mining's Cloud Mining Platform is Reshaping Digital Wealth: Look at innovations in green energy and AI for digital mining platforms.
• Lifezone Metals Consolidates Control of the World-Class Kabanga Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Sulfide Project: Corporate moves secure project control in East Africa.
• Lifezone Metals Files the Feasibility Study Technical Report Summary for the Kabanga Nickel Project in Tanzania: Further industry coverage of Kabanga technical filings.

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