July 26, 2026 to August 01, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning metals and non-metals miners, explorers and prospectors. Once a week, 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. Also consider subscribing to our Mining - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Senate Indian Affairs Committee: Business Meeting on Mineral Interests and Land Transfers: Scheduled for August 5, 2026, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee will conduct a business meeting to consider S.239, land and mineral interests for the Crow Tribe of Montana, along with several bills transferring federal lands into trust for tribal nations. The meeting will be held in Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628.

Federal Government News

Presidential Determination Delegates Defense Production Act Authority on Recoverable Critical Minerals and Materials

President Donald J. Trump issued a Presidential Determination on July 30, 2026, describing the scarcity and essential nature of recoverable critical minerals and materials (CMMs) for U.S. national defense. The memorandum defines 'recoverable CMMs' as industrial resources including black mass, end-of-life rare-earth permanent magnets, swarf, and waste and scrap containing critical minerals. The Secretary of Commerce is directed to take action under Section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, including issuing export regulations. The determination will be published in the Federal Register. Action aims to mitigate reliance on imports and maintain supply chain stability.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Trump Delegates DPA Authority to Restrict Exports of Recoverable Critical Minerals and Materials

The White House issued a fact sheet on July 30, 2026, confirming President Trump signed an Executive Order delegating Defense Production Act authority to the Secretary of Commerce for imposing export restrictions on recoverable critical minerals and materials. CMMs originate from industrial waste and recyclable finished goods such as permanent magnets and lithium-ion batteries, playing a key role in defense infrastructure and equipment manufacturing. Since 2025, Trump has taken several executive actions to boost domestic mineral production and facilitate supply chain security for the defense sector.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

USDA Forest Service Initiates Environmental Impact Statement for Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project, Wyoming

The USDA Forest Service announced intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project in the Black Hills National Forest, Wyoming. The action responds to Rare Element Resources Inc.’s Mine Plan of Operations proposing open-pit rare earth element extraction and supporting infrastructure on National Forest System lands. The EIS process initiates a 30-day public comment period ending August 28, 2026. Anticipated impacts include hydrologic effects, air quality, land use, public health and safety, potential effects to cultural sites, and implications for wildlife habitats. The project is designated as a FAST-41 'covered project,' requiring cross-agency permitting. Up to $500 million in private investment is anticipated, with operations projected to last over 20 years.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

MSHA Review: Proposed Extension of Information Collection – Safety Program for Surface Mobile Equipment

The Mine Safety and Health Administration initiated review of information collection requirements for surface mobile equipment safety programs. The proposed extension covers hazard analyses, maintenance procedures, program updates, and training at mines. Operators must develop written safety programs under 30 CFR 56.23000, 57.23000, and 77.2100, making these available for inspection and updating them as conditions change. The review accepts comments until September 25, 2026; annual responses number 57,583 with an estimated time burden of 190,732 hours.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

MSHA Review: Proposed Extension of Information Collection – Escape and Evacuation Plans

MSHA is reviewing the information collection requirements for escape and evacuation plans at underground metal and nonmetal mines. The extension request covers plan development, updates, mining maps, evacuation procedures, firefighting protocols, notification plans, and availability of emergency facilities as required by 30 CFR 57.11053. Plans must be updated when mining conditions change and jointly reviewed with MSHA at least every six months. Comments are open until September 25, 2026; 149 respondents provide 298 responses annually with a time burden of 2,533 hours.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

License to Drill Act – Energy Committee Reports Bill Favorably

Bill 5039, License to Drill Act, was ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources without amendment on July 29, 2026. The bill addresses permitting and licensing requirements for drilling activities under federal energy policy.

Sources: www.congress.gov

License to Drill Act – Second Version Advances in Committee

Bill 7831, also named License to Drill Act, was ordered reported favorably without amendment by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. This version parallels the objectives of expanded permitting and licensing for drilling.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Mineral Leasing Act Amendment for Coal Lease Bonus Payments

Bill 4410 amends the Mineral Leasing Act to provide payment mechanisms for bonus payments on certain coal leases. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has ordered the bill to be reported favorably without amendment.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Chiricahua National Park Act – Substitute Amendment Ordered

Bill 3715, Chiricahua National Park Act, was ordered reported with a substitute amendment by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bill focuses on designation and management of public land resources relevant to mineral and resource industries.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act Advances in Committee

Bill 3313, Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act, underwent committee review and was ordered reported with a substitute amendment by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bill addresses emergency access and egress issues on federal public lands.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Canada Approves Big Nickel Mine in Northern Ontario: Canadian authorities approve large nickel mining project, expanding production in Northern Ontario.
• Indonesia moves to ease rare-earth checks bottleneck delaying alumina, nickel exports: Indonesia is working to streamline rare-earth mineral checks to relieve export delays for alumina and nickel.
• Iron ore giants BHP and Rio are morphing into copper plays: BHP and Rio Tinto are diversifying operations toward copper amid shifting market dynamics.
• BN Strategic Metals Announces Plans to Develop Domestic Ammonium Paratungstate (APT) Processing Facility: BN Strategic Metals unveils plans for U.S.-based Ammonium Paratungstate processing.
• Managing Geoeconomic and Geopolitical Risks: Global mining companies are reassessing strategies to address increasing geoeconomic and geopolitical risks.
• Australia's oil refinery about-face will need to overcome several hurdles: Australia considers policy reversal on oil refining, facing a series of operational challenges.
• Rio Tinto posts 43% jump in first-half earnings as data centre boom boosts copper: Rio Tinto reports first-half earnings up 43%, with copper demand rising due to data centre expansion.

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