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.

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Dates: 2026-03-08 to 2026-03-14

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

BOEM Proposes Deregulatory Changes to OCS Financial Assurance Rule

The Department of the Interior, through BOEM, published a proposed rule revising financial assurance requirements for oil, gas, and sulfur leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. Key amendments include consideration of financial strength of predecessor lessees when determining supplemental financial assurance, reduction of credit rating threshold from BBB- to BB-, and use of P50 instead of P70 BSEE decommissioning estimates. The proposal also removes mandatory appeal bonds for stays of supplemental assurance demands and permits dual-obligee financial instruments. BOEM estimates regulatory savings exceeding $7 billion over two decades, with a three-year phased compliance option starting May 8, 2026. Public comments are invited, with rulemaking materials available in Docket No. BOEM-2025-0042.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USITC Initiates Investigations on Lithium Hexafluorophosphate Imports From China

The US International Trade Commission has begun preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning lithium hexafluorophosphate imports from China (Nos. 701-TA-790 and 731-TA-1778). The action responds to petitions from Mexichem Fluor Inc. alleging unfair pricing and government subsidies. USITC will hold a staff conference on March 26, 2026; parties must request participation by March 24. Written comments are due March 31, and limited business proprietary information may be disclosed under administrative protective order. The preliminary determination is scheduled by April 20, 2026, with views submitted to Commerce by April 27.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House Adjusts Defense Production Act Delegations Amid Energy Emergency

On March 13, President Biden issued an executive order amending Executive Order 13603 and clarifying Executive Order 14156. The amendment enables both the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy to independently exercise delegated authority under the Defense Production Act. Clarification to EO 14156 ensures agency heads recommend actions to the President only when direct authority is not delegated. The order maintains adherence to all applicable laws and stipulates no new enforceable rights or benefits. Costs for publication are assigned to the Department of Energy.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

BLM Announces Proposed Reinstatement of New Mexico Oil and Gas Lease NMNM139349

The Bureau of Land Management issued a notice regarding the proposed reinstatement of competitive oil and gas lease NMNM139349 in Eddy County, New Mexico, at the request of Earthstone Permian LLC. The lessee filed a timely petition and paid required rent and administration fees; new lease terms include rental of $20 per acre per year and a royalty rate of 20 percent. No conflicting leases have been issued. The reinstatement would be effective November 1, 2022, for the remainder of the original primary term, subject to amended lease notices and updated rental and royalty conditions.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FERC Schedules Environmental Assessment for Egan Hub Cavern Expansion Project

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced its schedule for the environmental assessment of the proposed Egan Cavern Expansion Project in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. Egan Hub Storage, LLC plans construction of two new salt dome storage caverns with combined working gas capacity of 16 Bcf, new leaching and dewatering facilities, on-site compression, pipelines, and a saltwater disposal well. The EA is planned for issuance May 22, 2026, triggering a 90-day federal authorization deadline of August 20. The review incorporates public comments from EPA, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, and a landowner addressing permitting and the lateral extent of caverns.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Basic Materials Roundup: Market Talk: Market commentary covers basic materials with insights on commodity pricing and trade dynamics.
• Exclusive | Australian Plastics Recycling Company Targets Critical Minerals: An Australian plastics recycler pivots toward supplying critical minerals for battery manufacturing.
• U.N. Body Fights for Relevance as It Struggles to Devise a Deep Sea Mining Code: The International Seabed Authority wrestles with codifying rules for deep sea mining amid member disagreements.
• Korea Zinc in talks with US tech firms to extract rare earths from data centre waste: Korea Zinc discusses partnerships to recover rare earth elements from US data center waste streams.
• Protecting Trillions in Energy Assets: How SMX Technology Helps Defend Investment and ROI in Global Oil and Gas Supply Chains: SMX technology offers asset protection solutions for oil and gas supply chains, safeguarding investment value.

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