Endless Permitting and Regulatory Process Threatens Mining Development in the U.S.

SUGAR LAND--March 14, 2012--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The U.S. is a world leader in developing sustainable and environmentally friendly mining operations. With 393 mining projects totaling $66 billion, the U.S. is the fourth largest country in the world for mining project development, behind Canada, Australia and Brazil. Regulations imposed by the EPA and state agencies ensure our environment is not harmed by mining and land reclamation activity. The implementation of these regulations adds considerable time and cost to the mining process and that process is lengthening. It can take anywhere from 5-15 years to develop and permit a mine in the U.S. Because of this, mining companies are choosing to invest in mining projects in other parts of the world where the permitting process takes a third of the time and is less complicated.