Trump Orders Fast-Tracked Mineral Mining Permits, Risks to Public Lands Rise

President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at expediting mining projects on public lands, invoking a 'national energy emergency' to streamline permitting processes for critical minerals. This order is seen as a move to reduce reliance on foreign minerals, particularly from China, and is expected to significantly expand mining access to federal lands. Environmental groups have expressed strong opposition, warning that the expedited reviews could lead to detrimental impacts on national parks, endangered species, and local ecosystems. Critics argue that the order undermines environmental protections and could lead to unchecked industrial development near protected landscapes. The directive includes provisions for reviewing parts of the 1872 mining law to facilitate waste storage on public lands, although such changes would require congressional action. Conservationists assert that the rapid push for mineral production could result in poor planning and increased legal challenges due to potential violations of environmental laws.