California Establishes Critical Minerals Committee to Reassess Mining Regulations, Boost Domestic Supply

Highlights

• California unanimously created a Critical Minerals Committee to assess state mineral policies and support national clean energy and security objectives.
• The committee will review regulations like the backfill mandate that potentially hinder mineral extraction and investment in strategic resources.
• Key focus areas include:
  • Evaluating mineral supply chains
  • Updating classification guidelines
  • Positioning California as a critical mineral development hub

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In a unanimous 9–0 vote on May 15, the California State Mining and Geology Board (opens in a new tab) formally established the Critical Minerals Committee (opens in a new tab), signaling a potential regulatory shift to support U.S. clean energy and national security goals. The new body will evaluate California’s critical mineral resources, regulatory barriers, and supply chain vulnerabilities, with authority to recommend policy changes—including to the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) and mineral classification rules.

A key focus is California’s backfill mandate, a decades-old regulation requiring full pit backfilling for metallic mines. Experts, including State Geologist Jeremy Lancaster (opens in a new tab) and legal counsel Martin Stratte (opens in a new tab), argue this rule undermines critical mineral development by deterring investment. With demand surging for nickel, copper, tungsten, and rare minor metals, the committee’s formation marks a pivotal opportunity to align state policy with federal clean energy and defense priorities—positioning California as a strategic hub for critical mineral extraction and refinement.

The Critical Minerals Committee, tasked with evaluating state policies, regulations, and vulnerabilities tied to minerals essential for clean energy, defense, and technology. Committee members will assess the SMARA  in light of the federal critical minerals list, explore conservation strategies, and consider updating classification guidelines to reflect evolving national and global demands. The move comes as part of California’s broader strategy to secure supply chains and reduce dependency on foreign-controlled sources, with a focus on materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements.

In parallel, the Board approved the final rulemaking package to designate regionally significant mineral lands in the Greater Sacramento Area Production-Consumption Region, based on geologic surveys and economic thresholds outlined in CGS Special Reports 245 and 255. Presentations highlighted statewide assessments of critical mineral deposits, updates on mining ordinance revisions, and ongoing debate over the state’s metallic mining backfill regulations, which conservation groups defended as essential to environmental protection. The California Geological Survey also unveiled fault and hazard zone mapping updates and reintroduced its long-dormant California’s Geology publication. These actions underscore the Board’s dual mandate: to support sustainable mineral development while upholding California’s rigorous environmental standards.