Congressional Republicans like two things: (1) conspiracy-minded political theater and (2) eliminating public interest regulations.
So it was fitting, then, that the House took a break from the pointless and shameless political theater of the Benghazi hearings to pass a bill eliminating environmental review for mining projects.
Today's vote was on the so-called National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015.
What does it do? Eliminate those pesky environmental reviews that big mining companies hate so much:
The bill would reduce or eliminate environmental reviews, and give mining companies control over the timing of permitting decisions, for virtually all types of mining operations on federal public land, not just those involving strategic or critical minerals. It does this by defining “strategic and critical” minerals so broadly that they would include everything from minerals like gold, silver, copper and uranium (which are critical to defense, energy infrastructure & production, and manufacturing) to plentiful materials such as sand, clay, gravel and potentially even coal. Further, the bill deems all mines to be “infrastructure projects” in order to put them in line with an Executive Order aimed at reducing permitting time for surface transportation, aviation, pipelines and other infrastructure projects that have lesser environmental effects than mining. Lastly, it requires the Interior Department to waive compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) if the federal or state permitting process is deemed “adequate” and requires federal agencies to enter into agreements with mining companies to set time limits for each part of the permit review process and limit total review time to 30 months.
In addition to reducing or eliminating environmental reviews in order to receive mining permits, the bill would also limit the judicial review of mine permits, barring any civil action not filed within 60 days after a final federal agency action.
The bill passed
254 to 177.
Eight Democrats joined the GOP:
Brad Ashford (NE-02)
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Rick Nolan (MN-08)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Dina Titus (NV-01)
The House voted on four amendments.
Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) put forth an amendment to clarify that the definition of "Strategic and Critical Minerals" only includes the minerals identified by the National Research Council (NRC) as strategic and critical minerals (and any additional minerals added by the Secretary that meet the NRC's criteria), and does not include sand, gravel or clay.
It failed 176 to 253.
Eight Democrats joined the GOP in voting against it:
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Sam Farr (CA-20)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02)
Dina Titus (NV-01)
Filemon Vela (TX-34)
Debbie Dingell (MI-12) offered an amendment to ensure that mining permits are fully reviewed under the National Environmental Policy Act.
It failed 181 to 248.
One Republican--Candice Miller (MI-10)--joined Democrats in voting for it.
5 Democrats joined Republicans in voting against it:
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Nita Lowey (NY-17)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09)
Dina Titus (NV-01)
Matt Cartwright (PA-17) offered an amendment to strike the sections of the bill that would limit judicial review of agency actions and prevent the awarding of attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
It failed 183 to 245.
One Republican--Steve Russell (OK-05)--joined Democrats in voting for it.
Two Democrats--Collin Peterson (MN-07) and Kurt Schrader (OR-05)--voted against it.
Alcee Hastings (FL-20) offered an amendment to require demonstration for proposed projects where domestic capacity to produce strategic and critical minerals is less than 80 percent of domestic requirements and requires publication of intent to transport or sell strategic and critical mineral intermediate and final products outside of the United States unless the domestic capacity exceeds 80 percent.
It failed 183 to 246.
Three Republicans voted for it:
Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
Curt Curbelo (FL-26)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Five Democrats voted against it:
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Keith Ellison (MN-05)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09)
Dina Titus (NV-01)