ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: NREW DPA/SE 6-3-0-1

HCM2003: ~~technical correction; urging the president~~

NOW: critical minerals; copper; urging inclusion

Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 19

House Engrossed

Overview

Requests that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) add copper to its list of critical minerals and that the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Congress support this request.

History

Copper in Arizona

Copper is Arizona's most abundant and valuable metallic mineral product, found in two major deposit types in the state. Porphyry Copper is found in southern and central Arizona, while Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Copper is found in the United Verde Mine in Jerome. Smaller copper sources in the state include breccia pipe copper from northern Arizona.

Native peoples have been mining copper in Arizona for centuries. The copper rush of the 1880s contributed to a major population boom, leading copper mining to become a major economic driver in the state until the 1950s. Today, copper continues to be an important part of Arizona's economy. According to the Arizona Geological Survey, Arizona was responsible for 68% of all domestic copper production in 2017.

List of Critical Minerals

A 2017 executive order required the Secretary of the Interior to draft the first list of non-fuel mineral commodities deemed critical to the economic and national security of the U.S. and that have supply chains vulnerable to disruption. The minerals must be used to create products that are important to the nation's economic and national security. The list was intended to be used by the federal government to reduce the nation's vulnerability to supply disruptions for the listed commodities (Executive Order 13817). The first critical mineral list, which consisted of 35 minerals, was published in 2018. The Energy Act of 2020 required the critical minerals list methodology to be reviewed and revised and the minerals updated accordingly at least every three years (Public Law 116-260).

In 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey Director presented an updated critical minerals list that included a total of 50 minerals. The methodology used to develop the list included evaluations of supply risk, supply chain points of failure, foreign supply dependence, foreign production concentration and foreign willingness to continue to supply the United States. Copper was not included in this list (87 Federal Register 10381).

Provisions

1. Request that the USGS add copper to the list of critical minerals and that the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Congress support the USGS in adding copper to this list.

2. Directs the Arizona Secretary of State to transmit a copy of the memorial to the President of the United States, President of the U.S. Senate, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Secretary of the Department of Interior, USGS Director and each member of Congress from Arizona.

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6. HCM 2003

7. Initials PAB/AH Page 0 House Engrossed

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