Our Commitment to Being a Good Neighbor

In honor of Earth Day this week, NMA is reflecting on being a good neighbor and environmental steward in the communities where our members operate.

Mining companies invest heavily in the research and development of new technologies and processes to minimize environmental impact. In fact, this commitment to constant innovation is part of what makes the U.S. one of the most environmentally conscientious places for mining.

U.S. mining operates under a comprehensive set of standards that includes every major U.S. environmental law, and in 2012, our industry introduced the Environmental Management System, which provides mining companies a roadmap to navigate regulatory processes and continually improve environmental performance. Even before mining can begin, a plan to restore the proposed mine site to another beneficial use must be developed and approved by regulatory agencies, and funding must be set aside to complete the restoration work.

U.S. mining is committed to restoring the lands on which we operate. In fact, over the past 30 years, our industry has reclaimed and restored more than 2.6 million acres of land, creating wildlife habitats, parks, fishing holes and more.

To learn more about the mining industry’s commitment to being a good neighbor, see our video below.