Senate Resolution Offers Hope Lawmakers May Finally Be Taking The Economic And Environmental Benefits Of Developing A Rare Earth Minerals Industry Seriously In PA

On February 28, tripartisan  Senate Resolution 229 (Dush-R-Jefferson, Yudichak-I-Luzerne, Flynn-D-Lackawanna) was introduced directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the economic, environmental and health impacts related to the development of a critical and rare earth mineral industry in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary).

The resolution puts a spotlight on research that has been underway at Penn State and other places on rare earth and critical minerals in coal, coal waste, coal fly ash, acid mine drainage and other potential sources for some time.

“Given the breakthroughs in the critical mineral reclamation processes at our very own Penn State University, Pennsylvania may be able to be on the forefront of the industry,” said Sen. Cris Dush.  “The availability of these minerals in our own backyard may lead to a rebirth of Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry.”

The study required in the resolution is due within one year of passage.

The resolution is now in the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov.   Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5709 or sending email to: senatorcomitta@pasenate.com.

Background

Rare earth minerals are critical to the refining of petroleum products and the manufacture of all sorts of electronic components for clean energy, batteries, aerospace, automotive and defense industries.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a hearing January 10 of this year on the “benefits and challenges related to extracting and utilizing rare earth minerals found within Pennsylvania” that provided a factual background on this issue. (See resource links below.)

Surprisingly, 75 percent of rare earth minerals are used as oil refining catalysts and to make catalytic converters for vehicles, according to DCNR’s Bureau of Geologic Survey.

Only about 6 percent are used in alloys for batteries, fuel cells, LED and LCD, flat panel displays and screens and steelmaking, but the clean energy-related segment is growing.

Penn State University has been doing important research into rare earth minerals in abandoned mine drainage, coal and other sources and established a Center for Critical Minerals in 2019 to help guide this research.

The U.S. Department of Energy and its National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh have similar efforts underway and have been awarding grants to support these initiatives at Penn State and around the country.

Groups like the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation have been attempting to highlight the economic potential and environmental benefits of rare earth minerals for some time, in particular to support mine drainage treatment efforts.  Read more here.

(Photo: Abandoned mine drainage is a potential source of rare earth minerals.)

Resource Links:

-- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee hearing on rare earth minerals January 10, 2022 - Video of Hearing + Transcript of Hearing

-- Testimony from House Hearing:

     -- Dr. Gale Blackmer, Director, DCNR Bureau of Geological Survey - Presentation

     -- Dr. Sarma Pisupati, Director, Penn State’s Center for Critical Minerals

     -- Dr. Pete Rozelle, Advisor, Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

     -- Anthony Marchese, Texas Mineral Resources, partnership with Penn State - Presentation

(Courtesy PA Council of Professional Geologists.)

Related Articles:

-- Penn State: Battery Metals From Abandoned Mine Wastewater: Potential Economic Benefits For Pennsylvania  [2021

-- New Sensor Can Detect Valuable Rare Earth Elements In Mine Drainage, Other Non-Traditional Sources [2021]

-- New Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Turns Waste Into Valuable Rare Earth Minerals [2020]

-- U.S. Dept. Of Energy Awards $1.95 Million For Conceptual Designs For Rare Earth Mineral Extraction From Coal Sources, Including 4 PA Projects [2020]

-- DOE Grant To Penn State Continues Research Into Rare-Earth Elements Extraction From Coal [2017]

-- Study Will Determine Amount Of Rare Earth Elements In Coal Mining Waste [2016]

-- Penn State: Extracting Rare Earth Elements From Coal Could Soon Be Economical In U.S. -2016]

[Posted: March 16, 2022]  PA Environment Digest