Biodiversity Policy Engagement Analysis
Biodiversity Lobbying Overview: The National Mining Association (NMA) appears to be engaging against regulation to prevent biodiversity loss.
Top-line Messaging on Biodiversity Loss: NMA does not appear to have any top-line messaging on biodiversity loss. NMA does not appear to have acknowledged the science showing unprecedented biodiversity loss, the need for drastic action to reverse this trend or the need for government regulation.
Engagement with Biodiversity-Related Regulations: NMA has engaged on policies relating to land use change and pollution. In a coalition comment in July 2023 and press release in August 2023, NMA opposed the Biden Administration’s Water of the United States (WOTUS) rule.
As part of a coalition in July 2024, NMA took filed a legal complaint against the Bureau of Land Management’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule. In a June 2024 press release, NMA President Rich Nolan further opposed the rule and advocated for a number of bills that would reduce protections for biodiversity.
NMA has opposed efforts to phase-out the use of PFAS (also known as ‘forever chemicals’). NMA signed a joint letter in July 2023 opposing the PFAS-Free Procurement Act. In October 2023, NMA signed a joint letter opposing provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 that would prohibit the Defense Department from buying some products containing PFAS and report on efforts to phase out non-essential uses of PFAS.
However, NMA has supported the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, including in a July 2024 press release.
Positioning on Statutory Protection of Wildlife: NMA has opposed the listing of a number of species under the US Endangered Species Act. In a joint letter to the Fish and Wildlife Service in 2022, NMA opposed the listing of the Northern Long-Eared Bat as endangered. In February 2024 comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NMA appeared not to support the listing of the coal darter.