Critical Minerals: Status, Challenges, and Policy Options for Recovery from Nontraditional Sources
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Critical minerals like lithium and cobalt feed technologies that keep the U.S. economy running. But other countries control much of the supply.
One way to increase the U.S. supply of critical minerals is to recover them from nontraditional sources. For example, companies can extract minerals from piles of waste rock left at old mines.
But using these sources poses challenges, such as high costs and concerns about being held liable for environmental damage by the original miners.
In this Technology Assessment, we present options—such as financial incentives and liability protections—that policymakers could consider to address challenges.
One way to increase the U.S. supply of critical minerals is to recover them from nontraditional sources. For example, companies can extract minerals from piles of waste rock left at old mines.
But using these sources poses challenges, such as high costs and concerns about being held liable for environmental damage by the original miners.
In this Technology Assessment, we present options—such as financial incentives and liability protections—that policymakers could consider to address challenges.