Bureau of Land Management
Proposed Rule
Streamline
Royalty Rate Reduction
Process
for Non-Energy Solid Minerals
August
28, 2019, Washington D.C. ____ Representative Paul Cook (R- Apple Valley)
applauded the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) announcement today of a
proposed rule to provide much needed regulatory relief and efficiencies for
non-energy solid leasable minerals, including soda ash. The proposed rule is
expected to save up to $5 million in regulatory costs over the next decade.
Specifically,
the rule will streamline the process for the BLM to administratively reduce
royalties collected on soda ash. A rate reduction will keep US producers
competitive and allow U.S. soda ash producers to expand in foreign markets,
securing good-paying American mining jobs.
Representative
Cook has been a strong advocate for reducing royalties collected on soda ash by
the federal government and has previously introduced legislation to do so. Soda
ash is used to manufacture glass and produce chemicals, detergents, paper, and
other products. Soda ash also has a critical national security role as a key
component in cockpit windshields manufactured by the aerospace industry.
Aside from the economic benefit, promoting American soda ash is good for the
environment. While American soda ash is found naturally, Chinese soda ash is
produced synthetically. Chinese synthetic production uses twice the energy,
which results in over three times the carbon emissions as natural soda ash
production.
Paul Cook said, “Over
the past decade, American soda ash producers have faced significant challenges
from foreign, synthetic soda ash producers in China and Turkey. Sodium
carbonate production is a $1.8 billion industry which provides hundreds of jobs
to my constituents in Trona and thousands more to hardworking Americans across
the nation. The previous administration chose to triple the federal royalty
rate for soda ash, severely impacting its production. More recently, Trona has
been significantly damaged by major earthquakes, causing serious disruptions to
local industry. This important rule sets the stage for rapid relief that will
protect and expand mining jobs, strengthen our national security, and help
local soda ash producers in my district recover from a devastating natural
disaster. I thank the BLM and the Administration for taking action to support
this critical industry.”
A member of
the House Natural Resources and Armed Services Committees, Cook served as an
infantry officer and retired after 26 years as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine
Corps. During his time in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple
Hearts.