To Mine or Not to Mine? The Future of U.S. Mineral Resources

To Mine or Not to Mine? The Future of U.S. Mineral Resources

Author: Cato Institute March 24, 2016 Duration: 43:23
Domestic minerals and metals are a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, but data just published by the Energy Information Agency (EIA) show that investment in U.S. mining and exploration declined an incredible 35 percent last year—from $135 billion in 2014 to $88 billion in 2015—representing the second largest decline since 1948. The withdrawal of federal lands, often with permanent restrictions on mining force manufacturers to look elsewhere, and the permitting process is long and drawn out. Federal holdings used to be called the “land of many uses,” but increasingly Washington has decided that one of those uses is no longer the mining of coal and minerals. Millions of acres, largely in the West, are now zoned for no mining, no matter how remote or rich they might be.Mamula, a PhD geologist with extensive experience in both private industry and government (with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Central Intelligence Agency), will discuss the causes of and the solutions for this problem which is increasing in strategic importance for the United States.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step inside the Cato Institute's renowned Washington, D.C. events without leaving your desk. The Cato Event Podcast brings the lecture hall and briefing room directly to you, featuring unfiltered audio from live policy forums, author discussions, and Capitol Hill briefings. Each episode captures the substance of these gatherings, where scholars, policymakers, and leading thinkers engage in detailed conversations about liberty, governance, and current affairs. You'll hear substantive debates and thoughtful commentary that cut through the noise of daily headlines, offering deeper analysis on the issues shaping legislation and public discourse. This isn't a produced studio show; it's a front-row seat to the kind of candid exchanges that happen when experts gather to challenge conventional wisdom. The Cato Institute, through this podcast, provides a direct conduit to these discussions, emphasizing a perspective rooted in individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. Tune in for a raw, intellectual experience that goes beyond soundbites, perfect for anyone who wants to understand the foundational ideas behind today's political news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 102

Cato Event Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Welcoming Remarks and the Vision for Liberty - Cato On Tour Oct. 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:15
Please join us for a cocktail reception and conversation in NYC this fall. We are pleased to have New York Post columnist and author Rikki Schlott in conversation with Cato vice president for general economics and Stiefe…
A Costly Distraction: US–China Competition in the Middle East [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:34
The United States continues to allocate substantial military and diplomatic resources to counter Chinese influence in the Middle East. However, Beijing has shown little interest in assuming a dominant security role in th…
Peak Human: What We Can Learn from History’s Greatest Civilizations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:34
Sphere is excited to engage our educator community in discussion about the factors that contributed to the rise and fall of some of humanity’s greatest civilizations. Through a moderated discussion with author Johan Norb…
Fifty-Five Years of the Bank Secrecy Act [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:22
Since its passage in 1970, the Bank Secrecy Act has fundamentally transformed the relationship between Americans and their financial institutions, creating an unprecedented surveillance apparatus that monitors virtually…
The $15 Trillion Emergency Spending Loophole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:15
Congress has spent $15 trillion through emergency designations since 1991, which is equivalent to half the entire publicly held debt of the United States. Emergency designations have enabled more than $12.5 trillion in s…
Trade in War: Economic Cooperation across Enemy Lines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:53
Trade between belligerents during wartime should not occur. After all, exchanged goods might help enemies secure the upper hand on the battlefield. Yet as history shows, states rarely choose either war or trade. In fact,…