Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced that mining projects that normally have a two-year wait for permitting will be shrunk to as few as 28 days, further advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda to make the U.S. less dependent on foreign suppliers.
He made the announcement Wednesday as the president seeks to fast-track the projects to mine coal, uranium, and other precious minerals.
“The United States cannot afford to wait,” Burgum said in a statement. “President Trump has made it clear that our energy security is national security, and these emergency procedures reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting both.