PRINTER'S NO. 1451
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
229
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY DUSH, YUDICHAK, FLYNN, ARGALL, PHILLIPS-HILL,
MARTIN, HUTCHINSON, GORDNER, PITTMAN AND STEFANO,
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study of the economic, environmental and health impacts
relating to development of the critical mineral industry in
this Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, Critical minerals and rare earth elements are vital
to the economy and the technological development of society; and
WHEREAS, China and other foreign entities dominate the global
market on critical minerals; and
WHEREAS, These foreign actors produce the minerals in
unregulated and unsafe manners that can lead to long-lasting
harm to the environment, and may pose a threat to national
security and the global supply chain; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has an abundance of critical
minerals from waste material from coal mining; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State University has been
researching and developing cutting-edge processes to extract
critical minerals and rare earth elements from coal waste and
other material to extract these elements; therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government
Commission to conduct a study examining critical mineral and
rare earth elements extraction, particularly from coal waste and
other waste materials, including:
(1) the estimated availability of critical minerals and
rare earth elements in this Commonwealth;
(2) the technology and infrastructure necessary to
extract critical minerals and rare earth elements; and
(3) the estimated economic value of the critical
minerals and rare earth elements;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report
on potential environmental and health impacts that may arise
from the development of the critical mineral industry in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission examine
the activities of other states relating to critical mineral and
rare earth elements extraction, particularly from coal waste and
other waste materials; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission provide
recommendations on how the Commonwealth might address the
development of the critical mineral industry in Pennsylvania;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission submit a
report within one year of the adoption of this resolution.
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