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Record-high copper prices have some observers blaming President Donald Trump’s introduction of tariffs. However, pointing the finger at Trump misses the underlying issue: we need to increase our supplies and access to critical materials like copper for 21st-century infrastructure. This depends on four simple letters: N-E-P-A.
“NEPA” stands for the National Environmental Policy Act, which has constrained mining and refining facilities development for decades. The law—or more accurately, courts’ and radical leftists’ interpretations—has resulted in endless delays and red tape for important infrastructure projects.
In Alaska, the Ambler Mining District holds deposits of high-grade copper totaling 9.3 billion pounds, along with other critical minerals. However, after a years-long NEPA review, the Biden administration rejected permits for a road needed to access this district. This action blocked development of Alaska’s natural resources despite federal law requiring such access.
NEPA not only hampers energy exploration but also slows approvals for refineries and infrastructure projects like bridges, railroads, and highways. Meanwhile, adversaries like China have been building projects that boost their economy, while radical leftists use NEPA to stall our infrastructure.
Fortunately, two factors may help end this regulatory overkill. First, the Supreme Court’s recent unanimous decision ruled that courts should not “micromanage” agencies’ environmental impact statements and instead give them substantial deference. Courts should not consider upstream or downstream impacts when evaluating a specific project’s impact.
Second, President Trump wants to boost growth through executive orders, including an immediate order to unlock Alaska’s resource potential. The new National Energy Dominance Council will coordinate these efforts, and the Supreme Court’s ruling can reduce unnecessary permitting bureaucracy.
President Trump aimed to build a dominant copper industry with tariffs. With development taking an average of 29 years—second-longest in the world—it will take reforming permitting processes and cutting through red tape to succeed. Here’s hoping that President Trump’s actions and the Supreme Court ruling will help make it happen.
Mike Dunleavy is the governor of Alaska.
The views expressed are the writer’s own.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
What does NEPA stand for in the context of the passage?
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