Alaska policymakers believe it’s time to take a look at developing one of Alaska’s untapped resources – rare earth elements.

Rare earth minerals are used in almost every piece of electronic equipment one can think of: flat screen TVs, iPods, and cell phones. But with China controlling the market, Governor Sean Parnell and others believe it’s time for Alaska to look at its own potential role.

The governor spoke of rare earth elements during a keynote speech at the Alaska Strategic and Critical Minerals Summit on September 30 in Fairbanks. RDC President Tom Maloney as well as staff member Deantha Crockett participated in the Summit.

“This is another step toward securing our future,” Parnell said. “We want to stress that with the right investment and regulatory climate, Alaska has the potential to become a fresh and stable source of rare earth elements.”

Earlier this year, Parnell called for collaboration in funding a strategic assessment of rare earth elements so Alaska can learn how it can help meet America’s needs. “Advancing rare earth element exploration and production lessens our dependence on foreign supplies and helps diversify Alaska’s economy,” Parnell said.

This year the state funded a three-year, $500,000 land-assessment project to better understand where and in what quantities these resources exist in Alaska.

In addition to Parnell, the conference featured a lineup that included Senator Lisa Murkowski, a team of world-class geologists, industry executives, as well as Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan and Commerce Commissioner Susan Bell.

Of particular importance to Alaska’s role in Critical Minerals legislation, Jack Lifton, founding principal of Technology Metals Research, LLC noted that he has attended over 15 similar conferences, and Alaska had by far the largest and most diverse turnout.

Murkowski told conference attendees there is no question that a stable and affordable supply of minerals is critical to America’s now 100 percent dependent on foreign suppliers for 18 minerals, including rare earths, and more than 50 percent dependent on foreign sources for some 25 more. She said the nation is also headed in the wrong direction – becoming more dependent on foreign suppliers for mineral commodities.

This isn’t happening because the nation lacks mineral resources – it’s happening despite its tremendous mineral resource base, Murkowski said. It is the federal regulatory system that has slowed down exploration, permits, and ultimately the number of mines that can successfully operate in the United States, she noted.

Murkowski said the nation has seen renewed domestic interest in rare earth elements and Alaska alone has already identified some 70 sites with rare earth potential. But Murkowski warned that the trends in America’s foreign mineral dependence, and the crush of new regulations that threatens to set domestic mining back so significantly, it’s hard to argue that everything is fine.

Murkowski has been working on minerals legislation in the Senate. To revitalize the domestic, critical mineral supply chain, she has introduced the “Critical Minerals Policy Act” along with 19 bipartisan co-sponsors. The bill provides direction to help keep the U.S. competitive and will ensure that the federal government’s mineral policies – some of which have not been updated since the 1980s – are brought into the 21st century.

The legislation requires a list of minerals critical to the U.S. economy, outlines a comprehensive set of policies that will bolster the production of those critical minerals, expands manufacturing, and promotes recycling and alternatives – all while maintaining strong environmental standards.

RDC updated its Twitter and Facebook feeds, keeping its members abreast of progress made at the Summit. RDC can be followed on Twitter at: alaskardc and Facebook at: Resource Development Council.

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