The Role of Government in Energy and Mineral Resources

Adopted October 2008

Rationale

Economic prosperity and societal well-being require a safe and reliable supply of energy and mineral resources. Concurrently, global production of most energy and mineral resources (e.g., iron, copper, and coal) is at or near all-time historic highs. Some geologic resources, such as crushed stone, sand, and gravel, are widely distributed and typically used near where they are extracted. In contrast, most metals and energy resources are relatively rare and are typically transported vast distances from their points of extraction. Better identification and assessment of energy and mineral resources are needed to support public decisions that improve long-term planning and avoid negative consequences of unforeseen resource shortages.

Development and use of non-renewable resources often have environmental and social impacts. Ultimately, increased efficiency and conservation, renewable resource substitution, and recycling may effectively mitigate some of these impacts by reducing demand for non-renewable resources. Nonetheless, with a growing population, accelerating industrialization, and improving standards of living in many parts of the world, global demand for most energy and mineral resources is at an all-time high.

Public Policy Aspects of the Role of Government in Energy and Mineral Resources

A systems perspective is required for evaluating the potential costs and benefits of energy and mineral resource production and use, and technically sound public policy should consider all possible consequences. While the impacts of fossil fuels and conventional nuclear power are widely recognized, evaluation of newer alternative energy sources is just beginning. For example, increased production of ethanol from corn requires substantial amounts of fresh water and fossil fuels and may degrade water quality in fertilized areas and increase greenhouse gas emissions relative to gasoline. Furthermore, some technologies for hydrogen production require significant energy and raw mineral resources that may lead to substantial greenhouse-gas production.

Enhanced scientific understanding of energy and mineral resources and related impacts can improve the basis for decision making to address societal needs, including land-use conflicts and potential environmental problems. The geoscientific knowledge required for decision making about energy and mineral resources includes (1) the location and extent of both present and future resources, (2) the geological processes that form and concentrate those resources, (3) exploration for undiscovered resources, and (4) an understanding of the environmental effects of resource development at local, regional, and global scales.

Geoscientists are leading experts regarding energy and mineral resources, needed in exploration, development, production, environmental protection, reclamation, post-production land-use planning, applied and fundamental research, resource assessment and analysis of future supply and demand, alternative and renewable supplies, regulatory compliance, waste disposal throughout the life cycles of energy and mineral products, and management and stewardship of public lands. However, the number of geoscience degrees granted over the last decade has declined such that there is now a shortage of professionals to meet certain needs. Particularly, federal, tribal, state, and provincial governmental agencies need qualified geoscientists to fulfill their missions as stewards of the land and its natural resources. Beyond the need for trained specialists, there is a need for earth-science education in secondary schools and institutions of higher education, which creates a broad public benefit.

Government has well-established roles and responsibilities regarding energy and mineral resources. For example, in the United States, a number of federal agencies, including the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Interior, and Labor, and the Environmental Protection Agency, have important energy and mineral resource programs. Government supports energy and mineral resource research and development as a public benefit, and industry funds research associated with business interests.

Recommendations

Increased public investments and public-private partnerships are required to improve the understanding of energy and mineral resources and to support programs for renewable energy resources, energy efficiency, and resource recycling.

• Sustained public investments are required for energy and mineral resource studies that evaluate (1) processes that form energy and mineral deposits; (2) processes involved in the weathering of mineral resources and the environmental impacts when they are exploited; (3) new resources needed to replace resources that become depleted or economically unfeasible; (4) new resources needed to support evolving technology, such as nanotechnology and superconductivity; (5) advanced technologies that may increase the efficiency of locating and extracting resources, including approaches for lowering costs, enhancing recovery of known deposits, and developing energy-environmental systems; (6) technologies to mitigate environmental impacts of resource use; and (7) use, recycling, disposal, dispersal, and impacts on global biogeochemical cycles (resource material flows).
• Federal, tribal, state, and provincial governments should support energy and mineral resource assessments and related land management needs, preservation of physical samples and data, and research regarding future potential resources. Scientists and decision makers should evaluate existing and new energy and mineral resources from a systems perspective, taking into consideration the economic, environmental, and social impacts of resource development and use.
• Energy and mineral resources science should be supported and taught at all educational levels. Curricula should include relevant and appropriate basic and advanced courses that explore the scientific and engineering aspects of resource identification and production. Courses that foster increased understanding of the interrelationship between resources, science, and society should be a part of all curricula.
• Partnerships between government and industry should be encouraged when appropriate, particularly in situations where industry provides access to land and where new technology needs to be developed. Private foundations can also support research related to energy and mineral resources.
• Governments should provide funding and economic incentives to increase the use of renewable energy resources, improve energy efficiency, and increase resource recycling.

About the Geological Society of America

The Geological Society of America (GSA), founded in 1888, is a scientific society with over 21,000 members from academia, government, and industry in more than 90 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education. Inquiries about GSA or this position statement should be directed to GSA’s Director for Geoscience Policy, Dr. Craig M. Schiffries, at +1-202-669-0466 or .

 Opportunities for GSA and Its Members to Help Implement Recommendations

To facilitate implementation of the goals of this Position Statement, the Geological Society of America recommends the following actions:

• We should seek opportunities to communicate effectively with decision makers the role of government in energy and mineral resources. To improve the technical basis for decision-making, geoscientists should clearly discuss (1) the abundance and distribution of energy and mineral resources; (2) potential long-term benefits and consequences—including environmental and related consequences—of resource development; and (3) the value of the geosciences in stewardship of public lands.
• We should participate in professional forums and town hall meetings on the role of government in energy and mineral resources. Our discussions should emphasize the critical use of geoscientific information regarding finite energy and mineral resources and the need for additional public investment to improve understanding of energy and mineral resources, stewardship, education, and research.
• We should participate in public education activities at the local level. Public education is needed to foster partnerships and collaboration among local, state, and federal governments; educational and research institutions; energy developers and industry; and the public. This approach can enable the public to be better-informed and to increase grass-roots advocacy for requesting funding for geoscientific information in support of energy and mineral resource issues.
• GSA can provide members with readily accessible print, Web, and personnel resources to that support communication with decision makers regarding the role of government in energy and mineral resources. Considerable expertise and resources are available to members through GSA’s Geology and Public Policy Committee, GSA’s Geology and Society Division, and GSA’s Director for Geoscience Policy in Washington, D.C.
• GSA can raise awareness of the role of government in energy and mineral resources by publishing articles on the role of geosciences in energy and mineral resources and by conducting symposia, technical sessions, and workshops at annual and sectional meetings.

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