Role of Government in Mineral and Energy Resources Research

Adopted October 2008; revised April 2011, May 2016

Rationale

Economic prosperity and societal well-being require a safe and reliable supply of energy and mineral resources. Currently, global production of most non‐renewable energy and mineral resources (e.g., iron, copper, and coal) is at or near all‐time historic highs. Some geologic resources, such as non‐metals (i.e., crushed stone, sand, and gravel), are widespread, and supplies lie near areas of use. In contrast, most metals and energy resources are relatively rare, and deposits lie far away from consuming regions. The public role (governmental agencies, policy and planning bodies) in identifying and assessing energy and mineral resources is crucial in order to improve long‐term planning and avoid unforeseen resource shortages.

Non‐renewable resource/energy development and use increasingly have profound environmental and social implications. Increased efficiency and conservation, substitution of renewable resources, and recycling may help mitigate some impacts of the looming non‐renewable resource/energy shortages by reducing demand. 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 and will inevitably increase in the future.

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

Sound evaluation of potential costs, benefits, and consequences associated with the extraction and use of mineral and energy resources requires a holistic approach, considering all related factors. Government agencies possess the broad perspectives required to develop sound public policies. Knowledge of the impacts of fossil fuels and conventional nuclear power is widespread, but understanding the impacts of newer alternative energy sources is just beginning. For example,

• Production of some biofuels requires large quantities of fresh water and fossil fuels, may degrade water quality in agriculturally productive areas, may increase greenhouse gas emissions, and impacts global food prices;
• Existing hydrogen production technologies require significant energy and raw mineral resources that also increase greenhouse‐gas emissions; and
• Many solar/hybrid technologies require rare earth elements (REE), which currently have a global production bottleneck (about 95% currently come from China).

Development of adequate sources of alternative energy will take decades. Better understanding of the science of energy and mineral resources and impacts of their use can improve decisions addressing such issues as adequate supplies for a sustainable, resilient society; land‐use conflicts; and potential environmental consequences of extraction and consumption. The geologic knowledge required for effective decision‐making includes (1) the location and extent of present and possible future resources, (2) the geological processes that formed and concentrated them, (3) models to guide exploration for undiscovered resources, and (4) the technological needs and environmental effects of their extraction and use at local, regional, and global scales.

The application of the skills and knowledge of geologists is essential for informed discussions about wide-ranging issues related to energy and mineral resources. These issues include

• Resource exploration and production, environmental consequences, reclamation, and post‐production land‐use planning;
• Applied and fundamental research, resource assessment, and analysis of future supply and demand;
• Identification of alternative and renewable supplies;
• Regulatory compliance and waste disposal throughout the life cycles of energy and mineral products; and
• Management and stewardship of public and private lands.

Particularly, federal, tribal, state, and provincial governmental agencies need qualified geologists to fulfill their missions as stewards of the land and its natural resources. Beyond the need for trained specialists, earth-science education in secondary schools and higher education institutions is essential in order to develop a broad public appreciation of the relevant geologic issues and support for sound public policy.

Governments have well‐established roles and responsibilities regarding mineral and energy resources research. For example, in the United States, several federal agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Interior, and Labor, and the Environmental Protection Agency, have important programs. Government supports energy and mineral resource research and development as a public benefit; industry funds research associated with its business interests; and scientific funding agencies (e.g., U.S. National Science Foundation, National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología of Mexico) support development of new knowledge from basic research in academic institutions.

Recommendations

GSA recommends increased public investments and public‐private partnerships to improve our understanding of mineral and energy resources and to support programs for renewable energy resources, energy efficiency, and resource recycling.

• Sustained public investments are essential to evaluating: (1) energy and mineral deposit-forming processes; (2) exploration for new resources to replace depleted ones; (3) new resources to support evolving technology, such as nanotechnology and superconductivity; (4) advanced technologies to increase the efficiency of locating and extracting resources, including reducing costs, enhancing recovery, and developing energy‐environmental systems, and mitigating environmental impacts of resource use; (5) the environmental impacts of weathering of mineral deposits; and (6) global biogeochemical impacts of resource material extraction, use, recycling, disposal, and dispersal.
• Federal, tribal, state, and provincial governments should support mineral and energy resource assessments and related land management needs, physical sample preservation, and development of new knowledge about possible future resources. Geologists and decision makers should evaluate existing and prospective mineral and energy resources from a “systems perspective,” considering all economic, environmental, and social impacts of their development and use.
• Enhanced partnerships between government and industry can improve access to land and foster new technology developments. Private foundations and public funding agencies can also support research related to mineral and energy resources.
• Government-supported mineral- and energy‐resource research in academic institutions is essential, because this research has generated most new knowledge in the past few decades.
• Governments should provide funding and economic incentives to increase the use of renewable energy resources, improve energy efficiency, and increase resource recycling.

 Opportunities for GSA and GSA Members to Help Implement Recommendations

To facilitate implementation of the goals of this Position Statement, the Geological Society of America recommends that its members:

• Actively discuss with decision makers the role of government in mineral and energy resources research. 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.
• Participate in professional forums and town hall meetings and speak at gatherings, such as community service organizations, library lecture series, and at local nature centers on the range of issues associated mineral and energy resources. We should emphasize the critical use of geologic information regarding finite energy and mineral resources and the need for additional public investment to improve understanding of mineral and energy resources research, stewardship, and education.
• Participate in public education at the local level, in order to foster interaction among local, state, and federal governments; educational and research institutions; energy developers and industry; and the public. We should seek to better inform the public and to increase grassroots support for funding for geologic information about energy and mineral resource issues.

The Geological Society of America can

• Provide members with print, Web, and personnel resources to facilitate communication with decision makers regarding the role of government in mineral and energy resources. GSA’s Geology and Public Policy Committee, Geology and Society Division, and Director for Geoscience Policy in Washington, D.C., have considerable expertise for providing such assistance.
• Raise awareness of the role of geology and government in mineral and energy resources by publishing articles, conducting symposia, technical sessions, and workshops at annual and sectional meetings on these subjects.

GSA Position Statement

Position Statements adopted by GSA Council may be used freely in their entirety by members in public policy discussions on the scientific issues to which they pertain.

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