Natural Resources and Environment: Minerals Management at the
Department of the Interior Needs Coordination and Organization
EMD-81-53, Jun 5, 1981 Growing national awareness of the
strategic importance and uncertain sources of some minerals is
leading to development of a strategic minerals policy. In 1980,
Congress enacted the National Materials and Minerals Policy
Research and Development Act. The Act establishes the Executive
Office of the President as the focus of policymaking in this
area. Any national policy for assuring availability of such
strategic minerals as cobalt, tin, chromium, and platinum must
be formulated in light of the potential of federally controlled
resources and the ramifications of Federal land use decisions
for domestic supply of these commodities. There is a need to
improve access to Federal lands for mineral exploration and
development while continuing to protect social and esthetic
values. Improving access for mineral prospectors and mining
operations will best take the form of cl