Pub 9 2021 Issue 1

President’s Message Brian Somers, Utah Mining Association, President “U nprecedented” is a word that got a real workout in 2020, but the COVID pandemic truly created unprecedented challenges to public health, the world economy, and, of course, the mining industry. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Utah Mining Association (UMA) has worked tirelessly to provide input and guidance to various government COVID response committees, advocate for critical infrastructure industry designations and exemp- tions, advocate for royalty and other financial relief, ensure public health, safety, and testing protocols were consistent and appropriate for heavy industry operations, and much, much more. The Utah Legislature was called into six special sessions in 2020 to respond to the pandemic, and UMA represented the industry at each one. UMA was also able to get two industry-specific COVID-19 relief bills passed during the special sessions of the Legislature: • A “regulatory certainty” bill that paused nearly all new rulemak- ings and fee increases from the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, the Division of Air Quality, and the Division of Water Quality until July 2021 in order to allow mine operators to focus on the recovery of their businesses • A bill which created a $5 million Oil, Gas, and Mining Grant Program to provide direct assistance to small operators and service companies in the extractive industries to offset Covid-related financial losses UMA also adapted its education and outreach programs in response to the pandemic. UMA hosted Mining Ambassador presentations via Zoom, recorded videos on mining and mineral education topics that teachers and students could access via UMA’s YouTube channel, and adjusted curricula, worksheets, and activity packets to be more easily downloadable and printable remotely. Advocating for sound public policies which support continued invest- ment in Utah’s mining industry is one of the primary responsibilities of the Utah Mining Association (UMA). During the recently completed 2021 general session of the Utah Legislature, UMA provided full-time representation for the mining industry, tracking and responding to every bill that might have had any potential impact on our member companies. This year’s session was a bit more challenging given COVID restrictions which limited in-person interactions at the State Capitol. However, during the 45-day legislative session, legislators still passed a $23.45 billion state budget, introduced and debated 774 bills, and ultimately passed 502 of them. I ended the session with 164 bills on my personal bill tracker, and 97 bills on UMA’s official member bill tracker. The UMA Legislative Committee took public positions on 41 of those bills. All 12 of the bills with a “high-profile support” position from UMA passed and have been signed into law. UMA worked vigorously to defeat bills with a “high-profile oppose” position, and seven of the eight of those bills were defeated. For bills with a “low-profile support position,” 14 passed and four did not, and all three of the bills with a “low-profile oppose” position were defeated. So, despite the obstacles COVID presented to normal lobbying activi- ties, UMA still had an exceptionally productive session. UMA also continues to increase its visibility amongst legislators and other stakeholders. This session, I was able to give formal presenta- tions on current issues relevant to the mining industry to the House Majority Caucus, Rural Caucus, Yellowcake Caucus, and various associations of local governments and chambers of commerce. Here are some of the important bills UMA supported during the session: Senate Concurrent Resolution 008 – Concurrent Resolution Supporting Utah’s Natural Resources and Energy Industries – Sen. David Hinkins, sponsor SCR008 recites the innumerable benefits which accrue to the state as a result of its highly developed natural resources and energy industries. It also puts the Legislature and Governor on record calling on the federal government to follow its obligations under the Mineral Leasing Act and Federal Land Policy and Management Act, to consult with the state on federal actions which could impact the state, and asserting Utah’s rights to economic and energy self-determination. Senate Bill 133 – Severance Tax Revenue Amendments – Sen. David Hinkins, sponsor SB133 will set aside a small percentage of the severance taxes that oil, gas, and mining companies pay into new restricted accounts that will be used to fund regulatory and other support activities for the oil, gas, and mining industries by the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, the Utah MINING 6