Clarifying mining research at the Department of Energy

Section 40210 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 18743) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10) as paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11), respectively; (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: (3) Critical material The term critical material has the meaning given such term in section 7002(a)(2) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(2)).; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (12) Skilled technical workforce The term skilled technical workforce has the meaning given such term in section 4(b) of the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act (42 U.S.C. 1862p note; Public Law 115–402).; and (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: (b) Critical material mining research and development (1) In general In order to support supply chain resiliency, the Secretary shall issue awards, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities described in paragraph (2) to support research and development activities that will accelerate innovation to advance critical materials mining and associated extraction technologies and strategies for the purposes of— (A) making better use of domestic resources; (B) eliminating national reliance on critical materials that are subject to supply disruptions; and (C) promoting sustainability with critical materials mining. (2) Eligible entities Entities eligible to receive an award under paragraph (1) are the following: (A) Federally funded facilities, including National Laboratories, Manufacturing USA institutes, and other federally funded research and development centers. (B) Relevant State, local, or Tribal governmental entities with specialized resources to carry out paragraph (1). (C) Institutions of higher education. (D) Nonprofit organizations. (E) Consortia of entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D), including consortia that collaborate with private industry. (3) Use of funds Activities funded by an award under this section may include the following: (A) Advancing mining research and development activities to develop new mapping and mining technologies and techniques, including advanced critical material extraction and separation— (i) to improve existing, or to develop new, supply chains of critical materials; and (ii) to yield more efficient, economical, and environmentally benign mining practices, including through innovative technology and relevant mining equipment applications. (B) Conducting long-term earth observation of reclaimed mine sites, including the study of the evolution of microbial diversity at those sites. (C) Examining the application of artificial intelligence for geological exploration of critical materials, including what size and diversity of data sets would be required. (D) Examining the application of machine learning for detection and sorting of critical materials, including what size and diversity of data sets would be required. (E) Conducting detailed isotope studies of critical materials and the development of more refined geologic models. (F) Providing education, training, and relevant research opportunities to— (i) post-secondary students to expand the critical materials workforce, partially students in engineering and material science disciplines; and (ii) the skilled technical workforce. (4) Collaboration In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall collaborate with the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including facilities such as the National Laboratories, Manufacturing USA institutes, and other federally funded research and development centers, academia, industry, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, and international partners, as appropriate, to carry out the purposes described in paragraph (1). (5) Existing programs The Secretary shall ensure awards issued under this subsection are complementary and not duplicative of existing programs across the Department of Energy and the Federal Government..