States findings of the Legislature and supports re-opening American Tungsten's IMA mining project.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 21
BY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
A JOINT MEMORIAL	1
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESEN-	2
TATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, THE CONGRESSIONAL	3
DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE OF IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED	4
STATES, AND THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF WAR.	5
We, your Memorialists, the House of Representatives and the Sen-	6
ate of the State of Idaho assembled in the Second Regular Session of the	7
Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:	8
WHEREAS, Idaho, the 43rd state in the Union, was named the Gem State be-	9
cause of its abundance of gemstones and minerals; and	10
WHEREAS, responsible resource development is of the utmost importance	11
for our state and country; and	12
WHEREAS, tungsten is a vital material for defense applications; with	13
unparalleled hardness and high-temperature resistance, it is indispensable	14
for armor-piercing ammunition, missile components, and aerospace manufac-	15
turing; and	16
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of War and the Defense Industrial Base Con-	17
sortium classify tungsten as a critical mineral; and	18
WHEREAS, currently, the United States remains heavily reliant on im-	19
porting critical minerals, primarily from China, which dominates over 80% of	20
the global supply; and	21
WHEREAS, China's recent ban on tungsten exports underscores the need to	22
establish a stable, U.S.-domiciled supply chain of tungsten to safeguard na-	23
tional security interests; and	24
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of War and the Defense Industrial Base Con-	25
sortium have issued a solicitation to provide grant moneys for the develop-	26
ment of a domestic supply of critical minerals, including tungsten; and	27
WHEREAS, mining activity for critical minerals, including tungsten,	28
has historically taken place at American Tungsten's IMA mine in Lemhi	29
County, near Patterson, Idaho; and	30
WHEREAS, a mining company, American Tungsten is seeking to bring IMA	31
mining operations back to life so as to unearth critical resources, includ-	32
ing tungsten, and increase our nation's crucially needed domestic supply of	33
critical mineral resources; and	34
WHEREAS, the IMA mine project is a high-quality underground tungsten	35
deposit located on private land with patented rights that is well above the	36
water table and has significant existing infrastructure given its historic	37
use; and	38
WHEREAS, as the IMA mine is on private property rather than federal	39
property, the mine will not require permits or other authorizations from the	40
federal government but rather permits and authorizations from state agen-	41
cies and local governments; and	42

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2
WHEREAS, once permitted, the IMA mine will be the only tungsten-produc-	1
ing mine in the United States; and	2
WHEREAS, modern rules and regulations require that companies like Amer-	3
ican Tungsten set aside adequate financial assurances to cover the cost	4
of environmental restoration, ensuring that reclamation is properly com-	5
pleted; and	6
WHEREAS, American Tungsten is committed to the highest reclamation	7
standards and to strictly following all applicable federal and state laws,	8
regulations, and rules; and	9
WHEREAS, American Tungsten is committed to being a good steward of the	10
environment and a dedicated member of the community where it operates; and	11
WHEREAS, as an example of American Tungsten's commitment to its commu-	12
nity, it will provide, through financing, the city of Challis a new fire sta-	13
tion to serve the community; and	14
WHEREAS, the American Tungsten company takes pride in providing	15
high-paying job opportunities for Idaho workers, building collaborative	16
relationships, and investing in the long-term resiliency of Idaho's rural	17
communities; and	18
WHEREAS, once permitted, the IMA mine project will significantly bene-	19
fit Idaho's economy, particularly in Lemhi and Custer counties, by using lo-	20
cal vendors, thereby increasing revenue for local businesses; and	21
WHEREAS, through high-paying jobs, tax revenues, donations, community	22
sponsorships, and other direct and indirect economic impacts, American	23
Tungsten's resources are essential to the nation's national security, to the	24
region's economic stability, and for keeping Idahoans working in Idaho.	25
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-	26
sion of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and	27
the Senate concurring therein, that the Legislature recognizes the profound	28
role mining has played in the settlement of Idaho, its contemporary role, and	29
the role it will play in our future.	30
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Idaho Legislature supports and encour-	31
ages state agencies and local governments to move forward and approve Amer-	32
ican Tungsten's IMA mine in a timely and cost-effective manner so that the	33
mine may be developed.	34
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the U.S. Department	35
of War and the Defense Industrial Base Consortium to award grant moneys to	36
American Tungsten for the development of the IMA mine project.	37
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Represen-	38
tatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of	39
this Memorial to the President of the United States, the President of the	40
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress, the con-	41
gressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in the Congress of the	42
United States, and the Secretary of the United States Department of War.	43

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