Women’s Mining Coalition Meets with Congressional Offices and Completes 27th Annual Washington D.C. Fly-In

The week of April 29, 2019, Women’s Mining Coalition (WMC) hosted the 27th annual Fly-In to facilitate connections with legislators, agencies and other professionals in Washington D.C., discussing current mining issues and policies. Participating women, including Kelsey Johnson, Iron Mining Association of Minnesota President, work in hardrock, coal and industrial minerals industries and for companies that provide goods and services to mining companies.

“It is so important that we participate in the legislative process,” said WMC President Sara Thorne. “This year we found legislators and their staff genuinely interested in the topics that WMC was putting forward.”

Over the course of the 3 ½ day event, Fly-In participants had 251 face-to-face meetings with Congressional Offices (183 House meetings and 68 Senate meetings). Participants also met with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (DOI/BLM). 2019 topics included U.S. reliance on critical minerals and the country’s overreliance on mineral imports; the importance of keeping public lands open to mineral exploration and development; the importance of a balanced, reliable, affordable source of energy and the need for continued development of mining in support of renewable energy technology.

Since its inception in 1993, WMC has made annual trips to Washington, D.C. to advocate for a robust U.S. mining industry and to discuss issues of importance to the domestic mining industry with members of Congress and Congressional staff.

WMC continues to bring insight to the importance of modern mining, to advocate for a strong and productive domestic mining industry and to showcase the professionalism of women who work in the mining industry. WMC’s mission is to deliver the message to our legislators that a strong mining industry is vitally important to our nation, our communities, our families and our livelihoods, and that today’s regulations and modern technologies ensure responsible stewardship of our lands. WMC facilitates and provides the opportunity for our grassroots members to band together for a stronger voice with their Congressional delegation and to network with other women working in the mining industry.

Represented Companies:

• Accord Resource Solutions, LLC
• American Coal Council
• Arch Coal Operations LLC
• Arclin Performance Products
• C & M Consultants
• Coeur Mining, Inc.
• Conner & Associates Nevada, LLC
• Duke Energy
• Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
• Geosyntec Consultants
• Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company
• Hecla Mining Company
• Industrial Minerals Association – North America
• Iron Mining Association
• Kestrel Resources LLC
• Kinross Round Mountain Gold
• Lighthouse Resources, Inc.
• Midas Gold
• Idaho Mining & Metallurgical Society of America
• Newmont Goldcorp
• Pershing Gold Corp.
• Remote Energy Solutions
• Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute
• SGS North America Inc.
• Struhsacker Environmental Permitting & Government Relations Consultant
• Teck Alaska Inc. Red Dog Mine
• Teck American Incorporated

Sponsors:

• AEMA
• American Coal Council
• Arclin Performance Products
• Ash Grove Cement
• Coeur Mining, Inc.
• Davis Graham & Stubbs
• Elko Mining Group LLC
• Freeport McMoRan Inc.
• HB Engineering
• Hecla Mining Company
• Holland and Hart
• Ioneer
• Jo Beth Allen
• Kappes Cassiday & Assoc.
• Midas Gold Idaho
• Mining and Metallurgical Society of America
• National Mining Association
• Nevada Landman’s Association
• Nevada Mining Association
• PolyMet Mining
• Revival Gold Corp.
• Squire Patton Boggs
• SRK Environmental Consulting
• Teck American Inc.
• Venable LLP
• Newmont Goldcorp
• Pershing Gold Corp