Competitiveness of the U.S. Minerals and Metals Industry (1990) / Chapter Skim
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5. Federal Role in Technology and Competitiveness
5. Federal Role in Technology and Competitiveness
Pages 100-122
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From page 100... ...
In general, the short time horizon (often much less than 10 years) of corporate managers in publicly traded companies may limit their commitment to long-term R&D.
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From page 101... ...
The committee believes that there is a legitimate federal role here, as well, and that the same type of government intervention and support being applied in high technology and manufacturing is also warranted to improve the competitiveness of the minerals and metals industry.
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From page 102... ...
Because the numerous national policies affecting the minerals and metals industry are not administered by a single agency, there has been no consistent policy governing minerals R&D or supply issues and no effective coordination of many federal activities that affect the industry. The development of a national minerals and materials policy has been a recurring issue for almost 40 years.
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From page 103... ...
Since the Paley Commission, there has been a general consensus that a standing governmental body, capable of cutting across agency boundaries and responsibilities, is needed to coordinate and guide research, regulation, management, and other activities related to the production, use, recovery, and disposal of minerals and materials. With a few brief exceptions, however, efforts to bring minerals and materials policy under one agency have been ignored or opposed by the Executive Branch.
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From page 104... ...
TABLE 5-2 Major Provisions of the State Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute Program Act of 1984 Sec. 1221: Authorization of state allotments to institutes Sets forth the amount, type, and purpose of grants to states for the establishment of Mineral Institutes.
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From page 105... ...
· A provision that the committee be chaired jointly by the appropriate Assistant Secretary of the Interior and one other committee member. A requirement that the committee develop a "national plan for research" in mining and mineral resources and develop and recommend a program to implement the plan, updating the plan annually.
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From page 106... ...
Three broad categories of mineral policy objectives have been established: · promoting the economic growth and development of the Canadian nonfuel minerals sector by encouraging both the rapid development of mineral resources and the development of mineral processing to increase Canada's share of value-added products; · developing a minerals policy that would encourage sovereignty and unity (greater Canadian ownership and control and greater contribution of minerals to regional and national development)
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From page 107... ...
The policies of industrialized nations generally relate to extracting lower-grade mineral resources efficiently while protecting the environment. Policy mechanisms most frequently employed include laws encouraging prospecting by the private sector, government surveying for deposits, incentives for investment in development of new sites and in mining equipment, environmental protection, and financing of R&D (either directly or through various forms of subsidy and tax relief)
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From page 108... ...
TABLE 5-3 Major Technological Contributions by the Bureau of Mines 1948: Major early contributions to uranium processing First commercial production of titanium 1951: First commercial production of zirconium (used in reactors of nuclear submarines) 1954: Development of the solvent extraction and electrowinning processes 1 950s: Mine roof bolting 1961: Development of the ion exchange system for metals recovery 1963: Flotation treatment of iron ores by selective flocculation 1969: Heap leaching techniques for low-grade gold ores 1974: Economical recovery of iron ore from nonmagnetic taconite 1970s: Vacuum melting and casting process for "space age" metals More complete extraction technologies in underground coal Coal mine illumination Methane drainage Self-contained self-rescuers 1 980s: Respirable dust control
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From page 109... ...
This situation apparently results in a lack of strong support for the Bureau in executive branch decisions and congressional hearings. The changing status of the Bureau within the federal government is reflected by its budget over the past decade (see Figure 5-11.
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From page 110... ...
Bureau researchers note a trend toward more frequent publication of their research results in journals with wide public distribution. Given its legislative mandate, history, and technical capability, the Bureau of Mines is the only source of technological assistance from the federal government by which the U.S.
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From page 111... ...
One of the most effective ways around this dilemma is joint or collaborative research between the Bureau and an individual company or group of companies, a topic that is discussed below. TABLE 5-4 Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Research Center Technology Transfer Activities Content Medium Discriminating backup alarms Ground vibration/blasting guidelines Mine subsidence prediction In situ technology Diesel emission controls Fire protection systems Blasting safety/effectiveness Abrasive water jet technology Enhanced drilling Film Information circular Workshop Dem on strati on Cooperative agreement Insurance premiums Technology transfer seminar License Outside publication SOURCE: Twin Cities Research Center, briefing to the committee.
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From page 112... ...
There are currently about 200 projects under the Industrial Research Associates program, each established under a memorandum of understanding. Beyond these programs, the influence of NIST traditionally extends to many technical standards committees organized under various technical and professional societies.
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From page 113... ...
Expert Advice to the Bureau of Mines The Bureau of Mines interacts with other organizations as necessary to carry out its assigned functions and projects, but it has found it difficult to promote substantive debate about the future of mining and minerals policy. The only public body with a potential advisory role is the Committee on Mining and Mineral Resources Research, but to date it has not used the authority of its legislative mandate to fulfill this role.
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From page 114... ...
, the NSF, at least two university representatives, at least two representatives of the mining industry, one working miner, and one representative of the conservation community. Public representation has been even further restricted in practice by the appointment of former government officials to the committee: two former directors of the BOM currently sit on the committee, one representing industry and the other academe.
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From page 115... ...
Mining thus seems to be an excellent candidate for cooperative R&D ventures like the following: · The American Mining Congress (AMC) has recently taken a lead role in addressing the technology needs of the mining and metals extraction industries.
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From page 116... ...
, the Copper Development Association, the Metal Powder Industries Federation, and the International Tin Research Association (in Great Britain)
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From page 117... ...
The German Fraunhofer Gesellschaft represents a successful model for government-industry collaboration: the states as well as the federal government provide funding; these federally chartered research organizations are disbanded as their usefulness declines. The decline of industry research laboratories, described in Chapter 4, makes it more difficult for the U.S.
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From page 118... ...
It would probably be beneficial for the BOM laboratories to communicate closely with the DOE laboratories on problems of mutual interest, both for the sake of the research and for the opportunity to observe new ways of working with industry. Developing Consensus Within the Minerals and Metals Policy Community The mining and metals industry has no constituency sufficiently well organized to press effectively for its own interests and those of the nation.
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From page 119... ...
Without a broadly based consensus about the importance of a national mining and minerals policy, support for mining and minerals R&D will remain fragmented and ineffective. A successful model for consensus building in mining and minerals policy is the ongoing series of materials policy conferences sponsored by the Federation of Materials Societies held in Henniker, New Hampshire, and more recently in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
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From page 120... ...
Two problems appear to be central: a lack of planning and a lack of coordination among various groups. The development of a national plan for mining and minerals R&D is one of the legislated responsibilities of the Committee on Mining and Mineral Resources Research.
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From page 121... ...
Cutbacks in long-term industry R&D have left industry needs for technology ill defined. If BOM, or state agencies and academic institutions for that matter, is to contribute to the technology base for the future domestic mining industry, there must be effective collaboration on the identification of research needs.
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From page 122... ...
122 COMPETITIVENESS OF THE U.S. MINERALS AND METES INDUSTRY however, it will have to develop its own clearinghouse of comprehensive and accessible information as described above.
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