The Department of the Interior (DOI) recently announced and posted the draft list for Critical Minerals to the Federal Register and opened comments for the next 30 days. Given the significance of some of the listed materials on the draft list to the energy services sector, such as barite, members are encouraged to review the draft list.
According to DOI, the 2025 draft list includes 54 mineral commodities, of which 50 were included based on the results of the economic effects assessment, zirconium was included because of the potential for a single point of failure within the domestic supply chain and three were retained based on a qualitative evaluation.
Potash, silicon, copper, silver, rhenium and lead were recommended for inclusion to the list and arsenic and tellurium were recommended for removal.
The DOI announcement can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/news/science-snippet/department-interior-releases-draft-2025-list-critical-minerals
Public comments are specifically welcomed on the inclusion of metallurgical coal and uranium; whether other minerals should be added; and moving to an annual update for USGS technical input to the List of Critical Minerals and are due on September 25, 2025.
Comments can be submitted here: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/USGS-2025-0039-0001
If you have any questions about the list or the comments process, please contact VP Energy Policy Maria Suarez-Simmons.
Maria Suarez-Simmons, VP Energy Policy, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
