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Natural resources panel approves two Earth MRI grant applications for mine‑waste mapping and Cornucopia geologic map
Summary
The committee approved the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries’ federal grant submissions to the USGS Earth Mapping Resource Initiative: a competitive $306,000 proposal to inventory and assess mine wastes and a non‑competitive $330,000 award to map the Cornucopia mining district; both require no state match.
The Natural Resources Subcommittee recommended approval Thursday of two Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DGMI) grant submissions to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Earth Mapping Resource Initiative (Earth MRI).
The first request was a competitive proposal for $306,000 to inventory and characterize mine wastes, including mapping in the Cornucopia Mining District in Baker County, mine waste assessment field studies in southwest Oregon and staff travel to the annual Earth MRI workshop. The department said the work could identify sources of rare earth elements in legacy mine waste and that awardees could begin projects before September 2025 with a maximum performance period of 24 months; no state match is required and applications were due May 14, 2025.
The second request was a non‑competitive Earth MRI award of $330,000 for geologic mapping in the Cornucopia mining district in northeast Oregon. DGMI said the non‑competitive mapping award carries no cost‑share requirement, work is expected to begin in November 2025 and the period of performance is three years.
Representatives on the panel noted the agency had maps available at the May 6 subcommittee meeting and described the maps as useful for identifying minerals beyond historically mined gold and silver, including strategic elements.
Action: The subcommittee recommended approval of both DGMI submissions to the USGS: $306,000 for the mine‑waste inventory and $330,000 for geologic mapping. The transcript records the motions as passing; no roll call or tally was provided.
Why it matters: Mine‑waste inventories and updated geologic maps can identify mineral resources — including potential rare earth elements — and inform remediation, land‑use and economic development planning.
