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Appropriations panel agrees to new staffing and drilling study funding for Department of Mineral Resources
Summary
The committee approved by consensus three FTEs recommended by the governor, conversion of an administrative slot to a geologist, and funding for a critical-minerals drilling follow-up and equipment after presentations from Department of Mineral Resources leaders.
The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division on Tuesday agreed by committee consensus to add staffing and selected project funding for the Department of Mineral Resources after department leaders outlined priorities for the next biennium.
The committee approved three full-time positions recommended by Governor Armstrong, authorized converting an existing administrative position to a geologist role and agreed to $400,000 in state funds for a follow-up critical-minerals drilling study. Committee members also approved a reduced $150,000 request for a planned paleontological excavation and accepted funding for a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) unit to speed mineral analysis.
Why it matters: committee members and Department of Mineral Resources officials said the items will let the state continue work begun in the last biennium identifying rare-earth and other critical-mineral concentrations and keep needed technical capacity in-house. Department staff argued modest state spending now…
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