Mining

China Files New YS/T Industry Standards for Gold Mining and Non‑Ferrous Metals

In May 2026, China’s national industry standards platform filed five new YS/T standards for the gold and non‑ferrous metals sector, covering gold ore analysis, wastewater recovery, digital simulation and intelligent fire‑assay test systems. These technical benchmarks will shape expectations for how gold mining projects and suppliers in China manage water recycling, process design and smart quality control, and may increasingly be referenced in contracts, approvals and internal standards programmes.

14 May 2026, 18:35hbba.sacinfo.org.cnChina

Thailand Pollution Control Department Detects Dangerous Arsenic Levels in Mekong River Sediments

In March 2026, Thailand’s Pollution Control Department detected arsenic concentrations far above national danger thresholds in sediment from the Mekong River mainstream and nearby tributaries in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. These findings, widely associated with upstream unregulated mining in Myanmar, highlight escalating cross-border heavy-metal pollution risks, probable pressure for stronger basin-wide monitoring, and the likelihood of future constraints on water use and fisheries even ahead of new binding rules.

12 May 2026, 15:19news.mongabay.comThailandMyanmar (Burma)

US House Committee Marks Up H.R. 689 (FREE Act) To Require Governmentwide Permitting-By-Rule With Automatic Approvals

In May 2025 a US House committee marked up H.R. 689 (the Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement (FREE) Act), which would require all federal agencies to adopt permitting-by-rule regimes with automatic permit approval if completed applications are not decided within 180 days. If enacted, this could significantly compress permitting timelines for infrastructure, mining, energy and other projects while shifting more responsibility onto applicants’ self-certifications and increasing scrutiny of how agencies manage environmental and other risk reviews.

12 May 2026, 12:49docs.house.govUnited States

China State Council Approves Draft Mineral Resources Law Implementation Regulation

China’s State Council has approved the draft Regulation for the Implementation of the Mineral Resources Law at its 9 May 2026 executive meeting, signalling imminent detailed rules on mineral resource governance. This points to stricter full-chain management, a formal strategic minerals catalogue, and stronger reserve and emergency requirements that could reshape licensing, investment, and supply security planning for mining and mineral-intensive industries.

11 May 2026, 12:07mofcom.gov.cnChina

Montana DEQ Opens Public Comment on Hard Rock Mining, CECRA Cleanup, and MPDES Small MS4 Rulemakings

In May 2026 Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality opened public consultation on proposed changes to hard rock mining fees, CECRA cleanup rules, and MPDES Small MS4 stormwater permitting, with public hearings and comment deadlines concentrated in early June. These changes could alter fee structures, cleanup standards, and stormwater obligations for mine operators, contaminated site responsible parties, and municipalities, so affected entities should review the drafts promptly and plan for potential cost and compliance impacts.

11 May 2026, 11:58deq.mt.govUnited States

Montana DEQ Proposes Hard Rock Mining Rule Amendments to Implement HB 69 (MAR 2026-853.1)

In May 2026, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality proposed amendments to its hard rock mining rules to implement 2025 legislation on exploration and permitting fees and to define reprocessing under the Metal Mine Reclamation Act. If adopted, these changes will adjust fee obligations and clarify when reprocessing of mine waste requires a full permit, so Montana mining operators should assess cost impacts and consider engaging in the June 2026 hearing and comment process.

10 May 2026, 19:25deq.mt.govUnited States

HSA And HSENI Launch All-Island Concrete Block-Making Safety Inspection Campaign

In May 2026, Irish and Northern Irish safety regulators launched a coordinated two-week inspection campaign targeting concrete block-making operations at high-risk quarries across the island. This signals intensified enforcement of machinery, vehicle and safe-systems-of-work controls in the sector, requiring operators to proactively manage HSE risks or face regulatory action.

10 May 2026, 18:47hsa.ieIrelandUnited Kingdom

Andalusian High Court Orders Junta to Deliver Withheld Study on Aznalcóllar Mine Discharges

In April 2026, the High Court of Justice of Andalusia ordered the regional government to deliver a withheld technical study and detailed heavy‑metal data linked to a controversial discharge permit for the Aznalcóllar mine into the Guadalquivir estuary. This judicial step heightens legal risk around the July 2024 authorisation and signals closer scrutiny of mine wastewater management and heavy‑metal contamination in a sensitive, multi‑use river basin.

9 May 2026, 14:11drive.google.comSpain

Ukraine State Environmental Inspectorate Identifies Environmental Violations At Negrebiv Dolomite Deposit In Zhytomyr Region

Ukraine’s State Environmental Inspectorate has completed an unscheduled inspection of LLC “Dolomine’s” Negrebiv dolomite quarry in Zhytomyr region and identified multiple breaches of environmental, water-use and land-use requirements. The resulting order to remedy violations and administrative proceedings against the director create site-specific compliance pressure and may require operational adjustments at the deposit, but do not yet alter underlying permits or wider regulatory rules.

9 May 2026, 13:38me.gov.uaUkraine

US EPA Lists Four Environmental Impact Statements for Public Comment and Review

In May 2026 the US Environmental Protection Agency published a weekly notice listing four Environmental Impact Statements with public comment or review deadlines in June 2026. These NEPA processes may influence approvals and mitigation measures for specific watershed, mining, naval sonar and shipping projects, signalling local environmental and community impacts but no immediate broad chemical compliance changes.

9 May 2026, 13:24public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

US MSHA Issues Paperwork Reduction Act Notice on Individual Identification Number Information Collection

In May 2026, the US Mine Safety and Health Administration published a Federal Register notice under the Paperwork Reduction Act for the information collection that supports its Qualification and Certification Program individual identification numbers. This indicates that MSHA is maintaining the administrative data collection underpinning how it tracks qualified and certified mine personnel, signalling ongoing paperwork and reporting expectations rather than new technical safety rules.

9 May 2026, 13:24federalregister.govUnited States

Nova Scotia Issues Industrial Approval for Antrim Gypsum Mine

Nova Scotia has issued a 10-year industrial approval under the provincial Environment Act for CertainTeed’s Antrim Gypsum Project, a low-carbon open-pit gypsum and anhydrite mine near Carrolls Corner, with operations expected to begin in 2027. The permit imposes stringent conditions on air, noise, surface and groundwater protection, monitoring and reclamation security of more than $11 million, signalling robust oversight of critical-mineral mining projects and tighter expectations for environmental-risk management in the province.

9 May 2026, 13:22news.novascotia.caCanada

Lower Saxony Ministries Publish Interdisciplinary Gypsum Report on Supply, Recycling, Conservation and Tourism

Lower Saxony’s environment and economy ministries have published an interdisciplinary report warning of a looming gypsum supply gap as coal-derived REA gypsum disappears while natural deposits in the South Harz face strong nature conservation and tourism constraints. The study signals that users of gypsum-based construction materials should expect more pressure to secure supply via recycling, substitution and possibly expanded domestic mining under tighter land-use and environmental trade-offs, and factor these risks into long-term sourcing and investment plans.

9 May 2026, 07:20mw.niedersachsen.deGermany

Brazilian Chamber Approves PL 2780/2024 Tax-Credit Programme for Critical and Strategic Minerals

In May 2026 Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies approved bill PL 2780/2024 to establish a national policy and BRL 5 billion tax-credit programme for domestic processing and recycling of critical and strategic minerals, sending the proposal on to the Federal Senate. If enacted, this framework will channel capital and localisation requirements into Brazilian critical-mineral value chains, influencing long-term sourcing, investment and project siting decisions for companies exposed to Brazil’s mining and advanced materials sectors.

9 May 2026, 07:10camara.leg.brBrazil

Alaska HB233 Proposes Mining Prohibition in Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve Watershed

Alaska’s 34th Legislature is considering House Bill 233, introduced in May 2025, which would prohibit certain mining activities within the watershed of the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve and remains pending in committee with additional cosponsors as of May 2026. If enacted, this targeted mining prohibition would constrain new or expanded mining projects in a highly sensitive fishery watershed, affecting mine developers’ site selection, permitting timelines, and long-term investment decisions linked to the region.

8 May 2026, 18:52akleg.govUnited States

US OSMRE Proposes Utah Coal Program Amendment on Environmental Litigation Bonds

OSMRE has released for public inspection a proposed amendment to Utah's coal regulatory program that would incorporate new state requirements obliging plaintiffs to post bonds when seeking injunctions or stays in environmental actions against coal permits. If approved, this change could reduce the risk of permit delays for Utah coal operators and shift litigation dynamics, so affected companies and stakeholders should assess exposure and consider responding within the Federal Register comment and hearing-request windows.

8 May 2026, 11:02public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

US MSHA Sends Revised Respirable Silica Rule to White House for OMB Review

In May 2026, the US Mine Safety and Health Administration sent a proposed revision of its respirable crystalline silica rule for miners to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review. This indicates that changes to silica exposure limits and respiratory protection requirements for coal and metal/non-metal mines are advancing again, so operators should anticipate renewed rulemaking and prepare to revisit monitoring, engineering controls, and dust-control programmes once a revised proposal is published.

8 May 2026, 07:00reginfo.govUnited States

Brazil (Goiás) Environmental Agency Cites Serra Verde Rare Earth Mine for Stream Pollution, Recommends Fines

Goiás state environment agency Semad, supported by a joint inspection with federal institute Ibama, has found Serra Verde’s commercial rare earth mine is degrading nearby streams and has issued multiple infraction notices recommending multimillion-real fines. This enforcement action exposes significant environmental and ESG risk in a strategically important rare earth supply hub, which may impact permitting certainty, remediation costs, and the attractiveness of long-term offtake and financing tied to Serra Verde.

8 May 2026, 06:49apublica.orgBrazil

Galicia Plans Tender for Critical Mineral Mining Rights With Mandatory Social Plans

Galicia has announced that in the coming weeks it will tender mining rights for key critical raw material deposits, including Corcoesto, San Finx and Santa Comba, with bidders required to submit ambitious, citizen-designed social plans. This signals an active regional strategy to secure EU critical minerals while tightening social licence expectations for mining projects, shaping future investment decisions, community relations and supply resilience.

8 May 2026, 06:44xunta.galSpain

Castilla y León Opens EIA Consultation for "Campo Redondo I" Silica Aggregate Mining Project

Castilla y León has launched a 30-working-day public consultation on the environmental impact assessment and restoration plan for the Campo Redondo I silica aggregate mining project in Dueñas (Palencia). The outcome will shape conditions for local extraction, waste management and land restoration, informing permitting decisions and future obligations for mining and construction supply chains in the region.

8 May 2026, 06:32bocyl.jcyl.esSpain