While the US scores high in terms of its steady economic and political systems, lack of government corruption and currency stability, it has a low ranking for permitting delays, with the necessary government authorisations taking about seven to ten years to secure, says the American Exploration & Mining Association (AEMA). Therefore, the association is encouraged by the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) proposal to modernise its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations to increase efficiency in its environmental analysis while meeting the Act’s requirements and honouring its environmental stewardship responsibilities.
