SANDPOINT — Opponents of mining projects in northwestern Montana are warning that Congress is looking to pass a defense bill which contains a rider allowing mining companies to bypass environmental and public reviews.

The National Defense Authorization Act contains a “strategic and critical minerals” policy which would effectively do away with the National Environmental Policy Act for all new hardrock mining projects on public lands, according to Earthworks. The NEPA waiver would shift the environmental review and regulatory processes to state agencies under strict deadlines of 30 months. It also allows roads to be built through roadless areas in national forests for mining activities.

“This amendment would allow environmental reviews to be largely circumvented, and would silence your input on proposed projects on public lands, including the Rock Creek mine,” The Rock Creek Alliance said in a statement issued on Thursday.

The group is calling on residents to contact their federal representatives and voice opposition to the mining legislation.

The rider defines nearly any mineral extracted from the ground as “critical” and necessary for national defense, security or infrastructure development.

However, Earthworks points out that the U.S. Department of Defense already maintains a stockpile of critical minerals and the U.S. Department of Energy hosts a critical minerals lab.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.