US HB4781

Amends the FAST Act to expand the definition of "critical project" to include extraction, recovery, or processing of minerals, rare earth elements, and carbon materials from coal-related sources

Enables streamlined federal permitting for projects that extract valuable materials from acid mine drainage, mine tailings, coal waste, coal processing waste, and pre- or post-combustion coal byproducts

Covers minerals locatable under the Mining Law of 1872, including those on federally acquired lands

Includes rare earth elements and microfine carbon or carbon from coal as qualifying materials for expedited permitting

Introduced July 29, 2025 with bipartisan sponsorship (Rep. Barr and Rep. Peters) and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources