"The ocean is the earth's greatest storehouse of minerals. . . . Our search for 

 mineral wealth often leads us back to the seas." — rachel l. carson 



Chapter IV 



ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT OF 

 NON-LIVING RESOURCES 



Ores, minerals, and fossil fuels are basic sources of the energy, construc- 

 tion materials, metals, chemicals, and fertilizers required by any advanced 

 industrial economy. The United States thus needs continuous access to an 

 adequate, dependable, and economic supply of raw materials to meet de- 

 mands of an expanding population with a rising standard of living. 



Federal policies on mineral resources are designed to contribute to eco- 

 nomic development and national security by assisting the Nation in: 



— developing adequate and dependable supplies of needed mineral raw 



materials; 

 — acquiring mineral supplies at lowest costs consistent with the satisfac- 

 tion of other national objectives ; 

 — emphasizing domestic supplies of mineral resources to assist in main- 

 taining a favorable balance of payments ; 

 — providing a climate for American industry to produce efficiently, 

 under competitive conditions, the minerals required for the do- 

 mestic economy and foreign trade ; 

 — conserving the Nation's mineral resources by using them wisely and 



efficiently; 

 — preserving the quality of the environment while obtaining needed 

 minerals. 

 By 1980, the U.S. consumption of non-fuel minerals is expected to double, 

 and that of petroleum products is expected to increase by about 50 percent 



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