Pub. 7 2017 Issue 1

7 MINING FOCUS Mark Compton, President PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Maybe more importantly, there appears to be a lack of understanding of how the materials mined in Utah are utilized, and how they affect every one of us personally and make our lives better. I t is the Utah Mining Association’s mission to advance the mineral resource and related industries in Utah. As the voice of the mining industry, we accomplish this mission in various ways. We advocate for the mining industry by representing and informing our member s in the legislative and regulatory arenas at the local, state and federal levels. We provide networking and business development oppor tunities. Our members learn from one another and build their businesses through informative and f un net wor k ing opportunities such as our Annual Convention & Tradeshow (now in its 102nd year), the annual Mining & Manufacturing Safety Conference, issues-oriented standing committees, golfing events, and more. Those are important functions of the association and they provide benefits to the membership. But there is one aspect of our mission that I believe pays the most dividends to the industry generally, our members specifically, and to the population as a whole. And that is public education. There is a tremendous need to further the understanding of how the mining industr y and its products impact everyone’s lives. Most people simply don’t consider from where the items come that make our lifestyle possible. We take for granted that the things we need and want will always be there. But the bottom line is, without mining to provide the foundational minerals and metals for the things we use every day, our society and quality of life would be much different. There seems to be a general lack of understanding of the diversity of the mining industry in Utah. The industry in this state is far greater than copper and coal. Maybe more importantly, there appears to be a lack of understanding of how the materials mined in Utah are utilized, and how they affect every one of us personally and make our lives better. Today, community acceptance and support for mining is a critical aspect of a successful project. When people can make the connection between a mining operation and their daily lifestyle and standard of living, and the public is informed regarding the safe and environmentally responsible manner in which the modern mining industry operates, the “not in my back yard” sentiment diminishes. By telling our stor y and providing the facts, I believe the public will be overwhelmingly supportive of mining in Utah. With that critical support, the mining industry will continue its role as the foundation of the Utah economy, and will continue to make our modern way of life possible. Remember, if it isn’t grown, it has to be mined! X