US mining has low political risk but big delays in permitting

An annual survey of countries for political risk to mining investment places the US at 6th, behind Australia, Canada, Chile, Brazil and Mexic, according to the story on Mineweb.com.

However, the rankings by mining consultants Behre Dolbear also concluded that permitting delays to be "the most significant risk to mining projects in the United States. A few mining friendly states (Nevada, Utah, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Arizona) are an exception to this rule but are negatively impacted by federal rules that they are bound to enforce resulting in a 7- to 10-year waiting period before mine development can begin." [Right, mineral districts of Arizona. Credit, AZGS]