EL CENTRO — The U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have released the 2025 Draft List of Critical Minerals, a move that reaffirms the importance of minerals to the nation's energy security, defense, and advanced manufacturing. This list, which guides federal investment and permitting, has significant implications for Imperial County's “Lithium Valley,” as detailed in a recent LinkedIn post by Imperial County Deputy CEO Bari Bean.

Key changes to the list

The draft list proposes several changes, adding six new minerals and removing two others. The newly added minerals include: copper, silver, silicon, potash, rhenium, and lead.

Meanwhile, the draft recommends the removal of arsenic and tellurium. Notably, lithium remains on the list, underscoring its cont

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