American Exploration &Mining Association (formerly known as the Northwest Mining Association until 2013) is a 119 year-old, 2,300 member non-profit, non-partisan trade association based in Spokane, Washington. AEMA is a national association representing the hardrock mining industry with members residing in 43 U.S. states, 9 Canadian provinces or territories, and 6 other countries.
AEMA represents the entire mining life cycle, from exploration to reclamation and closure, and is the national voice for exploration, the junior mining sector and maintaining access to public lands. AEMA also serves in the role of the state mining association for Oregon and for Washington State. We work closely with the National Mining Association, state mining associations in the western U.S., as well as provincial and regional mining associations throughout Canada to advance our members’ interests.
AEMA is recognized as an innovative and proactive leader in addressing the needs of an increasingly global mining industry. Working in concert with other industry associations, AEMA has a proven track record in successfully influencing the outcome of political dialogue, building effective working strategies with key elected and agency officials, and developing and coordinating industry’ s response to legislative and regulatory issues. We also are a leader in building coalitions with other groups representing natural resource producers and people interested in the multiple-use of public lands, and in generating grassroots support.
We are governed by a thirty member Board of Trustees who serve staggered three-year terms. Nine Trustees are elected each year by the membership. The volunteer officers of the Association are selected annually by the Trustees. The day-to-day affairs of the Association are managed by a paid, professional staff headed by the Association’ s Executive Director.
