By Ernest Scheyder and Divya Rajagopal

(Reuters) – Former Newmont executive David Copley has been named to oversee the mining portfolio for the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council, two sources familiar with the appointment told Reuters.

In the new role, Copley will be the highest-ranking person in the federal government shaping mining policy, one of the sources said.

The White House referred questions to the U.S. Department of the Interior, which was not immediately available to comment. Copley was not immediately available to comment. Newmont declined to comment.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder and Divya Rajagopal; additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; editing by Veronica Brown and Chris Reese)