Business & Finance
U.S. Forest Service limits public comment period for proposed Wyoming rare-earth mine
Local residents and conservation groups raise concerns as federal officials expedite the permitting process for a Black Hills open-pit mining project.
The short version
- The U.S. Forest Service initiated a 30-day public comment period for Rare Element Resources' proposed Bull Hill open-pit rare-earth mine in Wyoming's Black Hills National Forest.
- The review is being expedited under the FAST-41 permitting framework pursuant to executive orders aimed at expanding domestic critical mineral production.
- Local residents and conservation advocates expressed concern over the compressed timeline, noting the Forest Service will skip issuing a draft environmental impact statement and formal objections process.
- Rare Element Resources stated that state, local, and federal agencies will have further input during subsequent environmental and permitting stages.
Key facts
- The U.S. Forest Service established a 30-day public comment period ending in late August for the proposed Bull Hill rare-earth element mine in northeast Wyoming.[Associated Press]
- The Bull Hill project is covered under the FAST-41 framework to expedite federal permitting to boost domestic critical mineral output.[Associated Press]
- The Forest Service's review plan omits a draft environmental impact statement and formal objections process.[Associated Press]
- Rare Element Resources projects the mine will support 110 permanent jobs and generate over $75 million in state taxes over a 17-year operational span.[Associated Press]
- Defense contractor General Atomics is a majority shareholder in Rare Element Resources and supplies refining technologies for the project.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unknown whether federal officials will grant local requests to extend the 30-day public comment period.[Associated Press]
- The full environmental and health impacts on local water resources, air quality, and national forest management standards have not yet been finalized.[Associated Press]