Idaho state will align its permitting process for Liberty Gold’s Black Pine project with the federal FAST-41 framework. This aims for a quicker review and less uncertainty for the major gold mining operation.
The Black Pine project joined the FAST-41 program in January. This federal initiative improves timeliness and transparency for major infrastructure projects. Idaho announced its new coordination framework in February, integrating state permitting into the federal dashboard. This makes Black Pine the first US precious metals mining project with both federal and state agencies aligned.
The project is located in southeastern Idaho, moving towards a modern open-pit mining operation. Liberty expects to publish a revised permitting schedule soon. A feasibility study for Black Pine is due in the second half of 2026.
A previous pre-feasibility study projected a 17-year gold operation. It estimated total production of 2.2 million ounces, with an initial capital cost of $327 million. Shares of Liberty Gold fell over 3% by noon ET. The company has a market capitalization of C$500.9 million ($365 million).