More than 15,000 positive comments received on
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement over 75-day
comment period.
Conclusion of the comment period marks a major
milestone in the permitting process.
BOISE,
Idaho, Jan. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Perpetua
Resources Corp. (Nasdaq: PPTA) (TSX: PPTA) ("Perpetua Resources" or
"Perpetua" or the "Company") announced today the 75-day comment
period on the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement
("SDEIS") for the Stibnite Gold Project ("Project") concluded with
more than 15,000 letters submitted in support of the Project. This
marks a major milestone in the permitting process and moves the
Company one step closer to a Final Environmental Impact Statement
("FEIS") and Record of Decision on the Project.
"The Stibnite Gold Project can secure the only domestic antimony
reserve to protect our national security and support America's
clean energy transition, restore an abandoned mine site and provide
hundreds of well-paying jobs to Idahoans. Today, we are proud to
say we are one step closer to making all these benefits a reality,"
said Laurel Sayer, President and CEO
of Perpetua Resources. "The momentum and support behind our project
grows stronger every day. We are grateful to the thousands of
people who took the time to participate in this comment period.
Letters came in from the Idahoans who live closest to the site, our
vendors, recreational groups, lawmakers, veterans and more. While
the reasons you support our project are unique, collectively you
delivered one clear message. It is time to move the Stibnite Gold
Project forward."
When the comment period closed on January
10, 2023, there were over 18,000 comments in the United States Forest Service ("USFS")
public letter portal, the majority of those were in support of the
project. The high level of participation in the comment period
shows the interest in Perpetua Resources' improved Modified Mine
Plan, which the USFS identified as the Preferred Alternative
because of its improved water quality, reduction in water
temperature and ability to mitigate transportation impacts by
utilizing the Burntlog access route to site.
All of the comments submitted can be read in the USFS public
reading room, found here:
https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//ReadingRoom?Project=50516. Below
are a handful of letters, showcasing the Project's widespread
support:
Willie Sullivan, Yellow Pine resident: "I have been
closely following Perpetua Resources' plans since they first came
into our state, in large part because some of the proposed project
will take place on public land and I am a resident of Yellow Pine, Idaho which is the closest
community to the Stibnite Mine… It was our group that came up with
the proposed Burntlog route that we feel would serve the mine,
Village, and the environment best. Our process led to a larger
advisory group which continues to function. I find Perpetua to be a
company that honors its commitments and truly hopes to do the right
thing for those effected by their project."
Terry Williams, President T
& J Enterprises: "Perpetua's plan to restore the
Stibnite site while creating hundreds of jobs for local communities
should be approved immediately. As a small business in a small
rural community, much like those in Valley County, Idaho, we understand the
challenges facing working families these days…The Stibnite Gold
Project would bring hundreds of these high-paying jobs to the area
and help hard working men and women support their families, buy
houses, and save for the future."
Robert Workman, Cougar
Mountain Snowmobile Club: "It is our sense that the
Modified Mine Plan - is the best path forward for Idaho. The area surrounding the historical
Stibnite mining district is a major draw for snowmobilers from
across Idaho. As such, one of our
top priorities-along with restoration of the site-is to ensure that
access for all recreational groups and individuals continues
throughout this project. Thanks to Perpetua's commitment to
transparency and willingness to work with the community, we are
confident that those priorities will be met."
Cecilia Tyler, Retired U.S.
Army Colonel: "I could write volumes about why you should
approve their application but I want to focus on one aspect –
antimony. The Federal Government has identified antimony as a
strategic mineral. Antimony is not mined anywhere in
the United States but will be if
Perpetua's application is approved. Antimony is needed for
Information Technology products, weapons systems, medical uses, a
component of mobile phones, and countless other uses.
Antimony is critical to our national security."
The USFS will now review the comments and finalize a schedule
for the remainder of the NEPA process. The Company continues to
anticipate a FEIS and draft Record of Decision in mid-2023 based on
the last schedule published by the USFS.
Website: www.perpetuaresources.com
About Perpetua Resources and the
Stibnite Gold Project
Perpetua Resources Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries,
is focused on the exploration, site restoration and redevelopment
of gold-antimony-silver deposits in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine
district of central Idaho that are
encompassed by the Stibnite Gold Project. The Project is one
of the highest-grade, open pit gold deposits in the United States and is designed to apply a
modern, responsible mining approach to restore an abandoned mine
site and produce both gold and the only mined source of antimony in
the United States. Further
advancing Perpetua Resources' ESG and sustainable mining goals, the
Project will be powered by the lowest carbon emissions grid in the
nation and a portion of the antimony produced from the Project will
be supplied to Ambri, a US-based company commercializing a low-cost
liquid metal battery essential for the low-carbon energy
transition. In addition to the company's commitments to
transparency, accountability, environmental stewardship, safety and
community engagement, Perpetua Resources adopted formal ESG
commitments which can be found here.
Forward-Looking Information and
Cautionary Note
Investors should be aware that the publication of the SDEIS
and the identification by the USFS of the Modified Mine Plan as the
Preferred Alternative does not indicate any commitments on the part
of the USFS with regard to a final decision. In developing the
Final Environmental Impact Statement ("FEIS"), the next phase of
the NEPA planning process, the USFS may select various actions
based on the Modified Mine Plan or each of the alternatives
analyzed in the SDEIS. Statements contained in this
news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking
information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively,
"Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking
Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding
possible events, next steps and courses of action including actions
to be taken by the USFS, the State of
Idaho and other government agencies and regulatory bodies;
plans with respect to the issuance of an FEIS; the consideration of
difference access routes; the anticipated timing for release of the
FEIS, draft ROD and final ROD; predictions regarding improvements
to water quality and other environmental conditions at the site;
reduction of the Project footprint and the anticipated benefits and
other effects thereof; our and Ambri, Inc.'s ability to perform
under the supply agreement, which agreement is subject to certain
conditions, including identification of one or more refiners to
transform our antimony concentrate into antimony metal, and mutual
agreement on certain material terms, including volume and pricing.
In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by
the use of words and phrases or variations of such words and
phrases or statements such as "anticipate", "expect" "plan",
"likely", "believe", "intend", "forecast", "project", "estimate",
"potential", "could", "may", "will", "would" or "should". In
preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release,
Perpetua Resources has applied several material assumptions,
including, but not limited to, assumptions that the current
exploration, development, environmental and other objectives
concerning the Stibnite Gold Project can be achieved and that its
other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that general
business and economic conditions will not change in a materially
adverse manner and that permitting and operations costs will not
materially increase; that the review process under the NEPA
(including any joint review process involving the USFS, the
State of Idaho and other agencies
and regulatory bodies) as well as the FEIS will proceed in a timely
manner and as expected; and that all requisite information will be
available in a timely manner. Forward-Looking Information involves
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Perpetua
Resources to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include,
among others, changes in laws and regulations and changes in the
application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations
which may result in unforeseen results in the permitting process;
uncertainty surrounding input to be received from regulators and
community stakeholders; risks related to dependence on key
personnel; risks related to unforeseen delays in the review process
including availability of personnel from the USFS, State of Idaho and other stated, federal and
local agencies and regulatory bodies (including, but not limited
to, future US government shutdowns); risks related to opposition to
the Project; risks related to increased or unexpected costs in
operations or the permitting process; risks that estimates used in
budgeting and financial statements may prove to be incorrect; risks
related to the outcome of litigation and potential for delay of the
Project, as well as those factors discussed in Perpetua Resources'
public disclosure record. Although Perpetua Resources has attempted
to identify important factors that could affect Perpetua Resources
and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ
materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information,
there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results
not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no
assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking
Information. For further information on these and other risks and
uncertainties that may affect the Company's business, see the "Risk
Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's
filings with the SEC, are available at www.sec.gov and with the
Canadian securities regulators, which are available at
www.sedar.com. Except as required by law, Perpetua Resources does
not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to
Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to
reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect
the occurrence of unanticipated events.
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-forest-service-comment-period-closes-for-proposed-stibnite-gold-project-with-strong-public-support-301719563.html
SOURCE Perpetua Resources Corp.