The United States Forest Service (USFS) has updated the permitting schedule for the Stibnite gold project, with a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and a draft record of decision (RoD) anticipated early next year.

The timeline comes as the USFS in January completed a 75-day public comment period on the supplemental draft environmental impact statement (SDEIS) for the project, in Idaho.

The SDEIS identified project owner Perpetua Resources’ modified mine plan as the preferred alternative and concluded that the plan provided a net increase in available fish habitat, reduced the volume and duration of long-term water treatment required, provided measurable improvements to existing water quality conditions, and improved stream temperatures across the majority of the abandoned mine site as compared to the earlier project design.

“We are pleased to have reached this critical juncture, which provides clarity on the path and timeline to a final EIS and draft RoD after a successful comment period on our improved project plan and the US Forest Service identifying our project as the preferred alternative," commented president and CEO Laurel Sayer.

Under NEPA, a "preferred alternative" is identified by a federal agency in a draft environmental impact statement to let the public know which action the agency is leaning toward selecting as final.

"Recognising the critical role of domestic antimony to national security, our eyes are firmly set on these key milestones and our readiness to develop the Stibnite gold project as a national strategic asset and opportunity to restore this abandoned site," added Sayer.

To finalise the FEIS and draft RoD by the end of 2023, the USFS is preparing responses to the letters received on the SDEIS and coordinating with state and federal agencies to conclude remaining environmental modelling and impact analysis.

Perpetua's work toward a final RoD in early 2024 is supported with funding received through the US Department of Defense (DoD) from a Defense Production Act Title III award of up to $24.8-million directed by the DoD to ensure the timely development of a domestic source of antimony trisulfide for the production of small arms, medium caliber cartridges and many other missile and munition items. Antimony from the Stibnite is the sole domestic geologic reserve of antimony that can meet DoD requirements.