Vancouver-based Liberty Gold has reached a major permitting milestone for its Black Pine oxide gold project in Idaho, after US federal agencies deemed the project’s mine plan of operations (MPO) “administratively complete”.

The US Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) confirmed that the MPO meets federal content standards, allowing the project to move into the next stage of the permitting process, including review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The MPO outlines proposed mining, processing, environmental protections and reclamation plans based on the project’s 2024 preliminary feasibility study. It forms the foundation of a forthcoming environmental impact statement, to be prepared by US-based engineering and environmental consultancy Stantec, appointed as the independent third-party contractor.

The company said the MPO was prepared in close cooperation with federal and Idaho state agencies under an interagency memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year. Liberty Gold addressed extensive comments during the initial review process.

Next steps include publication of a notice of intent in the federal register, which will formally begin the NEPA review and launch public scoping meetings with agencies, Tribal Nations and local stakeholders. The EIS process is expected to span about 24 months and will evaluate impacts on water, air quality, wildlife, vegetation, cultural resources and reclamation, as well as potential alternatives and mitigation measures.

Liberty Gold is advancing state-level permits in parallel, including water rights, air quality, reclamation and cyanidation permits, aligned with Idaho’s SPEED Act to streamline permitting processes.

CEO Jon Gilligan said the completeness determination was “a major permitting achievement” for the project and the state. “This milestone brings us one step closer to a construction decision as we continue to demonstrate that Black Pine is one of the most significant oxide gold development opportunities in the Great Basin,” he said.