DEER LODGE, Mont.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Falcon Copper Corp. (“Falcon Copper” or the “Company”) welcomes the agreement announced on October 28 by Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (“Permitting Council”) to coordinate state and federal permitting reviews under the FAST-41 framework. Montana is the 11th state to enter into such an agreement.
Under the agreement, Montana and the Permitting Council will coordinate state and federal reviews for participating projects with the aim of completing them at the same time. State permitting actions will be tracked alongside federal actions on the Federal Permitting Dashboard, so Montanans can see review milestones, target dates and progress. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) will continue to review and decide Falcon Copper's applications under Montana law. FAST-41 does not change applicable environmental requirements or public participation procedures.
“Montana has strong water, reclamation and public participation laws, and Falcon Copper's work must meet those requirements,” said Ryan Moss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Copper. “This agreement changes none of that. What it adds is better coordination and transparency, so Montanans can see where each review stands and track progress. We support it because permitting should be thorough, predictable and open to the public.”
The proposed expansion of Falcon Copper’s Blue Copper exploration project near Avon, in Powell and Lewis and Clark Counties, is under review by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and Montana DEQ. Blue Copper is already listed on the Federal Permitting Dashboard as a FAST-41 Transparency Project. The expanded program remains subject to all required state and federal reviews and approvals. Closer coordination is intended to improve predictability and reduce avoidable delays while preserving each agency’s decision-making authority.
Falcon Copper's Montana team has worked in the Avon area since 2022. Over the past four years, the team has met one-on-one with neighboring ranch families, walked neighbors and county officials through active and reclaimed drill sites, and hosted the Powell County Commission at the project in July. Falcon Copper's commitments in Montana reflect its approach wherever it works: protect water, land, and wildlife; plan reclamation before drilling begins; and talk early and openly with the people closest to the work.
“My family and I live here, and our neighbors know where to find us,” said Travis Naugle, Founder and Executive Chairman of Falcon Copper. “We will keep showing up in person, answering questions directly and listening to the people who live closest to this work. That is how we intend to work in Montana, and anyone in Powell County can hold us to it.”
Falcon Copper will continue to work with state and federal agencies as their reviews proceed.
About Falcon Copper
Falcon Copper Corp. is a privately-owned American company working to expand and strengthen the U.S. copper supply chain, from exploration through smelting and refining. Falcon Copper has eight active copper exploration projects in Montana, Alaska, Nevada and Arizona. Learn more at falconcopper.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the implementation and expected benefits of Montana’s permitting agreement, the timing and coordination of state and federal reviews, future exploration, planned reclamation and community engagement, and the Company’s plans to strengthen the U.S. copper supply chain. These statements reflect current expectations and assumptions regarding agency coordination, regulatory requirements, exploration results and the availability of funding and other resources. Actual results could differ materially because of risks and uncertainties, including the scope and implementation of permitting coordination; agency decisions, staffing and schedules; changes in laws, regulations or government policy; requirements for additional environmental studies or consultation; administrative or judicial challenges; exploration results and environmental or technical conditions; land access; and the availability of financing, personnel and contractors. Permitting schedules may change, and required approvals may be delayed, subject to conditions or denied. Participation in FAST-41 does not constitute project approval or guarantee a particular permitting timetable or outcome. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date of this release. Readers should not place undue reliance on them. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.
