Latest news with #EnvironmentalImpactStatement
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Cerrado Gold's Lagoa Salgada Project Receives Consent to Submit Revisions to Its EIA Application to the Portuguese Environmental Agency
EIA Revisions to Address Concerns and Provide Pathway to Approval Without Resubmission of the Full EIAKey Environmental Improvements are being incorporated in the Ongoing Optimized Feasibility Study TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / July 14, 2025 / Cerrado Gold Inc. ("Cerrado Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its Portuguese subsidiary, Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda. ("Redcorp"), has received notification from the Portuguese Environment Agency (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente, "APA") confirming that it will permit application of Article 16 procedures that allows Redcorp to submit revised technical documentation and project improvements to address APA comments, in relation to its Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) as outlined below. Under Portuguese environmental law, Article 16 of the EIA Legal Framework allows developers to revise and resubmit elements of a previously submitted project in order to address identified environmental concerns, without restarting the full permitting process. This mechanism is designed to improve project outcomes while maintaining regulatory integrity and efficiency (Decreto-Lei n.° 151-B/2013, Diário da República, 1.° série - N.° 211, de 31 de outubro de 2013). The Company's Optimized Feasibility Study ("OFS"), which is well underway, has proactively contemplated the changes requested, which are aimed at further strengthening the environmental and operational robustness of the proposed mining operation. In addition, the Company is continuing with all other activities as planned, such as detailed engineering alongside the work related to the OFS to minimize any impact on the overall development schedule while the Article 16 requirements are in process. While application of Article 16(2) does not constitute project approval, it is a formal step under Portuguese law that enables developers to address concerns raised during the initial review and implement modifications, avoiding a full resubmission or rejection of the project. If the revised submission is accepted, the Company anticipates a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) decision could be issued in Q1 2026. APA's formal response follows Redcorp's request, made during the public consultation and hearing period, to initiate the procedure foreseen in Article 16(2). In its reply, APA confirmed that, based on the justification provided by Redcorp, there are no objections to applying the Article 16(2) procedure. The Company now has 180 calendar days from the date of the notification to submit the revised project elements and a synthesis report addressing the required components outlined in the legal framework. The Company's revised submission will incorporate environmental and design improvements, including: Elimination of cyanide use across all processing stages at Lagoa Salgada, replaced by flotation-only circuits that has been validated through recent metallurgical testing;Enhanced protection of local aquifers and water resources, with new hydrogeological and geochemical control measures;Presentation of alternative borehole locations to support regional emergency water supply resilience;Deployment of a real-time environmental monitoring system, covering air, water, vibration, and noise parameters; andApplication of Best Available Techniques (BAT) across the plant layout and mine design, improving performance and minimizing impact. Mark Brennan, CEO and Chairman of Cerrado Gold, commented: "This is a constructive step forward for the Lagoa Salgada Project and demonstrates APA's openness to a robust and transparent permitting process. We appreciate the opportunity to address concerns through technical and environmental improvements, which are seen as a typical request at this stage of the approval process. We note that many of the points raised by APA are already being integrated into the updated feasibility study due in September." Mr. Brennan continued: "With strong support from our stakeholders, including EDM, we remain confident that the revised submission will meet the highest standards of environmental compliance and will position the project for successful approval with minimal delay. Cerrado reiterates its strong commitment to developing the Lagoa Salgada Project as a model of environmental and technical excellence, delivering value to local communities, stakeholders, and European critical raw materials supply chains." The Company is further supported by its strategic partner in the project, EDM - Empresa de Desenvolvimento Mineiro, S.A. ("EDM"), a Portuguese state-owned mining development entity, with decades of experience in environmental remediation and mine water management. EDM has reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Lagoa Salgada Project to Portugal's mining sector and expressed full confidence in the project's ability to meet the highest environmental and operational standards. Review of Technical Information The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Andrew Croal, Chief Technical Officer for Cerrado Gold, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. About Cerrado Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company. The Company is the 100% owner of the producing Minera Don Nicolás and Las Calandrias mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. In Portugal, the Company holds an 80% interest in the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project through its position in Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda. In Canada, Cerrado Gold is developing its 100% owned Mont Sorcier Iron project located outside of Chibougamou, Quebec. In Argentina, Cerrado is maximizing asset value at its Minera Don Nicolas ("MDN") operation through continued operational optimization and is growing production through its operations at the Las Calandrias heap leach project. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff. In Portugal, Cerrado is focused on the development and exploration of the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. The Lagoa Salgada project is a high-grade polymetallic project, demonstrating a typical mineralization endowment of zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver, and gold. Extensive exploration upside potential lies both near deposit and at prospective step-out targets across the large 7,209-hectare property concession. Located just 80km from Lisbon and surrounded by exceptional infrastructure, Lagoa Salgada offers a low-cost entry to a significant development and exploration opportunity, already showing its mineable scale and cashflow generation potential. In Canada, Cerrado holds a 100% interest in the Mont Sorcier high-purity high-grade DRI Iron project, which has the potential to produce a premium iron concentrate over a long mine life at low operating costs and low capital intensity. Furthermore, its high-grade and high-purity product facilitates the migration of steel producers from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, contributing to the decarbonization of the industry and the achievement of sustainable development goals. For more information about Cerrado please visit our website at: Mark BrennanCEO and Chairman Mike McAllisterVice President, Investor RelationsTel: +1-647-805-5662mmcallister@ Disclaimer NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado and its subsidiaries. Although the Company believes that it will receive a favourable EIA decision, no assurance can be provided. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, Cerrado has made certain assumptions. Although Cerrado believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Cerrado disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. SOURCE: Cerrado Gold Inc.
The Advertiser
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Just not workable': Newcastle Basketball addresses laundry list of concerns about stadium
NEWCASTLE Basketball said it has lodged its response to submissions on the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre after it was asked to address a laundry list of issues, but the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Housing said the documentation is still being finalised. Hundreds of people objected to the proposed $82 million basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Of 667 submissions to the state government, 72.5 per cent were against and 26 per cent were in support. The response to submissions was due June 6. Newcastle Basketball said it lodged the response with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) a week after the due date, in agreement with the department. Newcastle Basketball project coordinator Simon Haire said the project team has made changes to the site layout to "address primary concerns". "By shifting the building further west and adjusting vehicle movements, we've tackled key issues such as flood hazards and traffic flow," he said. DPHI asked Newcastle Basketball to address a spate of issues, including flooding, traffic and parking, noise impacts and inconsistencies across plans and documents, among other things in its response to submissions. Newcastle Basketball said it has drafted a Flood Emergency Response Plan and a Traffic Event Management Plan in response to feedback. "While not typically required at this stage, we've taken extra steps to provide a greater level of detail to alleviate any concerns," Mr Haire said. A DPHI spokesman said Newcastle Basketball was asked to prepare a response to submissions (RTS) report as part of its State Significant Development application. "The department had requested the RTS be submitted in June 2025," he said. "The applicant advised the department it was not able to meet the requested date, as it is continuing to finalise its RTS documentation. "Questions regarding the timing of the applicant's RTS lodgement should be directed to the applicant." The spokesman said that once the RTS has been submitted, the department will assess the development. "Consideration will be given to the comments or issues raised by council, agencies, other organisations and the public," he said. "Given more than 50 objections were received during the Environmental Impact Statement exhibition, the final determination of the State Significant Development will be made by the Independent Planning Commission." While a vast majority of submissions objected to the proposed development, many acknowledged Newcastle's need for a new stadium despite rejecting the location. Common objections commented on the loss of green space, the impact on local schools and sporting clubs that use the fields, traffic concerns, flooding risks for nearby properties and a lack of consultation. The Hunter basketball community threw its support behind the project, as did the National Basketball League (NBL). Save Our Lambton Ovals member Jacqui Rosewood said she was unsure if some of the issues raised could be addressed. "It's a bit of a minefield. The line Newcastle Basketball has held with the media to this point is that there are just a few little things they have to fix up, and we know there are more than a few little things," she said. "We can't see how they can address some of those issues, but they seemingly are still trying. "I just think there are so many issues, the general feeling is that it's just not workable there." Newcastle Basketball was awarded a $25 million grant from the previous state Liberal government for the project in 2019, and if approved, it is expected to take two and a half years to build. Newcastle Basketball general manager Sara Jiear said the project will break down barriers to participation in sports and physical activity. "It will support a range of sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal and pickleball," she said. "The facility is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring people of all ages and abilities can be physically and socially active in a community atmosphere." Newcastle Basketball said the department will review the response to submissions before taking the next step in the process. The response to submissions is not yet publicly available. Submissions closed in November last year. NEWCASTLE Basketball said it has lodged its response to submissions on the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre after it was asked to address a laundry list of issues, but the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Housing said the documentation is still being finalised. Hundreds of people objected to the proposed $82 million basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Of 667 submissions to the state government, 72.5 per cent were against and 26 per cent were in support. The response to submissions was due June 6. Newcastle Basketball said it lodged the response with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) a week after the due date, in agreement with the department. Newcastle Basketball project coordinator Simon Haire said the project team has made changes to the site layout to "address primary concerns". "By shifting the building further west and adjusting vehicle movements, we've tackled key issues such as flood hazards and traffic flow," he said. DPHI asked Newcastle Basketball to address a spate of issues, including flooding, traffic and parking, noise impacts and inconsistencies across plans and documents, among other things in its response to submissions. Newcastle Basketball said it has drafted a Flood Emergency Response Plan and a Traffic Event Management Plan in response to feedback. "While not typically required at this stage, we've taken extra steps to provide a greater level of detail to alleviate any concerns," Mr Haire said. A DPHI spokesman said Newcastle Basketball was asked to prepare a response to submissions (RTS) report as part of its State Significant Development application. "The department had requested the RTS be submitted in June 2025," he said. "The applicant advised the department it was not able to meet the requested date, as it is continuing to finalise its RTS documentation. "Questions regarding the timing of the applicant's RTS lodgement should be directed to the applicant." The spokesman said that once the RTS has been submitted, the department will assess the development. "Consideration will be given to the comments or issues raised by council, agencies, other organisations and the public," he said. "Given more than 50 objections were received during the Environmental Impact Statement exhibition, the final determination of the State Significant Development will be made by the Independent Planning Commission." While a vast majority of submissions objected to the proposed development, many acknowledged Newcastle's need for a new stadium despite rejecting the location. Common objections commented on the loss of green space, the impact on local schools and sporting clubs that use the fields, traffic concerns, flooding risks for nearby properties and a lack of consultation. The Hunter basketball community threw its support behind the project, as did the National Basketball League (NBL). Save Our Lambton Ovals member Jacqui Rosewood said she was unsure if some of the issues raised could be addressed. "It's a bit of a minefield. The line Newcastle Basketball has held with the media to this point is that there are just a few little things they have to fix up, and we know there are more than a few little things," she said. "We can't see how they can address some of those issues, but they seemingly are still trying. "I just think there are so many issues, the general feeling is that it's just not workable there." Newcastle Basketball was awarded a $25 million grant from the previous state Liberal government for the project in 2019, and if approved, it is expected to take two and a half years to build. Newcastle Basketball general manager Sara Jiear said the project will break down barriers to participation in sports and physical activity. "It will support a range of sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal and pickleball," she said. "The facility is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring people of all ages and abilities can be physically and socially active in a community atmosphere." Newcastle Basketball said the department will review the response to submissions before taking the next step in the process. The response to submissions is not yet publicly available. Submissions closed in November last year. NEWCASTLE Basketball said it has lodged its response to submissions on the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre after it was asked to address a laundry list of issues, but the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Housing said the documentation is still being finalised. Hundreds of people objected to the proposed $82 million basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Of 667 submissions to the state government, 72.5 per cent were against and 26 per cent were in support. The response to submissions was due June 6. Newcastle Basketball said it lodged the response with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) a week after the due date, in agreement with the department. Newcastle Basketball project coordinator Simon Haire said the project team has made changes to the site layout to "address primary concerns". "By shifting the building further west and adjusting vehicle movements, we've tackled key issues such as flood hazards and traffic flow," he said. DPHI asked Newcastle Basketball to address a spate of issues, including flooding, traffic and parking, noise impacts and inconsistencies across plans and documents, among other things in its response to submissions. Newcastle Basketball said it has drafted a Flood Emergency Response Plan and a Traffic Event Management Plan in response to feedback. "While not typically required at this stage, we've taken extra steps to provide a greater level of detail to alleviate any concerns," Mr Haire said. A DPHI spokesman said Newcastle Basketball was asked to prepare a response to submissions (RTS) report as part of its State Significant Development application. "The department had requested the RTS be submitted in June 2025," he said. "The applicant advised the department it was not able to meet the requested date, as it is continuing to finalise its RTS documentation. "Questions regarding the timing of the applicant's RTS lodgement should be directed to the applicant." The spokesman said that once the RTS has been submitted, the department will assess the development. "Consideration will be given to the comments or issues raised by council, agencies, other organisations and the public," he said. "Given more than 50 objections were received during the Environmental Impact Statement exhibition, the final determination of the State Significant Development will be made by the Independent Planning Commission." While a vast majority of submissions objected to the proposed development, many acknowledged Newcastle's need for a new stadium despite rejecting the location. Common objections commented on the loss of green space, the impact on local schools and sporting clubs that use the fields, traffic concerns, flooding risks for nearby properties and a lack of consultation. The Hunter basketball community threw its support behind the project, as did the National Basketball League (NBL). Save Our Lambton Ovals member Jacqui Rosewood said she was unsure if some of the issues raised could be addressed. "It's a bit of a minefield. The line Newcastle Basketball has held with the media to this point is that there are just a few little things they have to fix up, and we know there are more than a few little things," she said. "We can't see how they can address some of those issues, but they seemingly are still trying. "I just think there are so many issues, the general feeling is that it's just not workable there." Newcastle Basketball was awarded a $25 million grant from the previous state Liberal government for the project in 2019, and if approved, it is expected to take two and a half years to build. Newcastle Basketball general manager Sara Jiear said the project will break down barriers to participation in sports and physical activity. "It will support a range of sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal and pickleball," she said. "The facility is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring people of all ages and abilities can be physically and socially active in a community atmosphere." Newcastle Basketball said the department will review the response to submissions before taking the next step in the process. The response to submissions is not yet publicly available. Submissions closed in November last year. NEWCASTLE Basketball said it has lodged its response to submissions on the Hunter Indoor Sports Centre after it was asked to address a laundry list of issues, but the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Housing said the documentation is still being finalised. Hundreds of people objected to the proposed $82 million basketball stadium on Wallarah and Blackley Ovals. Of 667 submissions to the state government, 72.5 per cent were against and 26 per cent were in support. The response to submissions was due June 6. Newcastle Basketball said it lodged the response with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) a week after the due date, in agreement with the department. Newcastle Basketball project coordinator Simon Haire said the project team has made changes to the site layout to "address primary concerns". "By shifting the building further west and adjusting vehicle movements, we've tackled key issues such as flood hazards and traffic flow," he said. DPHI asked Newcastle Basketball to address a spate of issues, including flooding, traffic and parking, noise impacts and inconsistencies across plans and documents, among other things in its response to submissions. Newcastle Basketball said it has drafted a Flood Emergency Response Plan and a Traffic Event Management Plan in response to feedback. "While not typically required at this stage, we've taken extra steps to provide a greater level of detail to alleviate any concerns," Mr Haire said. A DPHI spokesman said Newcastle Basketball was asked to prepare a response to submissions (RTS) report as part of its State Significant Development application. "The department had requested the RTS be submitted in June 2025," he said. "The applicant advised the department it was not able to meet the requested date, as it is continuing to finalise its RTS documentation. "Questions regarding the timing of the applicant's RTS lodgement should be directed to the applicant." The spokesman said that once the RTS has been submitted, the department will assess the development. "Consideration will be given to the comments or issues raised by council, agencies, other organisations and the public," he said. "Given more than 50 objections were received during the Environmental Impact Statement exhibition, the final determination of the State Significant Development will be made by the Independent Planning Commission." While a vast majority of submissions objected to the proposed development, many acknowledged Newcastle's need for a new stadium despite rejecting the location. Common objections commented on the loss of green space, the impact on local schools and sporting clubs that use the fields, traffic concerns, flooding risks for nearby properties and a lack of consultation. The Hunter basketball community threw its support behind the project, as did the National Basketball League (NBL). Save Our Lambton Ovals member Jacqui Rosewood said she was unsure if some of the issues raised could be addressed. "It's a bit of a minefield. The line Newcastle Basketball has held with the media to this point is that there are just a few little things they have to fix up, and we know there are more than a few little things," she said. "We can't see how they can address some of those issues, but they seemingly are still trying. "I just think there are so many issues, the general feeling is that it's just not workable there." Newcastle Basketball was awarded a $25 million grant from the previous state Liberal government for the project in 2019, and if approved, it is expected to take two and a half years to build. Newcastle Basketball general manager Sara Jiear said the project will break down barriers to participation in sports and physical activity. "It will support a range of sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal and pickleball," she said. "The facility is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring people of all ages and abilities can be physically and socially active in a community atmosphere." Newcastle Basketball said the department will review the response to submissions before taking the next step in the process. The response to submissions is not yet publicly available. Submissions closed in November last year.
Cision Canada
07-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
First Mining Announces Sale of 20% Interest in Hope Brook Gold Project
VANCOUVER, BC, July 7, 2025 /CNW/ - First Mining Gold Corp. ("First Mining" or the "Company") (TSX: FF) (OTCQX: FFMGF) (FRANKFURT: FMG) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) (" Big Ridge") to sell its remaining 20% project interest in the Hope Brook Gold Project (" Hope Brook") for total consideration comprised of C$3,000,000 in cash and 7,000,000 common shares of Big Ridge (the " Transaction"). "We are very excited to come to an agreement with Big Ridge for them to consolidate 100% ownership of the Hope Brook Gold Project," stated Dan Wilton, CEO of First Mining. "This transaction continues to demonstrate the financial flexibility that our non-core asset portfolio can provide as we look to advance our two flagship projects at Springpole and Duparquet. First Mining will retain exposure to the Hope Brook Gold Project as a shareholder of Big Ridge and look forward to its continued success." The Transaction is expected to close in Q3 2025. About First Mining Gold Corp. First Mining is a gold developer advancing two of the largest gold projects in Canada, the Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, where we have commenced a Feasibility Study and permitting activities are on-going with a final Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Assessment for the project submitted in November 2024, and the Duparquet Gold Project in Quebec, a PEA-stage development project located on the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone in the prolific Abitibi region. First Mining also owns the Cameron Gold Project in Ontario and a portfolio of gold project interests including the Pickle Crow Gold Project (being advanced in partnership with Firefly Metals Ltd.) and the Hope Brook Gold Project (being advanced in partnership with Big Ridge Gold Corp.). First Mining was established in 2015 by Mr. Keith Neumeyer, founding President and CEO of First Majestic Silver Corp. ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP. Chief Executive Officer and Director Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "opportunities", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the closing of the Transaction, First Mining's exposure to Hope Brook, and First Mining's plans related to its Springpole, Duparquet and other projects. All forward-looking statements are based on First Mining's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Such factors include, without limitation the Company's ability to close the Transaction, the Company's business, operations and financial condition potentially being materially adversely affected by the outbreak of epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, and by reactions by government and private actors to such outbreaks; risks to employee health and safety as a result of the outbreak of epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, that may result in a slowdown or temporary suspension of operations at some or all of the Company's mineral properties as well as its head office; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities, indigenous populations and other stakeholders; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; title to properties.; and the additional risks described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR. First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Route 219 project clears regulatory hurdle
SOMERSET, Pa. – Somerset County and state transportation officials received federal clearance to proceed with a preferred U.S. Route 219 path to Maryland. The Federal Highway Administration has issued its final Environmental Impact Statement, enabling continued design work to proceed on a proposed six-mile four-lane route between Meyersdale and the Mason-Dixon Line. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials previously selected the route – called 'E-Shift Modified' on preliminary documents from a list of several finalists. And Somerset County leaders have backed the plan as the most direct – and most cost-effective – path. But plans for the path needed to complete a federal review before proceeding. An executive summary uploaded this month to the U.S. Route 219 project's website cited the plan's limited impact to farmland, populated areas and wetlands, compared to other options. With just two new bridges planned, the route's construction will likely be $100 million cheaper. As planned, the route will travel south of Meyersdale and veer several miles east of Salisbury Borough in Elk Lick Township before connecting to a yet-to-be-built nearly two mile link in Maryland to the Interstate 68 corridor. The two-mile path is incorporated into the project as part of a joint effort between the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The approval enables an extensive final design, right-of-way acquisitions and permitting to occur over the next several years, PennDOT officials said. Those phases are fully funded. But additional funding will need to be secured to complete the project's eventual construction, state and county officials have said. If all goes as planned, construction would start on the project in 2029 – and be completed in 2031. David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @TDDavidHurst.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Supreme Court said no, but this legal battle lives on
A major mining project in Arizona remains on hold this month even after the Supreme Court declined to consider a faith-based plea to block it. The justices said on May 27 that they wouldn't hear a religious freedom case aimed at preventing federal officials from transferring Oak Flat, a site that's sacred to the Western Apache, to Resolution Copper. At first, that announcement seemed like the end of the road for the mining project's opponents. But then on Monday, they secured a small but potentially significant victory in a federal court in Arizona in separate but related lawsuits on the future of Oak Flat. According to Inside Climate News, one of the ongoing lawsuits was brought by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and argues that the land transfer would violate a treaty between the tribe and the government, as well as environmental and historic preservation laws. The other lawsuit was brought by a group of environmental activists, who claim the government has failed to fully study the environmental impact of the proposed mining project. In Monday's ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Dominic W. Lanza said the government can't transfer the land until at least 60 days after the publication of the Environmental Impact Statement on the mining project and promised to revisit the transfer during that 60-day period to consider implementing an injunction that would block it. The battle over Oak Flat dates back to 2014, when Congress removed the federal protections that were preventing mining in the area, as the Deseret News previously reported. That legal shift made it possible for the land to be transferred to a private company, although seven years passed with no major developments along those lines. But then, in 2021, the federal government published an Environmental Impact Statement on Oak Flat, signaling that mining was soon to begin. That's when a group of Native Americans filed a religion lawsuit to block the land transfer, arguing that destroying Oak Flat would violate their religious freedom rights. While the lawsuit, called Apache Stronghold v. United States, delayed the mining project, it didn't restore land protections. Apache Stronghold lost at the district and circuit court level, where judges said destroying Oak Flat would not violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. With its May 27 announcement, the Supreme Court allowed those decisions to remain in place. Justice Neil Gorsuch criticized the court's refusal to take up the case in a strongly worded dissent, which was joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. 'Just imagine if the government sought to demolish a historic cathedral on so questionable a chain of legal reasoning. I have no doubt that we would find that case worth our time. Faced with the government's plan to destroy an ancient site of tribal worship, we owe the Apaches no less,' Gorsuch wrote. Although the Supreme Court's announcement brought an end to the religious freedom case, it did not end the battle. Two other lawsuits aimed at blocking the mining are ongoing, as Inside Climate News reported. By ensuring that the land transfer won't happen before late August, Judge Lanza in Arizona created time for those lawsuits to move forward. The mining project's opponents present the judge's move as significant, noting that they haven't given up hope. 'We are grateful that Judge Lanza has provided us an opportunity to be heard,' San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler said in a statement provided to the Deseret News. But the mining project's supporters believe their plan is still on track. 'The court correctly found no legal basis for a preliminary injunction, and its order is consistent with prior decisions about this project at every level, including the Supreme Court's recent decision to deny further review in Apache Stronghold v. United States,' said Vicky Peacey, president and general manager of Resolution Copper, in a statement. 'The order simply gives the parties time to review the (Environmental Impact Statement) within the timeframe Congress directed for the land exchange. We are confident the project satisfies all applicable legal requirements.' The statement is expected to be published by June 20, Inside Climate News reported. Once it's released, the 60-day countdown will start.
