VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Liberty Gold Corp. (TSX:LGD; OTCQX:LGDTF) (“Liberty Gold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the United States Forest Service (“USFS”) and the United States Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) have determined that the Mine Plan of Operations (“MPO”) for the flagship Black Pine Oxide Gold Project (“Black Pine” or the “Project”) in southern Idaho meets federal maintenance standards and is considered “Administratively Complete” under Sec. 36 Subchapter 228 and Title 43 Subchapter 3809 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Highlights
- The main stage of issuing permits has been reached: The USFS and BLM's completeness determination confirms that the Black Pine MPO meets the applicable requirements to advance to the next stage of the U.S. Federal permitting process;
- National Environmental Policy Foundation (“NEPA”) Overview: The MPO outlines proposed mining, processing, environmental and remediation measures based on Liberty Gold's pre-feasibility study.1 (see press release October 10, 2024) and serves as the basis for upcoming federal environmental analysis;
- Joint interdepartmental approach to issuing permits: The MPO was prepared in close collaboration with the USFS, BLM, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (“IDEQ”), the Idaho Department of Lands (“IDL”), and the Idaho Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (“OEMR”) pursuant to an interagency Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) signed in February 2025. This Memorandum of Understanding formalized agency roles and timelines for effective coordination within the NEPA process. The MPO was submitted in February 2025 and has undergone a rigorous initial completeness review by the USFS and BLM. The Company has worked closely and diligently with federal and state agencies to review the comments provided and is pleased to have achieved this fundamental milestone for Black Pine.
- Stantec has been appointed as the independent third party EIS contractor: Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and environmental consulting based in the United States, has been retained by the USFS and BLM to prepare a black pine environmental impact study (“EIS”) and related documentation under federal oversight. Preparations for the orderly start of the EIS process are well advanced and extensive background environmental studies have been completed which will form the basis of key sections of the EIS document.
- Next steps: USFS and BLM will publish a Notice of Intent (“NOI”) in the Federal Register, beginning the prescribed portion of the NEPA review, beginning with formal stakeholder engagement and development of the EIS. Public scoping meetings will involve federal, state and local agencies, tribal nations, and community stakeholders to identify issues and alternatives for the EIS over a 24-month period, leading to the preparation of a draft notice of decision (USFS) and record of decision (BLM). The EIA will assess the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts of the Project, including water resources, air quality, wildlife, vegetation, cultural resources and reclamation planning, as well as alternatives and mitigation measures. The company continues to pursue parallel permitting efforts at the Idaho state level, including the key areas of water rights, air quality, mine reclamation and cyanide permitting. These efforts and timing are consistent with the Idaho Strategic Permitting, Efficiency and Economic Development (“SPEED”) Act, which aims to improve the coordination and efficiency of project permitting.
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1 See Technical Report, Black Pine Project Technical Report NI 43-101, Oneida County, Idaho, United States, effective June 1, 2024, dated November 21, 2024, prepared by Valerie Wilson, P.Geo. SLR Consulting Ltd.; Todd Carstensen, RM-SME AGP Mining Consultants Inc.; Gary Simmons, MMSA GL Simmons Consulting, LLC; Nicholas T. Rocco, Ph.D., PE NewFields Companies LLC; Benjamin Bermudez, PE M3 Engineering & Technology Corp.; Matthew Sletten, PE M3 Engineering & Technology Corp.; John Rupp, P.E. Piteau Associates Ltd.; Daniel Young, Professor of Engineering, PE Knight Piésold Ltd.; Richard DeLong, MS Westland Engineering & Environmental Services Inc. in the company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and press release from October 10, 2024.
John Gilligan, President and CEO of Liberty Gold, stated:: “The adoption of our Mining Plan is a major permitting achievement for Liberty Gold and Idaho. It is the result of years of technical, environmental and community work that culminated in a high-quality project that meets stringent federal mining standards. We are proud to advance Black Pine mining permitting through a strong collaborative system with our federal agency partners and the State of Idaho. 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.”
ABOUT LIBERTY GOLD
Liberty Gold specializes in the development of open-pit oxide deposits in the U.S. Great Basin, which are home to large-scale gold projects that are ideally suited for open-pit mining. The region is one of the richest gold mining regions in the world and stretches across Nevada, Idaho and Utah. The company is advancing the Black Pine Project in southeastern Idaho, a legacy Carlin-style gold mining system with large, growing resources and strong economic potential. We know the Great Basin and are committed to discovering and developing large gold deposits that can be profitably mined by opencast mining in an environmentally responsible manner.
For more information visit www.libertygold.ca or contact:
Susie Bell, Investor Relations Manager
Phone: 604-632-4677 or toll-free 1-877-632-4677.
[email protected]
All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, constitute “forward-looking information” with respect to Liberty Gold within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements that relate to the potential quantity and/or quality of mineral resources, the potential size and expansion of the mineralized zone, the proposed timing of exploration plans, development plans and construction decisions, expected capital expenditures at the Black Pine deposit, expected recovery of gold and silver from Black Pine mineralized material, potential resource enhancement through additional drilling tests, the potential upgrade of Inferred Mineral Resources to Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, timing and receipt of required permits and approval of the final mine plan. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “seek,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “continue,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “project,” “forecast,” “potential,” “target,” “intend,” “believe,” “potential” and similar expressions, or describe “target,” or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may,” “should,” “May,” “will,” “could,” or “shall” be attempted, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based on a number of management's estimates and assumptions as of the date the statements are made, including, but not limited to, assumptions about future prices of gold and other metals, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favorable operating conditions, political stability, timely receipt of governmental approvals and financing, obtaining renewals of existing licenses and permits and obtaining necessary licenses and permits, stability of the workforce, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, accuracy of any mineral resources and mineral reserves, availability of drilling sites installations, the accuracy of the pre-feasibility study, the successful resolution of disputes and the expected costs and expenses. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are beyond Liberty Gold's control and there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks associated with the interpretation of results and/or reliance on technical information provided by third parties in connection with the Company's mineral resource interests; changes in project parameters as plans are further refined; current economic conditions; future prices of goods; possible changes in content or recovery rate; costs and timing of developing new fields; failure of equipment or processes to operate properly; failure to fulfill obligations by the parties under the contract; the timing and success of exploration activities in general; delays in issuing permits; possible claims against the Company; labor disputes and other mining industry risks; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or completion of exploration, as well as those factors discussed in the company's annual information form dated March 25, 2025 under the heading “Risk Factors” on Liberty Gold's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Liberty Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could 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 expected, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate in accordance with actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Liberty Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
