Rare Element Resources
Bear Lodge Project
Canadian NI 43-101 Technical Report
October 9
th
, 2014
10135-200-46 - Rev. 0
20-5
20.6 Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Permits
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ), Land Quality Division
(LQD) in Sheridan, Wyoming is the responsible agency for the issuance of the state
mining permit. The permit application will include both the Bull Hill Mine and the
Upton Hydromet Plant/TSF under one mining permit. The application will consist of
detailed information describing the mineable resource, adjudication of the lands in the
proposed permit area, mine overburden (waste rock), topsoil, subsoil, surface waters,
groundwater hydrology, water rights, cultural resources, mining plan, and a detailed
reclamation plan, including costs for bonding based on post-mining topography and
final land use. The WDEQ defers to the NRC on radiological impact analysis and
licensing of source material.
Rare Element has initiated the pre-operational baseline environmental studies
required under LQD mine permitting rules and regulations. The current baseline
program follows LQD guidelines and includes an active network of 39 groundwater
monitoring wells, 7 surface water gauging stations, numerous seeps and springs, 4
air monitoring stations and 1 meteorological station. Initial surveys to describe
baseline soils, vegetation, wetlands, and wildlife were initiated in 2011 and will
continue until the issuance of the permit. No endangered or threatened plant or
wildlife species have been identified at either the mine or plant locations.
Archaeological surveys were completed within the permit area to identify potential
cultural resources eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The
permit application is expected to be submitted to LQD in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Since construction of the mine facilities and Upton Plant/TSF will exceed the current
monetary threshold trigger, an Industrial Siting Permit will be required under the Rules
and Regulations of the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council. The permit application will
include an evaluation of social and economic conditions and impacts, environmental
impact analysis, assessment of public infrastructure and educational, health, police,
fire, and transportation services. Site baseline environmental studies will be provided
to meet permitting requirements. The Industrial Siting Permit will be issued for the life
of the plant and TSF.
WDEQ permits from the Air Quality Division and Water Quality Division will be
required for the Bull Hill Mine and Upton Plant/TSF operations. Data requirements for
these permits are in progress and permit applications will be submitted prior to start-
up.
