Proactive: American Rare Earths progresses Cowboy State Mine permitting with key environmental milestone

American Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:ARR, OTCQB:ARRNF) has completed the installation of 10 groundwater monitoring wells at its Cowboy State Mine, part of the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming, marking a major advancement in its permitting process. The company is advancing one of the largest and most strategically significant rare earth projects in the United States.

Through this milestone, the company can begin baseline environmental data collection—critical to securing a mining permit under the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ). Located on State-managed land, the project benefits from a simplified regulatory framework compared to federal projects, which helps streamline the path toward production, targeted for as early as 2029.

Groundwater monitoring and environmental data collection

With the wells now operational, quarterly groundwater sampling and environmental data collection will proceed over a 12-month period. The program will yield essential baseline data for hydrological modelling and mine planning. These activities are being conducted in alignment with WDEQ standards, ensuring the integrity of environmental assessments.

In addition, planning is underway for 24-hour pump tests, which will assess aquifer connectivity, water flow, and potential mine dewatering requirements—vital components for securing the state mining permit. The results will feed directly into modelling work to evaluate the long-term sustainability of water use at the site.

Chief executive officer Chris Gibbs said, “The installation of these groundwater monitoring wells is an important milestone in the Cowboy State Mine permitting pathway. This work underpins our environmental approvals process and further validates our strategy of developing on State land, which is a major competitive advantage in the US market.”

Path to production and PFS progress

The Cowboy State Mine remains central to American Rare Earths’ ambitions of becoming a key player in the US rare earths sector. The PFS, scheduled for delivery in late 2025, will integrate the environmental data now being collected alongside technical, operational and economic analyses.

With one of the largest rare earths resources in the country, the project is expected to support domestic supply chain security while advancing sustainable mining practices. The company continues to collaborate with government-supported R&D programs to refine extraction and separation technologies and is progressing plans for onsite processing infrastructure.

Next steps include:

• Quarterly groundwater sampling and analysis to continue throughout the 12-month monitoring period.
• Completion of 24-hour pump tests to support groundwater modelling.
• Formal mine permit application expected to be submitted in parallel to data collection.
• CSM Pre-Feasibility Study progressing on schedule for delivery in late 2025.

American Rare Earths advances Wyoming rare earths hub to strengthen US supply chain

ARR, through its wholly owned subsidiary Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc., is progressing the development of its flagship Halleck Creek Project in Wyoming—a large-scale rare earths opportunity positioned to support long-term domestic supply of critical minerals.

Located on Wyoming State land, the Cowboy State Mine within Halleck Creek is designed for cost-effective, open-pit mining and benefits from streamlined permitting in one of the United States’ most mining-friendly jurisdictions. The project aims to deliver a vertically integrated operation with onsite processing and separation facilities to reduce the country’s reliance on rare earth imports, particularly from China.

With rare earths essential to defence applications, advanced manufacturing and energy technologies, Halleck Creek holds strategic significance in meeting US national security and economic priorities. The deposit’s scale and potential extension onto adjacent Federal land further position it as a key contributor to reshoring the American critical minerals supply chain.

The company maintains a focus on responsible development, working with US Government-backed research and development programs to advance environmentally sustainable extraction and processing technologies.