Trilogy Metals (TSX:TMQ) expects federal permitting for its Arctic Project in Alaska, US, to conclude in late 2028 after US regulators published a 29-month environmental review schedule.
The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council this week released the timeline for the high-grade copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver project, which is being advanced by Ambler Metals, the joint venture between Trilogy and South32 (ASX:S32).
The schedule follows the project’s designation as a FAST-41 Covered Project in May 2026, a status intended to streamline permitting for major infrastructure and mining developments.
The update confirms the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as the lead federal agency responsible for the project’s environmental review.
Under the plan, the USACE and cooperating agencies have committed to completing the integrated federal review within the estimated 29 months.
“The publication of this schedule is a significant milestone under the Arctic Project’s FAST-41 status,” Trilogy CEO Tony Giardini says.
Key milestones include publication of a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in September 2026, release of the draft EIS in October 2027, and a targeted record of decision in September 2028.
Those federal milestones will run concurrently with permitting processes undertaken by the State of Alaska and the Northwest Arctic Borough.
“Alaska was the first state in the country to sign a statewide agreement with the Permitting Council, and the Arctic Project is now among the first mining projects to be permitted under that framework,” Giardini says.
The Arctic Project forms part of the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects in the Ambler mining district of northwestern Alaska. Trilogy describes it as one of the world’s ‘highest-grade’ undeveloped copper deposits, with an estimated average grade of about 5% copper equivalent.
Trilogy Metals is a Canada-based metal exploration and development company holding a 50% interest in Ambler Metals.
Write to Jackson Chen at Mining.com.au
Image: Trilogy Metals
