DEER LODGE, Mont., Oct 30 — Falcon Copper Corp. (“Falcon Copper” or the “Company”) welcomes the agreement announced on October 28 by Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (“Permitting Council”) to coordinate state and federal permitting reviews under the FAST-41 framework. Montana is the 11th state to enter into such an agreement.
Under the agreement, Montana and the Permitting Council will coordinate state and federal reviews for participating projects with the aim of completing them at the same time. State permitting actions will be tracked alongside federal actions on the Federal Permitting Dashboard, so Montanans can see review milestones, target dates and progress. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) will continue to review and decide Falcon Copper’s applications under Montana law. FAST-41 does not change applicable environmental requirements or public participation procedures.
“Montana has strong water, reclamation and public participation laws, and Falcon Copper’s work must meet those requirements,” said Ryan Moss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Copper. “This agreement changes none of that. What it adds is better coordination and transparency, so Montanans can see where each review stands and track progress. We support it because permitting should be thorough, predictable and open to the public.”
The proposed expansion of Falcon Copper’s Blue Copper exploration project near Avon, in Powell and Lewis and Clark Counties, is under review by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and Montana DEQ. Blue Copper is already listed on the Federal Permitting Dashboard as a FAST-41 Transparency Project. The expanded program remains subject to all required state and federal reviews and approvals. Closer coordination is intended to improve predictability and reduce avoidable delays while preserving each agency’s decision-making authority.
Falcon Copper’s Montana team has worked in the Avon area since 2022. Over the past four years, the team has met one-on-one with neighboring ranch families, walked neighbors and county officials through active and reclaimed drill sites, and hosted the Powell County Commission at the project in July. Falcon Copper’s commitments in Montana reflect its approach wherever it works: protect water, land, and wildlife; plan reclamation before drilling begins; and talk early and openly with the people closest to the work.
“My family and I live here, and our neighbors know where to find us,” said Travis Naugle, Founder and Executive Chairman of Falcon Copper. “We will keep showing up in person, answering questions directly and listening to the people who live closest to this work. That is how we intend to work in Montana, and anyone in Powell County can hold us to it.”
Falcon Copper will continue to work with state and federal agencies as their reviews proceed.