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Rochester Rare Earth Separation Facility (Project Freedom Separation)

All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.

Planned

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
PLANNED

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ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
PENDING

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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED

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CATEGORY
Project Category FAST-41 Transparency Projects

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LEAD AGENCY
Department of War

Description:

Phoenix Tailings, Inc. proposes an integrated rare earth manufacturing project for separation of rare earth elements. The project will expand domestic capacity to process diverse domestic and secondary feedstocks into separated rare earth products and high-purity rare earth metals, including light and heavy rare earths needed for defense, energy, automotive, electronics, and advanced manufacturing applications. The objective is to create a secure, domestic supply chain at the constrained midstream stages of separation and refining while demonstrating technologies designed to improve recovery, purity, yield, automation, and environmental performance. 

The proposed project would adapt an existing facility that has been used for industrial/warehousing purposes since 1968. Planned operations include feedstock receiving and preparation, separation, product purification, utilities, storage, and supporting environmental-control systems.

A permitting timetable will be posted on or before November 20, 2026.