Sheep Creek Project
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
04/28/2027
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Mining
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Transparency Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Description:
The Sheep Creek Exploration Project, proposed by US Critical Materials Corp. (USCM), is a mineral exploration program located on unpatented mining claims within the Bitterroot National Forest, West Fork Ranger District, Ravalli County, Montana. The project is designed to evaluate subsurface geology for critical minerals—including gallium, samarium, scandium, neodymium, and praseodymium—and to secure two existing historic adits for public safety.
Exploration activities will occur at four locations: one location will have bulk sampling, and three locations will have diamond-core drilling. Additional activities include installation of temporary helicopter landing platforms, selective vegetation clearing, minor site grading, construction of small working pads, and excavation of small, lined sumps for drill-water recirculation.
The exploration program is expected to result in less than one acre of total surface disturbance (~0.3 acres) and will be conducted over in less than one year, with a winter shutdown. Bulk sampling and drilling activities are temporary, will not involve road construction, and will not include ore processing or commercial extraction.
This project is posted in the interest of transparency and response to Executive Order 14241.
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Permitting Timetable
The permitting timetable below displays data as reported by agencies. Dates for Environmental Review and Permitting processes (Actions) that are in 'Paused' or 'Planned' status are subject to change and are not indicative of a project's final schedule.
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Action Information
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