Idaho Aligns State Permitting with FAST-41, Streamlining Permitting at Liberty Goldʼs Black Pine Project
News Release
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Release ID: 26-06 March 20, 2026
Idaho Aligns State Permitting with FAST-41, Streamlining
Permitting at Liberty Goldʼs Black Pine Project
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Liberty Gold Corp. (TSX: LGD; OTCQX: LGDTF) (“Liberty Goldˮ or the “Companyˮ) is
pleased to report a significant permitting milestone at its Black Pine Oxide Gold Project (“Black Pineˮ) in
southern Idaho, following the State of Idahoʼs formal commitment to align state permitting timelines with
the United States (“U.S.ˮ) federal FAST-41 permitting framework (“FAST-41ˮ). FAST-41 is a U .S. federal
initiative administered by the U.S. Permitting Council and designed to improve the timeliness, predictability,
and transparency of permitting for major infrastructure projects.
“Streamlining Idahoʼ s permitting process for major mining projects like the Black Pine Oxide Gold Project
in southern Idaho is about cutting unnecessary red tape while maintaining strong standards. By better
aligning our state timelines with federal reviews under the FAST-41 framework, which we recently locked
in through a new MOU with the Trump administration, we can eliminate duplicative steps that slow projects
down and create uncertainty. A more efficient process lowers costs, supports good-paying jobs, and helps
responsible mining move forward without unnecessary delay. Idaho is committed to being a place where
natural resource development is handled thoughtfully and efficiently, and where companies know they can
invest with confidence," said Idaho Governor Brad Little.
“Idahoʼs decision to formally align state permitting timelines with the FAST-41 framework marks an
important advancement in how major mining projects are reviewed in the United Statesˮ, said Jon Gilligan,
President, CEO & Director of Liberty Gold . “ Black Pineʼs acceptance into FAST-41 earlier this year
established a coordinated federal permitting pathway and Idahoʼs participation further strengthens that
framework by bringing state and federal agencies onto a single, transparent schedule. This level of
coordination improves visibility, reduces permitting risk, and supports a disciplin ed and efficient
environmental review process as Black Pine advancesˮ.
On February 19, 2026, Idaho announced a new coordination framework under which key state agencies
align their permitting reviews with FAST-41 schedules. The agreement provides for the integration of state
permitting actions into the Federal Permitting Dashboard, enhancing transparency and coordination with
the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPAˮ) review process. Of significant note, Black Pine is the first
U.S. precious metals mining project where both federal and state agencies are aligned under a single,
coordinated permitting framework. Idahoʼs leadership represents a meaningful step forward in improving
certainty, coordination and predictability in the U.S. mine permitting process.
Following its acceptance into FAST-41 on January 20, 2026 (see press release dated January 20, 2026),
as only the fourth precious metals mining project to receive “Covered Projectˮ status, the Black Pine Project
entered a structured 60-day coordination period with participating federal and state agencies to update
and refine the environmental review timetable for Black Pine. Liberty Gold expects the revised permitting
schedule for Black Pine to be published to the FAST-41 Permitting Dashboard following completion of this
News Release
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process. Black Pine is the first FAST-41 Covered Project to advance under a fully integrated federal and
state permitting schedule.
Black Pine is one of the largest undeveloped oxide gold projects in the Great Basin and benefits from
existing infrastructure, a large mineral endowment, and a supportive mining jurisdiction. Liberty Gold
continues to advance Black Pine through feasibility-level engineering, environmental baseline studies, and
coordinated federal and state permitting activities, under the FAST-41 framework. The Company remains
focused on maintaining its critical path discipline across permitting and technical workstreams and will
provide further updates as key permitting milestones are achieved.
ABOUT LIBERTY GOLD
Liberty Gold is a U.S. focused gold development company building and advancing a pipeline of gold assets
in the Great Basin, one of the worldʼs most productive and mining friendly gold regions. The Companyʼs
flagship asset is the 100% owned Black Pine Oxide Gold Project in southern Idaho, a large scale, past -
producing run-of-mine heap leach system being advanced through feasibility and permitting toward a
modern open-pit mining operation. The Companyʼs strategy is to responsibly develop high quality, long-
life gold projects in supportive jurisdictions, led by an experienced team with a track record of discovery,
development and delivering long term value.
For more information, visit libertygold.ca or contact:
Susie Bell, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Phone: 604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677
This news release contains “forward-looking informationˮ and “forward-looking statementsˮ within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements or information concerning, future financial or operating performance
of Liberty Gold a nd it s business, operations, properties and condition; planned de-risking activities at Liberty Goldʼs mineral properties; federal and state permitting timelines, future updates to the mineral resource, the potential
quantity, recoverability and/or grade of minerals; the potential size of a mineralized zone or potential expansion of mineralization; proposed exploration and development of Liberty Goldʼs exploration property interests; future water
rights acquisitions; the results of mineral resource estimates or mineral reserve estimates and preliminary feasibility studies; and the Companyʼs anticipated expenditures.
Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", and similar
expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information
is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold, and other
metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, timely receipt of governmental or regulatory approvals, including any stock exchange approvals; receipt of a financing on
time, obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, results or timing of any mineral resources, results or timing
of any baseline studies, resource conversion, pre-feasibility study, mineral reserves, or feasibility study; the availability of drill rigs, successful resolution of disputes and anticipated costs and expenditures. Many assumptions are
based on factors and events that are not within the control of Liberty Gold and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.
Such forward-looking information, involves known and unknown risks, which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, risks
related to the interpretation of results and/or the reliance on technical information provided by third parties as related to the Companyʼs mineral property interests; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current
economic conditions; state and federal permitting processes, future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; the costs and timing of the development of new deposits; failure of equipment or processes
to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; the timing and success of exploration activities generally; the timing or results of the publication of any mineral resources, mineral reserves or feasibility studies;
delays in permitting; possible claims against the Company; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing, timing of the completion of exploration as well as those factors
discussed in the Annual Information Form of the Company dated March 25, 2025, in the section entitled "Risk Factors", under Liberty Goldʼs SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Although Liberty Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions,
events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Liberty Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except for material differences between actual
results and previously disclosed material forward-looking information, or as otherwise required by law.
Except for statements of historical fact, information contained herein or incorporated by reference herein constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-
looking information. All forward-looking statements and forward-looking information attributable to us is expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.