Liberty Gold Advances Black Pine Gold Project in Idaho with Submission of the Draft Mine Plan of Operations
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News Release 25-04 February 26, 2025
Liberty Gold Advances Black Pine Gold Project in Idaho with
Submission of the Draft Mine Plan of Operations
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Liberty Gold Corp. ( TSX:LGD; OTCQX:LGDTF) ("Liberty Gold" or the
"Company") is pleased to announce two major milestones for its flagship Black Pine Oxide Gold
Project (“Black Pine”) in southern Idaho, USA. Firstly, the formal submission of the draft Black Pine
Mine Plan of Operations (“MPO”) to the United States Forest Service (“USFS”), the Bureau of Land
Management (“BLM”), the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality ( “IDEQ”), and the Idaho
Department of Lands ( “IDL”); and secondly , the successful execution of a n interagency
Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between Liberty Gold, USFS, BLM, the Idaho Governor’s
Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (“OEMR”), the IDEQ, and the IDL, to facilitate coordination
of the entire mine permitting process for Black Pine.
The draft MPO is based on the recently published Preliminary Feasibility Study (see press releases
dated October 10, 2024 and November 21, 2024) with a general site layout shown in Figure 1
below.
Figure 1: Black Pine Draft Mine Plan of Operations General Site Layout
Liberty Gold has worked closely with regulatory authorities, stakeholders, and the local community
t o e n s u r e t h e d r a ft M P O a d h e r e s t o t h e h i g h e s t e n v i r o n m e n t a l a n d o p e r a ti o n a l s t a n d a r d s a n d
anticipates continued engagement with stakeholders to address feedback and advance the project
through the permitting and approval process. The draft MPO submission is the precursor leading
to initiation of the federal permitting process under the National Environmental Protection Act
(“NEPA”), which will include the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”).
The EIS process will be co-led by the USFS and the BLM and will include a detailed review of the
MPO, public scoping meetings, analysis of extensive baseline studies , and an assessment of
potential environmental and socioeconomic effects with proposed mitigation s. Cooperating
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regulatory agencies, including OEMR, IDEQ, IDL and other federal and state entities , will work
closely with the USFS and BLM on the MPO review and the resulting EIS process. Stantec, a global
leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting, has been retained as
the independent third -party EIS contractor and will work under the direction of the USFS to
prepare the Black Pine EIS and related documentation. This action represents a major step
advancing Black Pine towards a construction decision.
Execution of the interagency Memorandum of Understanding formalizes a collaborative
partnership between Liberty Gold, and various cooperating agencies for completion of the EIS.
The MOU establishes a clear roadmap with timelines for the NEPA permitting process and defines
the roles, responsibilities, and objectives of all parties to ensure efficient project progression while
upholding federal environmental standards , assuring stakeholder engagement, including
comprehensive reclamation and closure planning and all related permitting requirements.
Jon Gilligan, President and Chief Operating Officer of Liberty Gold stated: “Submission of the draft
Mine Plan of Operations and completion of the interagency MOU formalizing a strong, collaborative
partnership with federal and state cooperating agencies, reflects our deep commitment to responsible
resource development, project transparency and environmental stewardship.
“We are establishing a strong foundation for advancing Black Pine through the permitting process to a
potential construction decision within 3 years, ensuring the project meets the highest environmental and
operating standards. We look forward to working closely with the regulatory agencies and community
stakeholders over the coming period to complete the Environmental Impact Statement and concurrently
build the team that will deliver on Black Pine’s full potential.
“We also would like to commend Idaho Governor Brad Little for his Executive Order 2025- 02, the
Strategic Permitting, Efficiency, and Economic Development (“SPEED”) Act, which will improve
coordination among state agencies, reduce permitting delays, and drive forward projects that promote
energy independence, national security, and economic growth. Liberty Gold looks forward to our Black
Pine Mine being an active part of the SPEED Act process in the coming months.”
ABOUT LIBERTY GOLD
Liberty Gold is focused on exploring for and developing open pit oxide deposits in the Great Basin
of the United States, home to large -scale gold projects that are ideal for open -pit mining. This
region is one of the most prolific gold-producing regions in the world and stretches across Nevada
and into Idaho and Utah. We know the Great Basin and are driven to discover and advance
significant gold deposits that can be mined sustainably and profitably in open-pit scenarios.
For more information, visit www.libertygold.ca or contact:
Susie Bell, Manager, Investor Relations
Phone: 604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677
All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward -looking information" with respect to Liberty Gold within the meaning of
applicable securities laws, including statements that address potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, potential size and expansion of a mineralized zone,
proposed timing of exploration and development plans, expected capital costs at Black Pine, expected gold and silver recoveries from the Black Pine mineralized
material, potential additions to the resource through additional drill testing, potential upgrade of inferred mineral resourc es to measured and indicated mineral
resources, the timing and receipt of necessary permitting and approval of the final mine plan of operations . 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",
"potential", 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, obtaining governmental approvals and financing on time,
obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of
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equipment, accuracy of any mineral resources and mineral reserves, the availability of drill rigs, the accuracy of the preliminary feasibility study, 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 Company’s mineral property interests; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined ; current economic conditions; 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; delays in permitting; possible claims
against the Company; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or in the completion of
exploration as well as those factors discussed in the Annual Information Form of the Company dated March 2 8, 2024 in the section entitled "Risk Factors", under
Liberty Gold’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca .
Although Liberty Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to diffe r materially from those described in
forward-l o ok i ng in f o rmati o n, ther e may b e o th er f ac t o rs that c aus e ac ti o ns , e v en ts o r r es ul ts 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 in tention or obligation to update or revise any forward -looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise unless required by law.