Western Exploration Provides Doby George Update USFS Accepts Notice of Intent for Doby George to Advance Permitting; Baseline Studies Begin in February 2026
Western Exploration Provides Doby George
Update
USFS Accepts Notice of Intent for Doby George to Advance
Permitting; Baseline Studies Begin in February 2026
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2026) - Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV:
WEX) (OTCQX: WEXPF) (the "
Company
" or "
Western Exploration
") is pleased to announce that the
United States Forest Service ("USFS") has
accepted
the Company's
Notice of Intent ("NOI")
to
submit a
Mine Plan of Operations ("MPO")
for the Doby George deposit at the Company's 100%
owned Aura Project in Nevada.
Key Highlights:
USFS accepted the NOI, initiating the pathway toward submission and review of the MPO.
Target MPO submission: Q2 2026.
Baseline studies begin: February 2026, covering key environmental and cultural disciplines.
NEPA environmental reports targeted for submission: Q2 2027.
Western Exploration CEO, Darcy Marud, commented:
"
On December 1, 2025, the Company submitted
a Notice of Intent to submit a Mine Plan of Operations (NOI) to the United States Forest Service (USFS).
This is an important early milestone and supports the Company's objective of advancing Doby George
from study-stage toward a development decision."
The Company is currently working with its partners at Stantec Consulting (Stantec) and Kappes Cassidy
& Associates (KCA) to complete the MPO based on the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)
announced on May 8, 2025, "Western Exploration Announces Positive Preliminary Economic
Assessment for the Doby George Resource at the Aura Project".
The company anticipates filing the
MPO in Q2 2026.
To support this work, the Company has entered into an additional Consulting Service Agreement with
Stantec Consulting to commence baseline studies over the next 14 months beginning in February 2026.
Stantec will lead a comprehensive suite of baseline studies including biological, cultural, paleontological,
air, noise, hydrology, geochemistry, and aquatic studies. As applicable, the program will incorporate
relevant prior work completed by the Company and Stantec.
As outlined in the PEA, the current development concept envisions a 7,500 tonne per day open pit heap
leach operation at Doby George. The Company is working with its partners to submit all environmental
reports for review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by Q2 2027.
ABOUT WESTERN EXPLORATION
Western Exploration is advancing the 100% owned Aura Project, located approximately 120
kilometers/75 miles north of the city of Elko, Nevada. The Aura Project includes three unique gold and
silver deposits: Doby George, Gravel Creek, and Wood Gulch. Western Exploration is comprised of an
experienced team of precious metals experts that aim to lead the company to becoming North
America's premiere gold and silver development company.
Additional information regarding Western Exploration can be found on Western Exploration's corporate
website (
www.westernexploration.com
) on SEDAR+ (
www.sedarplus.ca
) under Western Exploration's
issuer profile.
For more information, please contact:
Darcy Marud
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: 775-329-8119
Email:
Nichole Cowles
Investor Relations
Telephone:
775-240-4172
Email:
Qualified Person Approval
The scientific and technical content in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mark
Hawksworth, General Manager of the Western Exploration's Aura Project, who is a "qualified person"
within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 -
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
("
NI
43
-
101
").
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, "
forward-
looking statements
"). These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require the Company to make
certain assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Any
statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives,
assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always, using phrases such as "expects", or
"does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not
anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "potential", "feasibility", "believes"
or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results
"may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of
historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking
information. This news release contains the forward-looking information pertaining to, among other
things: the significance of the results of the drill results from the Tomasina target; the accuracy of results
from prior exploration activities conducted at the Aura Project; the prospects, if any, of the Wood Gulch
and Gravel Creek mineral deposits; future drilling and exploration plans and intentions at the Aura
Project; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results. Such factors include, among
others, risks relating to the ability of exploration activities (including drill results) to accurately predict
mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; the ability of Western Exploration to
complete further exploration activities, including drilling; property and royalty interests in respect of the
Aura Project; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the results of exploration activities;
risks relating to mining activities; the global economic climate; metal prices; dilution; environmental risks;
and community and non-governmental actions. Although the forward-looking information contained in this
news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable
assumptions, Western Exploration cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities
of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may
be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither Western
Exploration nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such
forward-looking information. Western Exploration does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to
update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to
reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.
For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the
forward-looking statements and forward-looking information made in this news release concerning
Western Exploration, please refer to the continuous disclosure record of Western Exploration on
SEDAR+ (
www.sedarplus.ca
) under Western Exploration's issuer profile. The forward-looking
statements set forth herein concerning Western Exploration reflect management's expectations as at the
date of this news release and are subject to change after such date. Western Exploration disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory
authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281837