New World Resources has received the Determination of NEPA Adequacy from the US Bureau of Land Management regarding the mine plan of operations (MPO) application submitted for the company’s Antler Copper Project.
The “high-grade” Antler Copper Project is situated approximately 200km south-east of Las Vegas and 350km north-west of Phoenix in northern Arizona, US.
The MPO, submitted on 25 January 2024, is the sole federal permit required for the project’s development.
The next phase involves completing an environmental assessment as part of the federal permitting process.
The comprehensive analysis will cover the project’s scope, including mining techniques, land disturbance, water usage and waste management. It will also evaluate potential impacts on wildlife, vegetation, cultural sites and nearby communities.
The environmental assessment is expected to conclude within one year, aligning with the Council on Environmental Quality’s adjudication time frame.
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By GlobalDataAnticipation for the MPO approval in early 2026 aligns with the expected issuance of Arizona mine permits throughout 2025. These developments indicate that the Antler Copper Project is on track for full permitting by the first quarter of 2026 (Q1 2026).
New World managing director and CEO Nick Woolrych said: “Receiving the Determination of NEPA Adequacy and confirmation that our mine plan of operations will be evaluated under an environmental assessment puts us on a clear 12-month path to achieving full federal approval.
“With this being our only required federal permit and Arizona State permits expected to be finalised throughout the course of 2025, we are on track to commence construction activities in H2 2025 [second half of 2025], be permitted for full operations by early 2026 and shipping concentrate by 2027.”
Recent executive orders from the Trump administration have underscored the importance of critical minerals, advocating for expedited and efficient permitting processes to boost domestic resource development, the company stated.
These policies are shaping a more predictable and supportive regulatory environment for mining projects in the US.
The Antler Copper Project is advancing in securing all major state permits and authorisations required for operations.
These include an aquifer protection permit, air quality permit and a mined land reclamation plan, all of which are currently under assessment by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Arizona State Mine Inspector, and are expected to be approved throughout 2025.
The permitting process is proceeding alongside other significant initiatives such as a definitive feasibility study, financing arrangements, and local and regional exploration.
These efforts aim to further de-risk and enhance the project’s development potential, as outlined in the pre-feasibility study released in July 2024.
Woolrych added: “This achievement highlights the exceptional work of New World’s local team and consultants and underscores the supportive approach of the BLM field office in Kingman, Arizona.”
New World secured firm commitments in April 2024 to raise around A$20.4m ($13m) to advance the Antler Copper Project.
