Highlights

• The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council added 4 new mineral projects to its transparency dashboard.
• The projects span copper, gallium, and rare earth minerals.
• FAST-41 transparency status increases project visibility but does not guarantee permitting, financing, or construction.
• Investor scrutiny is required for these projects.
• The initiative aims to support US re-industrialization of critical mineral supply chains.
• Significant economic and environmental challenges remain.

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The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s August 22nd release trumpeted four new “transparency projects” under FAST-41—Schell Creek, Blue Copper, Trail Ridge South, and Maxville Expansion. On the surface, this looks like progress: copper, gallium, germanium, zircon, monazite, and titanium projects posted to the federal dashboard, with promises of transparency in permitting. But what’s really here, and what’s missing?

Recently, Rare Earth Exchanges interviewed Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech (opens in a new tab), and that episode will be uploaded to the YouTube channel soon.  Domenech has led this permitting reform for some years now, surviving multiple administrations—a testimony to her dedication, capability, and performance.

The Solid Ground: What’s Factually Correct

The release is accurate that the Permitting Council can direct projects onto the dashboard under FAST-41 transparency status. Schell Creek (Nevada) and Blue Copper (Montana) are Falcon Copper Corp projects, with Forest Service oversight. Trail Ridge South and Maxville Expansion are Chemours Company mineral sands projects in Florida under the Army Corps—the tally of 35 transparency projects nationwide checks out. And yes, transparency designation does provide visibility into permitting timelines—a valuable service in a notoriously opaque process.

The Shine of Speculation

The release leans hard on conditional language: “if permitted,” these projects will deliver minerals “essential to national and economic security.” That’s a big “if.” FAST-41 transparency status does not guarantee permitting, financing, or construction. Investors should note: this designation is different from full FAST-41 coverage, which brings coordinated federal project management. These four projects only gain visibility, not speed.

The Rhetorical Brushstrokes

Statements praising the “tremendous achievement” of the Trump Administration stray from neutral reporting into political branding, which can be common regardless of administration.  By packaging technical permitting steps as major national victories, the release edges into boosterism, which we are good with, given the need to drive re-industrialization of the critical mineral supply chains in the United States.  The claim that these projects will “make the promise of American abundance a reality” glosses over economic, environmental, and community hurdles that could stall or kill any one of them, as we put on our more critical lens.

Where the Cracks Appear

What’s absent is just as telling. No mention of project timelines, capital expenditure requirements, or potential environmental opposition. Nothing on whether zircon and monazite output would actually flow into U.S. rare earth separation, or whether extracted gallium and germanium would move downstream to domestic tech supply chains rather than export. Without those connections, “national security” framing is premature.

Investor Takeaway

The Permitting Council’s dashboard entries are real, factual, and useful to track. And as we stated above, Emily Domenech has helped contribute to significant reform to help streamline the process.  But the permitting battles also can ensue, and we face a steep climb toward our independence in our rare earth and critical mineral supply chain. 

From guarantees for financing to the need for downstream integration to workforce development and ensuring vibrant demand are all factors well beyond the Permitting Council’s purview. Transparency is welcome, but without full FAST-41 coverage, such news can turn into a signal more than substance. Investors should temper optimism with scrutiny and get to know the entire value chain.

Citation: Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, Press Release, August 22, 2025.

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