Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project is the Latest to Gain FAST-41 Coverage
Contact Information
Permitting Council Press Office (media@permitting.gov)
WASHINGTON (March 20, 2026) – The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) is pleased to announce the latest project to receive FAST-41 coverage—the Bear Lodge Rare Earth project. The project will mine for rare earth elements, critical to the production of alloy and high-strength permanent magnet manufacturing.
“I am thrilled to welcome the 54th critical mineral and mining project to FAST-41,” said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director. “Once permitted, the Bear Lodge project will strengthen the U.S. economy and reduce our reliance on foreign adversaries, supporting President Trump’s energy dominance and national security goals.”
"Wyoming sits on a significant supply of Rare Earth Elements, and it's time we put them to work for American industries instead of relying on China and other foreign nations to supply them,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). “The Bear Lodge Project in northeastern Wyoming is on track to become an important domestic source of critical elements like neodymium and praseodymium, which our defense systems and high-tech manufacturers depend on. I'm glad to see the Permitting Council stepping up to shepherd projects like this through the process efficiently and without unnecessary red tape. Wyoming is going to continue leading the push for American mineral independence for decades to come."
The Bear Lodge Project is anticipated to become a major North American source of rare earth elements (REEs) to include neodymium, praseodymium, samarium and terbium. Neodymium and praseodymium are essential elements in the production of alloy and permanent magnet manufacturing essential to defense and high-tech industries, independent of foreign sources or processing. The mine site is located in northeastern Wyoming with access to power and supporting infrastructure.
“The acceptance of the Bear Lodge Rare Earth project in Wyoming as a FAST-41 Covered Project is a significant milestone in our development timeline, and ensures a coordinated, timely, and thorough NEPA review,” said Ken Mushinski, President and CEO of Rare Element Resources, Inc. “As America prioritizes secure domestic sources of rare earths, Bear Lodge is advancing toward commercialization to support the U.S. and our allies.”
The U.S. Forest Service serves as the lead permitting agency for this project. Rare Element Resources, Inc. is the project sponsor. Learn more on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.
About the Permitting Council and FAST-41
Established in 2015 by Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) is a federal agency charged with improving the transparency and predictability of the federal environmental review and authorization process for certain critical infrastructure projects. The Permitting Council is composed of the Permitting Council Executive Director, who serves as the Council Chair; 13 federal agency Council members; and the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Office of the Executive Director coordinates federal environmental reviews and authorizations for projects that seek and qualify for FAST-41 coverage, which are in turn entitled to comprehensive permitting timetables and transparent, collaborative management of those timetables on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.
Learn more about the Permitting Council at permitting.gov.
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Last Updated: Friday, March 20, 2026