United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register author aut Government Organization text government publication eng FR Regulatory Information 2026_register executive 2026-07-29 article Notices D09002ee1e5e4c2f4 D09002ee1e5e4c34c United States Department of Agriculture originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States Forest Service originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency The USDA Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, through the Forest Service, Black Hills National Forest, intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose effects from the proposed Mine Plan of Operations (MPO), submitted by Rare Element Resources Inc. (proponent), for the development of the Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project. This EIS will evaluate potential impacts of the proposed open-pit mining for rare earth elements from National Forest System (NFS) lands and its associated infrastructure. The proposed action is expected to require a project-specific forest plan amendment to authorize deviation from existing visual standards and guidelines in the Black Hills Forest Plan. The Planning, Administrative Reviews, and Litigation System identification number for the project is #291093. 91 FR 47803 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-07-29/2026-15255 2026-15255 fr29jy26-12 3411-15-P https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-07-29/2026-15255 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-29/html/2026-15255.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-29/pdf/2026-15255.pdf 3 p. 47803 47805 91 FR 47803 Black Hills National Forest; Wyoming; Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project; Federal Register Vol. 91, Issue NOTICE 2026-15255 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service 2026-08-28 3411-15-P 2026-15255 Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

The USDA Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, through the Forest Service, Black Hills National Forest, intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose effects from the proposed Mine Plan of Operations (MPO), submitted by Rare Element Resources Inc. (proponent), for the development of the Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project. This EIS will evaluate potential impacts of the proposed open-pit mining for rare earth elements from National Forest System (NFS) lands and its associated infrastructure. The proposed action is expected to require a project-specific forest plan amendment to authorize deviation from existing visual standards and guidelines in the Black Hills Forest Plan. The Planning, Administrative Reviews, and Litigation System identification number for the project is #291093.

This notice initiates a 30-day period to solicit public comments and identify issues. The Forest Service requests that the public submit comments on the alternatives or effects and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposal by August 28, 2026. The Black Hills National Forest will publish the complete EIS in late 2027. Associated documentation will be published on the project web page, listed below. The Forest Service will not publish a draft environmental impact statement or conduct an objections process. A schedule for the decision-making process and additional information about the project can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/ blackhills/projects/291093. Wendy Schuyler, Project Manager, Black Hills National Forest, by email at wendy.schuyler@usda.gov, or by phone at 605-673-9361. Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc. Black Hills National Forest, WY, Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project, wendy.schuyler@usda.gov https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=291093 https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills/projects/291093 https://www.permits.performance.gov/permitting-project/fast-41-covered-projects/bear-lodge-rare-earth-project Vol. 91, no. 144 Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration 2026-07-29 continuing daily deposited born digital 161 p. Table of Contents: AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: KF70.A2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-07-29 P0b002ee1e5d303f4 0097-6326 0042-1219 0364-1406 769-004-00000-9 000582072 f:fr29jy26 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-07-29 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-29/pdf/FR-2026-07-29.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-29/xml/FR-2026-07-29.xml fdlp 47779 47930 DGPO 2026-07-29 2026-07-29 FR-2026-07-29 machine generated eng FR FR-2026-07-29 91 144