Lakewood, Colorado - Rare Element Resources Ltd. (NYSE MKT: REE and TSX: RES) (the “Company”), a mineral resources company advancing development of the Bear Lodge Critical Rare Earth Project in northeastern Wyoming, is pleased to report that it has received resolutions or letters of support for the Project from three counties, six municipalities, one school district and the Black Hills Regional Multiple Use Coalition. These statements express support for the Project, acknowledge the potential economic benefits to the communities and encourage the timely completion of the required state and federal analysis and permitting activities.
“We are both thankful and overwhelmed by the strong show of support for the Bear Lodge Project from the local communities,” said Randall J. Scott, President and Chief Executive Officer. “These statements demonstrate that the people of Wyoming value natural resource development and appreciate it can be done with full consideration of environmental protection. They understand the importance of a thorough and efficient permitting process and are encouraging state and federal agencies to take steps to accelerate and streamline the process to move it forward as expeditiously as possible. Being located in the great state of Wyoming represents significant value for the Bear Lodge Project, both in the existing infrastructure and talented pool of professionals from which to build our team. We appreciate the strong, vocal support for our Project and look forward to being a contributing member of these communities for years to come.”
Resolutions/Letters of Support
In the resolution passed by the Black Hills Regional Multiple Use Coalition, their Board of Directors recognized mining as “…an important, historic multiple use in the Black Hills region” and supported the “timely permitting of the Bear Lodge Project...”
Resolutions were received from the counties of Crook and Campbell, with a letter of support from Weston County. Crook County acknowledged that “…Rare Element Resources has an open door policy that includes public updates and tours to showcase its pride in the environmental and socially sound job they are doing...” Campbell County recognized “…the Bull Hill critical rare earth deposit, located in the Bear Lodge Mountains, has been identified as one of the most important non-Chinese deposits in the world and has been determined to be a vital piece of the restoration of America’s critical minerals supply chain…” Weston County’s letter stated that the community was “…excited at the prospect that a new, low impact industry might locate in our area.”
The governing bodies of Upton, Sundance, Moorcroft, Hulett and Pine Haven all passed resolutions in support of the Project, while the City of Newcastle issued a letter. In Upton, the site of Rare Element’s proposed hydrometallurgical processing plant, Mayor Don Sharkey acknowledged that the plant “…will bring to the Upton area a significant number of safe, high-tech, and highly skilled jobs…” Paul Brooks, Mayor of Sundance, encouraged “…all Federal agencies to consider the urgency and geostrategic importance of bringing this vital project into production without further delay…” The resolutions or letters signed by Gregory James, Mayor of Newcastle, Vivian Odell, Mayor of Hulett, Steve Blakeman, Mayor of Moorcroft, and Mike Smith, Mayor of Pine Haven, all encouraged the regulatory agencies to support successful and timely completion of the required federal and state permitting activities.
The sentiments reflected in the statements of support were consistent with the results of polling conducted for the Company by GS Strategy Group in April 2013. Of the over 400 registered voters of Crook and Weston counties interviewed, 87% said that they believed mining at the Bear Lodge Project could be done in an environmentally responsible manner.
Copies of the resolutions can be found on the Rare Element Resources website at
www.rareelementresources.com/bear-lodge-project/community.
Rare Element Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded mineral resource company focused on exploration and development of rare-earth element deposits, specifically those with significant distribution of critical rare earths. The Company is advancing development of the Bear Lodge Project, located in northeast Wyoming. Bear Lodge is a significant mineralized district containing many of the less common, more valuable critical rare earths that are essential for electronics, fiber optics, laser systems for health and defense, as well as many evolving green technologies, like hybrid cars, solar panels and wind turbines. Permitting and feasibility work on the Project is currently underway.
For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.rareelementresources.com or contact Robbin Lee at 720-278-2462 or rlee@rareelementresources.com.