The first mine to enter a federal program designed to accelerate permitting for critical minerals is now facing a legal challenge. Environmental groups have sued federal agencies over South32's Hermosa project, a zinc mine in the Patagonia Mountains of southern Arizona.
The project was added to the fast-track program as a test case for speeding up approval of mines for minerals considered essential to the energy transition. Its backers have described it as setting a standard for the modern federal permitting process, according to Inside Climate News.
The lawsuit marks an early clash between the push for domestic critical minerals supply and environmental oversight. The outcome could influence how future fast-tracked mines are reviewed and whether the program holds up under scrutiny.