US Forest Service
August 29, 2024
USFS project page status updated to Completed
The official USFS project page (#66192) was last updated, reflecting the signed Decision Memo and a project status of Completed.
Source: US Forest Service ↗Project · Powell County, Montana · FAST-41 Listed
Blue Copper Project
US Forest Service designation: Blue Copper Mineral Exploration Project
A Falcon-operated copper-dominant mineral exploration project in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Powell County, Montana. The US Forest Service Decision Memo approving the Plan of Operations was signed on August 27, 2024 by the Helena District Ranger.
Project at a Glance
Blue Copper Project
Status
Completed
Per USFS Project #66192
Decision Date
August 27, 2024
Signed by Helena District Ranger
NEPA Pathway
Categorical Exclusion
36 CFR 220.6(e)(8)
Targets
Cu · W · Zn · Ga · Ge · Au
Copper-dominant; multi-critical-minerals
Overview
A multi-critical-minerals exploration project on federal and patented land.
The Blue Copper Project is a Falcon-operated exploration project in Powell County, Montana, targeting a copper-dominant mineral system that also hosts tungsten, zinc, gallium, germanium, and gold — several of which are on the federal critical minerals list.
Falcon Copper Corporation, formerly Blue Copper Resources Corporation, submitted the original Plan of Operations in June 2023. The project is also listed on the federal FAST-41 permitting transparency dashboard.
The project intent, in the words of the Decision Memo, is “to better define the extent and characteristics of known and/or inferred locatable mineral occurrences within the project area.” Operations involve both National Forest land and privately owned patented inholdings.
Because part of the project area is on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, the US Forest Service is the lead federal agency for environmental review and permitting. The official project record — including the Decision Memo, biological assessments, and consultation documentation — is published by USFS and accessible at the Pinyon Public document repository.
Location & Operational Areas
Snowshoe Creek drainage, Powell County, Montana.
Project operations are organized into three areas in the Snowshoe Creek drainage, ~6.5 miles northeast of Avon, Montana. Two areas — Blue and Ladysmith — are on Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest land; the third, Arnold-Quigley, is on privately owned patented inholdings. Primary access is via Forest Service Road 708.
Project Maps
Legal description: Sections 22, 27, and 28, Township 11 North, Range 7 West, P.M.M..
Project area · Powell County
Project coordinates
Snowshoe Creek drainage, immediate topography
Regional contextProject area: Sections 22, 27, and 28, Township 11 North, Range 7 West, P.M.M.
Basemap: USGS National Map (USGSTopo). Project location: U.S. Forest Service Decision Memo, August 2024. Avon, MT coordinates: USGS GNIS. Boundaries: U.S. Census TIGER/Line 2024.
Three Operational Areas
Blue
National Forest
West of Forest Service Road 708 along an east-facing slope south of Ward Gulch. Drill sites A–D.
Ladysmith
National Forest
East of Road 708, parallel to the Ladysmith Creek drainage bottom. Drill sites E–G.
Arnold-Quigley
Private patented lands
East of Road 708, just east of Snowshoe Creek and north of Ladysmith Creek. Drill sites H–K and M.
The Approved Operations
Twelve drill sites across three operational areas.
“Exploration drilling operations and geophysical surveys would be conducted to reinforce and build upon geologic mapping and geophysical survey information collected during previous investigation of the project area.”
SourceUS Forest Service — Project #66192 · last updated August 29, 2024
Drill sites
12
7 on National Forest land
Max drilling project-wide
~12,100 ft
Up to 2,000 ft per site
Drill hole depths
325–900 ft
Tentative, by operational area
Estimated duration
10–12 weeks
Of active drilling operations
The approved Plan of Operations covers core drilling (3.5-inch diameter holes) and surface and downhole geophysical surveys at the 12 identified drill sites. Drill pads measure approximately 20 feet by 40 feet, with larger 40-by-40-foot pads at the Blue operational area sites A–D where terrain requires cut-and-fill construction. The Decision Memo incorporates resource protection measures across botany, fisheries, heritage, hydrology, minerals, recreation, silviculture, soils, weeds, and wildlife.
Source: USFS Decision Memo, pp. 2–4.
Federal Review & Approvals
Decision Memo signed; federal review complete.
The Helena District Ranger signed the Decision Memo for the Blue Copper Mineral Exploration Project on August 27, 2024, approving the Plan of Operations with incorporated resource protection measures. The action was categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment under 36 CFR 220.6(e)(8), with three federal and state concurrences supporting the analysis.
Lead Agency
US Forest Service
Decision Memo signed August 27, 2024 by the Helena District Ranger. Categorical Exclusion under 36 CFR 220.6(e)(8).
USFS Project Page ↗ESA Consultation
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Consultation concluded August 8, 2024. USFWS concurred with the affected species determinations in the biological assessments.
View Project Record ↗Section 106 Consultation
Montana SHPO
Project-level informal consultation completed; concurrence granted January 18, 2024 regarding historic properties and cultural resources.
View Project Record ↗Endangered Species Act Determinations
The Decision Memo evaluated extraordinary circumstances across threatened and endangered species, fisheries, floodplains, wetlands, congressionally designated areas, inventoried roadless areas, research natural areas, cultural and archeological sites, and historic properties. None were found to preclude the use of the categorical exclusion.
Grizzly bear
Ursus arctos horribilis
May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect
Whitebark pine
Pinus albicaulis
May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis
May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect
Wolverine
Gulo gulo luscus
May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect
Westslope cutthroat trout
Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi
No Impact
Bull trout
Salvelinus confluentus
No Effect
Source: USFS Decision Memo, pp. 7–9. USFWS concurred with these determinations on August 8, 2024.
Per the Decision Memo: “Decisions made under Categorical Exclusions are not subject to administrative review procedures (i.e., appeal/objection processes).”
Project Timeline
From NEPA initiation to Decision Memo signed.
USFS Decision Memo
August 27, 2024
Decision Memo signed by Helena District Ranger
The Helena District Ranger signed the Decision Memo approving the Plan of Operations with incorporated resource protection measures. The action was categorically excluded under 36 CFR 220.6(e)(8) — short-term mineral, energy, or geophysical investigations.
Source: USFS Decision Memo ↗US Fish and Wildlife Service
August 8, 2024
US Fish and Wildlife Service consultation concluded
Project consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding applicable federally listed species concluded. The Service concurred with the affected species determinations expressed in the biological assessments prepared by the Forest.
Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service ↗US Forest Service
May 28, 2024
Scoping period began
Scoping commenced for the Blue Copper Mineral Exploration Project. Per the Decision Memo, no project-specific comments were raised during scoping.
Source: US Forest Service ↗Montana SHPO
January 18, 2024
Montana SHPO concurrence on historic properties
Project-level informal consultation with the Montana State Historic Preservation Office regarding historic properties and cultural resources was completed, with concurrence from the Montana SHPO granted on January 18, 2024.
Source: Montana SHPO ↗USFS Decision Memo
June 13, 2023
NEPA environmental analysis initiated
The US Forest Service began an appropriate level of environmental analysis specific to the proposed locatable mineral exploration operation under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Source: USFS Decision Memo ↗Resources & Official Sources
Federal records and the administering office.
Official Project Record
US Forest Service Project Page
The authoritative federal record for the Blue Copper Mineral Exploration Project (#66192).
Visit fs.usda.gov ↗All Documents
Pinyon Public Repository
Decision Memo, biological assessments, consultation documentation, and the full project record.
View Documents ↗Federal Permitting
FAST-41 Dashboard
Cross-agency federal permitting transparency record. Blue Copper is listed on the dashboard.
Visit FAST-41 ↗Falcon Copper
Contact Falcon
For Falcon-specific questions about the company, the broader project portfolio, or media inquiries.
Contact Falcon →Administering Office
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
Supervisor's Office · Helena Ranger District
2880 Skyway Drive
Helena, MT 59602
406-449-5201
2880 Skyway Drive
Helena, MT 59602
406-449-5201
Public Information
For questions about the federal record, the Plan of Operations, consultation findings, or any aspect of the public process, the responsible US Forest Service official and current contact information are listed on the official USFS project page under Get Connected.
Open USFS Project Page ↗Project information on this page is provided for general reference only and does not constitute a technical disclosure of mineral resources, reserves, exploration results, or project economics. For the official record and current status, see the US Forest Service project page and project record linked above. See Disclosures.
Falcon Copper Mining
See the full project portfolio.