[ferro-alloys.com]Sandfire Resources America's proposed Black Butte underground copper project in Montana is being delayed an estimated two months so the company can comply with new state environmental regulations, Sandfire spokeswoman Nancy Schlepp said Monday.

The company learned only recently it must change the project's design to meet a new non-degradation standard for nitrogen before Black Butte can receive final approval from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, according to Schlepp.

"The good news is, we have a solution," she said. Sandfire has told the MDEQ it intends to comply by building a 54 million-gallon holding pond to contain water that eventually could end up in the Smith River.

Sandfire had hoped to receive a final record of decision from MDEQ before December 25. Now, that timetable has slid into the first quarter of 2019.

Barring any additional unforeseen delays, Schlepp said construction on Black Butte still is scheduled to start in mid- to late next year, following completion of a bankable feasibility study that could lead to a final decision next June on whether to proceed with the project.

Black Butte is expected to produce about 400 mt/day of copper during its estimated 14-year life.

(S&P Global Platts)

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