Liberty Gold Advances Black Pine Project Permitting with Acceptance into FAST-41 U.S. Federal Permitting Framework

Rhea-AI Summary

Liberty Gold (OTCQX: LGDTF) announced that its Black Pine Oxide Gold Project in southeastern Idaho has been accepted into the U.S. FAST-41 federal permitting framework as a Covered Project. Acceptance grants access to a coordinated permitting timetable and a project advisor to support interagency coordination, transparency and accountability. The company expects to enter a structured schedule coordination period with agencies over the next 60 days, after which an updated public permitting timetable will be posted to a U.S. government dashboard. Liberty Gold says Black Pine is a brownfield with extensive environmental baseline studies and continues parallel workstreams including feasibility-level engineering and state and federal permitting.

Positive

• Accepted into FAST-41 as a Covered Project
• Access to a coordinated permitting timetable and a project advisor
• Planned 60-day schedule coordination period before a public permitting timetable
• Existing environmental baseline studies and brownfield status
• Project benefits from existing infrastructure and a supportive jurisdiction

Negative

• Permitting is ongoing and no federal approvals have been issued yet
• Timeline beyond the 60-day coordination period remains uncertain

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Gold Corp. (TSX: LGD; OTCQX: LGDTF) (“Liberty Gold” or the “Company”) is pleased to report that its Black Pine Oxide Gold Project (“Black Pine”), located in southeastern Idaho, has been accepted into the U.S. Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Committee Council (“FPISC”) FAST-41 process (the “FAST-41”) as a “Covered Project”.

Acceptance as a Covered Project provides access to the full range of FAST-41 benefits with a coordinated permitting timetable and project advisor. This will support enhanced interagency coordination, transparency and accountability as federal and state agencies advance environmental review and permitting activities for Black Pine. The Company anticipates entering a structured schedule coordination period over the next 60 days with the relevant agencies, after which an updated, publicly available permitting timetable is expected to be posted to a U.S. government permitting dashboard.

“Inclusion of the Black Pine Oxide Gold Project into the FAST-41 federal permitting framework is an important milestone for Liberty Gold and reflects the quality, maturity, and readiness of the project,” stated Jon Gilligan, President and CEO of Liberty Gold. “We appreciate the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the FPISC in supporting the inclusion of Black Pine in the FAST-41 process. As a brownfield development with extensive environmental baseline studies already completed, Black Pine is well positioned to benefit from the enhanced coordination, transparency, and accountability that FAST-41 provides as permitting activities progress.”

Idaho Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke commented, “This is an important step for Liberty Gold and for Idaho workers. Projects like this mean good-paying jobs, local investments and long-term economic opportunity for rural communities. The Trump administration’s focus on efficient permitting is helping projects move forward and keeping America competitive.”

The Company continues to advance Black Pine along parallel workstreams, including feasibility-level engineering, continuing environmental baseline studies, and both state and federal permitting. Liberty Gold remains focused on maintaining its critical path permitting objectives for Black Pine and will provide further updates as milestones are achieved.

Black Pine is one of the largest undeveloped gold projects in the Great Basin and benefits from existing infrastructure, a large mineral endowment, and a supportive mining jurisdiction.

ABOUT LIBERTY GOLD

Liberty Gold is a U.S. focused gold development company building and advancing a pipeline of gold assets in the Great Basin, one of the world’s most productive and mining friendly gold regions. The Company’s flagship asset is the 100% owned Black Pine Oxide Gold Project in southern Idaho, a large scale, past-producing run-of-mine heap leach system being advanced through feasibility and permitting toward a modern open-pit mining operation. Liberty Gold also controls the Goldstrike Project in Utah, which remains an important part of the Company’s U.S. gold asset portfolio. The Company’s strategy is to responsibly develop high quality, long-life gold projects in supportive jurisdictions, led by an experienced team with a track record of discovery, development and delivering long term value.

For more information, visit libertygold.ca or contact:

Susie Bell, Manager, Investor Relations
Phone: 604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677
info@libertygold.ca

This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements or information concerning, future financial or operating performance of Liberty Gold and its business, operations, properties and condition; planned de-risking activities at Liberty Gold’s mineral properties; federal and state permitting timelines, future updates to the mineral resource, the potential quantity, recoverability and/or grade of minerals; the potential size of a mineralized zone or potential expansion of mineralization; proposed exploration and development of Liberty Gold’s exploration property interests; future water rights acquisitions; the results of mineral resource estimates or mineral reserve estimates and preliminary feasibility studies; and the Company’s anticipated expenditures.

Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold, and other metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, timely receipt of governmental or regulatory approvals, including any stock exchange approvals; receipt of a financing on time, obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, results or timing of any mineral resources, results or timing of any baseline studies, resource conversion, pre-feasibility study, mineral reserves, or feasibility study; the availability of drill rigs, successful resolution of disputes and anticipated costs and expenditures. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Liberty Gold and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Such forward-looking information, involves known and unknown risks, which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, risks related to the interpretation of results and/or the reliance on technical information provided by third parties as related to the Company’s mineral property interests; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; state and federal permitting processes, future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; the costs and timing of the development of new deposits; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; the timing and success of exploration activities generally; the timing or results of the publication of any mineral resources, mineral reserves or feasibility studies; delays in permitting; possible claims against the Company; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing, timing of the completion of exploration as well as those factors discussed in the Annual Information Form of the Company dated March 25, 2025, in the section entitled "Risk Factors", under Liberty Gold’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although Liberty Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Liberty Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except for material differences between actual results and previously disclosed material forward-looking information, or as otherwise required by law.

Except for statements of historical fact, information contained herein or incorporated by reference herein constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking statements and forward-looking information attributable to us is expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

FAQ

What does Liberty Gold's FAST-41 acceptance mean for Black Pine (OTCQX: LGDTF)?

Acceptance as a FAST-41 Covered Project gives Black Pine access to a coordinated permitting timetable and a project advisor to improve interagency coordination and transparency.

When will Liberty Gold publish an updated permitting timetable for Black Pine (LGDTF)?

The company expects to enter a structured schedule coordination period over the next 60 days, after which an updated public permitting timetable is expected to be posted to a U.S. government dashboard.

Does FAST-41 acceptance mean Black Pine has received final permits for development?

No. FAST-41 acceptance facilitates coordination and a timetable but does not grant final state or federal permits.

What preparatory work has Liberty Gold completed for Black Pine (LGDTF)?

The project is described as a brownfield with extensive environmental baseline studies completed and ongoing feasibility-level engineering and permitting workstreams.

How might FAST-41 affect the permitting process timeline for Black Pine (LGDTF)?

FAST-41 provides a coordinated schedule and project advisor intended to enhance transparency and accountability, which may streamline interagency reviews during permitting.