American Rare Earths Moves Ahead with Cowboy State Groundwater Monitoring

American Rare Earths

Groundwater Monitoring Launched at Halleck Creek’s Cowboy State Mine

American Rare Earths (ASX:ARR) has installed groundwater monitoring wells at the Cowboy State Mine, a cornerstone of the company’s Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming, USA. The initiative marks a critical advancement in the mine’s environmental permitting process and supports efforts to fast-track the Prefeasibility Study (PFS) by late 2025.

Quarterly water sampling and 24-hour pump tests will continue over the next 12 months to establish baseline environmental data and inform groundwater modeling—a key component in the project’s formal mining permit application with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ).

State Land Advantage and Environmental Compliance

CEO Chris Gibbs emphasized that the strategic decision to develop Cowboy State Mine on state-managed land delivers a “major competitive advantage” over projects on federal land, thanks to simplified permitting and faster regulatory timelines.

“This work underpins our environmental approvals process,” Gibbs said, reaffirming ARR’s commitment to first production by 2029 and to securing a domestic critical minerals supply chain.

All data collection is being performed in line with WDEQ standards, enhancing the project's credibility and aligning it with national efforts to reduce dependency on foreign supply chains, particularly for rare earth elements critical to defense, electronics, and clean energy.

Next Steps: Pump Testing and Mine Planning

The groundwater program includes 24-hour pump tests designed to evaluate aquifer behavior, flow rates, and dewatering requirements. These tests will shape mine design, hydrological impact assessments, and ultimately mine permit submissions.

As one of the largest known rare earth deposits in the US, Halleck Creek—anchored by the Cowboy State Mine—positions American Rare Earths at the forefront of domestic critical mineral development.

ScrapInsight Editorial Commentary

American Rare Earths is playing its cards right at Cowboy State. Groundwater monitoring is more than a permit step—it’s the cornerstone of sustainable mine development. By working on state land, ARR sidesteps federal red tape and puts itself in the driver's seat for delivering timely, US-sourced rare earth supply. This initiative signals a serious push toward long-term strategic mineral independence, in sync with Washington’s critical mineral policies.