In 2020 the Mine Operating Permit (MOP) for Black Butte Copper  was issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the company set in place a reclamation bond for the first phase of a two-phase development process. Construction under the Phase 1 development plan began in August of 2020 and surface work commenced with a few Phase 1 projects left to be completed..  Phase 2 development will occur after all legal challenges to the project are resoluved and the Board gives the green light to go forward.  Completion of mine construction will take approximately 24 months.