Korea Zinc passes environmental assessment for US project — Korea Herald
Korea Zinc has received a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Crucible project in Tennessee, United States. The $7.4 billion complex is intended to become an integrated facility for processing critical minerals, Korea Herald reports.
US Department of Defense finding
The US Department of Defense completed the project’s final environmental assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The department concluded that the construction and operation of the complex would not have a significant impact on the environment.
Korea Zinc received a Finding of No Significant Impact. The company called it an important prerequisite for implementing Crucible, as federal and state authorities rely on such findings when granting permits and financial support.
The assessment covered air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, water resources, waste and hazardous materials, as well as the socioeconomic impact on local communities.
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Plans for the complex
The project involves building a smelting complex in Tennessee. It is planned to be used to process 11 critical minerals, 12 non-ferrous metals, including gold, as well as semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid.
Korea Zinc said it would use the technologies of its Onsan plant in Ulsan and comply with US environmental standards. In May, Crucible became the first project designated under the federal FAST-4 program following a memorandum between the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council and the state of Tennessee.
The program is intended to accelerate review procedures at government agencies to develop critical mineral processing capacity in the United States. Following the environmental assessment, the company plans to obtain separate permits for the construction and operation of the complex.
