Westwater Advances Coosa Graphite Permitting with Section 404 Application

Event summary

  • Westwater Resources submitted a Section 404 permit application for its Coosa Graphite Deposit in Alabama on June 15, 2026.
  • The application, filed under the Clean Water Act, addresses potential water impacts from future development.
  • Coosa is listed on the federal FAST-41 Permitting Dashboard, which provides a public timetable for environmental review.
  • The deposit is the largest and most developed graphite deposit in the contiguous United States.
  • Coosa will supply feedstock for Westwater's Kellyton Graphite Plant, supporting domestic battery-grade graphite production.

The big picture

Westwater's permitting progress for Coosa reflects the broader push to secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals like graphite, essential for lithium-ion battery production. The project's advancement aligns with U.S. efforts to reduce reliance on foreign sources of battery materials, particularly as demand for electric vehicles and energy storage solutions grows. The strategic integration of Coosa with the Kellyton Graphite Plant underscores Westwater's vertically integrated approach to graphite production.

What we're watching

Permitting Timeline
Whether Westwater can align Coosa's development with the FAST-41 process and meet anticipated investment decision timelines.
Regulatory Hurdles
The pace at which environmental reviews and permitting activities progress, given the project's scale and location.
Market Dynamics
How domestic graphite production capacity will affect U.S. battery supply chains and Westwater's competitive positioning.

Related topics

Critical Minerals