Sayona Mining Limited announced the lodgement of a new environmental impact study (EIS) for the Company's Authier Lithium Project with Québec's Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC), highlighting the project's potential to become a sustainable and profitable new lithium mine. The EIS was filed as required for the environmental impact assessment and review procedures provided for under Québec's Environmental Quality Act. Its submission follows Sayona's recent announcement of a revised Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the Authier project, which showed an estimated net present value of CAD 216 million (AUD 241 million) A new mine could create up to 176 valuable new jobs for the benefit of the local community, with Sayona putting priority on engaging local workers and suppliers. In December 2019, Sayona completed an agreement with First Nation Abitibiwinni concerning the exploration phase of the project, aimed at ensuring a collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership. Sayona's Managing Director, Brett Lynch, said the lodgement of the EIS was another important milestone in Authier's development. In addition to advancing the project, this is also a further step towards planned integration of Authier with North American Lithium (NAL), supporting the development of a successful lithium hub in Abitibi. Importantly for the community, the study reaffirms the project will have no impact on the water quality of the StMathieu Berry esker, an important water resource for the region. Serge Rouillier, Director, Sustainable Development at Sayona Québec, commented: "The EIS presents an improved project and one that should meet the expectations and concerns of the local community and First Nation Abitibiwinni as expressed during recent public consultations. It also addresses the issues formulated during consultations with MELCC held in 2019.