Earthworks seeks reinstatement of Cortina lease

Mr. David Atkinson reports EARTHWORKS INDUSTRIES, INC. - CORTINA UPDATE Earthworks Industries Inc. has provided an update on the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California by the company's wholly owned United States subsidiary, Cortina Integrated Waste Management Inc. (CIWM), challenging the order of the U.S. Department of the Interior's, Board of Indian Appeals (IBIA), which purports to cancel the federally approved lease between CIWM and the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation of the Cortina Rancheria, California. CIWM's complaint challenges the IBIA order and requests the court to enter a judgement for the company providing the following relief. Declare that the IBIA decision violates the Administrative Procedures Act; Issue injunctive relief to vacate and set aside the IBIA decision affirming the Bureau of Indian Affairs' termination of the lease; Reinstate the lease; Grant CIWM such other relief as the court deems just and proper. CIWM and the United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and Interior Board of Indian Appeals and Defendant-Intervenor Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation of the Cortina Rancheria have continued to meet the timelines outlined in the joint briefing schedule referenced in the previous news release by the company dated April 11, 2025. The federal defendants' and tribe's opposition/cross-motions were both timely submitted on June 30, 2025. While CIWM's reply/opposition filing was originally planned for July 30, 2025, it is now scheduled for Aug. 8, 2025. The federal defendants' and tribe's cross-motion reply is scheduled for Aug. 29, 2025. CIWM has, in good faith, spent decades pursuing the project and has invested significant resources to undertake the steps necessary to permit and operate the project pursuant to the lease and applicable law. The company remains extremely confident in a successful resolution and reinstatement of the lease. The company looks forward to the tremendous opportunities in the waste industry for proper handling practices at additional locations that align with the highest standards from an environmental perspective. We seek Safe Harbor.