5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	*Potential environmental contingency* Our exploration and development activities are subject to various federal and state laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations are continually changing and generally have become more restrictive, although changes are highly dependent on the current U.S. government’s administration and legislative objectives. The Company conducts its operations to protect public health and the environment and believes that its operations are materially in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We have made, and expect to make in the future, expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations. The ultimate amount of reclamation and other future site-restoration costs to be incurred for existing mining interests is uncertain. *Contract commitment – related party* On February 14, 2019, the Company executed a technology test work agreement with UIT to further validate the Company’s rare earth processing technology at pilot plant scale. Because Synchron is a significant shareholder of the Company, the two members of the Board of Directors of Rare Element who were appointed by Synchron abstained, and the remaining members of the Board approved the UIT engagement. The UIT pilot plant agreement was for an amount not to exceed $700. Additionally, on September 9, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to amend the scope terms and conditions related to the February 2019 agreement which resulted in additional estimated costs of $70. The UIT pilot plant test work was completed in December 2019, with test work reports subsequently provided to the Company. The Company paid a total of $625 for services rendered under this contract. On March 9, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the engagement of UIT for further pilot plant test work in an amount not to exceed $650. Under the 2020 engagement, UIT will optimize certain process steps, develop scale-up design criteria for a planned demonstration plant, and confirm operating and capital cost estimates. Consistent with the prior Board action engaging UIT, the three directors of Rare Element appointed by Synchron abstained because Synchron is a significant shareholder of the Company and is an affiliate of UIT. Through June 30, 2020, the Company has paid $321 for services rendered under this engagement. During August 2020, the Company entered into an agreement to amend the scope of the March 2020 engagement which will result in additional estimated costs of $47.

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Potential environmental contingency

Our exploration and development activities are subject to various federal and state laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations are continually changing and generally have become more restrictive, although changes are highly dependent on the current U.S. government’s administration and legislative objectives. The Company conducts its operations to protect public health and the environment and believes that its operations are materially in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We have made, and expect to make in the future, expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations. The ultimate amount of reclamation and other future site-restoration costs to be incurred for existing mining interests is uncertain.

Contract commitment – related party

On February 14, 2019, the Company executed a technology test work agreement with UIT to further validate the Company’s rare earth processing technology at pilot plant scale. Because Synchron is a significant shareholder of the Company, the two members of the Board of Directors of Rare Element who were appointed by Synchron abstained, and the remaining members of the Board approved the UIT engagement. The UIT pilot plant agreement was for an amount not to exceed $700. Additionally, on September 9, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to amend the scope terms and conditions related to the February 2019 agreement which resulted in additional estimated costs of $70. The UIT pilot plant test work was completed in December 2019, with test work reports subsequently provided to the Company. The Company paid a total of $625 for services rendered under this contract.

On March 9, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the engagement of UIT for further pilot plant test work in an amount not to exceed $650. Under the 2020 engagement, UIT will optimize certain process steps, develop scale-up design criteria for a planned demonstration plant, and confirm operating and capital cost estimates. Consistent with the prior Board action engaging UIT, the three directors of Rare Element appointed by Synchron abstained because Synchron is a significant shareholder of the Company and is an affiliate of UIT. Through June 30, 2020, the Company has paid $321 for services rendered under this engagement. During August 2020, the Company entered into an agreement to amend the scope of the March 2020 engagement which will result in additional estimated costs of $47.