"So did we have any indication how long it will take to get the drilling permits? (I sent an email asking for clarification so maybe I'll get my answer tomorrow.) (And thanks for pointing that out!)"

The first paragraph of the article you posted dated Jan 14, 2011 gives us an indication how long. According to the article we need drilling permits from the town of Miami and the state Department of water Resources

A Canadian company hopes to start drilling under the streets of a Central Arizona town in a few months to look for copper, now that the Miami Town Council has endorsed the exploration project.