"Or, the cost for renewing permits at BC were prohibitive and NP was not?"

I think you got that right. One prospective claims group in Alaska would be far larger and more costly to maintain than a few tiny claims in Northern Arizona, and for multiples of reasons.

All hardly worth talking about, IMO, in the current political environment, and given LBSR has been reduced to, what. a half dozen claims at North Pipes (compared to about 280 in the past)?