Really not normal or abnormal
The correct word is required. Regulators require that an FS be updated as a result of a number of events.
Some of these events are:
Additions or subtractions from the list of minerals to be produced
Changes in the estimated mineral resource
Significant changes in estimated CAPEX, OPEX, or financial model
At one point Niocorp added Sc to the products list. This did make the project look more attractive financially but it triggered an update.
Niocorp decided to have Nordmin review the resource estimate and mine plan. They accomplished a lot including eliminating the pipeline to the river (which eliminated the need for a a federal permit,) increased the resource estimate, and revised the mine plan to produce higher early cash flows. These changes required a revision.
If Niocorp decides to produce REEs that too will require a revision. That revision will include resource estimate for the REEs, estimated impact on CAPEX and OPEX, financial model revisions.
I see many of these changes as very positive steps. But it is a highly regulated industry. When changes such as these take place revisions are required. It is difficult to look at other junior miners and determine what is or is not normal. I believe Niocorp is about the only one to have actually produced a BFS. It contains a lot of info and the numbers are supposed to be relatively accurate numbers. Many of these other companies are at the PEA stage. These contain much less info and the required accuracy is much lower. It will take much bigger changes to trigger a revision.