Joint Review Panel Report on the Proposed Kemess North Mine Project has been Submitted to Government of Canada and Government of BC

OTTAWA and VICTORIA, Sept. 18 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (BC EAO) announced today that the report by the Joint Review Panel on the proposed Kemess North Copper-Gold Mine project in BC was submitted to the Minister of the Environment for Canada and the Minister of Environment for British Columbia on September 17, 2007. The report was also submitted to First Nations, to the proponent Northgate Minerals and made available to the public.

The Agency and the BC EAO wish to thank the Joint Panel for the report and for conducting a rigorous and transparent environmental review of the proposal. Both governments will now carefully consider the Joint Review Panel’s conclusions and recommendations. The Government of Canada, under the lead of the federal responsible authorities, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada and Natural Resources Canada, will prepare a response to the report and submit it to the Governor in Council for approval. The response will then be made public. The BC EAO will consider the Panel’s report and prepare advice for the Ministers of Environment and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources for decision on the project which will then be made public.

Prior to making any decisions, both governments will undertake consultations on the Panel’s conclusions and recommendations with First Nations, namely the Takla Lake, Tsay Keh Dene and Kwadacha First Nations and the Gitxsan House of Nii Kyap.

The Joint Panel’s report is available on the web site of the BC EA Office at www.eao.gov.bc.ca . An executive summary in both official languages, along with further information on the project can be found on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s Web site at www.ceaa.gc.ca .

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

The BC EAO administers the provincial environmental assessment process, which identifies potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects of proposed projects.

For further information: Media: Elise Dhaussy, Manager, Communications Operations, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, (613) 957-0406; Kate Thompson, Media Relations, BC Public Affairs Bureau, (250) 953-4577