Romarco receives Eis schedule from Us Army Corps

TORONTO, May 23, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - ROMARCO MINERALS INC. (TSX: R) (the "Company") has received a schedule from the US Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps") for completing the Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") for the Federal 404 Wetlands permit.  The schedule is as follows:

• Draft EIS filed - December 14, 2012
• Draft EIS comment period begins - December 14, 2012
• Draft EIS Public Hearing - January 29, 2013
• Draft EIS comment period ends - February 28, 2013
• Final EIS made available to public - July 19, 2013
• Record of Decision on permit to be made - August 16, 2013

Diane Garrett, President & CEO commented: " While the Corps' schedule for completing the EIS and issuing its Record of Decision is longer than we have been targeting, that schedule provides clarity for our planning. We will continue to advance detailed design and engineering for the project, adjust equipment orders to align with the Corps' schedule, and diligently manage our cash as we advance one of the best undeveloped gold deposits in the world."

The Federal 404 Wetlands permit is the only Federal permit Romarco requires for the Haile project. The Corps is the federal agency regulating 404 permits. Other pending permits include, but are not limited to, the State 401 Water Quality Certification and the State Mine Operating permit; the regulating agency for these permits is the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control ("DHEC").  DHEC has indicated that it will schedule its public hearing for the State permits following the filing of the Draft EIS by the Corps.

Conference call

There will be "EIS Conference Call" presentation slides available for download on the homepage of the Company's website www.romarco.com prior to the call.

The Company will hold a conference call on May 23, 2012 at 9:00 am EDT where senior management will provide an update on the Haile Gold Mine project status including a discussion of the EIS schedule provided by the Corps.  Senior management will also respond to questions from analysts and investors.

To join the call:

• In Canada and the United States - 1-888-231-8192
• International - 647-427-7451

The conference call will be recorded and playback will be available after the event by dialing toll free in Canada and the United States 1-855-859-2056 or locally 416-849-0833, passcode 84216346# (available up to June 5, 2012).

About Romarco Minerals Inc.

Romarco Minerals Inc. is a gold development company focused on production primarily in the US.  The Company has completed a positive Feasibility study and is continuing exploration drilling and permitting for its flagship project, the Haile Gold Mine in South Carolina.

SOURCE ROMARCO MINERALS INC.