Nevada Copper Updates Permitting and Yerington Land Bill Status
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/17/13 -- Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX: NCU) ("Nevada Copper") is pleased to announce the following update on the Yerington land conveyance legislation and status of permits to construct and operate an underground mine at its 100% owned Pumpkin Hollow Property located near Yerington, Nevada.
Permitting and Land Bill Update
The two key State permits needed for construction and operation of mine facilities remain on track for approval in Q2-2013.
The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection ("NDEP") has provided technical comments on the application for modification of Nevada Copper's existing Reclamation Permit 0288. Nevada Copper has provided responses to those comments and expects to receive a draft permit within several weeks. The permit will go to 30 day public notice as soon as the NDEP and Nevada Copper concur that all of the information in the draft permit is correct. Subject to passage of the Lyon County Economic Development and Conservation Act ("Lyon County Bill"), Nevada Copper will modify that permit to accommodate Integrated Operations for open pit and underground mining and processing.
At the same time, NDEP continues to consult regularly with Nevada Copper to finalize its technical review of the application for modification of its existing Water Pollution Control Permit 2008103 for operation of either the stand-alone, underground mine and mill or the Integrated Operations for open pit and underground mining and processing (both options are included in this application). Those comments are expected within several weeks.
Nevada Copper currently has a Special Use Permit with Lyon County for Advanced Exploration (shaft construction). The application for modification of this permit will be submitted in April 2013. A public hearing by the Lyon County Planning Commission is being requested for May 2013 and the application placed on the agenda of the Lyon County Board of Commissioners in June 2013. Nevada Copper has been in regular consultation with Lyon County on the project for over four years and does not expect any issues with this application. All activities currently in progress to develop the underground mine can continue under the current permit when construction of the mill would begin.
With respect to status of the Lyon County Bill, Nevada Copper advises that House Bill H.R. 696 and Senate Bill S. 159 have been scheduled for a hearing in the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation in U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, April 18, 2013 and can be watched live on the House Website:
http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=328356
In the Senate, the Lyon County Bill will be heard in the Senate Public Lands Subcommittee on April 25, 2013:
Yerington Mayor George Dini has been invited to testify at the House hearing. Timothy M. Dyhr, Vice President Environment and External Relations and Lyon County Manager Jeff Page will attend the hearing and meet with members of the Nevada Congressional Delegation and respective Committee representatives to urge timely passage of the Lyon County Bill in order to both expedite the Pumpkin Hollow Project and provide an economic boost to the distressed economic conditions in Yerington and Lyon County. Testimony at the Senate will be limited to agencies and legislation sponsors, Senator Harry Reid and Senator Dean Heller.
Mr. Timothy M Dyhr, Vice President, Environment and External Relations commented, "We are very pleased with the progress on our permits and expect to meet our target of initiating full construction of the Stage 1 underground operation in 2013. We are also very encouraged to have the Lyon County Bill heard so expeditiously in both the House and Senate subcommittees. Receipt of permits and passage of this Bill would provide a high level of confidence to be able to develop the combined open pit and underground Integrated Operation. Congressman Steven Horsford and Congressman Mark Amodei, who both represent portions of Lyon County, have worked very hard on a bipartisan basis in the House to move this bill quickly. In the Senate, both Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senator Dean Heller have also worked on a bipartisan basis to expedite it in the Senate. Nevada Copper, Yerington and Lyon County believe that with the significant regional and national economic benefits of the Bill, it deserves priority treatment in Congress."
For additional information about Nevada Copper please visit our website at www.nevadacopper.com.
NEVADA COPPER CORP.
Giulio T. Bonifacio, President & CEO
We Seek Safe Harbour.
Contacts:
Nevada Copper Corp.
Eugene Toffolo
VP, Investor Relations & Communications
604-683-8266 or Toll free: 1-877-648-8266
etoffolo@nevadacopper.com
Nevada Copper Corp.
Robert McKnight, P.Eng., MBA
Executive Vice President & CFO
604-683-1309
bmcknight@nevadacopper.com
www.nevadacopper.com
