News Release
Midwest Uranium Mine Project – Environmental Assessment to Continue as a Comprehensive Study

OTTAWA, October 22, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, has determined that the Comprehensive Study currently underway is the most appropriate type of environmental assessment for the proposed Midwest Uranium Mine Project in northern Saskatchewan.

The Minister based his decision on a report and recommendation submitted by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada and Natural Resources Canada, the responsible authorities for the project under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The report contains information on the scope of the proposed project, the factors to be considered in the environmental assessment, public concerns submitted to authorities, the potential of the project to cause adverse environmental effects and the ability of the comprehensive study to address issues relating to the project.

To obtain a copy of the report, contact:

Michael Rinker, Environmental Assessment Specialist
Environmental Assessment Division
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
280 Slater Street / PO Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, ON K1P 5S9
Tel.: 613-995-7413
Fax: 613-995-5086
michael.rinker@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

The responsible authorities will now continue the Comprehensive Study and will provide the public with an opportunity to participate in the environmental assessment. The responsible authorities will submit their report to the Minister of the Environment and at that time, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the findings and recommendations of the report before the Minister renders his final decision.

The proposed project is also subject to environmental assessment requirements of the Province of Saskatchewan. Under the terms of the Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation (2005), a cooperative environmental assessment will be conducted.

The Midwest Project would involve the mining and milling of a uranium deposit located 700 km north of Prince Albert, near the eastern margin of the Athabasca basin. AREVA Resources Canada Inc. (formerly COGEMA) proposes to extend the mining and milling activities at their McClean Lake Operation to include the development of the Midwest ore deposit as an open pit mine. The proposed project would also include the construction of a reverse osmosis water treatment plant; the development of a dedicated haul road; the development of a pipeline; and increasing the production capacity of the JEB mill at the McClean Lake site.

For more information on this project, consult the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, under reference number 06-03-17519.

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.

For more information, media may call:

Lucille Jamault
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0434
lucille.jamault@ceaa-acee.gc.ca