Mar 18 2014
North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd. ("NTC" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that its MacMillan Pass Tungsten Property in Yukon ("Mactung") has successfully completed environmental screening. Following a thorough, years-long review, the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board ("YESAB") issued its Final Screening Report, recommending that the "Mactung Mine Project be allowed to proceed without [further] review."
NTC is already one of the world's largest tungsten producers outside China. NTC's 100%-owned Mactung property, when developed, is anticipated to be a major factor in world tungsten supply for many years.
Kurt Heikkila, NTC's chairman and chief executive officer, stated, "Approval by YESAB represents an important milestone in our efforts to bring the Mactung Project into production."
Mr. Heikkila added, "This unique mineral property will be developed in due course in an environmentally sensitive way with extraction and milling processes that will minimize the mine's footprint on the surrounding lands. As YESAB recognized, NTC is committed to responsible stewardship of the property. Mactung is located on lands that have been used traditionally by First Nations including the Kaska Dena and the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun. Through their participation in public hearings and face-to-face meetings, the Kaska Dena, their traditional knowledge team from the Ross River Dena Council, and the Ross River elders have enabled us to better appreciate what responsible land stewardship means to traditional communities. We will continue to work with them and learn from them and their communities."
According to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act, the final step in the environmental assessment process will be the release within 60 days of a Decision Document by the territorial and federal governments. Like the Final Screening Report, the Decision Document will contain conditions governing operations at Mactung and a list of proponent commitments.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Kurt Heikkila, Chairman & CEO