MINISTER GIVES APPROVAL ON CIGAR LAKE AND MIDWEST URANIUM PROJECTS

Released on April 3, 1998

Environment and Resource Management Minister Lorne Scott, today

announced his approval under The Environmental Assessment Act for the

proposed Cigar Lake and Midwest uranium projects.



Cigar Lake Mining Corporation plans to develop an underground mine at

the Cigar Lake property and transport the ore to the McClean Lake Mill

for processing, approximately 80 km from the mine.



Cogema Resources Inc., the operator of the Midwest project, plans to

mine ore from the Midwest site and transport it approximately 20 km to

the McClean Lake Mill. Under The Environmental Assessment Act, the

minister is required to review the developments to assess potential

environmental impacts.



Subject to specific terms and conditions, I am approving these

developments," Scott said. "As a consequence of the proposals to mill

ore from the Cigar Lake and Midwest mines at McClean Lake, I am also

approving an amendment to the 1993 approval for McClean Lake to

accommodate the milling and tailings management components of the

Cigar Lake and Midwest projects."



The minister's decisions were made after reviewing the proponents'

Environmental Impact Statements, the reports of the Joint

Federal-Provincial Panel on Uranium Mining Developments in Northern

Saskatchewan, the government's technical review comments and public

comments received.



The minister's approval requires the proponents to report on all

construction, operation and environmental activities and to

ensure northern communities are fully informed during all phases

of the projects. The proponents must also conduct research and

evaluate options for improving environmental protection in: waste

rock disposal, reduction of liquid effluent volumes and

contaminant concentrations, reduction of process chemicals and

recycling of mill effluent, and reduction of mine water inflows.



A specific condition of the amendment to the McClean Lake

approval requires detailed monitoring, analysis and reporting on

the performance of the JEB tailings management facility. Scott

said environmental monitoring programs will allow regulators to

determine that the facility performs as expected and he is

satisfied the developments can proceed without undue impacts on

the environment.



"I am confident that the conditions established by this approval

will serve to protect the environment," Scott said. "Issues not

related to environmental impacts that were raised during the

reviews of these developments, such as revenue sharing and

northern employment, are being addressed by other departments.



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For more information, contact:



Malcolm Ross

Environmental Assessment Branch

Environment and Resource Management

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-6190



The minister's decision and reasons for decision are available in the document

The Government's Position on Proposed Uranium Mining Developments in Northern

Saskatchewan: Midwest Project and Cigar Lake Project. For a copy of this

document contact the department at (306) 787-0785.



Dr. Donald G. Lee, former chair of the Joint Panel will be available for media

calls at 585-4247 or 586-7040.