Tahltan Nation opposed to open pit mine in their territory

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Tahltan Nation opposes approval of controversial Red Chris Mine

DEASE LAKE, BC, May 4, 2012

The Tahltan Nation expressed opposition today to the Province's decision to issue a Mines Act permit authorizing construction of the Red Chris copper and gold mine.

The Red Chris mine, located 20 kilometers east of the Tahltan community of Iskut, is a 30,000 ton/day open pit mine proposed for the Todagin Plateau area of Tahltan territory. On Friday May 4, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources issued a Mines Act permit that allows the mine to proceed.

The Red Chris mine is highly controversial and has already been the subject of one court case. In 2010 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Federal government had not complied with its legal duties to prepare an environmental assessment for the mine. The mine's owner, Imperial Metals, has still pushed ahead and is now poised to begin construction.

"We have been expressing concerns about the impacts of this proposed mine to our communities, our traditional practices, our environment, our cultural values and our Aboriginal title and rights for years" said Annita McPhee, President of the Tahltan Central Council that represents the collective Aboriginal title and rights interests of the Tahltan Nation. "This mine has a proposed life-span of 40 years, and poses risks for the Klappan, one of the most sensitive and important areas for the Tahltan People. Not everything has been done to address our concerns about long-term pollution to our water, and the damage to a landscape that our people have relied on to feed and support themselves since time immemorial. We do not accept that it can proceed without having our concerns properly addressed."

The Red Chris mine would turn a pristine valley and a lake into a tailings pond, and seriously damage Todagin Mountain through the construction of an open pit. A major concern is that Imperial Metals has not demonstrated its ability to protect ground and surface water from pollution, leaving Tahltan with a major contamination risk that will last for generations to come.

"Our people will be here, living on this land, long after this mine closes. We are the ones that have to live with these impacts and risks" said Ms. McPhee. "Decisions like this, which don't appropriately take our interests into account, undermine our trust in the Province and make it extremely difficult to work together. We will have to look at all options going forward."

For further information:
Annita McPhee, President, Tahltan Central Council at 250-771-3274, 250-771-5121
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May 4, 2012 Ministry of Energy and Mines - Mines Act permit issued for Red Chris Mine

DEASE LAKE - The Red Chris Development Corporation today was issued a
Mines Act permit for its Red Chris copper and gold mine which is located
80 km south of Dease Lake in northern British Columbia announced Rich
Coleman, Minister of Energy and Mines.

Red Chris Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Imperial Metals
Corporation, projects the capital cost of this development to be around
$444 million and it will provide 250 full time jobs. The site is
estimated to have a mine life of 28 years with a reserve of 276 million
tonnes of copper and gold.

The mine will be serviced by the new Northwest Transmission Line, which
will begin construction in the summer 2012 and be completed in 2014. Once
the mine is fully operational, material from the mine will be produced
daily and transported to the Port of Stewart where it will be shipped to
overseas markets.

To encourage collaboration on this project, the Red Chris Monitoring
Committee will be established and provide a forum for First Nations,
government and the company to review and address environmental concerns
and potential impacts throughout the life of the mine.

Mineral exploration and mining is an important economic driver for
British Columbia. The production value of B.C.'s mining industry was
approximately $8.6 billion in 2011.

Quotes:

Premier Christy Clark -
"British Columbia was built on the strength of our natural resources.
Today's announcement emphasizes the importance of our mining sector as a
major employer in the North. The 250 full time jobs will create stronger
families and communities for many years to come."

Rich Coleman, Minister of Energy and Mines -
"Red Chris is the latest example of how our government is increasing
investment and expanding job creation to protect our environment and
build a better quality of life for future generations. This permit will
enable the project to move forward while the company works with the
community to ensure the mine's success."

Pierre Lebel, chairman of the board, Imperial Metals Corp. -
"Imperial Metals Corporation is a B.C. resident mining company that has
earned an excellent track record of mine development and operation with
the Mount Polley Mine in Williams Lake and the Huckleberry Mine near
Smithers. We are privileged to be developing the world-class Red Chris
deposit, together with a highly capable group of First Nations
contractors, local businesses and individuals resident in our northern
communities which have been hardest hit by declines in the forest
industry."

Quick Facts:

* In 2011, the mining industry increased its production value by 20 per
cent from the year before to approximately $8.6 billion.
* Mineral exploration spending exceeded $460 million in 2011, an increase
of 35 per cent from 2010 and 1,500 per cent higher than a decade ago.
* B.C. accounts for approximately 15 per cent of all exploration spending
in Canada.
* In 2011, more than 29,000 people were employed in mineral exploration,
mining and related sectors, mostly in rural B.C.
* As committed in the BC Jobs Plan, eight new mines will open and nine
will be expanded by 2015. This will result in:
o an increase annual mine-operation revenue by $1.6 billion;
o approximately 2,000 construction jobs;
o 2,000 new direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs;
o sustain 12,500 existing jobs (5,000 direct and 7,500 indirect); and
o over $150 million annually in government revenue.