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Polymet reaffirms 2008 start of commercial metal production
Date: 12/4/2006
PolyMet recently announced that it is well advanced in its discussions with the State of Minnesota regarding revisions to the timetable to complete permitting of the NorthMet project.
NorthMet, 100%-owned by PolyMet, comprises a copper-nickel-precious metals orebody and the nearby Erie Plant, located in the established mining district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota.
The Company is working with the State to ensure that the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) fully answers all of the questions that have been raised, or are anticipated to be raised during the public comment period. In January 2007, PolyMet will deliver its expanded plans to avoid, minimize and mitigate the environmental impact of the project. The State’s EIS contractors will then assemble the draft EIS, which was originally scheduled to be published
before the end of 2006.
PolyMet does not anticipate slippage in the overall timeline to commercial production, namely mine start-up in mid-2008 and metal production slated for fourth quarter of 2008. The Company has a three-pronged approach to shortening the time between publication of the draft EIS and the start of production:
early completion of work that can be undertaken prior to receipt of permits, including the engineering and procurement parts of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) contract; detailed logistical planning to shorten the construction timeline once permits have been issued;
coordination with the State to streamline finalization of the EIS after receipt of publiccomments.
William Murray, President and CEO of PolyMet stated, “We are very encouraged by the cooperation we are receiving from the State of Minnesota to maintain the timeline to start commercial production. Not only is this timeline important for PolyMet, it is also important for the State and for the local communities to ensure that the creation of up to 1,000 construction jobs and at least 400 long-term, high quality jobs is not delayed unnecessarily.”
He continued, “State and federal environmental regulators attach high value to protecting the natural environment. PolyMet is committed to meeting or exceeding Minnesota’s stringent standards. Publication of a comprehensive draft EIS should speed the overall permitting process.”
Mr. Murray concluded, “For our part, we are putting considerable effort into planning activities leading up to receipt of permits and through the construction phase in order to achieve the timely
start of commercial production."
PolyMet Mining Corp. (www.polymetmining.com) is a publicly-traded mine development company that owns 100% of the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore body and 100% of the Erie Plant, a large processing facility
located approximately six miles from the ore body in the established mining district of the Mesabi Range in northeastern Minnesota. PolyMet has completed its Definitive Feasibility Study and is seeking environmental and operating permits in order to commence commercial production anticipated in the second half of 2008.
For further information, please contact:
William Murray Douglas Newby
President and CEO Chief Financial Officer
+1 (604) 669-4701 +1 (646) 879-5970
wmurray@polymetmining.com djnewby@polymetmining.com
Media and Government Contact: Investor Contact:
Warren Hudelson Alex MacDougall
Executive Vice President Macdougall Consultants, Ltd.
+1 (218) 245-3634 +1 (519) 887-6625
whudelson@polymetmining.com macdougall_consult@yahoo.com
POLYMET MINING CORP.
Per: “William Murray”
William Murray, President
