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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2003

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Province and Northerners Join McClean Lake Appeal

Status has been granted to the Attorney General of Saskatchewan and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band et al, to intervene in the Atomic Energy Control Board (now the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission) and COGEMA Resources Inc. versus Inter-Church Uranium Committee Educational Co-operative case now before the Federal Court of Appeal.

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Kitsaki Development Limited Partnership and Northern Resource Trucking (NRT) sought intervenor status in the McClean Lake appeal. Intervenor status allows them to present arguments to the Federal Court of Appeal against the September 2002 Federal Court decision that cancelled the original licence for the COGEMA Resources McClean Lake uranium operation.

The affidavit filed by this group stated, "We do not see the continued operation of the McClean Lake mine and mill as a threat to the environment or the health and safety of our people. Rather we know that if the McClean Lake mine and mill ceases to operate that there will be serious adverse consequences for the health and well being of many of our members." It also stated that the employment, training and business opportunities created by the uranium mining industry are critical to helping northern people build healthy communities and overcome social problems.

"These people are playing games with people's livelihoods and the court must put an end to it," said Dave McIlmoyl, Vice-President of NRT. "The First Nations and Metis communities that own 71 per cent of NRT have a big stake in the case - uranium mining is the lifeblood of many northern communities."

The application by the Attorney General of Saskatchewan stated that the original Federal Court decision requiring a new environmental assessment for McClean Lake "compromises the efforts of both the provincial and federal governments to coordinate their environmental assessment review efforts so as to eliminate duplication and unnecessary cost for both the regulator and the regulated, with no added benefit in terms of environmental protection."

Tim Gitzel, COGEMA Resources President and CEO, says "It's good to have some of those stakeholders speak up. Having the Province of Saskatchewan and the largest Aboriginal group in the province join the action is a great show of support for COGEMA Resources, McClean Lake, our employees and the principles we stand for. We hope the people who depend on the mine for the economic and social well being of their families and communities are heard by the court. They can see that there is no contradiction between economic benefits and environmental protection."

The CNSC and COGEMA Resources are appealing a Federal court ruling last September that cancelled the 1999 operating licence of the McClean Lake project. That decision was not critical of the actual performance of operation, but was based on a technical question about the administration of the licensing process. No date has been set for the appeal hearing. McClean Lake is operating under a four-year licence issued by the CNSC in 2001.

COGEMA Resources is the operator and majority owner of the McClean Lake mine and mill operation located about 700 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. The company also owns and operates the Cluff Lake mine, operates the Midwest uranium project, and holds in interest in the Cigar Lake, McArthur River and Key Lake uranium mines. About half of the workers at McClean Lake are residents of northern Saskatchewan.