AREVA > Home > News Releases > March 24, 2005 

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 24, 2005

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Supreme Court Upholds McClean Lake Licence

The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed with costs the Inter-Church Uranium Committee Economic Cooperative’s request to appeal the June 2004 Federal Court of Appeal decision upholding the operating licence for the McClean Lake uranium mining and milling project in northern Saskatchewan. As a result, the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision that the mine’s licence was properly obtained despite changes in federal laws while the licensing and environmental review was under way stands as the applicable ruling in this matter.

The position of the CNSC and COGEMA Resources was supported during the 2004 appeal hearing by submissions from the Government of Saskatchewan and from northern people and businesses represented by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Kitsaki Development Limited Partnership and Northern Resource Trucking.

"The McClean Lake project has consistently demonstrated exemplary environmental performance through ongoing Federal and Provincial Government monitoring and its own environmental management program certified to the high ISO 14001 standard," said Don Ching, President and Chief Executive Officer of COGEMA Resources. "The actual performance of McClean Lake, which has consistently bettered regulatory requirements since it began operating six years ago, is not a factor in the case. This case, based entirely on a transitional provision in the legislation, caused a great deal of needless uncertainty for the people and businesses that depend on the mine for their livelihoods. We are pleased that the Supreme Court of Canada has finally put the case to rest by refusing to hear the ICUCEC appeal."

The earlier September 2002 Federal Court ruling found that, although the project had already undergone an extensive environmental assessment and was granted a licence by the appropriate authorities, an additional assessment was required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), which became law in 1995. The original assessment had been under way for four years under the previous legislation prior to the enactment of the CEAA. A stay of the 2002 Federal Court ruling was obtained pending the appeal, which allowed McClean Lake to remain operating.

More about
With manufacturing facilities in over 40 countries and a sales network in over 100, AREVA offers customers technological solutions for nuclear power generation and electricity transmission and distribution. The group also provides interconnect systems to the telecommunications, computer and automotive markets. These businesses engage AREVA’s 70,000 employees in the 21st century’s greatest challenges: making energy and communication resources available to all, protecting the planet, and acting responsibly towards future generations.

AREVA subsidiary COGEMA Resources is the operator and majority owner of the McClean Lake uranium operation located about 700 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. The company also owns and operates the Cluff Lake mine (now being decommissioned) operates the Midwest uranium project, and owns shares of the Cigar Lake, McArthur River and Key Lake uranium mines. About half of the workers at McClean Lake are residents of northern Saskatchewan.

Download PDF of judge's ruling (134 KB)