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Community Updates

McClean Lake and Cluff Lake Projects

January 12, 2004

McClean Lake

COGEMA Resources has filed an application with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for a new operating licence for the McClean Lake operation. The licence application is for the existing McClean Lake operation, and does not include any future expansions or changes. COGEMA Resources submitted the Environmental Study Report to the CNSC in early December. For copies of the pamphlet or Cree and Dene audio CD outlining the re-licensing process and environmental assessment, please call COGEMA Resources, toll-free in Saskatchewan , at 1-888-9COGEMA.

The date for the Federal Court of Appeal hearing of the CNSC and COGEMA Resources appeal of the 2002 Federal Court decision quashing the McClean Lake 1999 operating licence is being changed (likely to Spring 2004). A new date has not yet been confirmed. McClean is presently operating under a 4-year licence issued in 2001. The court hearing will involve representatives for the Interchurch Uranium Committee Environmental Cooperative (who initiated the court challenge to the McClean Lake operating licence) and supporting the appeal including the CNSC and COGEMA Resources, as well as the intervenors: Province of Saskatchewan , Northern Resource Trucking, Lac la Ronge Indian Band, and Kitsaki Development.

The McClean Lake mill is running well using stockpiled ore from the Sue C open pit mine. The mill shut down from December 9 to January 6 for its scheduled Christmas holiday and maintenance program. McClean Lake produced over 6 million pounds of U 3 O 8 in 2003 for a total of over 26 million pounds since production started in 1999. Athabasca Catering took over the catering contract for McClean as of January 1.

Congratulations to McClean Lake millwright, Steve Proulx from La Ronge for successfully completing his Interprovincial Journeyperson Industrial Mechanics certification.

Cluff Lake

Cluff Lake completed all mining and milling activities by the end of 2002. Cluff is continuing to pump and treat water from the DJX pit to partially de-water the Claude pit to make room for the waste rock that will be put into the pit. The leveling course work on the lower solids area of the Tailings Management Area is now complete.

Decommissioning of the mine site cannot begin until the environmental assessment is approved and a decommissioning licence is issued. The Cluff Lake Comprehensive Study for Decommissioning is being printed and will be available for viewing in mid-January at a number of West Side communities as well as the COGEMA Resources office in La Ronge (click here for locations). This report will explain how COGEMA Resources will return the Cluff Lake site to a natural state.

Cluff Lake has not had a spill since the last Community Update. Concentrations of elements contained in the water discharges from the treatment plant during December were well below the limits set by the regulatory guidelines.

"All About Nuclear Energy"

To find out more about nuclear energy, check our web site at www.cogema.ca and click on "All About Nuclear Energy" on the main page.

Human Resources

COGEMA Resources New Environmental Policy

COGEMA Resources recognizes that continued economic and social development depend on a healthy environment and incorporates environmental considerations into all company activities to ensure sustainable development. COGEMA Resources is committed to continually improve approaches and technology to minimize the effects of its activities on the environment.

To meet this commitment, COGEMA Resources shall:

• Comply with all applicable environmental legislation;
• Minimize adverse environmental impacts of its activities by reducing consumption of natural resources, controlling releases and optimizing waste management;
• Prevent pollution by using processes, practices, materials or products that avoid, reduce or control pollution;
• Deal proactively with environmental issues by identifying potential impacts and implementing mitigative actions and/or developing effective contingency plans;
• Develop internal objectives and targets to achieve continual improvement;
• Measure performance against established goals;
• Conduct employee training, internal assessments and periodic reviews to ensure these operations and activities are conducted in compliance with documented procedures;
• Communicate environmental requirements and corporate initiatives to employees and contractors to encourage their participation and compliance;
• Involve the public, with particular focus on impact communities, in initial planning, ongoing operations and decommissioning of COGEMA Resources activities through an open and transparent public involvement program.

This policy is made available to the public.