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Community Updates

McClean Lake, Midwest & Cluff Lake Projects

October 31, 2007

McClean Lake Operation

Mining continues at Sue E and should last until January 2008.  In preparation for mining of the Sue B deposit in 2008 the overburden has been stripped.  A new underground mine program is currently under review, to be located near the entrance of the McClean Lake site.  As part of the project review, crews have started drilling pilot holes for grout tests and piezometers installation.  Production for the underground mine would be expected in 2011.

In order to house the increasing workforce at McClean Lake and to accommodate future requirements from the Midwest Project, a camp expansion is underway.  The new wing will add 140 rooms bringing the total capacity of the permanent camp to 290 rooms.  Construction by Points Athabasca Construction Ltd. (PACL) started in mid-August and should last until next summer.  The foundation has been poured and survey layouts, concrete density and compaction tests are being performed.

Since the last Community Update there were two spills.  The first spill occurred on October 25 when 100m3 of contaminated rain-water run-off sludge from the pit haul road was released into the environment by the Sue Transfer Ore Pad.  The clean-up started immediately and measures are being implemented to prevent this type of incident to reoccur.  The second spill occurred on October 29 when 3 liters of reclaim water entered the environment close to the site Run-off Pond due to a leak in the reclaim pipeline.  This small spill was cleaned-up immediately and the pipeline repaired.  The CNSC, Saskatchewan Environment and the Spill Control Centre were all notified of both incidents.

Caribou Project

The regulatory process to develop the new Caribou mine located just north of the existing Sue mine area is progressing.  The provincial public review of the Draft Project Specific Guidelines has been completed.  The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will hold a one-day public hearing on the Project Specific Guidelines on October 31, 2007.

Midwest

The Midwest project is advancing on several fronts simultaneously.  The Midwest Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been submitted to the regulatory agencies for technical review.  Progress continues on the critical path components of the project such as the awarding of contracts for the design, supply and installation of the water treatment plant as well as the engineering procurement and construction management.  If all goes well, construction of the Midwest facilities and preparatory work for mining could start in 2009.

Cluff Lake

Cluff Lake continues its post-closure monitoring period.  The power lines decommissioning from the old mill site to the Secondary Treatment Station is almost complete.  The work involves the removal of unused poles and the collection and recycling of the lines made of aluminum wire with a steel core.  The poles deemed in good condition and reusable will be shipped to McClean Lake.

The exploration crew working at Shea Creek continues to operate out of the Cluff Lake camp boosting the site population to around 40 people.  Three drilling rigs are currently set-up at Shea Creek and should stay until the end of the fall exploration campaign in late November.

Cluff Lake employees are working with Coast to Coast to organize the collection of tree seedlings for the 2008 planting program next summer.  Environmental crews remain at Cluff Lake to collect surface and groundwater samples to evaluate the success of the decommissioning activities. Camp and equipment maintenance personnel keep the office and residences operational, electrical power generators running, roads plowed and the airstrip open. 

Human Resources