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QUALITY NEVER RESTS

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Quality is not only a characteristic of our products, but also of the processes we use to make them. Employee safety, product quality and environmental protection are critical to meeting our own expectations, and those of our customers, regulators and the public.

AREVA Resources Canada has a comprehensive set of policy statements outlining our vision, mission and core values and the six groups of policies that support them. These policies, covering the full range of our activities from human resources, to the environment, to economic viability, are the first step in development of an Integrated Quality Management System. They are being communicated throughout the company and will be backed up with specific programs to achieve the goals set out in them.

Uranium mining is a challenging industry and our ability to succeed, not only as a company but as individuals, depends upon achieving our quality objectives. Meeting them will make us the world's leading uranium mining company.

The site-wide Quality Assurance Management System we developed for McClean Lake covers all aspects of the operation through a single process and set of manuals. The environmental management component of the system allowed us to achieve ISO 14001 certification in 2000 - the first uranium mine in North America to do so. That high standard has been maintained through independent audits since.

At Cluff Lake, our successes in production, safety and radiation protection during the final years of production were achieved through our Integrated Quality Management System. In April 2004, AREVA Resources Canada became the first uranium mining company in Canada to achieve ISO 14001 certification for its Saskatchewan exploration activities. In July 2004, Cluff Lake received its ISO 14001 certification.

Our workplaces will be safe. That's a bedrock commitment for AREVA Resources Canada. Any activity that risks the health of our employees and contractors or the public is not acceptable.

The safety culture at our operating sites was developed through an internal responsibility system that ensures all employees are aware of their responsibility to perform work safely. People at all levels of our organization take personal ownership of workplace safety. They are encouraged to question operating procedures to ensure all work is performed in the safest manner possible.

Cluff Lake Mine Winner of the John T. Ryan Trophy for safest hard rock mine in Canada. Clarence Morin Mill Shift Supervisor

Cluff Lake was the safest metal mine in Canada during its final year of production

The mine was awarded the national John T. Ryan Trophy for 2002 by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, as the metal mine with the lowest reportable injury rating (zero).

That award reflects the safety culture that has been cultivated at all facilities operated by AREVA Resources Canada. Even as mining operations wound down, our employees and contractors maintained their safety focus while dealing with more difficult rock conditions and adapting to new mining techniques needed to handle higher grade ores.

AREVA Resources Canada is an industry leader in minimizing its workers' exposure to radiation.

Average radiation exposure at our McClean Lake mine and mill operation in 2004 was 0.9 mSv (milliseverts), far below the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's annual dose limit of 20 mSv.

Safe handling of high-grade ores was considered during the design of the McClean Lake mill which features advanced containment and ventilation systems to minimize radiation exposure.

At Cluff Lake, radiation exposure was reduced by two-thirds during the mine's final years of operation despite higher ore grades and more difficult mining conditions.