News Release
Elmtree Property Gold Mine Project – Public Consultation Period and Federal Funding Available

OTTAWA – March 18, 2011 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is conducting a comprehensive study, which is a type of environmental assessment, for the proposed Elmtree Property Gold Mine Project located in New Brunswick. The Agency invites the public to comment on the project, the conduct of the comprehensive study and the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines.

The Agency has prepared the draft EIS Guidelines which identify information that needs to be included in the EIS. Public comments on the draft EIS Guidelines will be reviewed and considered before the document is finalized and issued to the proponent to provide direction on the preparation of the EIS. The Agency is also seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment to ensure that these issues are identified for consideration in the assessment.

Information on the project as well as the draft EIS Guidelines are available on the Agency's Web site, in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry under reference number 11-03-61036. The document is available in hard copy by request as well.

The Agency is also making available $50,000 under its Participant Funding Program to assist groups and individuals to take part in upcoming steps in the federal environmental assessment of this project.

Public comments and funding applications received by April 26, 2011 will be considered.

This is the first of several public comment periods that will occur during the environmental assessment of the project. Future public participation opportunities, including one on the Comprehensive Study Report, will be announced at a later date.

Castle Resources Inc. proposes to construct, operate and reclaim an open pit gold mine located approximately 20 kilometres to the northwest of Bathurst, New Brunswick. The mine will have a lifespan of 18 to 24 months and extract up to 559,000 tonnes per year of gold containing ore for off-site processing.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

For more information, media may contact:

Annie Roy
Manager, Communications
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0396