News Release
Hammond Reef Gold Mine Project – Federal Funding Allocated to Participate in the Environmental Assessment

OTTAWA – January 16, 2012 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) has allocated a total of $18,000 to two applicants to support their participation in the federal environmental assessment of the proposed Hammond Reef Gold Mine Project in Ontario.

The recipients are:

• the Atikokan Sportsmen’s Conservation Club and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters; and
• the Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People.

This funding is allocated through the Participant Funding Program administered by the Agency and is intended to support public participation in upcoming steps of the comprehensive study process, including the review of the comprehensive study report.

A Funding Review Committee, independent of the environmental assessment process, was established to assess the funding requests. The Funding Review Committee’s report, along with further information on the project, is available on the Agency’s Web site at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca, in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, under reference number 11-03-63174.

Osisko Hammond Reef Gold Ltd. proposes to develop an open-pit gold mine that is expected to operate for about 14 years with a production rate of approximately 50,000 tonnes per day. It is located approximately 23 kilometres northeast from the Town of Atikokan in northwestern Ontario, near Marmion Lake.

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.

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For more information, media may contact:

Céline Legault
Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0278