Federal Funding Awarded to Participate in the Environmental Assessment of the
proposed Matoush Exploration Project

OTTAWA, March 30 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has awarded a total of $23,799 to three applicants to support their participation in the environmental assessment of the proposed Matoush Exploration Project, located 260 km northeast of Chibougamau, in the Province of Quebec.

The funding recipients are the Société pour la Nature et les Parcs du Canada, the Réseau Québecois des Groupes Écologistes and MiningWatch Canada. This funding is being provided to assist the recipients' participation in the environmental assessment process.

A funding review committee, independent of the environmental assessment process, was established to examine all funding applications received for this project. The committee's recommendations are contained in its report. The report, along with further information on the project, is available on the Agency's Web site at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca, under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement section.

The proponent, Strateco Resource Inc., is proposing to develop an underground uranium exploration ramp and related surface infrastructure (temporary worker change rooms, ramp ventilation machinery and a temporary water treatment facility). Also being proposed is the construction of a ramp portal and related surface infrastructure (garages and mechanical shops).

The location of the proposed project is within the boundaries of the administrative region governed by the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and is therefore subject to the federal environmental assessment process set out in section 22 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

The President of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is the Federal Administrator of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement for federal projects, with the responsibility of whether or not to authorize projects, based on the recommendations of the assessment and review committees.

For further information: Media may call: Annie Roy, Manager, Communications, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Tel.: [phone]