KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 03/18/13 -- STRATHMORE MINERALS CORP. ("Strathmore" or the "Company") (TSX: STM)(OTCQX: STHJF) announces that the US Forest Service ("USFS") has published the Draft Environmental Impact Statement ("DEIS") for the Company's Roca Honda uranium project in New Mexico. The Roca Honda project is 60% funded by Strathmore and 40% funded by Sumitomo Corporation of Japan under the terms of the Roca Honda Resources LLC ("RHR") Joint Venture.
The issuance of the DEIS represents the culmination of over three years of work by the USFS in association with Mangi Environmental Group, the third party independent consultant contracted to assist with the preparation of the DEIS. A number of State of New Mexico agencies, including the New Mexico Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department, Mining and Minerals Division ("MMD"), also provided significant input to its preparation.
Notice of availability of the DEIS was published in the Federal Register, the Daily Journal of the United States Government, on March 15, 2013, and the document has been posted on the USFS and MMD websites. The publication of the DEIS officially starts the 60 day public comment period. Two "open-house" public meetings, to be held in Grants and Gallup, New Mexico, have been tentatively scheduled in mid-April, to provide an opportunity for the public to discuss the project, and submit oral and written comments. This process will ultimately lead to the completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement and the Roca Honda mine permit Record of Decision expected later this year.
A copy of the DEIS has been posted the Strathmore's website: www.strathmoreminerals.com.
Roca Honda Project Summary
The Roca Honda Property is situated on public lands managed by the US Forest Service and the State of New Mexico, in the Grants Uranium District, New Mexico. This project is 60% funded by Strathmore and 40% funded by Sumitomo Corporation of Japan under the terms of the RHR LLC Joint Venture.
In October 2009, the RHR LLC Joint Venture submitted a mine permit application for the proposed underground development of the Roca Honda Property. In November 2009, the mine permit application was deemed "administratively complete", by federal and state regulatory agencies, thereby initiating the technical review process. In February 2010, Mangi Environmental Group was chosen as the independent consultant contracted to assist the USFS with the preparation of the EIS. In August 2012, Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. ("RPA") completed an updated NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the uranium resources outlined to date at Roca Honda. The updated NI 43-101 resource estimate prepared by RPA confirms Roca Honda as one of the highest grade uranium deposits in the United States. In March 2013, the USFS published the DEIS for public comment.
Summary of Roca Honda Mineral Resources:
Measured and Indicated Resources: Grade %Classification Tons U3O8 Lb U3O8----------------------------------------------------------------------------Measured 284,000 0.395 2,247,000Indicated 1,793,000 0.405 14,536,000----------------------------------------------------------------------------Total M+I 2,077,000 0.404 16,783,000Inferred Resource: Grade %Classification Tons U3O8 Lb U3O8----------------------------------------------------------------------------Inferred 1,448,000 0.411 11,894,000
