newsLast Update: 3/25/2009 2:29:57 PM
VANCOUVER, BC, Mar 25, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- North American Gem Inc. (NAG) (the "Company") wishes to clarify its operations and permits to its shareholders as a result of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to put hundreds of mountaintop coal-mining permits on hold in West Virginia.
The Company has spoken to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in Philippi, West Virginia regarding this matter. The DEP stated that any proposed mining permit that needs a valley fill to get rid of excess spoil would be affected by this decision. The proposed mining permit on the Company's Saffle property would not need a valley fill. There is plenty of area on the existing bench from previous mining operations to store spoil material during mining operations. Further, the Company's Dalton Tract would not need a valley fill either, as mining would progress along a certain contour elevation, with initial soil placed on a flat ridge in the middle of the property. To be clear there will be no hilltop mining operations or practices on either proposed surface mining operation that the Company is currently in the process of permitting in West Virginia.
The DEP has confirmed that the Company's Dalton and Saffle permitting prospects will not be affected by the EPA's decision yesterday.
All current work on the West Virginia properties is being supervised by Mike Green of Green Engineering, Inc., who is a registered professional engineer in Philippi, West Virginia, and will be operating as the Company's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Green has reviewed the technical content of this news release and confirms its accuracy. Mr. Green is independent of the Company.