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Clearing Operations in Costa Rica Suspended by Court
Infinito Gold Ltd. announced today that its subsidiary in Costa Rica, Industrias Infinito S.A. (”IISA”), received a Change in Land Use Permit from the regional authorities in San Carlos Costa Rica pertaining to the clearing of land for the mining and tailings area for the Crucitas gold mine. This Permit followed the announcement of a Presidential Decree, dated 13 October 2008, that authorized the cutting of trees required for the mine and related infrastructure and declared that the Crucitas project was considered in the national interest.
Clearing activities commenced on Friday, 17 October 2008 and continued up until Monday 20 October 2008. This morning IISA was served with a court order from the Constitutional Court, or SALA IV, requiring that tree cutting operations be suspended. This suspension was due to a challenge from an individual in Costa Rica under provisions which allows any citizen to apply directly to the SALA IV for decisions on constitutional issues, in this case the environmental protection provision in Costa Rica’s constitution.
In February of this year IISA received approval from the Ministry of the Environment in Costa Rica for the Environmental Impact Study dealing with all technical social and environmental aspects associated with the current mine development plan. In this approved study IISA presented detailed reclamation plans which included commitments to return to native forest additional lands owned by IISA around the mining area currently used for pasture and plantation forestry. IISA will plant fifty trees on these lands for every one that was to be removed from the mine and tailings area. The mining and tailings area is a mixture of pasture and forest which has already been partially harvested in the past before it was under IISA’s control.
Prior to the suspension, IISA cleared the land required for the initial Botijas pit and for the area required for the tailings dam, but clearing in the Fortuna pit area and the tailings impoundment area was not completed.
While this matter is before the SALA IV, construction activity on the project will be suspended and put under care and maintenance, until the issue is resolved. The Company will work with suppliers and contractors with the goal of suspending activity in an orderly fashion to ensure the project can be re-activated efficiently once the issue with the SALA IV is resolved.
IISA is seeking legal advice in Costa Rica in respect of this matter and will consider all legal options.
Source: Infinito Gold Ltd.
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