Astur Gold Completes Public Consultation Period on Salave EIA
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 07/09/12 -- Astur Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: AST)(FRANKFURT: CDC) ("Astur Gold" or the "Company") announces that the public consultation period for the Company's Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") has ended. Astur Gold submitted the EIA on its flagship Salave Gold Project in May 2012 (reference press release dated May 17, 2012 "Astur Gold Submits Environmental Impact Assessment").
The Ministry of Economy and Employment of the Principality of Asturias, pursuant to the Environmental Assessment Act, commenced phase 2 (of 3) of the environmental process on June 1st, 2012, by publishing in the Official Gazette of the Principality of Asturias (BOPA). This signaled the opening of a 30 working day public comment period, which closed on July 6th, 2012. In the coming days, the Ministry of Economy and Employment will provide Astur Gold with all environmental comments received regarding the Salave Gold Project, awarding the Company a period of 20 working days to provide responses to such comments.
The Astur Gold team is making a concerted effort to expedite this process. The objective is to obtain the Positive Declaration of Impact Assessment ("DIA") as soon as Q4 2012. The DIA is the last phase of the environmental procedure.
One of the main criteria from the Government is the socio-economic impact of the project to the community. Astur Gold has seen a dramatic rise in the amount of cv's received to over 6,300. The acceleration of the Salave Gold project will have an immediate positive economic effect on Western Asturias.
Cary Pinkowski, President & CEO of Astur Gold commented, "We are very pleased to have completed the second phase of the environmental permitting process. We look forward to responding to all queries made during the public consultation period in thorough manner to move towards the final DIA stage for the project."
ABOUT ASTUR GOLD
Astur Gold is developing its 100% owned Salave Gold Project in Asturias, northern Spain. Salave is one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Western Europe. The Company submitted its application for an underground mine permit for Salave in September 2011 and submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment in May 2012. Astur Gold is building a partnership with the people of Asturias to generate sustainable economic benefits for the region while balancing the needs of environmental protection and social community development.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Cary Pinkowski, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
This document contains certain forward looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays and uncertainties not under the Company's control which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance or expectation implied by these forward looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Astur Gold Corp.
Vadim Dubchak
604-694-1600
info@asturgold.com
www.asturgold.com