Encanto announces commencement of environmental assessment process

TRADING SYMBOL:  TSXV: EPO

VANCOUVER, Jan. 29, 2013 /CNW/ - Encanto Potash Corp. ("Encanto" or the "Company") (TSXV: EPO and OTCQX: ENCTF) is pleased to announce the commencement of the environmental assessment process for the Muskowekwan Project, a joint venture between Encanto and the Muskowekwan First Nation and Muskowekwan Resources Limited to develop a potash mine on Muskowekwan lands in Saskatchewan.

The joint venture formally initiated the environmental assessment process by submitting a Project Description/Technical Proposal to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment on December 7, 2012.

The purpose of the Project Description/Technical Proposal is to enable Canada and Saskatchewan to determine if an environmental assessment of the Muskowekwan Project is required.  On December 13, 2012, Saskatchewan confirmed the need for a provincial environmental assessment pursuant to the Saskatchewan Environmental Assessment Act.  The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency confirmed the need for a federal environmental assessment pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 ("CEAA 2012") on January 29, 2013.

Pursuant to CEAA 2012, the Federal Minister of Environment must decide and report if any mitigation measures are appropriate. The Minister must make his decision no later than 365 days after the day on which the notice of the commencement of the environmental assessment of the designated project is posted. This time limit does not include the time required for Encanto to prepare and submit the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and any other required information.  Encanto expects to file the EIS by the summer of 2013.

The provincial environmental assessment process does not have mandatory timelines, but is expected to be of similar duration.

Jim Walchuck, President and CEO commented "Reaching this stage of the permitting process is one of the most crucial elements of a methodical progression in advancing the project toward a producing mine.  I would like to commend the excellent work by our team in getting us to this point".

About Encanto:

Encanto Potash Corp. is a TSX Venture Exchange listed and OTCQX traded Canadian resource company engaged in the development of potash properties in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, the largest producing potash region in the world. Through the joint venture agreement with Muskowekwan Resources Ltd. on our flagship property, Encanto has been successful in adding a 3.5 fold increase to the project land package, which now totals approximately 58,300 acres. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), based solely on the Home Reserve Lands (15,500 acres), was released in August of 2011 and an updated NI 43-101 report describing the increase to the compliant resource estimate was filed on May 10, 2012.

Encanto's Muskowekwan First Nation property has a current NI 43-101 resource estimate dated May 9, 2012 titled "2012 Potash Resource Assessment for the Muskowekwan First Nations Home Reserve Project South Eastern Saskatchewan, Canada" containing Measured and Indicated resources of 130.7MMt grading 29.6% KCl or 18.7% K₂O and Inferred resources of 234.7MMt grading 28.3% KCl or 17.9% K₂O.

The Company has a 100% interest in two additional potash properties in Saskatchewan: the 55,000 acre Ochapowace/Chacachas property and the 91,550 acre Spar property.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed by Ross Moulton, Vice-President of Exploration for Encanto, a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

For additional information about Encanto Potash Corp., please visit the Company's website at www.encantopotash.com or review the Company's documents filed on www.sedar.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Per: "James Walchuck"
James Walchuck
President and CEO

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.

THE FOREGOING INFORMATION MAY CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FUTURE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, THE ACTUAL RESULTS OF EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES, CHANGES IN WORLD COMMODITY MARKETS OR EQUITY MARKETS, THE RISKS OF THE MINING INDUSTRY INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, DELAYS IN OBTAINING GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS, PERMITS OR FINANCING OR IN THE COMPLETION OF DEVELOPMENT OR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, TITLE DISPUTES, CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT AND CHANGES TO REGULATIONS AFFECTING THE MINING INDUSTRY, AND OTHER RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES DETAILED FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE COMPANY'S FILINGS WITH THE CANADIAN SECURITIES ADMINISTRATORS (AVAILABLE AT WWW.SEDAR.COM). FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE MADE BASED ON VARIOUS ASSUMPTIONS AND ON MANAGEMENT'S BELIEFS, ESTIMATES AND OPINIONS ON THE DATE THE STATEMENTS ARE MADE. SHOULD ONE OR MORE OF THESE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES MATERIALIZE, OR SHOULD UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS PROVE INCORRECT, ACTUAL RESULTS MAY VARY MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS IF THESE ASSUMPTIONS, BELIEFS, ESTIMATES AND OPINIONS OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD CHANGE, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

SOURCE Encanto Potash Corp.