September 17, 1997 - Environmental Impact Statement Approved
Robert S. Cogliandro, President of Atacama Minerals Corp. (the "Company") is pleased to
announce that it has received approval of an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") for its Aguas
Blancas Project in Region II in northern Chile. The filing was accepted effective August 7, 1997.
Approval of the EIS is an important milestone in the development of the project and is necessary for
the completion of other permitting and the commencement of construction at the Aguas Blancas site.
In a brief ceremony on August 28, 1997, Mr. Robert S. Cogliandro, President of Atacama Minerals
Corp. formally accepted the approved filing from the Superintendent of Region II, Mr. Cesar
Castillo Lilayu. Mr. Cogliandro stated, "Atacama is very pleased to be developing the Aguas
Blancas project and working with the authorities of Region II to build a model plant which
maintains high environmental and safety standards. We look forward to beginning construction of
the facility at Aguas Blancas which we hope will be only the first of several projects in the Region."
Atacama's Aguas Blancas project is scheduled to begin production in early 1999. The Company
recently completed Phase I basic engineering for the project and is now moving into detailed
engineering. At capacity, the Aguas Blancas plant will produce 1,000 metric tons of crude iodine,
300,000 metric tons of sodium sulfate and 70,000 metric tons of potassium nitrate per annum.
TEL: (604) 689-7842 Atacama Minerals Corp.
Sophia Shane Corporate Development |
