To: Ken W who wrote (8499 ) 6/16/2005 5:41:52 AM From: Ditchdigger Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 23958 BMD "Birch Mountain's Muskeg Valley Quarry Approved" CALGARY, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Birch Mountain Resources Ltd. (BMD:TSX Venture Exchange and AMEX) ("Birch Mountain" or the "Corporation") announces that the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) has issued its Decision Report approving the construction and operation of the Muskeg Valley Quarry for aggregate production. The quarry will provide a range of limestone products including high quality aggregate used in concrete and asphalt, which will play an important role in the growth of the oil sands industry in northeastern Alberta and the expanding infrastructure requirements of the region. "We are pleased to have achieved NRCB approval in just over one year," says Senior Vice President, Don Dabbs. "We anticipate the Order in Council from the Alberta Government shortly, followed by Public Lands Act authorization and operating permits in time to start field work in the next several weeks." Russ Gerrish, Vice President of Engineering and Operations, reports "Birch Mountain has tenders out for the contract operations of the quarry beginning as soon as all approvals are in place. We anticipate the quarry will be fully operational later this summer." Birch Mountain has engaged RBC Capital Markets to provide financial advisory services related to the strategic development of its limestone reserves. "With the NRCB decision and RBC working with us, Birch Mountain is poised to become a significant supplier to the oil sands industry," says Doug Rowe, President and CEO. Based in Calgary, Birch Mountain is dedicated to developing its extensive mineral properties in the Athabasca region. The Corporation has 67,738,365 common shares issued and outstanding, and 76,508,057 on a fully diluted basis