VANCOUVER, Aug. 22, 2011 /CNW/ --
VANCOUVER, Aug. 22, 2011 /CNW/ - Heatherdale Resources Ltd.
('Heatherdale' or the 'Company') (TSXV: HTR) is pleased to report that
on August 16, 2011 the US Forest Service Alaska Regional Forester Beth
Pendleton announced that exploration drilling at the Niblack Project
has been approved to go forward. The permitting approval allows
Heatherdale to drill test several high priority exploration targets
located on federal lands designated as inventoried roadless area. This
will complement and significantly enhance the ongoing exploration
program at the Niblack Project.
'Today, Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell approved geotechnical and
exploration drilling in inventoried roadless areas for the Greens Creek
Mine and the Niblack Mine exploration projects,' said Pendleton. 'This
approval will allow Greens Creek to continue the expansion of its
tailings site and Niblack to continue its exploration.'
'These two projects will help employ Alaskans on important projects
while providing crucial environmental safeguards,' said Harris Sherman,
Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment at the US
Department of Agriculture. 'Both the Niblack and Greens Creek projects
will have minimal footprints -- less than an acre apiece -- with the
potential for substantial boosts to local economies.'
Heatherdale President & CEO Patrick Smith stated, 'I would like to
acknowledge the combined efforts of the Alaska Governor, Congressional
delegation, the USDA and the local USFS in obtaining these approvals.
We particularly appreciate the strong show of support from Governor
Parnell and from Senator Mark Begich. This priority permitting will
allow the technical team to test high priority targets that can be best
accessed by helicopter supported drilling before the end of the field
season.'
There are currently two underground drills operating at the Niblack
Project. A surface drilling program was initiated in late May to focus
on targets accessible from patented mining claims on the property. In
July the heli-portable drill rig was mobilized to the Company's Delta
Project near Tok, Alaska. This drill and team will return to the
Niblack project at the conclusion of the Delta drilling program to
complete the surface drilling program that includes these critical
sites on US Forest Service administered land.
Niblack's location at tidewater on Prince of Wales Island in southeast
Alaska presents a number of project benefits, including year-round
marine access, a well-trained labour force, a mature supply and service
sector, proximity to Asian markets, and the support of community and
Alaska Native corporation partners. The project is located 27 miles
(44 km) from Ketchikan, a community of 8000 people with important
services to support project development, including a deep water port
and international airport. The State's burgeoning minerals industry
also enjoys a competitive tax regime and stable, predictable permitting
and regulatory oversight coordinated by the Alaska Department of
Natural Resources' 'Large Mine Permitting Team'.
Heatherdale Resources Ltd. is a Vancouver-based exploration and
development company focused on advancing the high-grade mine
development opportunity at the Niblack Project. The Company holds a
51% interest in the Niblack Project, is currently completing work to
increase its interest to 60%, and has an option to acquire up to a 70%
interest in the Niblack Project. The Company also holds a 60% interest,
with the option to acquire 100%, in the mid-stage Delta
copper-lead-zinc-gold-silver project, located in east-central Alaska.
Heatherdale is associated with the Hunter Dickinson group, which has a
track record of successful mineral exploration and development projects
around the world.
Mark Rebagliati, P. Eng., a Qualified Person as defined under National
Instrument 43-101, is supervising the exploration and quality assurance
and quality control programs on behalf of Heatherdale and has reviewed
the content of this release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Patrick Smith
President and CEO
Neither the 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.
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed
'forward-looking statements'. All statements in this release, other
than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling,
exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company
expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes
the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based
on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future
performance and actual results or developments may differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking
statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration
successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the
ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due
to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding
mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, continued
availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or
business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements
are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or
developments may differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company,
investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings
that are available at www.sedar.com.
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