Canadian Zinc and Parks Canada Sign Renewed Memorandum of Understanding

Canadian Zinc Corporation and Parks Canada announce a renewed Memorandum of Understanding MOU regarding the operation and development of the Prairie Creek Mine and the management of Nahanni National Park Reserve.

The Prairie Creek Mine is located in the Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories, within the watershed of the South Nahanni River and in proximity to but outside the Nahanni National Park Reserve, which currently encircles the Prairie Creek Mine.

"Parks Canada is committed to the ongoing protection and world class visitor experiences of Nahanni National Park Reserve and recognizes and respects the rights of Canadian Zinc to develop the proposed Prairie Creek mine," said Alan Latourelle, CEO of Parks Canada. "In working collaboratively with Canadian Zinc to achieve our respective goals, we are able to balance environmental protection with economic development in the north and maximize benefits to Canadians."

The MOU, which is valid for three years, replaces the previous MOU signed between the Parties in 2008. In the MOU:

-- Parks Canada and Canadian Zinc agree to work collaboratively, within their respective areas of responsibility, authority and jurisdiction, to achieve their respective goals of managing Nahanni National Park Reserve and an operating Prairie Creek Mine.

-- Parks Canada recognizes and respects the right of Canadian Zinc to develop the Prairie Creek Mine and has granted Land Use Permit 2009 - L02 to provide road access through the Park to the Mine area.

-- Canadian Zinc acknowledges the cooperative management relationship Parks Canada shares with the Dehcho First Nations in the management of Nahanni National Park Reserve. This includes recognition of the 2003 Parks Canada - Dehcho First Nation Interim Park Management Arrangement and the role of the cooperative management mechanism - Nah?a Dehe Consensus Team.

"We are pleased to have this new memorandum of understanding with Parks Canada which will ensure our continued cooperative relationship," said John F. Kearney, Chairman of Canadian Zinc Corporation.
“Canadian Zinc accepts the value of Nahanni National Park Reserve to Canadians and will manage the development of the Prairie Creek Mine so the mine does not, in its own right, negatively affect the management and operations of the Park Reserve."

Posted March 5, 2012

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