The approval obtained through the Directorial Resolution N°: 122-2012 from the General Bureau of Environmental Affairs (DGAA) of the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru (MEM) allows the company mining contractors JRC Ingenierios to commence underground development of the Magistral deposits at Santander.

"Receipt of the environmental approval is the culmination of many months of hard work by our Santander team and represents a major milestone in the company's development," stated Trevali's President and CEO, Mark Cruise.

"We are also pleased with the progress on site that remains on-track for commissioning and production ramp-up this year."

The company said as part of the extensive review process, it held numerous information workshops with their neighbours in the local communities, within the area of influence of Santander.

In addition to addressing observations from MEM, the National and Local Water Authorities, the National Archaeological Institute and the Ministry of Agriculture (Minag).

JRC personnel have been on-site for approximately two weeks and the full complement of 200 miners are presently mobilizing to site.

The latest report from Trevali's concentrate plant construction managers, Merit International, states that the project remains on track for Q3-2012 commissioning.

Trevali has two advanced-stage polymetallic (zinc-lead-silver-copper) deposits in Canada and Peru - the Halfmile and Santander mine projects respectively.

In Canada, Trevali owns the Halfmile Mine and Stratmat polymetallic deposit in the Bathurst Mining Camp of northern New Brunswick, and the past-producing Ruttan copper-zinc mine in northern Manitoba. Production from the Halfmile Mine commenced in early 2012 and will ramp up to a planned production rate of 2,000-tonnes-per-day.

In Peru, the company has the Santander zinc-lead-silver mine project and the former-producing Huampar silver mine, both located in the Central Peruvian Polymetallic Belt.

Mine commissioning is anticipated to commence at the Santander operation in mid-2012 with ramp up to full 2,000-tonnes-per-day production to follow shortly thereafter.

Additionally through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Trevali Renewable Energy Inc., Trevali is undertaking a significant upgrade of its wholly-owned Tingo run-of-river hydroelectric generating facility along with transmission line upgrades and extensions.
 
This is to allow, in addition to supplying power to the mining operation on the property, the potential sale of surplus power into the Peruvian National Energy Grid.

(END) LVT/LVT