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Wed, October 21, 2009 Ucore Uranium Inc.: Ucore Uranium Inc.: Alaska Senator Weighs in on Rare Earths
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 21, 2009) - Ucore Uranium Inc. (TSX VENTURE:UCU), ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the Senior U.S. Senator from the State of Alaska, Lisa Murkowski, has commented on the need for the advancement of domestic mining of rare earths to meet the ongoing clean energy needs of the United States. Senator Murkowski (R-Alaska) is the ranking member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (CENR), located in Washington, DC. CENR is a standing committee of the U.S. Senate, tasked with legislative matters related to national energy production and procurement, the activities of which are a significant bellwether of emerging federal energy policy. An overview of the mandate of the Committee is available at the following link:
[ http://energy.senate.gov/public/ ]
In a commentary issued October 19, 2009, Senator Murkowski said of current US energy policy: "We risk a future in which wind turbines, solar panels, advanced batteries and geothermal steam turbines are not made in the USA, but somewhere else … (and) we have slowly but surely surrendered the front end of the clean energy supply chain." The Senator speaks directly to the need for a stable domestic supply of rare earth elements and resources crucial to green technology, emphasizing strategic mining as an economic driver for the U.S. The complete commentary is available at the following link:
"It's encouraging to see such direct geopolitical support for domestic rare earth production at some of the highest levels of U.S. government," said Jim McKenzie, President and CEO of Ucore Uranium. "With Bokan being the only known significant occurrence of rare earths in Alaska and one of most prospective HREE deposits in the US, the outlook for project advancement, facilitation and permitting could not be better."
As Alaska's senior representative to Washington, Senator Murkowski's support for REE production echoes prior endorsements of rare earth production in the state. In 1998, a Resolution was ratified at the Alaska State Legislature, supporting the advancement of research and production of HREE (primarily yttrium) at Bokan for US high speed rail, linear induction and military applications (Resolution 56; ASL 1998). Details of the Resolution are available for viewing at the following link:
[ http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/AlaskaStateLegislatureResolution561998.docx ]
Prior to this, rare earth mineralization and metallurgy at Bokan had received detailed research and study by the USBM and the USGS, now grandfathered into the US Department of the Interior (see Ucore press releases: August 18, 2009 and Sept 3, 2009 for additional details on USGS/USBM research and resource estimates for Bokan). The USGS continues to support rare earth research at Bokan, with its 2009 research grant to study REE mineral characterization at the site (see Ucore press release: May 27, 2009).
Background:
Ucore Uranium Inc. is a junior exploration company focused on establishing REE and uranium resources through exploration and property acquisition. With multiple projects, Ucore's primary focus is the Rare Earth One operated Bokan – Dotson Ridge rare earth element and uranium project. The project is located on the southern part of the Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska, with excellent deep water access and proximity to major sea and rail shipping routes across North America and to Asia.
Ucore Uranium Inc.
Jim McKenzie, President and CEO
This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Corporation expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Corporation 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 forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.
Neither 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.
