Crown Resources Announces Conference Committee Votes for Provision to Approve Plan of Operations and Reinstate Record of Decision for Crown Jewel Project.

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1999--

Crown Resources Corporation today said that the United States House/Senate Appropriations Conference Committee has voted to overturn the previously announced decision of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, which denied the Plan of Operations and revoked the Record of Decision for the Crown Jewel project.

The provision voted upon, which would mandate the approval of the Plan of Operations and reinstatement of the Record of Decision, is part of the Supplemental Appropriations Bill. In order to become law, the Bill would have to be passed by the United States House and Senate and be signed by the President.

Crown's President Christopher E. Herald re-affirms the comments of Mr. Ian D. Bayer, President and CEO of Battle Mountain Gold, Crown's joint venture partner, who stated: "This was not an environmental issue, it was an issue of fairness. We are thankful to those in Congress who had the courage to address the injustice represented by the denial and the misinformation campaign waged by opponents of economic development. This provision, if enacted, will allow the project to move forward in accordance with the law upon which the Company has relied. It is not a change in the law." Mr. Bayer went on to state that, "Battle Mountain intends to build the Crown Jewel mine and looks forward to prompt action on the Bill."

Crown is a U.S. domiciled gold exploration company with properties in the U.S. and Mexico and a 57%-equity interest in Solitario Resources Corporation (SLR-Toronto Stock Exchange). Crown is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the trading symbol CRRS and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CRO.

The United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Operating, exploration and financial data, and other statements in this document, are based on information that the Company believes reasonable, but involve significant uncertainties as to future gold prices, costs, ore grades, mining and processing conditions, and regulatory and permitting matters. Actual results and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Also refer to the cautionary statement contained in the Company's Form 10-K and 10-Q for the most recent reporting periods.