Framework established for Kensington Mine permits.

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 1995--Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. (NYSE:CDE) announced it has joined with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in an agreement that creates the framework for the expeditious issuance of an NPDES permit for construction of the Kensington gold mine project in Alaska.

The agreement between the parties results from a proposed change in the discharge point for effluent from the tailings impoundment pond from Lynn Canal to Sherman Creek, at a point adjacent to the impoundment. Coeur is not required to make this change, but has proposed the change to respond to comments raised by several local and environmental organizations that they prefer a freshwater instead of a marine discharge.

EPA and DEC have agreed to work jointly to evaluate the water quality standards for Sherman Creek near Kensington, as well as site-specific criteria for the project, and to cooperate in the development of a supplemental environmental impact statement. Coeur will furnish the agencies with the data necessary to make the evaluation. The parties have agreed to a time schedule which calls for drafts of the SEIS and the NPDES permit to be published for comment before Dec. 22, 1995.

EPA's Region X administrator in Seattle, Chuck Clarke, said the EPA discharge permit is one of the key permits Coeur must obtain before it can begin construction needed to reopen the mine. Coeur has said that it wants to secure all necessary permits by next May.

Clarke said EPA understands how people in business need certainty when lining up financing for industrial development. "Time is money, and too much time can mean money lost," he said. "EPA is determined that we will proceed without delay."

Clarke said that EPA, the Alaska DEC and Coeur all recognized the need for cooperative effort.

Alaska DEC deputy commissioner Michele Brown added, "This type of up-front planning will save DEC and Coeur considerable time by ensuring that Coeur files all necessary information to enable the public to adequately comment and DEC to make prompt decisions.

"We agreed to do our part to help the permitting move as efficiently as possible. What it really means is that each party will be working simultaneously, rather than in tandem, and this should shorten this schedule while still meeting all requirements."

Dennis E. Wheeler, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Coeur, said, "We at Coeur are delighted to have arrived at this innovative agreement with EPA and Alaska DEC to define the final permitting process. It demonstrates that federal and state environmental agencies can work effectively with industry to accomplish reasonable environmental safeguards for new projects."

Coeur is 100 percent owner of the Kensington, which has reserves of approximately 1.95 million ounces of gold.

CONTACT: Anthony R. Ebersole, Director of Investor Relations,

208/667-3511