Rosemont Copper Project Receives Air Quality Permit

VANCOUVER, BC - Augusta Resource Corporation has received the Air Quality Permit for its Rosemont Copper project from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ("ADEQ").╩ The Air Quality Permit stipulates the operating, monitoring and reporting parameters that Rosemont must comply with to meet all federal, state and local air quality requirements.

Rosemont has now received seven major permits required to commence construction.╩ Only one major permit is remaining, the Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit from the US Army Corp of Engineers, which the Company expects to receive upon the issuance of the Record of Decision ("ROD") on the Plan of Operations from the U.S. Forest Service ("USFS").

Gil Clausen, President and CEO said, "Having received one of the last permits remaining represents a major achievement for the Rosemont Copper project as we near the end of the permitting process and prepare for construction this year. This success demonstrates our commitment to set high standards for environmental protection by operating with enhanced emission controls that go beyond regulatory requirements. Further, we would like to commend the ADEQ for advancing the permitting process for the Air Quality Permit thoroughly, professionally and expeditiously."

Augusta is focused on advancing the Rosemont Copper deposit near Tucson, Arizona. Rosemont hosts a large copper/molybdenum reserve that would account for about 10% of US copper output once in production.