US Govt REJECTS Pebble mine permit Yesterday, page-20

To put this issue to bed before all the naysayers come out, I sent the following email to Louie this afternoon, and I have his permission to post it on HC:

Hi Louie,

Hope all is well.

In light of the recent announcement released by the US government rejecting mining permit for the Pebbles project on environmental grounds, do you anticipate Nova Minerals having similar issues on the Estelle project when we apply for our mining license considering we are within the same vicinity.

Kind regards,

xxxxxxxxxx

Response from Louie:

Hi xxxx,

Firstly, Pebble is as the crows fly over 250km south of Estelle, a very long way away.

The Pebble project is a very unique story and the dramas surrounding its permitting saga have caused some confusion regarding the general support of mining projects in Alaska. This is unfortunate and frankly unfounded (Comparison closer to home - Qld is not a risk due to the Adani mine). A basic level of research will show that Alaska is a very, very pro-development (government and community) and is primarily a natural resource based economy, oil, minerals, timber, fishing, etc. Revenues from resources fund the government. The best paid jobs are resource jobs.

Here are the issues of Pebble and the how Estelle differentiates:

1. Pebble is a porphyry Cu-Au deposit which will produce concentrate. bringing concentrate to market is a logistics nightmare requiring an extensive network of roads, barges, and infrastructure through a complex array of land ownerships including several native corps (some pro, some anti the project, indecision) and Federal lands. Nightmare to permit and all to agree.

Nova will be producing Au Dore bars flown out via air transport. No complex concentrate logistics to deal with. Also, Estelle is all on state land including any access routes, very streamlined fast track permitting process (state only). We have received very positive support thus far from the State of Alaska and the local Matsu borough. In fact the Mutsu borough is looking to open the area up http://www.aidea.org/Programs/ProjectDevelopment/WestSusitnaAccess.aspx . We have no Native corps or Federal land issues.

2. Pebble deposit is situated at the headwaters of major salmon spawning grounds which drain into Bristol Bay, the world's largest natural salmon, crab, halibut, etc fishery. Major commercial fishing interests there form another important contributor to Alaska economy conflict.

Estelle is situated in the Alaska range very far away with no impact on any major commercial or recreational fisheries. Not an issue

3. Pebble is a sulphide ore body with potentially serious acid mine drainage issues that could affect the fisheries as pointed out in 2 above.

Estelle is what we call a Reduced Intrusive Related Gold System (RIRGS) this means that it is very low in sulfide content and environmental issue from acid mine drainage are non existent.

4. Pebble project has been around for a long time now washed around rebranded, many mistakes and technical difficulties.

Estelle is a relatively new exciting project with excellent technicals, we have the management team in place, in one of the safest supportive jurisdictions in the world today.

See attached for further reading.
COMPARISON of the PEBBLE MINE with OTHER ALASKA LARGE HARD ROCK MINES - LEVIT_&_CHAMBERS_2012.PDF

Kind Regards,

Louie Simens

Executive Director

Nova Minerals Limited (ASX: NVA |OTC: NVAAF| FSE: QM3)