Augusta Reports Rosemont Copper Permit Update 

VANCOUVER, BC - Augusta Resource Corporation reported that the Environment Impact Statement contractor SWCA of Tucson, Arizona has delivered a full draft of the Environment Impact Statement ("DEIS") to the US Forest Service, Coronado National Forest for internal review.

Subsequent levels of review include the Regional Forest Service office and the cooperating agencies, who have been involved throughout the process. Upon completion of these reviews the DEIS will then be printed and released to the public, which starts the 90 day public consultation period. The Company anticipates the release of the Rosemont DEIS and subsequent public hearings to be scheduled for early 2011. Augusta is a base metals company focused on advancing the Rosemont copper deposit near Tucson, Arizona. Rosemont hosts a large copper/molybdenum reserve that may account for about 10% of US copper output once in production in 2012. The company's address is #400 - 837 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3N6, 604.687.1717, fax: 604.687.1715, email: [email protected].