Emgold Advances Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine Permitting 

VANCOUVER, BC - Emgold Mining Corporation reported on its Idaho-Maryland Project located in Grass Valley, California. Emgold, through its 100% owned subsidiary Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation, has completed the filing process for its 2011 Revised Permit Applications with the City of Grass Valley.

Summary presentations related to the revised applications are also available under Latest Updates, including the Project Overview Presentation June 2011, Revised Project Applications Presentation June 2011, and Mining Done Right Presentation June 2011.

The City of Grass Valley is the Lead Agency and responsible for completing the Environmental Impact Report for the Project, as part of the California Environmental Quality Act process. The City and its consultant, Environmental Science Associates, will now prepare a scope of work, budget, and schedule to complete the EIR process (consisting of a Revised Draft EIR and Final EIR). Upon review of these items, a decision will be made on whether to proceed with ESA or alternatively obtain competitive bids from other potential consultants to complete the EIR. Once the consultant has been selected, the City and IMMC will complete a Reimbursement Agreement. IMMC (as the applicant) is responsible for reimbursing the City for all costs to complete the EIR. The City and its consultant will then prepare a revision to the October 2008 Draft EIR. The revision will incorporate changes, modifications, and clarifications included in the 2011 Revised Permit Applications, to ensure they are adequately analyzed as part of the CEQA process. Emgold elected to make these changes, modifications, and clarifications with the goal of eliminating reducing, or mitigating certain potential environmental impacts identified in the 2008 Draft EIR, during the subsequent public comment period, and through the Company's Community Outreach Program in Grass Valley. It is expected that, once work commences, the Revised Draft EIR and the Final EIR will be completed within about 12 months (subject to the requirements outlined above and funding of the applicable work by Emgold). The Revised Draft EIR will be distributed for a customary public comment period, with public meetings held by the City. The public comments will then be addressed in the Final EIR. The Idaho-Maryland Mine was once the second largest underground gold mine in California and is reported to have produced 2.4 million ounces of gold at an average recovered grade of 0.43 ounce per ton. The mine contains a NI 43-101 compliant measured and indicated resource of 472,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 0.28 ounces per ton and an inferred resource of 1,002,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 0.39 ounce per ton. The company's address is Suite 1400 - 570 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC 604.687.4622,  fax: 604.687.4212.