Augusta (AZC) Receives Rosemont Draft Air Permit from ADEQ

DENVER, Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Augusta Resource Corporation (TSX/NYSE MKT: AZC) (“Augusta” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) has asserted complete jurisdiction over Rosemont Copper’s (“Rosemont”) Air Quality Permit due to the confusion and uncertainty caused by the inappropriate denial of Rosemont’s Air Quality Permit application by the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality.  Rosemont has thereby received the draft Air Quality Permit from the ADEQ.

ADEQ’s Air Quality Permit will ensure that Rosemont meets all federal, state and local requirements by operating with enhanced emissions controls at the mine site. The public comment period, which commences today, will be 60 days and will end on October 9, 2012.  Soon after the conclusion of the public comment period, the final Air Quality Permit will be issued for Rosemont.

“We are happy to see the Air Quality Permit process continue to advance and have the ADEQ officially issue the draft permit,” said Rod Pace, Augusta’s Chief Operating Officer. “The ADEQ will give Rosemont regulatory certainty and specific timeframes that were lacking in the Pima County permitting process. The ADEQ has handled our application since the initial submission in November 2011 in a professional and consistent manner.”

ABOUT AUGUSTA
Augusta is a base metals company 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 (for details refer to www.augustaresource.com). The exceptional experience and strength of Augusta’s management team, combined with the developed infrastructure and robust economics of the Rosemont project, propels Augusta to becoming a solid mid-tier copper producer. The Company trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE MKT under the symbol AZC.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to statements concerning: expectations surrounding future project financings or refinancing; the Company’s plans at the Rosemont Project including timing for final permits and construction; estimated production; and capital and operating and cash flow estimates. Forward-looking statements or information include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to: history of losses; requirements for additional capital; dilution; loss of its material properties; interest rates increase; global economy; no history of production; speculative nature of exploration activities; periodic interruptions to exploration, development and mining activities; environmental hazards and liability; industrial accidents; failure of processing and mining equipment; labour disputes; supply problems; commodity price fluctuations; uncertainty of production and cost estimates; the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; legal and regulatory proceedings and community actions; title matters; regulatory restrictions; permitting and licensing; volatility of the market price of Common Shares; insurance; competition; hedging activities; currency fluctuations; loss of key employees; as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated March 19, 2012. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law, and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company’s business contained in the Company’s reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States.