Imperial Metals Corporation

Mount Polley Remediation Update

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Oct. 22, 2014) - Imperial Metals Corporation ("Imperial") (TSX:III) reports on the recovery efforts related to the August 4 tailings impoundment breach at its Mount Polley mine. The initial response and recovery phase has been substantially completed and crews have commenced rehabilitation and restoration activities.

Response and Recovery Phase

The initial response to the tailings impoundment breach included a program to secure the remaining tailings within the impoundment, reduce the water level in Polley Lake, and clean up woody debris deposited in Quesnel Lake.

1. Tailings Security: A rock berm was constructed upstream of the breach area to secure the remaining tailings. Additional rock berms were also placed inside the tailings impoundment to further secure the remaining tailings and establish sumps to collect water.
   
   
2. Polley Lake Water Level Reduction: Approximately 6 million cubic metres of water flowed into Polley Lake from the breach and was trapped when the outlet to the lake was plugged. The resulting lake level was 1.7 metres higher than it had been prior to the breach. Eight pumps were installed to pump water out of Polley Lake, around the plug and into Hazeltine Creek through two pipelines. Polley Lake has now been returned to near pre-breach level and is now only pumped as required to maintain the level.
   
   
3. Quesnel Lake Wood Recovery: The flow path of the water and tailings dislodged and deposited trees and bushes in Quesnel Lake, posing a navigational hazard. On August 4 a team was formed, led by local contractors working with two boom boats, a barge and four smaller support craft. Floating wood was secured, following which, crews began the cleanup of beached debris. The wood recovery cleanup is expected to be completed by mid-November.
   
   

These recovery efforts and related safety issues, which are now largely complete, were required to be conducted prior to Imperial proceeding with the rehabilitation and restoration phase. Where possible, Imperial initiated some restoration work concurrent to the recovery efforts.

Environmental Monitoring

The Mount Polley environmental monitoring program has been ongoing since the tailings impoundment breach. The data collection program includes water chemistry at sampling stations at multiple water depths in Quesnel Lake, and has confirmed the water is safe to drink and is not toxic to aquatic life. Water quality information has been communicated to the local community and stakeholders on a regular basis. The program also includes geochemical, physical limnology and biological testing. This program will continue for the foreseeable future.