News Releases/Alerts

Resolution Copper Wins National and State Safety Awards

SUPERIOR, Ariz., October 2, 2009

Resolution Copper has been awarded two prestigious awards in recognition of its outstanding safety performance at its Superior, Arizona operation.

The Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Mining Association (NMA) has honored Resolution Copper with a Sentinels of Safety Award in the Small Underground Metals category. The Sentinels of Safety is the most recognized, longest-standing award given for occupational safety and is awarded annually to mining operations in various operational categories. To qualify, the company worked over 52,000 man-hours without a lost time injury for the year 2008. Resolution Copper was also recognized by MSHA and the NMA in 2006 and 2007 with a Sentinels of Safety Certificate of Achievement in Safety for its outstanding safety record.

Resolution Copper will be formally recognized at a banquet hosted by the NMA in Washington, D.C. on October 28.

In addition to the national award, the Office of the Arizona State Mine Inspector formally recognized Resolution Copper for completing 2008 without a lost-time injury. The company was also given an honorable mention for its environmental reclamation efforts on the legacy mine site in Superior. Both awards were presented at the Arizona State Inspector's First Annual Fall Mine Mixer on October 1.

"The national and statewide recognitions are quite an achievement and showcase the work all of our employees put into our safety programs," said Resolution Copper President and CEO David Salisbury. "We view safety as our top priority and consider a safe workplace vital to building a sustainable operation."

About Resolution Copper

Resolution Copper Mining (RCM) is a limited liability company owned by Resolution Copper Company (55%), a Rio Tinto plc subsidiary, and BHP Copper, Inc. (45%), a BHP-Billiton plc subsidiary. Resolution Copper Company is the manager of RCM. The project is located in an historic mining district three miles east of Superior, Arizona. The Resolution Copper Project is expected to produce 20 percent of anticipated U.S. copper demand and over 5,800 mining and non-mining jobs over the next several decades. To learn more, visit resolutioncopper.com.