Fording advised of application for judicial review Trust Confident in Approval Process of Cheviot Coal Mine Project CALGARY, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fording Canadian Coal Trust (TSX: FDG.UN, NYSE: FDG) advises that an application for judicial review has been filed in the Federal Court of Canada by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund on behalf of five environmental groups. The application seeks to compel the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to undertake another environmental assessment of the Cheviot Coal Mine Project in west central Alberta. The Cheviot project was approved following a thorough and lengthy environmental assessment process that spanned over eight years. Elk Valley Coal has secured all necessary provincial mining and environmental approvals and will commence operations in the new mining area upon receipt of a Fisheries Act Authorization from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). While the court application has the potential to delay the project, Elk Valley Coal continues to believe that authorization will be received on a timely basis. "We have a high level of confidence in the process undertaken by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and his department," said Jim Popowich, President and CEO, Elk Valley Coal. "The project was rigorously reviewed with appropriate due diligence by all parties involved. We believe all federal and provincial environmental assessment requirements have been properly completed for this project." The Cheviot project enjoys wide community and First Nations support. Continued mining will provide jobs and economic benefits for more than 20 years to the region, which includes local communities such as Hinton and Edson in Alberta. About Fording Fording Canadian Coal Trust is an open-ended mutual fund trust. Through investments in metallurgical coal and industrial minerals mining and processing operations, the Trust makes quarterly cash distributions to unitholders. The Trust, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fording Inc., holds a 60% interest in the Elk Valley Coal Partnership and is the world's largest producer of the industrial mineral wollastonite. Elk Valley Coal Partnership, comprised of Canada's senior metallurgical coal mining properties, is the world's second largest exporter of metallurgical coal, capable of supplying approximately 25 million tonnes of high-quality coal products annually to the international steel industry. The Trust's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FDG.UN and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FDG. DATASOURCE: Fording Canadian Coal Trust CONTACT: Media Contact: Elk Valley Coal Corporation, Dermot Lane, Director, Public and Environmental Affairs, (403) 260-9816; Community Contact: Cardinal River Operations, Lloyd Metz, General Manager, (780) 692-5110; Investor Contact: Susan J. Soprovich, Director, Investor Relations, Fording Canadian Coal Trust, (403) 269-9834, ; Catherine Hart, Coordinator, Investor Relations, (403) 260-9817,

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