The Company is actively maintaining contact with Ecuador's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum ("MMP") in connection with the Government's initiative to implement a new Mines Law in Ecuador. The MMP submitted a draft of the new Mines Law to President Correa in late June 2008. Based on recent published reports, there appears to be room for encouragement, as the proposed new Mines Law may not contain many of the adverse mining provisions previously discussed within the Constituent Assembly.