TRAIL, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - May 29, 2008) - Teck Cominco regrets to announce that at approximately 5:30pm on May 28, 2008 a heat exchanger in the lead refinery of the Trail Operations failed allowing electrolyte, an acidic solution containing lead, to get to the Columbia River, through an industrial outlet.

The environmental monitoring system detected the problem, environmental control procedures were immediately activated and the lead refinery was temporarily shut down to prevent further release of the solution.

Trail Operations immediately notified the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP), the Ministry of Environment and Environment Canada and will continue to cooperate fully with all regulatory agencies to manage this incident.

Approximately 950 kg of lead in solution was discharged into the river as a result of the incident. Tests are currently underway to assess the water quality downstream of the discharge point and an investigation into this incident has commenced.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Teck Cominco Limited Richard Deane Manager, Energy and Public Affairs (250) 364-4118  Website: www.teckcominco.com