West Hawk Starts Drilling Program at Groundhog Coal Property

DENVER, COLORADO, Jul 31, 2008 (Marketwire via COMTEX News Network) --

West Hawk Development Corp. (TSX VENTURE:WHD)(FRANKFURT:H5N) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the start of the exploration program at its Groundhog anthracite coal property, a region north of Terrace, British Columbia. The drilling and sampling program will add vital information on coal quantity and quality within each seam and samples of coal will be tested for its PCI/coking characteristics. In accordance with the access agreements signed with local First Nations, West Hawk along with representatives of the First Nations People are conducting a cultural review this week prior to the start of drilling on the property.

Drilling and sampling on the property will be managed by WHD under Roger A. Baer's, Managing Director of Canadian Operations, leadership. The first phase of the program will total 10 drill core holes. Comprehensive laboratory analysis of the drill cores will be undertaken by SGS to determine the full extent of the PCI/coking properties of the coal and categorize the coal into the measured and indicated classification. "We want to expand the 43-101 report prepared by WEIR International. The exploration program will adhere to the highest "Best Practice" engineering standards," said Andrew P. Schissler, Executive Vice President of Engineering, West Hawk.

Over the next several weeks a camp will be mobilized and drilling equipment will be moved into the area. Permit applications were submitted at the beginning of July and it is currently at the referral stage of the process. The Company expects to receive approval shortly and drilling to start in late summer.

West Hawk is committed to being environmentally responsible and has outlined a four-seasons baseline environmental study to be conducted over the next 12 months. The Company has no interest in coal bed methane as part of its exploration and development plans for the Groundhog coal project.

"West Hawk wishes to thank Union Securities and the First Nations people for their help in this important Groundhog, British Columbia endeavor," stated Gonzalo Torres Macchiavelo, President and CEO of the Americas.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Wm. Mark Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer

About the Company: West Hawk Development Corp. is focused on providing valuable, high-demand energy products from a variety of sources. Assets include the Figure Four natural gas property located in the Piceance Basin, Colorado, being developed under a drilling and development agreement; the Groundhog coal property located in northwest British Columbia; the Tulita coal property located in the Northwest Territories; and the Ellesmere Island, Nunavut Territory coal property.

Cautionary Note: This news release contains forward looking statements, particularly those regarding cash flow, capital expenditures and investment plans. Resource estimates, unless specially noted, are considered speculative. The Company has filed a National Instrument 51-101 Report on the Figure Four property. The Company has filed National Instrument 43-101 Reports for each of the Groundhog coal property in British Columbia, the Tulita coal property in the Northwest Territories, and the Nunavut coal property. Any and all other resource or reserve estimates are historical in nature, and should not be relied upon. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on factors that will or may occur in the future. Actual results may vary depending upon exploration and development activities, industry production, commodity demand and pricing, currency exchange rates, and, but not limited to, general economic factors. Cautionary note to U.S. investors: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission specifically prohibits the use of certain terms, such as "reserves" unless such figures are based upon actual production or formation tests and can be shown to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions.

SOURCE: West Hawk Development Corp.

West Hawk Development Corp. Wm. Mark Hart President and Chief Executive Officer 1-800-830-0988 Website: www.westhawkdevelopment.com
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