Mountain States Legal Foundation Files Petition With US Supreme Court for Atna Resources...

Mountain States Legal Foundation Files Petition With US Supreme Court for Atna
Resources in The McDonald Takings Case

GOLDEN, Colo., July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/-- Atna Resources Ltd.
("Atna") -- (TSX: ATN), is pleased to announce that Mountain States Legal
Foundation ("MSLF") has filed a petition for writ of certiorari on behalf of
Atna's wholly owned subsidiary, Seven-Up Pete Venture and other property
owners, with the United States Supreme Court in the case Seven-Up Pete
Venture, et al. v Brian Schweitzer, et al. MSLF is a nonprofit, public
interest law firm dedicated to individual liberty, the right to own and use
property, limited and ethical government and the free enterprise system.
"We are extremely pleased that MSLF has decided to take this case. Their
decision affirms the belief in the strength of our case and that an injustice
has been done to the Company's interests. The recent ruling on this case by
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that states are immune
from suits in federal court premised upon violations of the U.S. Constitution,
which requires the payment of just compensation when private property is
'taken.' This issue may have significant impact on the integrity and value of
property rights in the U.S. and requires clarification as a point of law by
the U.S. Supreme Court," states James Hesketh, President, COO & Director.
The McDonald takings claim was initiated in April 2000 as a result of the
passage of the 1998 I-137 anti-cyanide ballot initiative in the State of
Montana. Passage of this initiative resulted in an unprecedented law that was
narrowly crafted to specifically outlaw the use of cyanide to recover gold
from ores mined by open pit methods. This legislation was the first of its
kind in the U.S. By the time the initiative passed, the Seven-Up Pete Venture
had spent over $70 million on drilling, permitting and engineering at the
McDonald gold project in Montana. The passage of this initiative critically
impaired the project.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
For further information on Mountain States Legal Foundation please visit
http://www.mountainstateslegal.org
For additional information on Atna Resources, please visit our website at
http://www.atna.com or contact:
James Hesketh, President and COO (303) 278-8464
Valerie Kimball, Investor Relations (303) 278-8464 or toll free
(877) 692-8182
SOURCE Atna Resources Ltd.

James Hesketh, President and COO, or Valerie Kimball, Investor Relations, toll
free, 1-877-692-8182, both of Atna Resources Ltd., +1-303-278-8464