Eagle Plains/Blind Creek Commence Drilling Program at Blende Silver/Base-Metal Deposit, Yukon Territory

Cranbrook, B.C. 31 July, 2008: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (EPL:TSX-V) and option partner Blind Creek Resources Ltd. (a private B.C. company) jointly announce that they have mobilized crews and equipment to commence a diamond drilling program on the Blende property, located in central Yukon approximately 65km NE of Keno. A total of 1,200m of drilling is planned for the project during 2008. The budget for the 2008 program has been set at $700,000 and includes metallurgical testing of mineralized material.

Blind Creek may earn a 60% interest in the 73-unit (3700 acre) property, which is owned 100% by EPL (subject to a 1% NSR). To earn its 60% interest, Blind Creek has agreed to complete a total of $5,000,000 in exploration expenditures, pay EPL $250,000 cash and issue 1,000,000 common shares by December 31st, 2010.

The Blende is a carbonate-hosted deposit on the south edge of the Mackenzie Platform, hosted by Middle Proterozoic Gillespie Group dolomite. A N.I. 43-101 compliant report was completed on the property in 2004 by B. Price, P.Geo.  In his technical report, Price used calculations prepared in 1991 by Billiton Metals Canada Ltd., which identified an inferred resource estimate for the property comprising a total of 19,600,000 tonnes (21,500,000 tons) grading 56.0 g/T silver, 3.04% Zn and 2.80% Pb at a cut-off based on an in-situ gross metal value (“GMV”) of $25 (based on 1990 metal prices and exchange rates)*. Within this resource is 15,300,000 tonnes grading 67.5 g/T silver, 3.04% Zn and 3.23% Pb (note: this inferred resource does not consider metallurgical recoveries).

Table 1-Inferred Resource Summary**

Inferred Resource	Contained Silver	Contained Zinc	Contained Lead
19,600,000 tonnes	38,700,000 oz	1,300,000,000 lbs	1,200,000,000 lbs

*These resource estimates were prepared by Billiton Canada Explorations In., a large integrated international exploration company prior to the introduction of National Instrument 43-101. Nevertheless, in (Price’s) opinion, the estimates are relevant and reliable.

**These figures represent in-situ resources and do not account for mining or metallurgical recoveries

Although initially explored as an open pit target, Eagle Plains and Blind Creek management believe that there is excellent potential to outline additional resources, and possibly develop the deposit as an underground operation, which would allow mining of a smaller tonnage with higher grade. By adjusting the cutoff grade of the blocks calculated previously, the current inferred resource could be reduced in tonnage, but increased in grade to 4.1 million tonnes grading 105 g/T (3.1 oz/t) silver, 6.7% lead, and 4.6% zinc. At the completion of work in 2007, the deposit was found to be open along strike to the west, and down-dip.

Numerous high-grade intersections have been reported by past operators, including hole 88-02 which assayed 282 g/t (8.22 oz/t) silver, 12.2% lead, and 4.4% zinc over 19.8m from a depth  of 70.7 to 90.5m. Hole 88-03 returned 8.5m grading 550.1 g/t (16.04 oz/t) silver, 15.3% lead and 4.6 % zinc from 118.0 to 126.5m, and hole 90-15 intersected 9.5m grading 351.2 g/t  (10.24 oz/t) silver, 14.11% lead, and 6.59% zinc from 60.1 to 69.6m. Step-out drilling in 1994 confirmed the continuation of ore-grade mineralization westward, with the addition of significant copper values. Hole 94-81 contained 14.9 m of mineralization which assayed 228.4 g/t (6.66 oz/t) silver,  9.71% lead, 5.48% zinc, and 0.78% copper from 9.2m to 24.1m, while hole 94-84 intersected 8.5m which returned 136.1 g/t (3.97 oz/t) silver, 6.74% lead, 3.65% zinc and 2.43% copper from 45.5-54.0m. Drillhole BE07116, drilled in 2007, returned 8.5% lead/zinc , 67.1 g/t Ag over 8.0m from 8.9 m to 16.9 m. (including 22.8% lead/zinc and 193.0 g/T silver over 1.0m from 10.9m to 11.9m)

The 2008 program is carried out under the supervision of C.C. Downie, P.Geo., hereby identified as the “Qualified Person” under N.I. 43-101. Drilling services have been contracted to Apex Diamond Drilling Ltd. of  Smithers, B.C., a company related to Eagle Plains. 

Update on Diamond-Drilling at Iron Range Project (iron, copper-gold)

Phase 1 diamond drilling has been completed on EPL’s 100% owned Iron Range project located 10km north-east of Creston, BC. A total of 20 holes were drilled during July with a total footage of 1,670m (5,500’). Significant iron mineralization was encountered in all sections, which were spaced over 3km of strike length. Analytical results will be released as assays results are received, compiled and interpreted. 

Update on Additional Eagle Plains Properties

Crews are continuing work on the Mackenzie Valley Zinc Project (part of a Strategic Alliance  with Teck Cominco Ltd.) located west of Norman Wells, NWT. An average of 20 people have been carrying out systematic exploration of the Mackenzie Mountains since mid-June. Fieldwork consisting of ground geophysical surveys, soil and stream geochemical sampling and geological mapping is expected to continue until late August. A $2.5M budget has been allocated for this project.  

First-Phase 2008 fieldwork has been completed on EPL’s Saskatchewan uranium projects, two of which are under option to Blue Sky Uranium Corp (BSK:TSX-V) (Eagle Lake and Karin Lake). Prospecting, mapping and systematic lake-sediment sampling was completed on these properties and on EPLs 100% owned Kulyk Lake and Jenny Lake Projects over a three-week period.

Crews have recently been mobilized to the Titan (copper-gold-molybdenum) Property located 50km west of Atlin, BC. A $400,000 budget has been approved by option partner XO Gold Corp (a private BC company) to carry out surface exploration work on Titan and an adjoining property and will include an airborne geophysical survey, geological mapping, prospecting and soil geochemical surveys. 

Fieldwork is underway on EPL’s 100% owned Kalum Property located 30km north of Terrace, BC, funded and operated by option partner Mountain Capital Corp (MCI:TSX-V). Drilling activity is planned for the property later in the 2008 season.

Detailed geological mapping has been completed on EPL’s 100% owned Bohan (silver-lead-zinc) property located 10km north of Creston, BC. Drilling activity is planned for the property later in the 2008 season.

Preliminary geochemical surveys have been initiated on EPLs 100% owned Elsiar Property located 30km north of Terrace, BC, funded by option partner Sandstorm Resources Ltd. (SSL:TSX-V). Crews commenced sampling activity in early July, but were restricted to lower elevations due to an unseasonably slow snow melt this year. Work will resume on the property later in the 2008 season.

About Eagle Plains

Eagle Plains Resources continues to conduct research, acquire and explore metal projects in western Canada. The Company controls over 35 gold, base-metal and uranium projects, many with third parties including Teck Cominco Limited (TSX:TCK.B), Alexco Resource Corp. (TSX-V:AXR), Sandstorm Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SSL.P), Mountain Capital Inc (TSX-V:MCI.P), Blue Sky Uranium Corp. (TSX-V:BSK) and XO Gold Resources Ltd.  These agreements expose Eagle Plains to over $22.0 million in exploration expenditures over a five year period. In recent years, Eagle Plains has completed option agreements with Billiton Metals, Rio Algom Exploration, NovaGold Resources, Kennecott Exploration and numerous other junior exploration companies, resulting in over 47,000m (154,200’) of drilling and over $21,000,000 in exploration spending on its projects since 1998. Eagle Plains management anticipates approximately $6,000,000 in expenditures on its projects in 2008, funded equally between Eagle Plains and third party partners.

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Tim J. Termuende, P.Geo., hereby designated as a “Qualified Person” under National Instrument 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

“Tim J. Termuende”
President and CEO

For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at 1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)
Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.