Revett Minerals Inc. - FORM 10-K - XML - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - March 28, 2012

Litigation :

This action was brought in 2007. The plaintiff, a regional environmental organization, alleges that Troy Mine Inc. is operating Troy in violation of the MMRA because of deficiencies in its reclamation plan, and that all of the defendants have violated the Montana constitution and various state statutes and regulations by allowing such operations to continue. The plaintiff seeks a declaration that the Troy operating permit and reclamation plan are void and invalid; alternatively, it seeks a writ of mandamus from the court requiring DEQ to enforce the MMRA and presumably suspend or revoke the operating permit, declare a forfeiture of the Company’s performance bond, and enjoin the Company from further operations at Troy pending approval of a reclamation plan. The plaintiff also alleges DEQ failed to maintain a clean and healthful environment in violation of the Montana constitution.

The Company has answered the complaint and asserted several affirmative defenses to plaintiff’s claims. The Company has also filed a motion seeking to dismiss Revett Minerals on the grounds that it does not do business in Montana. Discovery has been substantially completed, although no trial date has been set. The court has indicated that it will not set a trial date until DEQ has completed its required review of the reclamation plan. We are funding an ongoing environmental impact statement with DEQ concerning proposed revisions to the existing reclamation plan and increased performance bond requirements, and therefore believe the claim is without merit.

(ii) Rock Creek Permitting Matters:

There are a number of permitting challenges or letters of petition relating to the United States Forest Service (USFS) and DEQ granting the Rock Creek record of decision and supporting studies and analysis. These challenges have been mounted by individuals or organizations generally opposed to mining in the United States and are similar in nature to the claims described in ( i ) above. The Company, generally, is not named as a party to these actions but in certain cases has received intervener status due to the direct impact the outcome of these actions will have on the Company’s Rock Creek property development plans. Where the Company has prevailed, the decision of the court is being appealed by the plaintiffs or petitioners. Therefore, the outcome of these matters is not determinable.

Rock Creek Alliance, Clark Fork Coalition, Cabinet Resource Group, Montana Wilderness Association, Earthworks, and Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Plaintiffs, vs. United States Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tom Tidwell, in his official capacity as Regional Forester for the Northern Region, Paul Bradford, in his official capacity as Forest Supervisor of the Kootenai National Forest, and Ed Schafer, in his official capacity as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Defendants, United States District Court for the District of Montana, Missoula Division, Case No. CV-05-107-M-DWM (“Case 1”). Rock Creek Alliance, Cabinet Resource Group, Sierra Club, Earthworks, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Natural Resources Defense Council, Trout Unlimited, Idaho Council of Trout Unlimited, Pacific Rivers Council, and Great Old Broads for Wilderness vs. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States District Court for the District of Montana, Missoula Division, case No. CV-08-28-M-DWM (“Case 2”). Revett Silver is a defendant-intervener in both cases.

The complaint in Case 1 was originally filed in June 2005 and was amended in February 2008. The complaint alleges violations of the ESA, NEPA, the Clean Water Act , the Forest Service Organic Administration Act of 1897 and the National Forest Management Act , and specifically challenges the 2001 final EIS, the 2003 Record of Decision, the Plan of Operations, the 2007 determination letter from the Forest Service and the three supplemental information reports issued by the Forest Service in 2007. The complaint in Case 2 was filed in February 2008. It alleges violations of Section 7 of the ESA and specifically challenges the USFWS’ “no jeopardy” findings with regard to grizzly bears and bull trout in the USFWS’ 2006 biological opinion and the 2007 supplement to that opinion. Plaintiffs seek determinations in both cases that the governmental agencies violated the aforementioned statutes and should be enjoined from authorizing or approving any further activities relating to the Rock Creek Project until they are in compliance.

The two cases were subsequently consolidated and cross motions for summary judgment were filed. On May 4, 2010, the district court entered a decision dismissing the environmental groups’ ESA challenges, yet vacated the 2001 Final EIS and Record of Decision, both of which were remanded to the Forest Service with directives to update the NEPA analysis of the Rock Creek Project’s effect on the bull trout population and habitat, and to incorporate sediment reduction measures to minimize the adverse environmental effect of Phase I of the mine project. The Company is currently working with the Forest Service on a supplemental EIS to address the issues identified in the court’s decision. The environmental groups have appealed the dismissal of their ESA challenges to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. All of the briefing had been completed as of the date of this report, but oral argument has not yet been scheduled.

Although the Company believes that it will ultimately receive environmental and operating permits, it is possible that successful challenges could delay or prevent the Company from developing the Rock Creek project which could result in the impairment and write-down of the carrying value related to the Rock Creek property.

Kennecott Royalty Option :

During 2002, Kennecott and Revett Silver, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, agreed to amend the February 21, 2000 Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement pursuant to which Revett Silver acquired Kennecott’s interest in Troy and Rock Creek. Among other things, the amendment granted Kennecott the right to acquire a 2% net smelter return royalty (the NSR royalty) from the sale of metals from a defined area of the Company\'s Rock Creek property anytime until the later of one year after Rock Creek achieves 80% of designed commercial capacity production or December 31, 2015. Kennecott was required to surrender 450,000 shares of the Company\'s common shares previously issued to acquire the NSR royalty. On March 21, 2011, the Company purchased the right to convert the 450,000 shares to a 2% net smelter royalty interest on future Rock Creek production that was previously owned by Kennecott in exchange for the issue of an additional 275,000 of its common shares. The exchange was accounted for as an exchange of the original 450,000 common shares with a conversion feature for 725,000 common shares without a conversion feature. The carrying value of the original 450,000 shares of $676,000 has been transferred from temporary equity to share capital. The fair value of the additional 275,000 common shares was $1.2 million and has been recorded in accumulated deficit as an equity transaction.

Operating leases :

The Company has entered into a number of operating leases relating to the production and transportation of the copper concentrate produced at Troy. All such leases expire in 2012 and many may be renewed annually. Total operating lease cost recognized for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 was $0.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively. The obligations in 2012 under the terms of these leases are $0.4 million.

Royal Gold royalty :

In October 2004, Revett Silver sold Royal Gold two royalties on production from the Troy Mine for $7.25 million (the Production Payment) and $0.25 million (the Tail Royalty), respectively. The Production Payment royalty was a 7% gross smelter return royalty payable in cash on production and limited to the lesser of 90% of production revenue to be received on proven and probable reserves existing for Troy as at October 13, 2004 or $10.5 million. The Tail Royalty was payable in cash at the rate of 6.1% on the gross smelter returns from Troy for production revenue arising on between 100% and 115% of its proven and probable reserves which existed as at October 13, 2004 and then at the rate of 2% of production revenue on production revenues in excess of 115% of proven and probable reserves as at October 13, 2004. During 2009, production royalty obligations of $1.6 million were payable to Royal Gold. On October 13, 2009, the Company and Royal Gold agreed to restructure the Tail Royalty in exchange for a payment from Royal Gold to the Company in the amount of $ 1.6 million. The Company used the $1.6 million proceeds from the restructuring of the Tail Royalty to repay the $1.6 million production royalty obligation. The payment received from Royal Gold was credited against the Troy mineral property. The Tail Royalty was restructured to a 3% gross smelter return payable over the life of the Troy Mine commencing with production on and after July 1, 2010.