Royal Road MineralsLtd. said April 27 that it has received a new environmental licensefor the La Golondrinagold project in Colombia from the Regional Environmental Corp. of Nariño province.

The license allows Royal Road to drill test and develop infrastructureand the underground mine. However, the projects work program must still be formallyresolved and a drilling plan must be filed with the corporation, Royal Road said.

The company plans an initial scout diamond drill program of between1,000 meters and 1,500 meters, and expects to begin drilling in August. Drillingwill target known vein and vein-zone extensions.

"Locating drill holes at La Golondrina is currently underway,with final field confirmation planned for middle May," Royal Road Presidentand CEO Tim Coughlin said in the statement.

Access work will take between four weeks and six weeks, and willbegin once drill pads are confirmed.

At the La Redención project in Colombia, Royal Road is undertakingsurveying, saw-cut channel sampling and mapping underground workings.