Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. announced that its Northshore Mining Co., Silver Bay, Minn., is once again the recipient of Cliffs' President's Award for Safety. The award is presented annually to the Cliffs mine with the best safety performance, as measured by the frequency rate for Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reportable injuries.

Northshore has been the recipient of the President's Award for Safety for the past four consecutive years, five out of seven years overall. The award recognizes Northshore's achievement of a 32 percent reduction in the MSHA reportable incident rate from 1.98 in 2003 to 1.35 in 2004.

"Northshore employees are dedicated to excellence in health and safety and this award exemplifies that commitment," said John N. Tuomi, Acting Vice President—Operations.

John S. Brinzo, Cliffs' Chairman, President and CEO, said, "The company experienced its safest year ever in 2004, a record of which we are very proud and a testament to the individual effort being put forth by each of our employees and associates. Northshore not only received the 2004 President's Award for Safety, but it also set a record low MSHA reportable incident rate for Cliffs-managed properties."

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc is the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America, selling the majority of its pellets to integrated steel companies in the United States and Canada. The company operates six iron ore mines located in Michigan, Minnesota and Eastern Canada.