Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Mining, Land and Water

Donlin Gold, LLC., is proposing to develop an open-pit hard rock gold mine on private lands. As part of the mine development effort, applications have been submitted for several support facilities and infrastructure on state lands. The purpose of this notice is to allow the public to review and comment on the applications and preliminary decisions drafted by Southcentral Regional Land Office. In addition, the Resource Assessment and Development Section proposes to amend the Kuskokwim Area Plan.

On April 9, 2014, Donlin Gold LLC submitted a DNR pipeline right-of-way lease application associated with the Donlin Gold mine project. The purpose of the natural gas pipeline is to transport natural gas to the Donlin Gold mine site, primarily for power generation. The Commissioner’s Analysis and Proposed Decision for the Donlin Pipeline right-of-way lease has been completed and can be viewed at http://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/Home/Newsroom.

The public comment period for this Analysis and Proposed Decision is January 28, 2019 through 5:00pm March 22, 2019. Written comments may be emailed to spco.records@alaska.gov, faxed to (907) 269-6880, or mailed or hand-delivered to:

Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Division of Oil and Gas
State Pipeline Coordinator’s Section
3651 Penland Parkway
Anchorage, AK 99508

DNR will hold public hearings concerning the Donlin Pipeline decision on the dates listed below. The public may provide testimony during the hearing or submit written comments.

McGrath Community Center, Feb. 27, 2019, from 4:00-6:00pm
Tyonaek Tribal Center, Feb. 28, 2019, from 1:00-2:00pm
Bethel Cultural Center, Mar. 4, 2019, from 6:00-8:00pm
Aniak Community Center, Mar. 6, 2019, from 7:00-9:00pm
Atwood Conference Center (Anchorage), Mar. 12, 2019, from 5:30-7:30pm
Skwentna Roadhouse, Mar. 13, 2019, from 11:00am-1:00pm

Donlin Gold, LLC (Donlin) has proposed to develop a large open pit, hardrock gold mine located approximately 10 miles north of Crooked Creek, Alaska, which is located on the shores of the Kuskokwim River, in southwest Alaska (277 miles west of Anchorage and 145 miles northeast of Bethel). The deposit is situated on Native lands owned by The Kuskokwim Corporation (surface estate) and Calista Corporation (subsurface estate).

Donlin is owned on a 50/50 basis held by Barrick and NovaGold and will be responsible for overseeing the proposed mine project.

Donlin's preferred design for the project anticipates a throughput of approximately 59,000 tons per day. Donlin's proposal to power the mine includes a 14-inch diameter, 315 mile natural gas pipeline that would start in Beluga, Alaska, pass through the Alaska Range, and continue on to the mine site. For further information on the pipeline please visit the State Pipeline Coordinator Services (SPCS) website.

Donlin estimates that the project will take between 3 to 4 years to construct, with a projected mine life of approximately 27 1/2 years, and is estimated to produce (on average) approximately one million ounces of gold per year.

Personal Bond

• None at this time.

Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

• Reclamation Plan Approval No. A20196226
  PDF

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

• Waste Management Permit WMP 2017DB0001
  PDF
• Response to Comments for DEC Waste Management Permit and DNR Reclamation Plan Approval for Donlin Gold Project
  PDF
• 401 Certification (POA-1995-120)
  PDF
• Air Quality Control Construction Permit AQ093CPT01- Search Donlin as Owner
• Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES) Permit AK55867

Department of Fish and Game (F & G)

• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0181 Kuskokwim Port
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0182 Jungjuk Creek Lower Bridge
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0183 Jungjuk Creek Upper Bridge
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0184 Tributary S. Getmuna
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0185 S. Fork Getmuna
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0186 N. Fork Getmuna
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0187 Crooked Creek Bridge
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0188 Crooked Creek Outfall
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0189 Snow Gulch FW Dam
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0190 Anaconda Creek TSF
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0191 American Creek
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0192 Ruby and Queen Gulch
  PDF
• Fish Habitat Permit FH18-III-0193 Snow Gulch Reclamation
  PDF

United States Army Corps of Engineers and BLM

• Donlin Gold USACE and BLM Joint Record of Decision
  PDF (8/13/2018)

Supporting Documents

• Plan of Operations
  • Project Description
    PDF (12/2016)
  • Water Resources Management
    PDF (2/2017)
  • Integrated Waste Management Plan
    PDF (12/2016)
    • Tailings Management Plan
      PDF (12/2016)
    • Waste Rock Management Plan
      PDF (12/2016)
    • Monitoring Plan
      PDF (12/2016)
  • Reclamation Plan
    PDF (12/2018)
• Natural Gas Pipeline Plan of Development
  PDF (12/2013)
  • Natural Gas Pipeline Plan of Development 2017 Update
    PDF (12/2017)
• Plan of Development Fiber Optic Cable ADL 232368
  PDF (10/2018)
• Environmental Impact Assessment Final Scoping Report
  PDF (August 2018)
• Donlin Gold Project Final Environmental Impact Statement
  PDF (4/2018)
• Section 10-404 Draft Permit Application
  PDF (11/2015)
  • Drawings
    PDF (11/2015)
  • Permit Block 23: Avoidance, Minimazation, and Compensation
    PDF (7/2018)
  • Permit Block 26 update
    PDF (6/2018)
• Programmatic Agreement
  PDF
  • Appendix A: Project Area of Potential Effects
    PDF
    • Map: Area of Potential Effects
      PDF
  • Appendix D: Draft Cultural Resources Management Plan
    PDF (March 2018)

Public Notices

Faith Martineau
Executive Director
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Office of Project Management & Permitting
550 W 7th Ave, Suite 1430
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: (907) 269-0949
Fax: (907) 269-5673
Email Faith Martineau

For more information about specific SCRO authorizations:
Christianna Colles
SCRO Donlin Project Coordinator
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Southcentral Regional Office
550 W 7th Ave, Suite 900 C
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: (907) 269-8557
Fax: (907) 269-8913
Email DNR SCRO