Fort Knox Mine

The Fort Knox Mine includes the Fort Knox open pit mine, mill, tailings storage facility, water storage reservoir and the Walter Creek heap leach facility. These facilities are located within the Fairbanks North Star Borough, approximately 25 highway miles northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The mine site is located primarily on lands owned by the State of Alaska and the Mental Health Trust. The operator, Fairbanks Gold Mining, Inc. (FGMI), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation. The mine was originally permitted in 1994, and in 2011 produced about 290,000 ounces of gold. As of the end of 2011, FGMI employed 522 people at the mill and mine, and operates 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.

Five-Year Environmental Audits

May 2012

Environmental Compliance and Management Systems Audit
Fort Knox and True North Mines

March 1, 2004

Fort Knox Mine, True North Mine and Twin Creek Road

Permits, Authorizations, and Financial Assurance

Financial Assurance

Final permits and public process documents were issued on July 3, 2007 by the State of Alaska for the Fort Knox Mine Heap Leach Project. A record of the public process is on the Archive Page. A new Reclamation Plan was issued in 2012.

2007 State Agency Response to Public Comments on Draft Authorizations
for the Fort Knox Mine Heap Leach Project (issued 7/3/07)

Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

DNR Plan of Operations Amendment Approval (F20079852) (issued 7/3/07)

(includes approval of the Fort Knox June 19, 2006 Reclamation & Closure Plan)

POO Amendment Approval extension to July 3, 2013 (issued 7/3/2012)

Certificate of Approval to Construct a Dam (issued 7/3/07)
Millsite Lease ADL 414960 and 414961

Second Amendment to Millsite Lease ADL 414960 and 414961 (issued 6/2/2011)
First Amendment to Millsite Lease ADL 414960 and 414961 (issued 12/31/2007)
Addendum to the Fort Knox Millsite Lease (signed 7/3/07)
Amended and Restated Millsite Lease ADL 414960 and 414961 (issued 7/8/2002)
Millsite Permit ADL 414960 and 414961 (issued 2/15/1994)

Upland Mining Lease ADL 535408

First Amendment to Upland Mining Lease ADL 535408 (issued 12/31/2007)
Upland Mining Lease ADL 535408 (issued 2/15/1994)

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

DEC Waste Management Permit (2006-DB0043) (issued 7/3/07)
- DEC WMP 2006-DB0043 extension letter (issued 7/2/2012)
DEC 401 Certificate of Reasonable Assurance (POA-1992-574-S) (issued 7/12/07)
DEC 401 Certificate of Reasonable Assurance (POA-1992-574-T) (issued 7/12/07)
DEC APDES Permit No. AK0053643 (effective 10/1/12)
- Permit Fact Sheet
- Response to Comment

Support Documents

In 2006, FGMI issued six documents detailing the reclamation and closure of the Fort Knox Mine as well as the construction, operation, reclamation, and closure of the proposed heap leach facility.