Greens Creek Mine

News & Announcements

2013 Annual Meeting

Tuesday July 9th
10am – 5pm
Juneau ADEC 2nd Floor Main Conference Room
410 Willoughby Avenue

Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company (HGCMC) has provided the following 2012 Annual Reports for review prior to the 2013 Annual Agency Meeting. The company will give a presentation on construction and activities that have taken place since the last annual meeting as well as discuss proposed projects for the upcoming year. Results from monitoring will also be covered.

The presentation is open to the public and is available as a Go To Meeting for those who cannot attend in person. The internet "GoToMeeting" link will be posted here prior to the meeting.

For further information please contact Sharmon Stambaugh at 907-269-0880 or
email: sharmon.stambaugh@alaska.gov

Annual Reports

2012 Tailings and Production Rock Site (posted 4/16/2013)
2012 Inactive Production Rock Sites and Quarries (posted 4/16/2013)
2012 Fresh Water Monitoring (posted 4/16/2013)
2012 Hawk Inlet Monitoring Program (posted 4/17/2013)
2012 Aquatic Biomonitoring Report (posted 4/16/2013)
2012 BMP and Storm Water Report (posted 4/17/2013)

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has issued a

Public Notice

for the proposed issuance of an
Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES) Permit
to Greens Creek Mine applicant Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company

The 45-day Public Notice Period runs from
2/27/2013 to 4/12/2013

PUBLIC HEARING
April 1, 2013
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Centennial Hall, Hammond Room 101
Egan Drive, Juneau

ADEC invites you to review the Draft Permit AK0043206 and associated Fact Sheet. Details for the Public Comment process are presented in the Public Notice. Permit documents can also be accessed from the ADEC Wastewater Discharge Authorization website under the Public Notice section.

DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS:
April 12, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. ADT

DNR is responsible for coordinating the State of Alaska's permitting activities for the Greens Creek lead-zinc-silver-gold mine. The mine is located in Southeast Alaska on the Northern end of Admiralty Island National Monument, approximately 25 km South of Juneau. It is situated on federal land administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The mine is operated by the Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company and is a significant part of the economy in Southeast Alaska.

Greens Creek Mine Proposed Tailings Expansion and EIS

On October 5, 2010 the Tongass National Forest initiated a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis to consider proposed changes to tailings and waste disposal facilities at the Green Creek Mine. These proposed changes are described in the USFS Scoping Document. Additional information and contact numbers can be found at the USFS website: www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/projects/nepa_project.shtml?project=32662.

A 30-day scoping comment period began on October 5th and was subsequently extended to November 19, 2010. The Draft EIS is projected to be filed with the EPA in the summer of 2011 and will begin a 45-day public comment period. The Final EIS and the Record of Decision are expected to be published in the spring of 2012.

Five-year Environmental Audits

Greens Creek Mine 5-Year Environmental Audit (March 2009)

Permits, Authorizations, and Financial Assurance

Reclamation/Closure Bond & Audits MOU (USFS, ADNR, ADEC, KGCMC) (5/9/2007)

Amendment 1 - Hecla GCMC substituted for Kennecott GCMC (4/16/2008)

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

The current discharge permits are available from DEC's Division of Water permit website (http://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/Water/WaterPermitSearch/Detail.aspx?id=6678&v=1)
The link includes the following documents:

US EPA NPDES permit AK-004320-6 effective July 1, 2005
Permit Fact Sheet for above permit
DEC 401 Certificate of Reasonable Assurance (AK-004320-6)
EPA notice of administrative extension of AK-004320-6 dated July 28, 2010
ADEC Waste Management Permit #0211-BA001 (11/07/2003)
- Renewal letter (10/6/2008)
DEC 401 Certificate of Reasonable Assurance (NPDES Permit AK-003865-2) (3/31/2005)