Kensington Gold Mine

Project Description

The Kensington Gold Mine is an underground long hole stoping and drift-and-fill operation using flotation processes to recover gold. The mine is located in southeast Alaska, in the Tongass National Forest between Berners Bay and Lynn Canal, approximately 45 air miles north of Juneau and 35 air miles south of Haines. It is situated on private and U.S. Forest Service lands within the City and Borough of Juneau and access to the mine is by air or sea.

The project is operated by Coeur Alaska, Inc. (Coeur), a wholly owned subsidiary of Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation. The major Kensington Mine facilities include the Kensington underground mine, underground paste backfill plant, surface mill, tailings treatment facility, administrative and camp facilities, generator facilities, water treatment facilities, and marine dock facility. Power is supplied by on-site diesel generators.

The mine was originally permitted in 2005, and operates 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2018, approximately 651,515 tons of ore were mined, with 626,419 tons of ore processed through the mill facility. Approximately 19,317 tons of concentrate were shipped to an off-site refinery producing approximately 113,138 ounces of gold. With the addition of the gravity circuit, total gold production for 2018 is approximately 116,770 ounces. Currently, they employ 367 people.

Financial Assurance

Permits, Authorizations, and Approvals

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE)

2011 APDES Permit Public Notice Archive

Support Documents

2013 Reclamation and Closure Plan Update for the Kensington Gold Project, Borough of Juneau, Alaska (April 2013) (PDF)

Five-Year Environmental Audit

Environmental Compliance and Management Systems Audit

2017 Final Report (PDF)

Inspection Reports

February 26, 2020 USDA December 18, 2019 USDA November 14, 2019 USDA October 16, 2019 USDA September 23, 2019 USDA August 21, 2019 USDA July 17, 2019 USDA April 24, 2019 USDA March 21, 2019 USDA February 19, 2019 USDA

Archive of prior Inspection Reports

Annual Meetings and Annual Reports

2020 Annual Agency Meeting

Considering the logistical difficulties and health-related risks of holding an in-person meeting in this time of pandemic response, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program (WDAP) has waived Permit Part 2.4.2.7. The annual meeting for calendar year 2020 is cancelled. All other permit conditions remain in effect.

2019 Annual Reports

2019 Kensington Gold Mine Annual Report 2019 Mountain goat population monitoring and movement patterns near the Kensington Mine 2019 Waste Management Permit No. 2013DB0002 Annual Report 2019 Waste Management Permit No. 2013DB0002 4th Qtr Report 2019 Aquatic Studies at Kensington Gold Mine APDES Annual Report, 2019 Vol. 2 Water Quality

Archive of prior Annual Meetings and Reports

For More Information Contact:

State of Alaska Large Mine Permitting Team

Sylvia Kreel
Large Project Coordinator
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Office of Project Management and Permitting
Phone: (907) 465-3117
Fax: (907) 465-3886
Email

Mail to:
PO Box 111030
Juneau, AK 99811-1030

Visit at:
400 Willoughby Ave, 4th Floor
Juneau, AK 99801

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