NIBLACK PROJECT

FINAL NIBLACK PERMITS and Public Process Documents

• Response to Public Comments on Draft Authorizations (issued 6/28/07)
  • Comment letters
    
    
• Niblack Mining Reclamation Bond (approved 8/9/07)
  
  
• Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
• DNR Reclamation Plan Approval #J072711 (issued 6/29/07)
• DNR Final Finding and Decision for Tideland Lease ADL 107544 (issued 6/29/07)
• DNR Early Entry Permit for Tideland Lease ADL 107544 (issued 9/7/07)
• DNR Temporary Water Use Permit #J2007-01 (issued 6/29/07)
• DNR / ACMP Final Consistency Determination AK 0704-03J (issued 6/22/07)
  
  
• Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
• DEC Waste Management Permit (2006-DB0037) (issued 6/29/07)
• DEC 401 Certificate of Reasonable Assurance (POA-1982-290-N) (issued 6/29/07)
• DEC Air Permits Program: Owner Requested Limit Letter of Approval ORL No. AQ1098ORL01 (effective 8/28/07)
  
  
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District (ACOE)
• Dept of the Army Permit POA-1982-290-N (issued 7/12/07)
  
  

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Niblack Project is a copper-zinc-gold-silver prospect in an advanced exploration phase of development. The proposed underground exploration project is located off Moira Sound on southeastern Prince of Wales Island, approximately 30 miles southwest of the town of Ketchikan.

The applicant, Niblack Mining Corporation, proposes to develop 6,000 feet of underground tunneling from a single adit entry. The main focus of the underground work is to provide access for exploration drilling to test deep zones of mineralization. The project is expected to last 2 years. It will require development of a marine access and camp barge facility on the adjacent State-owned tide and submerged lands. Other surface disturbances including an access road, portal, and waste rock storage and disposal areas will be confined to private property.

Total surface disturbance requiring post-closure reclamation is approximately 5.5 acres. The proposed underground excavation will generate about 60,900 cubic yards of waste rock, most of which is benign. Approximately 14,300 cubic yards is potentially acid-generating (PAG) material which will be temporarily placed in an engineered, lined 0.85-acre storage facility. At the end of the exploration period, all PAG waste rock will be picked up and transferred back underground and the adit will be sealed.

AGENCY CONTACTS

Department of the Army Section 10 & 404 Permit
ATTN: Nicole Hayes, Regulatory Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District
Regulatory Division, East Branch
PO Box 6898, Elmendorf AFB, AK 99506-0898
Telephone:  (907) 753-2712,  Fax: (907) 753-5567
Email: nicole.m.hayes@poa02.usace.army.mil

State of Alaska DNR and DEC Permits
ATTN:  Bob Tsigonis, Project Manager
ADNR / Office of Project Management & Permitting
3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709
Telephone: (907) 374-3708,  Fax: (907) 451-2703
Email: bob.tsigonis@alaska.gov

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

STATE OF ALASKA DRAFT PERMITS AND AUTHORIZATIONS

Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR)

• Draft Reclamation Plan Approval (J072711)  
• Preliminary Decision for Tidelands Lease ADL 107544
• Tidelands Lease Application
• Draft Temporary Water Use Authorization  #J2007-01
• TWUP #J2007-01 Application

The complete packet for the ACMP review of the Niblack Project, including the scope of the review and review schedule, may be found at

http://alaskacoast.state.ak.us/Projects/Niblack.htm

• ACMP Packet – Niblack Anchorage AK 0704-03J
• ACMP Coastal Project Questionnaire

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC)

• Draft Waste Management Permit (2006–DB0037) 
• Application for an Industrial Solid Waste Landfill Permit
• Niblack Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Application

Department of the Army Section 10 And 404 Permit

• ACOE Section 10 and 404 Permit Application (POA-1982-290-N)
• 2/23/2007Additional Information for ACOE Permit Application (POA-1982-290-N)
• 5/16/2007 Additional Information for ACOE Permit Application (POA-1982-290-N) – Practicable Alternatives Report

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional documents submitted by Niblack Mining Corporation to the State of Alaska in support of project authorizations:

• Niblack Project Underground Exploration Plan of Operations
• Appendix 1  Wetlands Determination
• Appendix 2  Eelgrass Survey
• Appendix 3  Operational Characterization Plan (OCP)
• Appendix 4  Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
• Appendix 5  Water Quality Baseline and Site Monitoring Plan
• Appendix 6  Reclamation and Closure Plan

The following Authorizations were previously issued for the Niblack Project. 

Floating Camp – Temporary Site

• Temporary Land Use Permit #LAS 25727 (issued 4/15/2007)
• ACMP Consistency Determination AK 0703-01J  – Concurrence (issued  4/06/2007)
• ACMP Start-up Packet (includes Applications) (issued 2/26/2007)
• Temporary Water Use Permit #J2005-06 amended  (issued 3/28/2007)
• ACOE Section 10 (Modification) POA-1982-290-M (issued 4/16/2007)

Other Niblack Authorizations

• Fish Habitat Permit FH-06-VII-0014  (issued 6/13/2006)
• Temporary Water Use Permit #J2005-07  (issued 6/24/2005)
• ADNR State Historic Preservation Office Determination  (issued 6/16/2006)
• ACOE Nationwide Permit File No. POA-2006-511-D  (issued 6/13/2006)

If you would like to find out more about the state’s permitting process for the Niblack Project, please contact:

State of Alaska Large Mine Permitting Team
Jack DiMarchi, Project Manager
ADNR / Office of Project Management & Permitting
3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709
Telephone: (907) 374-3708
Fax: (907) 451-2703
Email: john.dimarchi@alaska.gov

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