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PEBBLE PROJECT
Pebble Project Technical Working Groups (TWGs)
Pebble Project Technical Working Groups (TWGs) have been established
to facilitate coordinated agency involvement relating to the environmental
and project design studies for NEPA and subsequent project permitting. TWGs
will be advisory groups that provide suggestions related to baseline studies, scope of studies, geographical extent, methodologies, and means to best coordinate study efforts for the Pebble Project.
View TWG Meeting Minutes and additional information
The Pebble Project is a copper-gold-molybdenum
porphyry deposit that, as of May-2007, is in the advanced exploration stage. The
project is located in the Bristol Bay Region of southwest Alaska, approximately
17 miles northwest of the community of Iliamna, and is operated by
Northern Dynasty Mines Inc. (NDM).
Pebble consists of two contiguous deposits. Pebble West is a
near surface resource of approximately 4.1 billion metric tons that,
if developed, would likely be mined by conventional open-pit mining
techniques. Pebble East is significantly deeper than Pebble West
and contains generally higher grade ore. Its size is currently
estimated at 3.4 billion metric tons. If developed, Pebble East
would probably be mined via bulk tonnage underground mining methods.
NDM is currently conducting a deep drilling program to further explore
the Pebble East Deposit and upgrade its resource classification. The
company has stated that it expects to finalize its proposed mine development
plan and apply for development permits no sooner than late 2008 or
2009.
The submittal of development applications will require development
of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NEPA process will be a multi-year
federal effort that mandates multiple opportunities for formal public
comment and agency review. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources,
Office of Project Management and Permitting, is responsible for coordinating
the state permitting process.
Although there are no formal public meetings planned by state or
federal agencies prior to submittal of the permit applications, state
agency staff are in the process of meeting with communities, local
government officials, and non-governmental organizations to discuss
the project.
In conjunction with the ongoing exploration activities, NDM is collecting
baseline environmental data for the project area. State and federal
agencies are providing guidance to NDM for this data collection effort.
NDM has submitted a Draft Environmental Baseline Studies Plan, which
is currently being reviewed by agencies.
Draft Study Plans
Inspections and Field Reports
Water Right Applications
If you would like to find out more about the state's permitting
process for the Pebble Project, please contact:
State of Alaska Large Mine Permitting Team
Tom Crafford
Large Mine Coordinator
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Office of Project Management
and Permitting
550 West 7 th Avenue, Suite 900D
Anchorage, AK 99501-3577
Phone: (907) 269-8629
Fax: (907) 269-8930
E-mail: tom.crafford@alaska.gov
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