Previously Posted

PUBLIC NOTICE
January 5, 2012

The Rock Creek Mine consists of a mine/mill complex six miles north of Nome.  Alaska Gold Company (AGC) constructed and operated the mine between 2006 and 2008.  In 2008, 100,000 tons of ore were milled and the tailings deposited in the tailings storage facility (TSF).  Since 2008, the mine has been in care and maintenance status with on-going water treatment and discharge, stormwater management, and monitoring.  AGC has submitted a two-phase Final Reclamation and Closure Plan for the mine. 

Phase I consists of removing water from the TSF, installing a temporary synthetic cover on the tailings and breaching the TSF dam.  Phase I will be completed in February and March 2012. 

Phase II consists of: removing the tailings from the TSF; disposing of tailings, ore and waste rock in the Main Pit; backfilling of Main Pit to eliminate potential for surface water accumulation; dismantling and disposal of mill facilities and other buildings; removal of all equipment and supplies; recontouring, placing topsoil, and applying seed and fertilizer to the site; and, implementing post-closure monitoring.

On January 5, 2012 the State of Alaska released for a 15-day public review and comment period the Rock Creek Mine Reclamation and Closure Plan (Oct 2011), Revised Closure Cost Estimate (Jan 2012), and DNR Draft  Reclamation Plan Approval.  These documents are posted below. Further information on how to comment can be found below, or in the newspaper Public Notice display ad.

HOW TO COMMENT

The Draft DNR Approval, public notice, and support documents are available for review on this web site or by contacting Sharmon Stambaugh, DNR/OPMP Mining Coordinator, listed below. Hardcopies are also available for review at:

• AK Dept. Natural Resources / Public Information Center / Fairbanks
  (3700 Airport Way)
• AK Dept. Natural Resources / Public Information Center / Anchorage
  (Atwood Building, 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1260)
• City Hall / Nome
  (102 Division Street)
• Kegoayah Kozga Library / Nome
  (223 Front Street)

Send written comments by mail, email or fax to:

DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD

Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Division of Mining, Land & Water
Draft Rock Creek Mine Reclamation Plan Approval (F20129578)

Support Documents
Documents submitted by Alaska Gold Company to the State of Alaska:

Rock Creek Mine Reclamation and Closure Plan Final (Oct 2011)

• Figures
• Errata (dated Dec 20, 2011)
• Supplement to Phase 1 Construction (dated Dec  5, 2011)    

• includes the Closure Bond spreadsheet printout as Appendix C
  
  
  NOTE:
  You can request and receive an MS Excel version of the revised closure cost estimates by contacting:
  
  Steve McGroarty, DNR MLW (907) 451-2795
  email: steve.mcgroarty@alaska.gov
  

Public Notice for Review and Comment on Draft Project Authorizations
On June 1st , 2006, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and the State of Alaska published a newspaper Public Notice display ad and released the following draft project authorizations relating to the Rock Creek Project for a 30-day public review and comment period ending on June 30th, 2006.  The review and comment period for DNR and DEC Draft Permits and Approvals was extended to 5 PM, July 6th, 2006.  This comment period extension did not apply to the DNR / ACMP consistency determination review.  The ACOE extended their public comment period for the ACOE permit application (POA-2006-742-A) until July 20th, 2006.

DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD
(draft permits and approvals, Alaska Gold Company applications and support documents)

STATE OF ALASKA DRAFT PERMITS

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) has prepared a Draft Reclamation Plan Approval. Applications have been received from Alaska Gold Company for six Temporary Water Use Permits and a Title 41 Fish Habitat permit. ADNR is also conducting a review of the proposed project for consistency with the Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP). The complete packet for the ACMP review of the Rock Creek Project, including the scope of the review and review schedule, may be found at:

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has prepared a draft Waste Management Permit (2003-DB0051) for disposal of treated wastewater, tailings and other solid wastes at the Rock Creek site; and disposal of treated wastewater and other solid wastes at the Big Hurrah site. ADEC also anticipates that it will issue a certification of the ACOE 404 permit.

On October 19, 2006 ADEC posted Public Notice for the proposed Rock Creek Air Quality Control Minor Permit. The public comment period closed at 5:00 p.m. Monday, November 20, 2006.

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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY SECTION 404 PERMIT

ACOE is publishing the public notice for an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Approximately 13,697,436 cubic yards (cy) of fill would be placed in 414.5 acres of wetlands for the project.  The Public Notice can be reviewed at the ACOE’s website at

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PUBLIC HEARING

Nome
Monday, June 26, 2006
Old St. Joe’s
407 Bering Street
Project Presentation and Discussion:  6 to 8 p.m.
Public Testimony:  8 to 9 p.m.

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HOW TO COMMENT

Copies of the draft authorizations, public notices, and related documents are available for review at:

Also, copies of the draft authorizations and final applications may be obtained by contacting the individuals listed below.

Please send comments to the following agencies respective to the draft permits and authorizations, and public notice. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY SECTION 404 PERMIT
ATTN: Jim Wolfe, Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District
Regulatory Branch, CEPOA-CO-R
Post Office Box 6898
Elmendorf AFB, AK  99506-0898
Telephone:  (907) 753-5532
Fax: (907) 753-5567
Email: james.wolfe@poa02.usace.army.mil

STATE OF ALASKA DNR PERMITS AND ACMP CONSISTENCY REVIEW
ATTN: Tom Crafford, Project Manager
ADNR / Office of Project Management and Permitting
550 West Seventh Ave., Suite 900D
Anchorage, AK  99501
Telephone:  (907) 269-8629
Fax: (907) 269-8930
Email: tom.crafford@alaska.gov

STATE OF ALASKA DEC WASTE MANAGEMENT PERMIT
ATTN: Luke Boles
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
610 University Avenue
Fairbanks, AK  99709-3643
Telephone: (907) 451-2142
Fax: (907) 451-2187
Email: luke_boles@dec.state.ak.us.

STATE OF ALASKA DEC CERTIFICATION OF ARMY SECTION 404 PERMIT
ATTN: William Ashton
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK  99501-2617
Telephone: (907) 269-7564
Fax Number: (907) 334-2415
Email: william_ashton@dec.state.ak.us

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