TULSEQUAH PROJECT
NEWS RELEASE
March 4, 2009
Redcorp Granted Bankruptcy Protection
Implications for the State of Alaska’s permitting efforts have not yet been determined.
Revised Air Cushion Barging Proposal
(updated 02/24/2009)
Project Status – June 27, 2008
The State of Alaska's Large Mine Permitting
Team (LMPT) reviews Canadian mining projects, like the Tulsequah Project,
which could potentially impact Alaskan waters and fish resources.
The LMPT is focusing their review on project components that could
potentially have direct impacts to water quality or fish habitat.
The LMPT reviews project documentation to ensure that: water treatment
systems can realistically meet Canadian water quality standards (which
are similar to Alaska’s)
at the mine site; tailings storage facilities are constructed to
be geotechnically stable; groundwater water quality is protected
and contingency pump-back systems are appropriately designed; and
access roads are constructed and maintained in a manner that protects
fish resources.
The British Columbia government has already issued
an Environmental Assessment (EA) Certificate allowing the project
to proceed, subject to obtaining final construction and operation
permits. However, the applicant, Redfern Resources Ltd. (Redfern),
has sought to amend its EA Certificate to allow for operation of an
Air Cushion Barge (ACB) on the Taku River, as an alternative to construction
of the previously approved 100 mile road from Atlin.
Because the ACB and its tow vessel would require Alaska
permits, the LMPT is involved also with the review of permit applications
for those Alaska components. Redfern’s original proposal involved
the use of a new kind of amphibious vehicle, an Amphitrac, as the
tow vehicle for the ACB. Recently (late June, 2008), Redfern
has proposed to replace the Amphitrac with a combination of tracked
and low-pressure rubber-tired tow vehicles.
Under the B.C. Mines Act, Canadian agencies are reviewing
minesite development plans and the LMPT is participating in that review
process. Those
plans include the designs for the tailings storage facility - this design
must ensure that the facility is geotechnically stable, and that groundwater
is protected - as well as the water treatment system and other components. The
B.C. government recently approved Phase 1 construction which allows
for excavation and segregation of acid generating mine waste at the
site in order to address negative water quality issues stemming from
that waste. Redfern has initiated airstrip and localized road
construction under Phase 1 of their Mines Act permit and is conducting
near daily barge trips (Summer, 2008) in support of those activities.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The proposed Tulsequah Chief Mine is located in British
Columbia, Canada, on the Tulsequah River near its confluence with
the Taku River, approximately 19 miles from where the Taku River crosses
the US/Canada border. The Taku River flows into US marine waters,
approximately 10 miles southeast of Juneau, and is the largest salmon
producing river system in Southeast Alaska.
The proposed mine would mill 2,000 tons per day, producing
copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver concentrate and would have a
mine life, base on current reserves, of approximately 8 years. The
project is owned by Redfern Resources Ltd., a Canadian company based
in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Mines operated at this location from 1937 to 1957.
There is existing acid mine drainage from the historic workings that
is leaching into the environment and potentially affecting spawning
and rearing of anadromous species important to commercial, sport,
and personal use fishing in Alaska. The acid mine drainage could potentially
result in exceedances to Alaska’s water quality standards downstream.
Redfern has been partially treating this drainage using a passive
treatment system.
For an up-to-date listing of Tulsequah Chief Project Documents Under Review in Canada, visit:
British Columbia, Environmental Assessment Office (EAO)
Project Information Centre – Tulsequah Chief Project
TULSEQUAH CHIEF BARGE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
PRELIMINARY EAO DOCUMENTS FOR REVIEW
On January 14, 2008 the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO)
made the following preliminary documents available for review:
Operating Constraints
for ACB Operations on the Taku River (posted
1/22/2008)
Issue Tracking Tables prepared by Redfern Resources Ltd.
EAO TULSEQUAH WORKING GROUP AMENDMENT REVIEW WORKSHOP February 14 & 15,
2008, Vancouver, BC
Tulsequah Project Feasibility
Study Results
(News Release 1/27/07)
2005 PROJECT DOCUMENTS
Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans
(DFO) Public Notice Documents (2005)
If you would like to find out more about the state's involvement
in the Tulsequah Project, please contact:
Tom Crafford
Large Mine Coordinator
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Office of Project Management and Permitting
550 West 7th 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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