Greens Creek Mine

The Greens Creek Mine is an underground cut-and-fill and long-hole stoping operation using flotation and gravity processes to recover silver, gold, lead, and zinc.

The mine is located in southeast Alaska, in the Tongass National Forest near Hawk Inlet on Admiralty Island National Monument, approximately 18 miles southwest of Juneau, on U.S. Forest Service and private patented land within the City and Borough of Juneau. Access to the mine is by sea and a 13-mile access road.

The project is operated by Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company (HGCMC). The major mine facilities include the underground mine, surface mill, dry stack tailings storage facility, wastewater treatment plant, administrative and camp facilities, ferry dock, and ship-loading facility. Power is supplied by connection to the local hydroelectric-powered utility with diesel generators as a backup.

The mine started production in 1989 and today operates 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2023, HGCMC produced approximately 9.7 million ounces of silver, 60,900 ounces of gold, 51,500 tons of zinc, and 19,600 tons of lead. As of 2024, HGCMC employed approximately 512 people.

Public Review and Comment Period: May 29, 2026, through July 1, 2026

Greens Creek Mine Submissions and Draft State Decisions

On May 29, 2026, the State of Alaska released the following submissions and draft state decisions relating to the Greens Creek Mine for requested state authorizations associated with proposed mining operations.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Mining, Land and Water, has prepared draft Reclamation Plan Approval J20262682RPA PDF .

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has prepared draft Waste Management Permit No. 2026DB0001 PDF for management and disposal of waste rock and water at the Mine site.

Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company (HGCMC) is requesting renewing their current Reclamation Plan Approval and Waste Management Permit. HGCMC Reclamation and Closure Plan outlines their strategy to restore disturbed land to safe, stable, near-natural conditions while meeting all federal and state regulatory requirements. The plan includes regrading and revegetation of disturbed areas, installing an engineered cover over the Tailings Disposal Facility (TDF), sealing mine portals, removing hazardous materials, and managing waste rock and tailings through underground placement or TDF disposal. Post-Closure monitoring focuses on water quality, erosion control, slope and cover stability, and vegetation success, with monitoring wells. Overall, the plan ensures long-term environmental protection, hydrologic stability, and ecological recovery of the mine site.

Support Document Associated with the Public Review and Comment Period

Hardcopies are also available for review at the following locations:

• AK Dept. of Environmental Conservation / Juneau (410 Willoughby Ave., Ste. 303)
• AK Dept. of Environmental Conservation / Anchorage (555 Cordova St.)
• AK Dept. of Natural Resources / Anchorage (550 W. 7th Ave. Ste. 1430)

How to Comment

The public comment period has been set at 33 days. You can comment online or in writing. Comment deadline is Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM AKDT.

Send written comments by mail or email to:
Greens Creek Comments
Kate Harper, Associate Director
DNR / Office of Project Management & Permitting
550 W. 7th Ave, Suite 1430
Anchorage, AK 99501-3561
Tel: (907) 269-5533
Email: greenscreek.comments@alaska.gov

Information on how to comment can also be found in the newspaper Juneau Empire display ad posted Saturday May 30, 2026 and June 6, 2026 or online at the State of Alaska Online Public Notices Portal.

Kate Harper
Associate Director
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Office of Project Management and Permitting
Phone: (907) 269-5533
Fax: (907) 269-5673
Email

Mail to:
550 W. 7th Ave. Suite 1430
Anchorage, AK 99501

Visit at:
550 W. 7th Ave. Suite 1430
Anchorage, AK 99501

Matthew Reece
USDA Forest Service
8510 Mendenhall Loop Road
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Phone: (907) 586-8800
Fax: (907) 586-8808