Red Dog Mine

The Red Dog Mine is an open pit, truck-and-loader operation using grinding and flotation processes to recover zinc and lead. The mine is located in northwestern Alaska, in the De Long Mountains of the Western Brooks Range, approximately 82 miles north of Kotzebue and 46 miles inland from the coast of the Chukchi Sea, on land owned by NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. (NANA). The Access to the mine is by air.

The project is a partnership between NANA and Teck Alaska Incorporated (Teck) (the operator). Red Dog Mine directly employed approximately 600 full-time workers in 2022, many are NANA Shareholders. The major Red Dog Mine facilities include the Red Dog Main Pit, Aqqaluk Pit, mill, Tailings Storage Facility, main waste stockpile, fresh water storage reservoir, water management systems, an airstrip, and Personnel Accommodations Complex (PAC). Power is supplied by on-site diesel generators.

The mine has been in operation since 1989, and operates 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2022, Red Dog produced 553,100 metric tons (1.22 billion pounds) of zinc and 79,500 metric tons (175.3 million pounds) of lead. All concentrates are exported to world markets via the DeLong Mountain Transportation System that connects the mine to port facilities on the Chukchi Sea.

Public Notice: Red Dog Mine Amendment Requests for their Plan of Operations Approval (F20219958POOA) & Reclamation Plan Approval (F20219958RPA.03) to Construct a Solar Farm Facility and Tailings Storage Facility Emergency Spillway.

Public Notice Start: March 13, 2026, at 8:00 AM
Public Notice End: April 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM

On March 13, 2026, the State of Alaska released documents provided by Teck requesting approval to amend their current Plan of Operations and Reclamation Plans to use portions of the Millsite Lease (State Land), ADL 233521, to construct a solar photovoltaic array and battery center. TAK is also proposing construction for an emergency spillway for the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) as part of its closure and reclamation strategy.

The construction, generation, operation, and maintenance of the solar array and battery facility will be conducted by an Independent Power Producer contracted through TAK to provide direct power to the mine through renewable energy generation. Construction of the solar array and battery facility will be located within the southern area of the Millsite Lease.

Construction for the Emergency Spillway at the TSF is proposed to provide a controlled overflow path to prevent overtopping in the event the inflow design storage is exceeded. This emergency spillway will consist of a 30-foot wide fixed-elevation weir within a controlled flow pathway that originates along the western side of the TSF (NANA Land) which will discharge at a point within the millsite lease. A site access road will also be constructed from the existing West Trails Road which would run adjacent to the spillway alignment into a turnaround. This spillway is part of a permanent risk-reduction feature for long-term safety and performance of the facility.

Public Notice with all posted associated documents can be found in the State of Alaska Online Public Notices.

Caitlin Kennedy
Large Project Coordinator
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Office of Project Management and Permitting
Phone: (907) 267-9115
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