True North Mine

The True North Mine is located approximately 26 miles northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. It is operated by Fairbanks Gold Mining, Inc. (FGMI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation. The mine is located primarily on lands owned by the University of Alaska and the State of Alaska.True North Mine was permitted and put into production from 2001 to 2004. It produced 11.7 million tons of ore which was hauled nine miles to the Fort Knox mill. In 2009, FGMI made the decision to forego further mining and exploration at the site, and began final reclamation. In 2010, 149 acres of the site were graded, growth media was placed on 52 acres, and 270 acres were scarified, seeded, and fertilized. By 2011, the major earthwork was completed leaving a small area of materials to be salvaged. As of summer 2014 the site was essentially fully revegetated and will be monitored for several more years to assure long-term stability.

The recent successful return to state control of land that produced nearly half a million ounces of gold from the True North mine shows the effectiveness of Alaska's mining and environmental systems, says DNR Commissioner Corri Feige.

“Alaska's founders knew responsible resource development was key to a secure and prosperous state, and our experience with True North shows that they were right,” said DNR Commissioner Corri Feige. “The developers leased state land, produced a valuable commodity to serve global markets, employed Alaskans, and paid state taxes and royalties. When they were done, they remediated the effects of their work and returned the land to the state for its next use. The system works.”

Operators of the True North gold mine have completed reclamation and restoration of the 2,050-acre mineral development site and returned it to state control, demonstrating the effectiveness of Alaska’s mining and environmental systems, said Feige and DEC Commissioner Jason Brune.

Photos showing the True North site before and after reclamation make clear the extent, and effect, of the remediation work.

Full version of the joint press release

Ashlee Adoko
Associate Director
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Office of Project Management and Permitting
Phone: (907) 269-8732
Fax: (907) 269-5673
Email Ashlee Adoko

Mail or Visit at:
550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1430
Anchorage, AK 99501