Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Water Resources Section
3700 Airport Way
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-4699
(907) 451-2793 or (907) 451-2790 Phone Numbers
(907) 451-2703 Fax Number
Previous Notice Published 11-30-20 thru 12-15-20
https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=200243
This second Public Notice is being issued to address concerns about the legal language used in the previous notice as well concerns about the ability to review the subject applications.
All comments and objections previously submitted to the Department of Natural Resources during the first Public Notice period will be considered by the Department after the second Notice period closes.
Here is a link to issued permits and supporting documents associated with the Donlin Mine Project
http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/largemine/donlin/
PUBLIC NOTICE OF APPLICATIONS FOR WATER RIGHTS
Pursuant to Alaska Statue (AS) 46.15 and rules and regulations (11 Alaska Administrative Code [AAC] 93) promulgated thereunder, public notice is hereby given that twelve (12) Applications for Water Rights have been received from Donlin Gold, LLC, 2525 C Street, Suite 450, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. The applications were reviewed for accuracy and completeness and the following case files were assigned:
LAS 29168 Upper Contact Water Dam American Creek
LAS 29169 Snow Gulch Freshwater Dam
LAS 29170 Lower Contact Water Dam American Creek
LAS 29171 Jungjuk Port Site Surface Water Kuskokwim River
LAS 29172 Construction Camp, Shop, Administrative Facilities, Warehouse, & Mill
LAS 29173 Pit Perimeter and In-Pit Dewatering Wells and Associated Drainage Structures
LAS 29174 Getmuna Creek Surface Water
LAS 29175 TSF Interceptor and Seepage Collection Wells Anaconda Creek
LAS 29176 Jungjuk Port Site Well
LAS 29177 Tailings Storage Facility Anaconda Creek
LAS 29178 Permanent Camp Potable Water Well Field
LAS 31477 Crooked Creek Surface Flows and Associated Diversion Structures
Applications LAS 29168 through LAS 29178 have a priority date of May 16, 2013. Application LAS 31477 has a priority date of September 23, 2016.
Areas of Appurtenance: LAS 29168, LAS 29169, LAS 29170, LAS 29172, LAS 29173, LAS 29175, LAS 29177 and LAS 31477 located within the “Mine Area”, within Sections 24-27, 34-36, T23N, R49W; Sections 30-32, T23N, R48W; Sections. 1-5, 8-15, 17, 18, 22-24, T22N, R49W; and Sections 4-9, 17-20, T22N, R48W; Seward Meridian. LAS 29171 and LAS 29174 located within “Port and Road Area”, Sections 3, 4, 8, 9, 17 and 18, T22N, R49W; Section 33, T23N, R50W; Sections 2-4, 11-14, 23, 26 and 35, T22N, R50W; Sections 2-4, 9, 16, 17, 21-23, 26, 27, and 34, T21N, R50W; Sections 6-8, 16, 17, 21-25, T20N, R50W; and Sections 19, 29, and 30, T20N, R49W; Seward Meridian. LAS 29176 located within NW1/4, Section 29, T20N, R49W, Seward Meridian. LAS 29178 located within Section 8, T22N, R49W, Seward Meridian. Water uses in these areas of appurtenance shall be managed according to the Donlin Gold Water Resources Management Plan, Plan of Operations Vol. II
http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/largemine/donlin/pdf/poo.watermanagement.pdf
Water Sources:
Case file LAS 29168: Upper Contact Water Dam American Creek is for the year-round impoundment of 3,240 acre feet per year (afy) and withdrawal of 14,210 afy of water. The source of water is American Creek and tributaries located within Sections 25-27, 34-36, T23N, R49W; Sections 31, 32, T23N, R48W; Sections 1-3, T22N, R49W; and Sections 5-8, T22N, R.48W; Seward Meridian. The impoundment is located within Section 5, T22N, R48W, Seward Meridian. Water withdrawals are for mill processing water, water for dust control, fire training and fire suppression, and water for the Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
Case file LAS 29169: Snow Gulch Freshwater Dam for the year-round impoundment of 3,243 afy and withdrawal of 12,785 afy of water. The source of water for these activities is Snow Gulch and tributaries located within Section 25, T23N, R49W, and Section 30, T23N, R48W, Seward Meridian. The impoundment is to be located within Section 25, T23N, R49W, and Section 30, T23N, R48W, Seward Meridian. Water withdrawals from the freshwater reservoir will provide mill processing water, water for dust control, fire training, and fire suppression.
Case file LAS 29170: Lower Contact Water Dam American Creek is for the year-round impoundment of 7,151 afy and withdrawal of 32,581 afy of water. The source of water for these activities is American Creek and tributaries located within Sections 25-27, 34-36, T23N, R49W; Sections 31, 32, T23N, R48W; Sections 1-3, T22N, R49W; Sections 5-8, T22N, R48W; Seward Meridian. The planned impoundment will be located within Sections 1 and 2, T22N, R49W, Seward Meridian. Water withdrawals from the reservoir will provide mill processing water, water for dust control, fire training and fire suppression, and water for the WTP.
Case file LAS 29171: Jungjuk Port Site Surface Water Kuskokwim River surface water withdrawal of 637 afy from the Kuskokwim River for seasonal use (May – October). The source of water is the Kuskokwim River located within NW1/4 Section 29, T20N, R49W, Seward Meridian. The planned water withdrawals are for dust control along the 30-mile Donlin-Jungjuk access road and for fire training and suppression.
Case file LAS 29172: Construction Camp, Shop, Administrative Facilities, Warehouse, & Mill is for year-round water withdrawal of 201 afy to provide potable water for the mine facilities (i.e., public water system servicing the construction camp, shop, office, warehouse, mill and other mine structures). The source of water for these activities is a groundwater well field located within Sections 10 and 11, T22N, R49W, Seward Meridian.
Case file LAS 29173: Pit Perimeter and In-Pit Dewatering Wells and Associated Drainage Structures is for dewatering of the mining pit areas for year-round use of 3,871 afy. The source of water for these activities will be groundwater dewatering well fields and horizontal drains located within Sections 25-27, 34-36, T23N, R49W, and Sections 1-3, and 12, T22N, R49W, Seward Meridian. The water withdrawn will be used for dust control, mill processing water, and fire suppression and training.
Case file LAS 29174: Getmuna Creek Surface Water withdrawal for seasonal use (May – October) of 80 afy. The source of water for these activities is Getmuna Creek located within Section 34, T21N, R50W, Seward Meridian. The planned water withdrawals are for dust control along the 30-mile Donlin-Jungjuk access road and for fire training and protection.
Case file LAS 29175: TSF Interceptor and Seepage Collection Wells Anaconda Creek is for the establishment of the Anaconda Creek Drainage Interceptor wells and Seepage Recovery System (SRS). The SRS would be installed as part of the lined TSF for the year-round collection of 2,841 afy. The SRS would incorporate a seepage collection pond, seepage monitoring/collection wells, and compliance monitoring wells. The TSF is located within Sections 11-14, T22N, R49W, and Sections 7, 8, 17-20, T22N, R48W, Seward Meridian. The SRS is located within Section 14, T22N, R29W. Water withdrawals will be used for mill processing water, dust control, fire suppression and training, and water for the WTP.
Case file LAS 29176: Jungjuk Port Site Well will provide water for seasonal use (May – October) of 0.55 afy to provide potable water to onsite personnel. The source of water for these activities is a groundwater well located within the NW1/4 Section 29, T20N, R49W, Seward Meridian.
Case file LAS 29177: Tailings Storage Facility Anaconda Creek is for a year-round reservoir with a holding capacity of 24,000 afy of surface water and process wastewater from the mill, and year-round water withdrawals of 39,065 afy located within Sections 11-14, T22N, R49W, and Sections 7, 8, 17-20, T22N, R48W, Seward Meridian. The water withdrawn from the TSF will be used for mill processing water, and dust control, and for the WTP.
Case file LAS 29178: Permanent Camp Potable Water Well Field for year-round use of 50 afy for the establishment of potable water source. The source of water is groundwater from wells located within Section 8, T22N, R49W, Seward Meridian. Water withdrawn will be used as the source of portable water for the camp public water system, and for fire training and suppression.
Case file LAS 31477: Crooked Creek Surface Flows and Associated Diversion Structures for the projected flow reduction in Crooked Creek and its tributaries estimated to be an annual maximum reduction of 26,063 afy. These are volumes that may be removed from Crooked Creek and its tributaries. Water in Crooked Creek may be removed through loss of surface water due to dewatering wells, reduction of groundwater discharge to Crooked Creek intercepted by dewatering wells, and retention of surface water runoff from the Crooked Creek drainage and its tributaries. These surface and groundwater sources are located in Sections 23-28, 33-36, T23N, R49W; Sections 30-32, T23N, R48W; Sections 1-5, 8-15, 17-18, 22-24, T22N, R49W; and Sections 4-9, 17-20, T22N, R48W; Seward Meridian. Water uses include dewatering, mill processing, dust control, potable water, fire training and suppression, and WTP.
Per AS 46.15.133 (a), within 15 days of publication or service of notice, persons may file with the director written objections, stating the name and address of the objector, and any facts tending to show that rights of the objector or the public interest would be adversely affected by the proposed sale, appropriation, or removal.
The public is invited to comment or object on these actions. For further information on the subject, please contact Kindra Geis at kindra.geis@alaskagov or Jenny March, jenny.march@alaska.gov at the above address or telephone number. The Water Resources Section must receive comments in writing by 5:00 p.m., Friday March 26, 2021 at the above address to be considered. If issued, a permit may be extended for good cause shown, pursuant to AS 46.15.110 and 11 AAC 93.120(f), without additional public notice.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The state is prepared to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing auxiliary aids when requested. Individuals with audio impairments who wish to respond to this notice by telephone may call the Department’s Public Information Center between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., M-F at TDD # 1-800-770-8973.
The Department of Natural Resources reserves the right to waive technical defects in this publication.
Publication Date Anchorage Daily News: Thursday, March 11, 2021