ADEC has prepared an APDES Draft Individual Permit, AK0053708 – Niblack Project, LLC - BlackWolf Copper and Gold LTD (Permit). The Draft Permit, Fact Sheet, and associated documents are available to the applicant for a 30-day review. Public comments will be accepted during the formal 30-day review period. The permit documents can be accessed from the ADEC Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program website at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/

Alaska DEC Contact:          
David S. Khan
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Water - Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program
410 Willoughby Ave., Suite 303
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
(907) 465-6855
David.Khan@alaska.gov

Draft Permit Review:
Start Date: February 11, 2022
End Date:  March 14, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time

Permit No.: AK0053708

Applicant:  
Niblack Project, BlackWolf Copper and Gold LTD
1800-555 Burrand Street, P.O. Box 220
Vancouver, BC Canada V7X1M9

Proposed Permit Coverage:
The proposed permit is a reissuance of the initial wastewater discharge permit AK0053708. The reissued permit will include a change from a land application discharge to an outfall with an authorized mixing zone into Niblack Anchorage after treatment via settling ponds for adit groundwater, and runoff from rockpiles.  During the term of the proposed permit, the following discharges will be authorized:

Outfall 001A – Treated effluent from settling ponds

The permit to discharge includes the authorization of an acute mixing zone for ammonia and a chronic mixing zone for copper. All other pollutants meet water quality criteria within the mixing zones. The acute and chronic mixing zones for Outfall 001A are rectangular in shape on multiple port diffuser (latitude 55.065916°N, 132.14214°W) and extend from the seafloor to the unfrozen sea surface as described below.

• The acute mixing zone has a length of from east to west of 53 meters and a width east to west of 57 meters.
• The chronic mixing zone has a length from east to west of 165 meters and a width north to south of 110 meters.

Deadline for Written Applicant Review Comments:
The deadline for proposed final permit review comments by the applicant is March 14, 2022, 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time.

Administrative Record:
The APDES Draft Permit, Fact Sheet, and associated documents are available for public review at the DEC offices located in Anchorage, Soldotna, and Wasilla. Please contact the office of your choice to arrange for hard copies of the documents to be available for your review.