The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC or Department) has tentatively determined to issue a discharge permit for the activity described below.

Permit No.: AK0043206

Permit Name:  Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company (HGCMC)

ADEC has prepared an APDES Draft Individual Permit, AK0043206 – Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company (HGCMC). The Draft Permit, Fact Sheet, and associated documents are available for a 30-day review. Public comments will be accepted during the formal 32-day review period. The permit documents can be accessed from the ADEC Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program website at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/

Public Notice Period:
Start Date: May 3, 2023
End Date: June 7, 2023

Applicant:         
Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company (HGCMC)
PO Box 32199
Juneau, Alaska99803

Proposed Permit Coverage:  Hecla Greens Creek Mine is an underground mine producing approximately 2,200 to 2,400 tons of ore per day. This ore is milled through an on-site grinding circuit and flotation concentrator, with some precious metal first extracted by gravity. Concentrates are then shipped internationally to smelters for refinement. The company provides all water utilities on site including sewage treatment facilities, wastewater treatment facilities to treat site industrial wastewater, and capture stormwater. Discharged water is composed of treated effluent from the sewage treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, and stormwater. All treated water is then discharged through submarine outfalls to the ocean at the mouth of Hawk Inlet. In addition to the existing outfall 002 and the proposed outfall 002A, there are several permitted stormwater outfalls. Mine is located on the Admiralty Island near the city of Juneau in Southeast Alaska. The Permit, Fact Sheet, and associated documents are available for review. For inquiries or to request copies of documents, contact:

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

Mailed comments and requests must be postmarked on or before the expiration date of the public notice. The deadline for written comments or request for public hearing is June 7, 2023.

Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the APDES draft permit must be submitted within 30 days of the issuance of this public notice. Any person desiring to comment on the permit may submit comments electronically (preferred) at https://water.alaskadec.commentinput.com/?id=EVBAbU7PJ

Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice
The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact the department at (907) 269-4198 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 within 30 days of publication of this notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.