ADEC has prepared an APDES Draft Individual Permit, AK0050571 – Coeur Alaksa Inc. Kensington Gold Project. 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 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/

Alaska DEC Contact: David 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:     April 12, 2024
End Date:       May 14, 2024
Permit No.: AK0050571
Applicant:   Coeur Alaska, Inc., Kensington Gold Project
PO Box 32199
Juneau, Alaska 99803

Proposed Permit Coverage:
About 45 miles north of Juneau, the Kensington Gold Mine is an underground mine located at the southern end of the Kakuhan Range of the coastal mountains in the Tongass National Forest on the small peninsula formed between Lynn Canal and Berners Bay. The Site is currently accessible by floatplane, helicopter, or boat. The mine is within the administrative boundary of the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ).

The mine produces approximately 2,000 tons/day of ore. Milling began in 2010, and results of exploration activities or other factors could extend the life of the operation beyond the currently estimated 10.5 years. At the time of the permit renewal application, permitting is underway for a life of mine extension for 10 additional years of tailings and waste rock storage capacity. The mill and mine operate 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. A gold concentrate is produced at the mill, packed in containers, and transported for off-site processing. Tailings from the mill are either sent to the Paste Backfill Plant, to be processed and placed in the underground mine, or are placed at the Tailings Treatment Facility (TTF),

Kensington lies within the Sherman, Johnson, and Slate Creek drainages. Mine infrastructure in the Sherman Creek drainage includes an adit, waste rock dump, warehouse, and water treatment plants. Here, drainage from the mine is treated and discharged to Sherman Creek at Outfall 001. Sherman Creek drains to Lynn Canal.

A mine portal, mill, waste rock dump, and man camp are located within the Johnson Creek Drainage. The TTF is located in Slate Creek. Water from the TTF is treated and discharged to East Fork Slate Creek at Outfall 002. Johnson and Slate Creeks drain to Berners Bay.

Deadline for Written Applicant Review Comments:
The permit documents can be accessed from the ADEC Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program website at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/. 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=EAm7ft8iS. 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 May 15, 2024.

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