NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
APMA F20252955

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has received a Multi-Agency Application for Permits to Mine in Alaska (APMA) for Hardrock Exploration & Reclamation in the Fairbanks Mining District, near the community of Ester. APMA forms include applications for Miscellaneous Land Use Permits (MLUPs), Approved Plan of Operations, and Reclamation Plan Approvals for mining operation.

This notice is pertaining to the Department’s review and adjudication of a Plan of Operation Approval application pursuant to 11 AAC 86.800 for Hardrock Exploration activity as well as reclamation approval on state lands. Cross-country travel on state lands not within state mining locations may also be authorized. Other state land use outside of the mining locations, if any, will be adjudicated by DNR separately.

APPLICANT(s):  Great Land Minerals, LLC, James Oliver, Range Minerals Corporation

PROJECT NAME: Ester Antimony Project

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Ester Dome

LEGAL DESCRIPTION:

Section 32, Township 1 South, Range 2 West, Fairbanks Meridian

Sections 13, 24, & 25, Township 1 North, Range 3 West, Fairbanks Meridian

REQUESTED ACTIVITY: New multi-year application for exploration trenching, shallow drilling (less than 90ft depth), and a maximum 400 cubic yard bulk sample per trench where antimony is encountered for metallurgical and recovery assessment. There are 24 proposed trench locations where bedrock will be exposed for geology assessment and geochemical sampling. Outside of this described exploration, subsequent production mining activities would be subject to an additional and separate permitting requirement/mining plan of operations.

PROPOSED DATES OF USE:
Start: Date of Issuance
End: December 31, 2030 *Unless extended pursuant to 11 AAC 86.800(d)

DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: 6/4/2025 @ 5:00 PM AST

This is a notice provided to the public and you are invited to comment on this activity. The purpose of this notice is to gather input before a decision is made on this activity. To ensure consideration, written comments must be received by the Division of Mining, Land and Water at the Fairbanks Mine Permitting Office, 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 on or before 5:00 PM on the date noted above.

Written comments, questions concerning this activity or requests to view the full application packet should be directed to Michael LaDouceur, Telephone (907) 451-2784; Fax: (907) 451-2703 or e-mail: dnr.fbx.mining@alaska.gov.

After review and adjudication, we may issue an authorization with stipulations for the activity. The activity may be modified during the review and adjudication process.

Mining fact sheet that includes the other state and federal agencies that receive and adjudicate this application the permits the applicant may require can be found here: https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/cdn/pdf/factsheets/mining-permits-through-apma.pdf

A more detailed discussion of the agencies that receive the application can be found in the APMA application packet: https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/forms/apma/2025/

DNR-DMLW complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services or special modifications to comment should contact Alaska Relay at 711 or 800-770-8973 for TTY services.

The DMLW reserves the right to waive technical defects in this notice