Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: July 16, 2025
PN Reference Number: POA-2025-00278 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: August 15, 2025     
Waterway: West Fork Comeback Creek a tributary of Aloha Creek (Tributary of Hogatza River)

Any applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct an activity that might result in a discharge into waters of the United States, in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), must also apply for and obtain certification from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that the discharge will comply with the CWA and the Alaska Water Quality Standards (18 AAC 70). The scope of certification is limited to the water quality-related impacts of the activity subject to the Federal license or permit (40 CFR 121.3, 18 AAC 15.180).

Notice is hereby given that a request for a CWA §401 Water Quality Certification of a Department of the Army Permit application, Corps of Engineers’ PN Reference Number indicated above has been received[1] for the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States (WOTUS), including wetlands, as described below, and shown on the project figures/drawings. The public notice and related project figures/drawings are accessible from the DEC website at https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.

To comment on the project or request a public hearing with respect to water quality, submit comments via (preferred method) DEC website https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices/ or email to the DEC email address: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov with the subject line referencing Public Notice Reference Number: POA-2025-00278 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: Taiga Mining Company, Inc., Drew Miller, PO BOX 113108, Anchorage, AK 99511, 907-349-4644; dmiller@taigamining.com

Project Name: Taiga Mining Comeback Creek Mine Site

Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 09/15/2025 to 10/31/2027

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 20, T. 10N, R. 15E, Kateel River Meridian, in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska.  Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 66.255612, -155.70788.

Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to economically recover placer gold resources in the lower reaches of the West Fork of Comeback Creek drainage.

Description of Proposed Work: The applicant proposes to discharge fill material into approximately 18.5 acres of wetlands during placer mining activities. Approximately 3,300 linear feet of incised stream channel (average 5 to 6 feet wide by 3-foot-high banks, and 0.5 feet to 2.5 feet water depth) would be diverted into a temporary 3,450-foot bypass stream channel during mining.

The bypass channel would be 6 to 8 feet wide, with 4-foot-high banks. After mining is completed, the bypass stream would be reclaimed with connecting ponds, shallow littoral areas, and wetlands. A 2,740 linear foot 15- to 20-foot wide gravel access road would be constructed that would fill about 0.18 acres of wetlands. For access to the mine site, a temporary bridge would span the channel at Aloha Creek.

Additional Information: The applicant has applied for a fish habitat permit with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Applicant Proposed Mitigation: The applicant proposes the following mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, and compensate for impacts to waters of the United States from activities involving discharges of dredged or fill material.

1. Avoidance: Wetlands and stream channel impacts would not be avoided completely because of the presence of recoverable placer gold resources in areas containing wetlands. The use of low impact drilling and sampling had delineated the location and extent of the gold resources for this project. Areas that do not contain viable gold resources would be avoided, and only economically viable resources would be targeted for mining.
2. Minimization: When possible, the storage of overburden and other materials would be done on uplands, thus, minimizing impacts to aquatic resources. Impacts to Aloha Creek would be minimized with a temporary bridge span. Thorough exploration has identified what areas of the deposit are economically viable, allowing for marginal on non-economical portions of the deposit to be avoided entirely.
3. Mitigation: Compensatory mitigation was not proposed by the applicant because reclamation activities following mining would create shallow ponds, vegetated littoral areas, and other wetlands and, thus, mitigate for impacts to wetland functions. The reclaimed creek would be meandering in nature and would connect the contoured mine pits, forming shallow littoral and deeper water areas. Organic materials and soils separated in the site preparation work would be spread over the recontoured areas to promote the growth of native plants. The reclaimed mine would be monitored for the creation of wetlands and pond littoral areas, vegetation growth, and potential issues such as soil instability and unnecessary soil erosion.

After reviewing the application, the Department will evaluate whether the activity will comply with applicable water quality requirements (any limitation, standard, or other requirement under sections 301, 302, 306, and 307 of the CWA, any Federal and state laws or regulations implementing those sections, and any other water quality-related requirement of state law). The Department may certify (or certify with conditions) with reasonable assurance the activity and any discharge that might result will comply with water quality requirements. The Department also may deny or waive certification.

The permit application and associated documents are available for review. To inquire about or request copies of the documents, contact dec-401cert@alaska.gov or call 907-269-6285.

Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice

The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation, complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact ADA Coordinator Kristin Mabry, kristin.mabry@alaska.gov, 1-907-334-0884; or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 at least 3 days prior to the expiration/closure date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.