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economic benefits to the Alaska Native regional and village corporations across the entire state, which under ANCSA Section 7(i) requires regional corporations to distribute 70% of net revenues from resource development on ANCSA land among the rest of the regional corporations, and in turn, Section 7(j) requires that half of the
Section 7(i) payments received are distributed to the respective village corporations within each of the ANCSA regions. According to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2018–2013 report (187 pages) prepared for the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration and published in July 2018, a potential Donlin gold mine could bring new employment opportunities and new infrastructure investment that could help lower energy and transportation costs. If the project moves forward, initial construction will require 3,000 workers and a $ 300 million payroll; normal production will require 800-1,200 workers and a $ 100 million annual payroll; infrastructure would include a port in Bethel, a small river port, a camp, a timber mill, a natural gas pipeline and a fiber optic cable.
230:
multiple federal and state agencies throughout the permitting process showed mining operations would meet state and federal environmental and water quality standards. Previously, on April 12, 2021, an administrative law judge recommended that the State of Alaska rescind the project's water quality certificate, required under the Clean Water Act, on the grounds that the State “erred in their hasty issuance” of the certificate, asking the State “to ensure protection of salmon streams.” The public was given only 15 days to comment, during COVID-19 lockdown, on 12 different water rights permits for a mine that, if developed, would be one of the largest in the world, placed in the watershed of a major, salmon-bearing river.
272:(ONS) on the grounds that there is no reasonable assurance that the project will comply with state water quality standards or Alaska's Antidegradation Policy. The proposed decision for the case is that Donlin Gold Project and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water, in issuing a certificate for Donlin, have not provided the necessary 'reasonable assurance' that water quality standards will be honored in order to proceed with mining operations. Three areas of concern are mercury levels in the water, water temperatures, and degradation of essential salmon habitat.
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307:. According to federal regulations, all states must have an antidegradation policy, and this policy must, among other things, protect existing uses of any water body. Taking the existing use of salmon habitat into account, the ONS argues that the actions of the mining project do not provide reasonable assurance of compliance with the antidegradation policy, due to dewatering of the watershed, and removal of riparian habitat, which will significantly impact the salmon population.
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pollution (measured as the 4 day average). Mercury levels already exceed the water quality standards in some instances in the watershed near the proposed site of the mine. Mining operations may increase mercury levels in the watershed, and this has been used to argue that there is not reasonable assurance that water quality standards will be honored.
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using its subject-matter expertise,” the state’s notice stated. The Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation said its clean water certificate is "supported by a reasonable basis in law and substantial evidence in the record." The State said the ONS tribe's concerns had been addressed through conditions attached to the certification.
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is designated as a toxic substance under the
Department of Environmental Conservation 2020 Water Quality Standards. The levels of dissolved mercury in freshwater, as defined by the Alaska Water Quality Standards is 1.4 ÎĽg/L for acute pollution (measured as the 1 hour average) or 0.77 ÎĽg/L for chronic
250:
published by the
Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage, much of Alaska's mining potential is dominated by two projects - the proposed Donlin Gold mine and projects in the Ambler mining district. The development of the Donlin Gold project would bring positive
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In this matter, Orutsararmiut (ONS) cherry-picked portions of the record describing potential impacts in a highly technical report and characterized them as conclusive. The
Division consistently and thoroughly rebutted each of Orutsararmiut’s assertions with analysis of relevant information and data
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granted Donlin Gold the right to lease state land to build a pipeline that will power its mine. On May 27, 2021, the commissioner for the Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation upheld a key state water quality certificate for the Donlin Gold project, citing numerous analyses performed by
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of 1971 (ANCSA) and under ANCSA has title to the subsurface estate in the region. The
Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC) was formed in 1977 with the merger of 10 upper river village corporations and TKC has the surface estate in the region.
630:
Bolduc, Benjamin; Hodgkins, Suzanne B.; Varner, Ruth K.; Crill, Patrick M.; McCalley, Carmody K.; Chanton, Jeffrey P.; Tyson, Gene W.; Riley, William J.; Palace, Michael; Duhaime, Melissa B.; Hough, Moira A. (2020-08-13).
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There are some published news articles about the environmental concerns of the Donlin mines proposed operations, and there is some local controversy. One main concern, voiced in the public comment section of the
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along the watershed, water temperature in the related watershed is predicted to increase, according to Donlin Gold
Project's Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), close to or above Alaska's water quality
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On May 27, 2021, the Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation, after extensive review, consistently and thoroughly supported the Donlin Gold project's clean water certificate, stating,
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Donlin Gold's drilling program for 2022 is budgeted at USD $ 60 million, their largest drill program in a decade according to spokeswoman
Kristina Woolston.
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Orutsararmiut Native Council v. Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Divisions of Water; and Donlin Gold LLC., OAH No. 20-0536 (April 12, 2021).
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estimated to be 33.9 million ounces of gold at a grade of 2.1 g/t and could produce an average of one million ounces annually over a 27-year mine life.
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330:"Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014"
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633:"The IsoGenie database: an interdisciplinary data management solution for ecosystems biology and environmental research"
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Another argument put forward by the ONS is that, due to a combination of mine operating procedures and a decrease in
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https://npr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com/legacy/sites/kyuk/files/202104/2021-04-12_notice_of_proposed_decision.pdf
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485:"Future of Donlin Gold mine permit uncertain after judge recommends state regulators to rescind key certificate"
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issued by Donlin Gold Project, is that it may exceed Alaska's water and air quality regulations. The project's
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589:"Yukon-Kuskokwim Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) – FINAL, July 2018"
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is a large, undeveloped, refractory gold deposit located 12 miles (19 km) north of
212:. Calista is one of 13 regional Alaska Native corporations established as part of the
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https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/large-mines/donlin/pdf/dg-feis-scope-report.pdf
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606:"Alaskan Indigenous leaders fear impacts on salmon streams by mining project"
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https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-131?toc=1
499:"Bethel tribe protests 15-day comment period for Donlin Gold water permits"
461:"Alaska DEC commissioner upholds controversial permit for Donlin gold mine"
649:
335:. Vancouver, BC: Novagold Resources Inc. pp. 31–32. Archived from
180:, on the Kuskokwim River, about 280 miles (450 km) northwest of
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https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/large-mines/donlin/pdf/dgfeis.pdf
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Shallenberger, Krysti; Bethel, Alaska's Energy Desk- (2021-06-02).
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436:"State allows Donlin Gold to lease land for 315-mile pipeline"
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Alaska has an antidegradation policy in compliance with the
813:“ECFR :: 40 CFR Part 131 -- Water Quality Standards.”
514:"Donlin Gold starts biggest drilling program in a decade"
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785:
Donlin Gold Project Final Environmental Impact Statement
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Buildings and structures in Bethel Census Area, Alaska
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Environmental Impact Statement: Donlin Gold Project
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735:"Alaska stands by decision on Donlin Gold mine"
710:"Alaska stands by decision on Donlin Gold mine"
540:"Economists explore mining's future in Alaska"
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410:"Kuskokwim Corp. inks deal with Donlin Gold"
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564:"A golden opportunity for Calista region"
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16:Major undeveloped gold deposit in Alaska
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388:"Donlin Gold's Reserves and Resources"
367:Alaska Department of Natural Resources
227:Alaska Department of Natural Resources
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196:The project is a partnership between
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512:Brehmer, Elwood (February 3, 2022).
434:Ebertz Bethel, Olivia (2021-08-03).
328:Lang, Gregory A. (28 January 2015).
262:Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
214:Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
787:. Donlin Gold Project, Apr. 2018,
268:permit has been challenged by the
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762:"Water Quality Standards Section"
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1:
733:Estus, Joaqlin (2021-06-02).
679:. Retrieved 28 October, 2021.
538:Segall, Peter (2022-03-08).
520:. Alaska Journal of Commerce
270:Orutsararmiut Native Council
186:proven and probable reserves
815:Code of Federal Regulations
610:Mongabay Environmental News
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242:Social and economic impact
165:http://www.donlingold.com/
570:. North of 60 Mining News
210:The Kuskokwim Corporation
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390:. NovaGold Resources Inc
804:. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
568:North of 60 Mining News
305:Federal Clean Water Act
225:On July 20, 2021, the
112:62.03806°N 158.21083°W
843:Gold mining in Alaska
363:"Donlin Gold Project"
178:Crooked Creek, Alaska
714:Indian Country Today
518:Anchorage Daily News
117:62.03806; -158.21083
800:"Antidegradation".
501:. 19 February 2021.
465:Alaska Public Media
248:March 8, 2022 study
234:Drilling activities
206:Calista Corporation
174:Donlin Gold Project
108: /
49:Donlin Gold Project
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20:Donlin Gold Project
650:10.7717/peerj.9467
198:NovaGold Resources
184:. The deposit has
150:NovaGold Resources
255:Local controversy
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612:. 2022-01-26
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370:. Retrieved
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344:. Retrieved
337:the original
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202:Barrick Gold
195:
173:
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154:Barrick Gold
115: /
103:158°12′39″W
91:Coordinates
832:Categories
771:2021-11-20
744:2024-02-06
719:2022-04-15
616:2022-04-15
574:2022-04-15
549:2022-04-15
524:2022-04-15
470:2022-04-15
445:2022-04-15
420:2022-04-15
312:References
298:standards.
221:Permitting
133:Discovered
100:62°02′17″N
659:2167-8359
643:: e9467.
182:Anchorage
739:ICT News
346:26 March
61:Location
25:Location
394:2 April
285:Mercury
161:Website
152:(50%),
146:Company
128:History
81:Country
657:
372:29 May
208:, and
192:Owners
75:Alaska
637:PeerJ
592:(PDF)
340:(PDF)
333:(PDF)
156:(50%)
141:Owner
71:State
655:ISSN
440:KTOO
396:2014
374:2021
348:2015
172:The
136:1988
645:doi
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