Mining News: DNR adds financial, reclamation requirements to Pebble permit

Alaska Department of Natural Resources April 11 announced significant new requirements in a land-use permit authorizing the Pebble Limited Partnership to continue care, maintenance and reclamation on its mining claims in the Bristol Bay region. The regulatory agency said this decision follows the review of more than 2,000 public comments and an exhaustive analysis. During the comment period on Pebble’s application for the permit, questions arose on the condition of certain drill holes and whether hundreds of these holes drilled during active exploration would be properly reclaimed. After reviewing these concerns, DNR decided to include a financial assurances requirement of US$2 million to the permit it issued. While financial assurance typically is not required for exploration projects in Alaska, more than 1,300 holes have been drilled at Pebble and additional work is anticipated as the project moves towards permitting and development. The agency is also requiring inspection, reclamation and closure of 138 drill holes during the 2017 field season. Not all holes would be closed during the permit term – roughly half of them would be maintained for data collection and monitoring. “We have carefully considered and applied new stipulations to this permit that are reasonable, comply with our legal requirements, and address concerns we heard in the comment period,” said Natural Resources Commissioner Andy Mack. “We fully recognize that Pebble is a unique project, in terms of its size, location and amount of public interest. Our goal in issuing this permit is to ensure that state lands receive good stewardship, and that the Pebble Partnership is authorized to do necessary work on its claims.” While many of the commenters said the Pebble Partnership had left a mess on the property, DNR said its own inspections “found the structure and materials to be well maintained.” DNR and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation also could not find any evidence of problems with drill holes cited in comments received. DNR completes regular inspections of the Pebble site and said it will investigate the drill holes in question again this summer. The Pebble Partnership said it has full-time staff responsible for care and maintenance at Pebble. This includes inspections and, when necessary, repairs of the more than 1,300 drill holes on the property. “We will continue our site operations in 2017 in full compliance with the state’s permit conditions, and in a manner that protects the broader public interest in the lands and resources surrounding the Pebble property,” said Pebble Partnership CEO Tom Collier.

-SHANE LASLEY