Mining News: News Nuggets: Constantine seeks easier, safer Palmer access

Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. has submitted a plan of operations with the Bureau of Land Management to build 2.5 miles of road at its Palmer project near the community of Haines in Southeast Alaska. The company said the road is needed to support ongoing exploration, environmental and geotechnical studies, as well as improve worker safety, at the copper- and zinc-rich deposit. The proposed road would provide access to up to 40 new drill sites located east of the current resources area, and a staging area at the end of the road would provide easier and safer access for both ground-based and helicopter-supported drilling. While there is an existing trail that was established in 1977, the road proposed by Constantine is designed to be safer and minimize the environmental footprint. “We have worked hard to create a responsible plan that will meet state and federal requirements, minimize and avoid impacts where possible, and continue to provide economic benefit to the local community,” the company said in a statement. The road plan is available for public comment until Jan. 8 and will then undergo an environmental assessment before a final decision by the BLM is made.

- Shane Lasley