x>EPA
DOI
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle WA 98101
910983111A
February 1984
Water
EPA-10-AK-Wulik-NPDES-84
United States
Department of
Interior
Post Office Box
100120
Anchorage AK 99510
Environmental
Impact Statement
Red Dog Mine Project
Northwest Alaska
Volume II—Appendices
Draft
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RED DOG MINE PROJECT
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMACT
STATEMENT
Volume II: Appendices
1. Reclamation Plan
2. Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan
3. Endangered Species Biological Assessment
4. NPDES Draft Permit
5. Department of the Army Public Notice and Section 404(b)(l) Evaluation
6. ANILCA Title XI Right-of-Way Application
7. Cultural Resources Protection
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Appendix 1
Reclamation Plan
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RECLAMATION PLAN
RED DOG PROJECT
JUNE 1983
PREPARED BY COMINCO ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD,
FILE NO, RD0.012
FEB 1 3 1984
tNVIRONMENTU l\*\>j
P.-A.NCH
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Summary 1
2. Introduction 2
3. Project Description 4
4. Environmental Setting 9
4.1 Water Quality 10
4.2 Aquatic Biology 11
4.3 Terrestrial Biology 13
4.4 Marine Biology 18
5. Reclamation Plan 20
5.1 Introduction 20
5.2 Reclamation Guidelines 21
5.3 Reclamation Concepts for the Mine Site 23
5.3,1 Open Pit Mine 24
5.3.2 Mine Waste Dumps 29
•30
5.3.3 Tailings Impoundment
00
5.3.4 Water Supply Reservoir
5.3.5 Mill, Accommodation, Service Areas, Airstrip, 40
Roads
5.4 Reclamation Concepts for the Transportation Corridor 42
5.5 Reclamation Concepts for the Port-Shipping Facility 47
5.6 Reclamation Research Proposals 49
6. References 51
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LIST OF TABLES
Table
3.1 Nature and Extent of Land Disturbance
Associated with Red Dog Mine Project
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
2.1 Red Dog Location Map 3
3.1 Red Dog Mine Site 7
5.1 Mine Pit Layout 26
5.2 South Fork Tailing Impoundment 33
5.3 Water Storage Pond 39
5.4 Mill Site Plan 41
5.5 Land Transport 43
5.6 Transportation Corridors 45
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1. Summary
Cominco Alaska Inc. is exploring the development of substantial
deposits of lead/zinc/silver ore adjacent Red Dog Creek in NW
Alaska, 90 air miles north of Kotzebue. The project will
consist of an open pit mine and concentrator together with
associated transportation and shipping facilities. The project
has a potential life of 50 years. Development of the project
according to preferred siting options will ultimately disturb
2,070 acres of land including 1,500 acres over the 50 year
period at the mine site, 520 acres along the transportation
corridor and 50 acres at the coastal shipping facility. In
accordance with an agreement with the NANA Regional Corporation,
Cominco Alaska will reclaim all land disturbed as a result of
the operation.
A conceptual plan for the reclamation of land affected by
various components of the Red Dog project is presented. The
plan provides for the reclamation of all disturbed lands in
accordance with guidelines established by the NANA-Cominco
Alaska agreement. While it is recognized as desirable to
initiate reclamation as early as possible following disturbance,
the main project components of the mine site, the transportation
corridor and the shipping facility will be active for the
duration of the project life. Reclamation of these components
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must, therefore, be delayed until late in the operating life of
the mine and following abandonment.
Due to the site specific nature of factors affecting revege-
tation potential of mined-land disturbances and to limited
revegetation technology specific for conditions prevailing
at the site, detailed plans for revegetating waste disposal
sites are not presented in the conceptual plan. A research
program will be implemented early in the operating period
of the project to develop the technology necessary to
achieve revegetation objectives.
A reclamation and post-production accrual fund to cover
reclamation and all other post-production expenditures
will be established. Cominco Alaska will maintain a per-
formance bond underwriting the reclamation as required by
the agreement with NANA.
Introduction
Cominco Alaska Inc. is exploring the development of sub-
stantial deposits of lead/zinc/silver ore adjacent Red
Dog Creek near Deadlock Mountain in NW Alaska (Figure 2.1).
The project will consist of an open pit mine and concen-
trator 90 air miles north cf Kotzebue, together with
associated transportation and shipping facilities.
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PAC IFIC OCEAN
FIG 2.1 RED DOG LOCATION MAP
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The NANA Regional Corporation obtained selection rights to the
Red Dog area with the passage of ANILCA in 1980. After dis-
cussing the project with a number of mining companies, the
Regional Corporation selected Cominco Alaska Inc. to act as
the developer of the deposit. In the spring of 1982 a letter
of agreement was signed which outlined the relationship between
Cominco Alaska and NANA. That agreement calls for Cominco
Alaska to lease the property from NANA and to act as the
operator for the project. In accordance with the agreement,
all land disturbed as a result of the operation shall be
reclaimed by the Operator in accordance with a reclamation
plan prepared by the Operator prior to commencement of
operations.
The following sections of this document describe the proposed
mining project and relevant information on the environmental
setting within the project area. Based on the nature of the
project, its physical and biological setting and data
available, a conceptual plan for the protection and
reclamation of land and water resources is described.
Studies identified as necessary for development of site
specific reclamation technology are summarized.
3. Project Description
The project is located 55 miles from the Chukchi Sea, east-
northeast of Kivalina. There are no roads in the area and
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the nearest village to the deposit is Noatak, some 47 miles to
the south. The ore is in the form of metal sulphides in a
Mississippian chert formation in the drainage area of two
forks of Red Dog Creek. Although the deposit is not yet
fully defined by geologists, the potential mine contains
approximately 85 million tons of mineralization. The project
will have a potential life of 50 years with the possibility
of extension if new ore is found.
Development of the Red Dog mine will require establishment
of the entire infrastructure necessary to mine the ore,
concentrate the minerals and transport the concentrate to
salt water for shipment. Mine site facilities will include
the mine pit and waste dumps; a mill and tailings impound-
ment; a water supply reservoir for process and human use;
sediment retention and water treatment facilities for the
mine area facilities; accommodation for workers; a power
supply system and transportation system to the coast. An
airstrip was constructed in 1982. A port facility would
be located along the Chukchi Sea coast. Facilities
required in the coastal zone include a dock with ship-
loading facilities, concentrate and fuel storage and
handling facilities, equipment storage and maintenance
facilities, housing and a power plant.
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A concise description of project history, land status, mining,
milling and transportation options as well as siting options
for each component of the Red Dog project is provided in the
"Red Dog Mine Project Overview" released by Cominco Alaska
Inc. in January, 1983 (1). Cominco Alaska has completed a
preliminary evaluation of these options and has identified
what seem to be the most feasible options from an environmental,
economic and engineering viewpoint. The preferred options
include open pit mining with waste stockpiled above the pre-
ferred tailings impoundment site on the south fork of Red
Dog Creek (Figure 3.1). The mill will be located! on a known
bedrock outcrop within the impoundment catchment area that
allows gravity flow of tailings slurry from the concentrator.
A water storage reservoir, required for year round operation
of the mill as well as domestic water supply will be created
by constructing a dam on Bons Creek at the south end of the
Red Dog valley with a pipeline following the road system to
the mill. The preferred option for land transportation
utilizes the southern corridor through Krusenstern National
Monument to the coast with concentrate storage and shipping
facilities at VABM 28 on the coast. Development of the
project according to preferred siting options will
ultimately disturb 2,070 acres of land including 1,500
acres over a 50 year period at the mine site, 520 acres
along the transportation corridor and 50 acres at the
coastal shipping facility (Table 3.1).
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Red Dog Mine Site
FIG. 3.1
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Table 3.1: Nature and Extent of Land Disturbance Associated with Red Dog Mine Project
Type of Disturbance
1. Mine Site
Mine, waste dumps, access road
Tailing pond, access road
Water supply pond, access road
Mill incl. residence area & access road
Airstrip, service corridors
Mine site sub-total
Land
Area
(acres)
580
730
95
65
3£
1,500
Vegetation Type'
II-C1, II-B1
II-B1, III-C1, IIC1
II-C1
III-C1
II-C1, III-C1, II-B3
2. Transportation Corridor
Southern corridor
Borrow pits incl. access roads
Transportation corridor sub-total
435
85
520
III-C2, II-B1, II-B3, II-B2
Sites unknown
3. Port
Port facility
Total land disturbance
50
2,070
III-A4, III-C3
Footnote:
1. Source: Faxcom from D.F. Vinish, CESL Trail to H.A. Noah, Cominco Alaska,
October 26, 1982.
2. Erikson, D.E. & L.R. Hettinger. Terrestrial Biology. In Environmental
Baseline Studies Red Dog Project, Dames and Moore, January, 1983.
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4. Environmental Setting
The Red Dog project is situated in the Wulik River drainage of
the DeLong Mountains. The ore deposit is located in the
drainage area of the main fork of Red Dog Creek. This creek
is a tributary to Ikalukrok Creek, itself a major tributary
of the Wulik River. The Wulik River empties into the
Kivalina Lagoon, which opens into the Chukchi Sea near the
village of Kivalina.
Local topography at the mine site consists of moderately
sloping hills with elevation ranging from 800 to 1,500 feet.
Surrounding the deposit to the north and east are the rugged
ridges of the DeLong Mountains. In the west and southwest,
the fringing hills of the DeLong Mountains drop off sharply
to a gentle coastal upland.
Terrestrial, aquatic and marine biology and water quality data
were developed during 1981 and 1982 for the project area to
provide a data base upon which to base project impact analyses
and to provide information on natural resources that could be
used as input in optimizing mine facilities from both the
engineering and environmental standpoints. Information
pertinent to development of an environmental protection and
reclamation plan for the project are summarized. Full details
of the methodology used and the findings in the on-site
investigations can be found in the report, "Environmental
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Baseline Studies - Red Dog Project" which was prepared by Dames
and Moore in January, 1983 (2).
4.1 Water Quality
Water in the Wulik River displays quality characteristics
typical of unpolluted fresh water in the Arctic. These
are clear water streams having low levels of colour,
suspended solids, turbidity and nutrients. The water is
highly oxygenated, moderately hard to hard, and of the
calcium bicarbonate type. The pH is essentially neutral
and levels of most trace elements fall within ranges
acceptable for fresh water aquatic life. Water in
Ikalukrok Creek exhibits characteristics similar to the
Wulik River with one exception. The concentrations of
some metals increase as one approaches the confluence
with Red Dog Creek.
Red Dog Creek presents a contrast in water quality.
The upper portion of the mainstem, most of the South
Fork, and the North Fork exhibit high water quality.
Water in the mainstem beginning adjacent to the highly
mineralized showing area becomes degraded and remains
in this condition downstream to the confluence with
the South Fork. The middle portion of this section
of creek manifests the lowest water quality. Cadmium,
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lead, zinc and iron concentrations can be particularly high
in this section of the mainstem. Dissolved oxygen levels
decrease, alkalinity levels decrease to or near zero, and
pH is slightly acidic. The water type changes from calcium
bicarbonate to calcium and magnesium bicarbonate or to
magnesium and sodium sulphate depending on flow. The water
is soft to moderately hard. Turbidity, suspended solids,
and sulphate levels are generally high in this area.
Recovery begins at the confluence of the mainstem and the
South Fork, but it is not particularly significant until
flow from the North Fork dilutes the mainstem. Red Dog
Creek adversely affects the quality of Ikalukrok Creek
below their confluence. This effect, at least in terms
of zinc concentrations, extends several miles downstream
in Ikalukrok Creek.
4.2 Aquatic Biology
The Wulik River system is an important overwintering area
for Arctic char. Chum and pink salmon also spawn in the
system. Primary utilization of Wulik fish is in the
subsistence harvest of char by Kivalina and Noatak
natives. Arctic grayling are found throughout the
system but are not widely utilized.
Ikalukrok Creek has several documented char spawning
areas from seven to 19 miles downstream of the mouth
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of Red Dog Creek and some possible char overwintering areas
about nine miles downstream of the mouth of the Red Dog but
no specific spawning areas have been located in this reach
or upstream. Rearing of char fry and yearlings is common-
place upstream to above the mouth of Red Dog Creek. Growth
of juvenile char in the Wulik system is excellent compared
to that in other Arctic Alaska populations. Dud Creek,
which enters the Ikalukrok about eight miles below the
mouth of Red Dog Creek, has a small char spawning population
and is an important rearing stream.
The Red Dog mineralization has been shown to have a profound
effect on the water quality and hence the aquatic ecology
of not only Red Dog Creek itself, but also Ikalukrok Creek
for some distance downstream. Within much of the mainstem
of the Red Dog this influence is graphically demonstrated
by the absence or near absence of periphyton, macrophytes,
insects and fish.
A spawning population of grayling in the North Fork of
Red Dog Creek reaches this clean water tributary by
migrating upstream through the mainstem during spring
runoff when metal levels are relatively low. Char and
grayling juveniles entering Red Dog Creek from Ikalukrok
Creek or from the North Fork (grayling only) suffer
heavy mortalities from exposure to metals. Living
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grayling fry in lower Red Dog Creek displayed abnormal escape
reactions and were apparently near death. No fish have been
found in Red Dog Creek above the mouth of the North Fork.
In Ikalukrok Creek, Red Dog Creek's influence can be seen
in effects on periphyton, benthic macroflora (mosses) and
insects to at least 0.3 miles downstream of the confluence.
Fish in this same reach are exposed to, and survive in,
levels of metals (especially cadmium and zinc) near or
above EPA recommended criteria for the protection of
aquatic life. One result of this exposure is the
increased level of various metals seen in the tissues of
fish, primarily grayling, in upper reaches of Ikalukrok
Creek. Maximum levels in both char and grayling were
usually from fish with greatest potential exposure to
Red Dog Creek. While increases in tissue levels of
certain metals appeared significant, they were all within
established guidelines for edible fish.
4.3 Terrestrial Biology
Twelve vegetation types were delineated for the study
area, and encompassed tall shrub, low shrub and herbaceous
lifeforms. Tussock tundra was by far the most abundant
type, but low shrub tundra, open low shrub and complexes
of these vegetation categories were also common. Wet-
land vegetation occurs on about five percent of the area
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crossed by the proposed transportation corridors. Except
for wetlands, no known critical plant habitats occur
along the corridors and no candidate threatened or
endangered species are known to occur in the area.
The avifauna of the study area is primarily composed
of water-oriented birds. One hundred and four species
were identified in ten differentecological formations.
The lake, pond and lagoon habitats were the most heavily
used of the aquatic formations and the tall and low shrub
formations along streams or lakes were the most heavily
used terrestrial habitats.
During spring migration, the most important staging areas
are located in lagoons at the mouth of major river systems,
especially those having large areas of the delta habitat.
One of the major staging areas is located in Ipiavik
Lagoon, just north of the proposed southern port site.
The delta habitats are even more important during the
fall migration when they are heavily utilized by
shorebirds, swans, geese, and ducks. On a regional
basis, however, numbers of birds using the lagoon systems
within the study area are relatively low compared to
nearby areas in Kotzebue Sound. The gravel ocean
beaches had very low utilization in summer and fall.
Glaucous gulls and arctic terns are characteristic of
birds found in this habitat, the latter using this
habitat for nesting.
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The endangered peregrine falcon is the only threatened
or endangered bird species known to occur in the project
area. A total of seven sites were documented as having
peregrine falcon activity. One of these sites was
questionable. These sites require certain restrictions
regarding development or disturbance activities. Both
transportation corridors pass an equal number of sites
but present alignments are outside of the two mile
minimum buffer restrictions. Golden eagles, protected
under the Bald Eagle Act, occur along both corridors
but the restrictions protecting golden eagles are not
as stringent as those for endangered species. No
falcon or golden eagle nests were located near either
the northern or southern port sites.
In recent years, caribou have used the Wulik and
Kivalina drainages for winter range. Within these
drainages actual distribution during the winter months
is probably dependent on local weather conditions
(i.e. snow depth). In spring, the caribou leave
the winter range and make their way north through
the DeLong Mountains to their traditional calving
grounds on the Arctic Slope. Only a few stragglers
remain in the study area during late spring and early
summer and none of these animals were found to calve
in this area. By mid-June, caribou (mostly bulls and
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yearlings) were abundant in the southern foothills of
the Belong Mountains, distributed in small bands. Shrub
habitats were utilized most frequently. The largest
movement of caribou occurred in early July when 10's
of thousands of animals, in post-calving aggregations,
passed through the upper drainage of the Kivalina
River from the Spiny Ridge area and moved through the
mountain drainages to the east in the traditional
counter-clockwise fashion. These aggregations consist
of all segments of the herd. Most of the animals
return to the Arctic Slope to spend the summer. The
number of caribou residing in the study area in the
late summer season appeared to be low. Caribou
return to the wintering areas in the Wulik and Kivalina
drainages in late fall primarily from the northwest but
some may come into the area from the Noatak region.
The number of animals using the study area from year
to year is highly variable.
A herd of eight muskox were sighted several times during
the field season. The herd appears to have established
its winter range in the Rabbit Creek drainage over the
last several years. During the summer months, these
animals were found to range extensively in the study
area and move in an apparent clockwise fashion through-
out the season.
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Moose are not abundant and are generally restricted in
winter to the tall willow habitat along the Wulik River
and Ikalukrok Creek. These same tall shrub areas are
used in the summer but there is also a dispersal of
moose to upland mountainous areas and throughout smaller
drainages that are not used in the winter.
Grizzly/brown bear were found throughout the study area
during the 1982 field season. The distribution of these
wide-ranging animals appears to vary seasonally. Upper
mountainous areas are favoured in the spring while
coastal areas are favoured in the summer and fall.
Bears were concentrated along spawning streams when
fish were present. Concentrations were observed along
the Wulik River, Ikalukrok Creek and Asikpak River.
Only one area was located in the Sivak Mountain area
of the Asikpak River drainage where extensive denning
was observed (several dens).
Small mammals were scarce in the study area in 1982.
Typically one would expect to find two species of shrews
(the arctic and masked shrew), three species of voles
(the red-backed, the tundra vole and the singing vole),
and two species of lemmings (the collard and brown
lemming). These animals are of major importance mainly
as prey for other mammals and birds. Other small mammals
found to occur in the study area are the ermine, porcupine,
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arctic ground squirrel, muskrat, river otter and snowshoe
hare.
Some larger predatory animals found in the study area are
the wolverine, wolf, red fox and the arctic fox. These
furbearers are important to the local economy.
4.4 Marine Biology
The nearshore coastal region and open lagoons in the
vicinity of alternative port sites are used by migrating
anadromous fish, such as Arctic char and salmon, as a
transportation corridor between spawning rivers and the
Chukchi Sea. Both outmigrating fish and those returning
to spawn are present at different times of the year.
Precise migration routes and timing in the vicinity of
possible port sites has not been established.
Numerous resident marine fish are abundant in the
relatively shallow waters nearshore. These include
flounders such as yellow-fin sole and Alaska plaice
as well as saffron cod. These fish are important
components of the diet of marine mammals such as seals.
Densities of these fish appear to be similar at all
locations studied, both within and away from the
project vicinity. Large numbers of Pacific herring
spawn along the coast between Kivalina and Mapsorak
Lagoon.
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Significant populations of invertebrate species that are
important prey items for fish are found in the region.
These include infauna, such as clams and polychaete
worms, and epifauna, such as shrimp, crab, brittle
stars, and other, smaller crustaceans.
Seabirds (murres, puffins, kittiwakes) from the Cape
Thompson colonies did not appear to use the nearshore
areas to any significant degree and were usually ob-
served in waters beyond the 40 foot isobath. No major
foraging areas were located in the nearshore waters.
Several species of waterfowl (primarily eiders) use
the area seaward of the landfast ice as a spring migra-
tion corridor to the northwest and around Point Hope.
These birds number in the tens of thousands.
Ringed seals are the most abundant marine mammal using
the shorefast ice with the highest densities associated
with heavily fractured ice at the southern port area
in late May. Bearded seals occur in low densities
throughout the fast ice. Both species leave during the
open-water period.
The belukha and endangered bowhead whales migrate
through the open leads off Kivalina during late April-
early May. Whales tentatively identified as bowheads
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were observed as late as the last week in June. During the
fall on their southward migration to the wintering grounds,
they are thought to pass through the western Chukchi, but
no observations were reported in the study area.
Endangered gray whales were seen on several occasions
during July and August along the coast from Cape Krusenstern
to Point Hope usually in shallow water close to the beach.
Since gray whales feed in shallow water, the likelihood
of them encountering port structures would be greater
than for other whale species.
5. Reclamation Plan
5.1 Introduction
A conceptual plan for the protection and reclamation of
land and water resources affected by various components
of the Red Dog project is presented. The plan provides
for the reclamation of all disturbed lands in accordance
with guidelines established by the NANA-Cominco Alaska
agreement and any laws or regulations applicable to such
reclamation activities. Features of the mine design
which protect water quality and aquatic resources and
minimize the extent and severity of disturbance to
terrestrial resources are described. Due to the site
specific nature of factors affecting revegetation potential
of mined-land disturbances and to limited revegetation
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technology specific for conditions prevailing at the site,
detailed plans for revegetating waste disposal sites are
not presented in the conceptual plan. A research program
will be implemented early in the production period of the
mine to develop the technology necessary to achieve
revegetation objectives.
5.2 Reclamation Guidelines
According to the NANA-Cominco Alaska agreement, the
"Reclamation Plan" shall provide for reclamation within
the following guidelines:
a) the parties recognize that reclamation of disturbed
land is desirable,
b) the parties recognize that land disturbances related
to surface mining and the deposition of tailings and
waste rock are inevitable and complete return of all
of the disturbed land to its undisturbed condition
is not possible,
c) reclamation shall be generally designed to mitigate-
(i) potential long term danger to human life or
the subsistence needs of the natives of the
NANA Region,
(ii) any adverse visual or unaesthetic conditions,
and
(iii) to the extent reasonably practicable, to
restore the land to a condition compatible
with surrounding land,
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d) disturbed land shall be restored to natural looking
contours compatible with the surrounding terrain (it
being recognized that the area of the mine excavation
will not be refilled),
e) where available in appropriate quantities, topsoil
shall be separately removed and stockpiled for further
application after reshaping of disturbed areas have
been completed; provided that the parties recognize
that permafrost conditions could cause long-term
stockpiling of topsoil to be impractical,
f) appropriate measures shall be taken to control or
reduce erosion, landslides and water runoff to the
extent practicable,
g) fisheries and wildlife habitats shall be rehabilitated
to the extent practicable,
h) to the extent practicable, disturbed areas shall,
through seeding, fertilizing and other appropriate
means, be revegetated with a diverse vegetative cover
of species native to the area and similar to that
on adjoining areas.
A reclamation and post-production accrual fund to cover
reclamation and all other post-production expenditures
will be established. Cominco Alaska will maintain a
performance bond underwriting the reclamation as
required by the agreement with NANA.
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While it is desirable to initiate reclamation as early as
possible following disturbance, the main project components
of the mine site, the transportation corridor and the
shipping facility will be active for the duration of the
project life. Reclamation of these components must,
therefore, be delayed until late in the operating life
of the mine and following abandonment. It is also
conceivable that certain project components, notably
the transportation and port systems, can be utilized
by the region beyond the operating life of the mine and
reclamation of these major services may not be required.
Reclamation concepts for the main project components
at the mine site, the transportation corridor and the
shipping facility are presented in the following sections
of this document.
5.3 Reclamation Concepts for the Mine Site
Land disturbance at the mine site totals 1,500 acres
and includes the following components (3):
Open pit, waste dumps, access roads 580 ac.
Tailings pond, access roads 730 ac.
Water supply reservoir, access roads 95 ac.
Mill including residence, access road 65 ac.
Airstrip, service corridors 30 ac.
A reclamation concept for each mine site component is
discussed.
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5.3.1 Open Pit Mine
The Red Dog deposit is exposed between 950 feet and 1,200
feet elevation on a northeast facing slope within the
drainage of the main fork of Red Dog Creek. The deposit
is located within an area mapped as dwarf shrub, mat and
cushion tundra vegetation type (2). Dwarf shrub vegetation
is primarily associated with upland ridges and bedrock
outcroppings above 800 feet elevation. The tundra
vegetation is alpine in appearance with the richness of
the vegetation dependent largely on moisture. Drier sites
typically are characterized by lichen encrusted rock with
only scattered prostrate shrubs. White mountain avens
(Dryas octapetala) in association with a number of co-
dominant species form a number of different plant
communities recognized within the mat and cushion tundra
category. No critical plant habitats and no threatened
or endangered plant species are known to occur in the
area.
Soils of the mat and cushion tundra typically contain stony
parent material near the surface. Profiles are therefore
shallow and mineral in nature except for a thin (0.8" to 2")
organic horizon at the surface (2). Shallow soil samples
within the mine area were variably elevated in metals zinc,
lead, copper and iron. Potential for conserving soil
suitable for reclamation appears minimal.
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The Red Dog mineralization has had a profound effect on water
quality and aquatic resources within the mainstem of Red Dog
Creek (2). Water is highly mineralized, exhibits low pH
levels and relatively high suspended solids, turbidity,
sulphate and metal concentrations. Periphyton, macrophytes,
insects and fish are absent or near absent.
The outcropping orebody and its geological configuration
dictate open pit mining as the most feasible mining method
(Figure 5.1). The pit will be developed in two stages:
preproduction followed by production mining. During pre-
production overburden is removed from the pit; access roads
to the pit, pit ramps and initial benches are established.
Unmineralized waste will be used for road and tailing dam
construction. Mineralized waste will be stockpiled in a
catchment area above the tailings impoundment. Production
mining will involve the annual extraction of 1,057,000 tons
ore.
The open pit will be designed to optimize ore recovery with
due consideration of the Red Dog Creek adjacent to the pit
area (1). Pit slopes are designed at 35° (1%:1) and will
be confirmed by rock mechanics design. Benches are 25 feet
high. The final pit could be 2,800 ft. x 1,000 ft. in plan
area (64 ac.) and contain up to 28 benches to the 500 ft.
elevation. A ditch/dyke system will be designed to capture
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LATITUDE
IU.TIA. PROPOSED
INITIAL ' OITCH/BERM
FIG. 5.1 MINE PIT LAYOUT
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runoff from the pit working area and divert it to the tailing
impoundment resulting in an improvement in the quality of
Red Dog Creek during the production period.
After 20 years the creek course will have to be diverted to
allow continued mining of the deposit. It is planned to
design a wide bench at creek level on which a diversion ditch
will be constructed to route the creek around the perimeter
of the pit. Design and function of both the ditch/dyke and
the bench diversion ditch are described in "Wastewater
Collection and Management, Red Dog Project", issued in May,
1983(4).
Reclamation of the pit poses unusual problems because of
the proximity of the orebody to the mainstem of Red Dog
Creek, the landform created by the open pit mining
technique and the consolidated nature of bedrock exposed
by mining. The pit will ultimately cross the present creek
location and its depth will be substantially below creek
level. Backfilling the pit, resloping pit walls to
natural contours compatible with surrounding terrain
and restoring the Red Dog Creek course are not practical.
Any requirement to implement any of these measures would
destroy the economics of the project.
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- 28 -
Upon completion of mining Red Dog Creek will be diverted
back along its original course flowing into the pit,
eventually raising the water level in the pit to
approximately 900 feet, the elevation of Red Dog Creek
at the downstream extremity of the pit. A reservoir
will be created within the Red Dog drainage system with
water ranging up to 400 ft. deep with steep, rock cliffs
along the shoreline. Abandoned pit access ramps will
provide access to the water. Pit walls will rise up
to 300 feet above the reservoir on the west side and
up to 260 feet on the east side. Exposed sections of
the pit wall will consist of up to 12 benches, 25 feet
high and 35 feet wide, in consolidated unmineralized and,
to a much lesser extent, mineralized rock. Surface
drainage from the pit walls will be retained within
the pit area. Due to the consolidated nature of the
rock vegetation establishment on the benches may not be
possible.
Since the mining plan calls for the recovery of all
ore with a high metal sulphide content, the contribution
of soluble metals to Red Dog Creek from the mine area
will be minimal after operations cease. The pit will
thereafter function as a reservoir in the watershed
system with substantially improved quality over that
under present conditions.
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- 29 -
5.3.2 Mine Waste Dumps
Mineralized and unmineralized waste material which is not
suitable for mill processing will be stockpiled on the
east side of the South Fork Red Dog Creek drainage area
above the proposed tailing impoundment site (Figure 5.2).
Mine waste stockpiles will be constructed on stable ground
on a 10% west facing slope between 950 feet and 1,200 feet
elevation. The extent of slide areas identified on the
slope will be clarified by geotechnical investigation and
unstable areas will be avoided.
Two vegetation types were mapped on the west facing slope
of the South Fork drainage; dwarf shrub mat and cushion
tundra and low shrub tundra (2). Well-drained upland
knolls and slightly more mesic habitats of mat and
cushion tundra are characterized by white mountain avens
in association with skeletonleaf willow (Salix phlebophyljji)
and netleaf willow (S. reticulata). Dwarf arctic birch
(Betula nana) and narrowleaf Labrador-tea (Ledum decumbens)
form a dwarf shrub community on the more mesic sites such
as swales and areas of thicker mineral soil. Low shrub
tundra vegetation of dwarf arctic birch, crowberry (Empetrum
nigrum) and bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) is quite
common on upland rolling hills. Diamond!eaf willow also
appears as a co-dominant with dwarf arctic birch, narrow-
leaf Labrador-tea and Vaccinium species in some areas of
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- 30 -
silty soils on rolling terrain. No wetlands, critical plant
habitats or endangered plant species are known to occur in
the area.
Soils typical of mat and cushion tundra were described in
section 5.3.1. Soils of low shrub tundra are mineral,
generally silty, and usually well to moderately well
drained (2). The drainage is a reflection of the upland
landscape position and relatively steep slopes. The
active layer is variable,but usually less than 28 inches.
The silty soil material is potentially suitable as a plant
growth medium for waste dump revegetation. Conservation
of the active silt layer during preparation of waste
dump sites, if located on soils similar to those described
for the low shrub vegetation type, will be investigated.
Water quality and aquatic ecology of the South Fork of Red
Dog Creek have also been affected by the Red Dog minerali-
zation. While the South Fork is described as a clear
water stream having low suspended solids and turbidity
with high dissolved oxygen levels; the water is soft to
moderately hard, has low pH with moderate to high cadmium
and high zinc concentrations. The major source of Cd and
Zn is a tributary draining a portion of the slope east of
the creek. No fish are known to exist in the South Fork
of Red Dog Creek.
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- 31 -
Separate waste dumps will be constructed with capacity for
stockpiling 29 million tons of unmineralized waste and 11
million tons of Teachable mineralized waste. Most of the
unmineralized waste removed during pit development and
the initial five years of mining will be used for road
and tailing dam construction. Waste dumps will be
constructed on the 10% natural slope by dumping and
spreading waste in 10 to 20 foot thick lifts to a maximum
dump height of 120 feet (4). Toes of the waste dump will
be keyed to competent load bearing material to prevent
failure. The planned dumping technique is designed to
increase dump stability, accelerate freezing of the dump
and prevent leaching. The resultant dump will have a flat
central area with the same slope as the underlying natural
terrain but with steep perimeter slopes averaging 35°.
Surface drainage and seepage during the initial phases
of dump construction will be directed downslope into the
tailing impoundment. However, as completed dumps
stabilize hydraulic permeability will diminish and
reduce the extent of leaching. Compaction of lift
surfaces by vehicular traffic will inhibit infiltration
of precipitation and diffusion of air, thereby restrict-
ing oxidation of sulphides. With development of perma-
frost conditions in the dump interior following completion
of dump construction, leaching from waste dumps will cease.
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- 32 -
Surface drainage contamination will be eliminated following
revegetation of the waste dump surface.
The surface of the waste dumps will be reclaimed to an
appearance compatible with the surrounding terrain. Waste
dumps will be recontoured as required to achieve permanent
slope stability and facilitate revegetation. Waste dumps
present a harsh environment for establishing vegetation.
Effective reclamation will be dependent upon development
of practical site preparation techniques which improve
conditions sufficiently such that self-sustaining
vegetation indigenous to the region can be established
successfully. Exposure to severe climatic conditions,
steep perimeter slopes, a compacted rocky growth medium
with a low content of fines and essential plant nutrients
plus, in the case of mineralized waste, low pH and elevated
concentrations of metals (6), are severe constraints to
waste dump reclamation. Techniques will be developed, as
needed, to mitigate site specific reclamation constraints
during the projects operating period.
5.3.3 Tailings Impoundment
Finely ground rock tailing, a waste produced during
concentration of minerals in the ore, will be impounded
in the drainage of the South Fork of Red Dog Creek
behind an impervious earth fill dam (Figure 5.2). The
site meets all of the planning criteria with particular
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- 33 -
ACCOMMODATION
SEEPAGE/CONTINGENCY
DIVERSION DITCH
HAUL ROAD
YEAR 5
LINER
SEEPAGE CONTINGENCY
0AM
-EL 950
-EL 870
HAUL ROAD
EL 800
TAILING DAM SECTION
FIG. 5.2 SOUTH FORK TAILING IMPOUNDMENT A
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- 34 -
emphasis on a dam structure location that can be placed on
bedrock. Preliminary design concepts for the tailing im-
poundment are described in "Tailings Impoundment Preliminary
Design, Red Dog Project", issued in March, 1983 (5).
The tailing will cover an extensive area of land currently
sustaining three vegetation types including dwarf shrub mat
and cushion tundra and low shrub tundra, both of which were
described in section 5.3.2 and the third, a herbaceous
vegetation type identified as sedge-grass tundra (2).
Sedge-grass tundra characteristically occurs in lake basins
or in filled back water areas along streams. The sites
are usually poorly drained but water inundation of the
soil profile may occur for only part of the growing
season. There is usually less than 12 inches of peat and
no surface water.
A number of similar plant communities are formed by various
combinations of cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum, E. angusti-
folium and sedge (Carex aquatilis aquatilis). Entire leaf
mountain-avens and grayleaf willow may be important in some
communities especially if better drained microsites are
present. Certain communities of sedge grass tundra that
occur in infilled drainage channels can be considered wetlands.
Vegetation of these types are dominated by obligate hydrophytes
including Carex aquatilis, Arctophila fulva, Huppurus vulgaris,
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- 35 -
and Friophorum angustifol ium. Except for some possible wet-
lands, no critical plant habitats and no threatened or
endangered plant species are known to occur in the tailing
impoundment site.
Soils typical of mat and cushion tundra and low shrub tundra
vegetation types were described in sections 5.3.1 and 5.3.2.
Typical soils of the sedge-grass tundra are organic, usually
of sedge peat with an active layer depth of about 60 cm.
Silty mineral inclusions, when present, are gleyed or mottled
indicating frequent water inundation. Both the organic soils
typical of sedge-grass tundra and the silty mineral soils
typical of low shrub tundra have potential as suitable
plant growth media. Conservation of these important soil
resources may be critical to effective reclamation of waste
rock and tailing disposal areas.
An earth-fill dam, with a base elevation of 800 feet, will
be constructed in stages as described in the document "Tailings
Impoundment Preliminary Design, Red Dog Project" (5). Prior
to full production, the dam would be constructed to suffi-
ciently contain five years of production tailing. The dam
will then be raised to its final elevation of 950 feet. The
top of the dam will be used as a haulage road to haul ore
from the pit to the mill complex. A spillway, constructed
at 944 feet elevation, will maintain structural competence
in the event of an overflow. A downstream seepage contingency
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- 36 -
structure will collect any seepage and return it to the
impoundment area.
The thickened tailings slurry will be discharged into the
impoundment area from a pipeline originating from the mill.
The slurry will contain about 60% solids by weight, with
the liquid portion consisting of excess process water,
dissolved minerals and residual reagents. Tributaries of
the South Fork with known heavy metal content will continue
to drain into the impoundment while uncontaminated streams
will be diverted into adjacent watersheds. Surface drainage
from the mine, from mine waste dumps and the mill site will
also be collected in the tailing impoundment. Water
entering the impoundment will be processed through a water
treatment plant to remove any metals prior to discharge to
the presently contaminated Red Dog Creek. Details of the
water treatment plant and process are described in "Waste-
water Collection and Managament, Red Dog Project" issued
in May, 1983 (4).
A reclamation scheme is proposed for the tailing impoundment
which assumes relief from E.P.A. regulations restricting
discharge to Red Dog Creek of any water associated with the
disposal of tailing. When operation of the tailing impoundment
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- 37 -
is terminated, it is proposed that all free standing super-
natant water will be treated and discharged to Red Dog
Creek, exposed an extensive flat landform composed of tailings.
Lined channels in the tailings and dam breaches with
stabilized spillways will be constructed to prevent
collection of surface drainage within the impoundment
area and to channel flow of the South Fork of Red Dog
Creek and its tributaries into Red Dog Creek. The tailings
mass is expected to freeze becoming part of the underlying
permafrost. If practical, the surface of the dam and tailings
impoundment will be restored to an appearance resembling
that of the surrounding terrain.
As is the case with mine waste, tailing present a harsh
environment for vegetation establishment and practical,
site specific reclamation techniques require development.
Preliminary tailing incubation test results suggest exposure
of tailings to atmospheric conditions will cause a decrease
in pH to within the strongly acid range (pH-^4.5) with a
concomitant increase in metal solubility particulary zinc
(6). Restoring a near neutral tailings reaction by liming
or covering tailing with a more suitable plant growth medium
may be necessary for satisfactory vegetation establishment.
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- 38 -
5.3.4 Water Supply Reservoir
A water storage reservoir will be required to ensure an
uninterrupted supply of water for year round operation of
the mill, the major consumer of water for the Red Dog
project, and for domestic use. The preferred site for the
reservoir is on Bons Creek at the south end of the Red
Dog Valley (Figure 5.3). A dam structure will be required
and the reservoir location situates a dam on a bedrock
foundation. The natural geographic features of the site
minimizes the disturbed surface area for the required
storage volume.
The site presently sustains dwarf shrub mat and cushion tundra
vegetation (2). Bons Creek water quality is typical of
unpolluted arctic surface waters and is acceptable for
domestic use. There are no known critical plant or animal
habitat on the site.
Current options for abandonment of the water storage
reservoir and dam are to either breach the structure to
prevent subsequent storage or allow it to continue dis-
charging by a permanent spillway. An evaluation of
hydrological and dam stability conditions which prevail
at the time of property closure is required to determine
the most satisfactory option.
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- 39 -
ORMAL WATER SURFACE
ELEV 8451
MAX 848*
SCALE
1000
ES_i
FEET
2000
SYNTHETIC LINER
SECTION
DA M
FIG. 5.3 WATER STORAGE POND J
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- 40 -
5.3.5 Mill, Accommodation, Service Areas, Airstrip and Roads
Proximity to the mine and tailing impoundment were determining
criteria with regard to siting the mill and associated ser-
vices (1) (Figure 5.4). Availability of bedrock for foundation con-
struction was also a consideration. An accommodation complex,
providing hotel-type accommodation to service a rotational
work force, will be constructed on a similar site near the
mill complex. An airstrip was constructed in 1982 south
of the proposed tailing impoundment site and directly east
of the Bons Creek water storage reservoir. Service corri-
dors, access roads connecting the main mine site components
and the haul road will be appropriately situated.
Mine site facilities will be located primarily on sites
mapped as sedge-grass tundra and dwarf shrub mat and
cushion tundra vegetation types (2). The airstrip
intersects a small area of open, low shrub shrubland.
All necessary precautions will be taken during construction
and operation of the project to minimize disturbance of
land and water courses. Clean, unmineralized mine rock
will be used to construct roads, service corridors and
service areas. Culverts and stream crossings will be
appropriately sized and installed in a manner which
minimizes stream sedimentation. Surface runoff from
the mill site will be collected in the tailings impoundment
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- 41 -
FIG 5.4 MILL SITE PLAN
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- 42 -
and treated prior to discharge to Red Dog Creek.
At completion of the operating life of the mine, the
facilities will be removed and the site will be rehabili-
tated. All equipment, buildings and other surface
structures will be dismantled and removed from the site.
Where the remaining concrete foundations would be sig-
nificant surface obstacles, these will be removed to
ground level. The airstrip, service areas and corridors
and roads will be scarified to relieve compaction and
recontoured, if necessary, to restore natural contours.
Culverts and bridges will be removed and open drainage
channels will be restored. Water bars will be constructed,
if necessary, to control erosion. Vegetation indigenous
to the region will be established on disturbed sites by
applying revegetation techniques developed during the
operating period of the project.
5.4 Reclamation Concepts for the Transportation Corridor
Three options for transporting concentrate from the mine
to the sea coast are being evaluated including slurry
pipeline, railroad and road haulage (Figure 5.5). All
three options are land based requiring a corridor of
land for routing, a substantial sub-base to prevent
permafrost degradation and structures for stream and
river crossings along the route.
-------
30
IU
FILL
ORIGINAL GROUND"
TYPICAL ROAD SECTION
- 43 -
FIG. 5.5 LAND TRANSPORT
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- 44 -
Siting of the corridor to the sea coast is constrained by
two factors; firstly, the position of the orebody is fixed,
and secondly, the wetlands formed by the deltas of the
Kivalina and Wulik Rivers create a triangular area of
undrained, frozen, polygonical ground which should be
avoided on both economic and environmental grounds. The
potential corridor siting will be from the mine site
either north or south around the wetlands area (Figure 5.6).
The preferred option for siting the transportation corridor
is a southern route through Cape Krusenstern National
Monument. While the political implications of land status
for a route traversing Cape Krusenstern National Monument
necessitates consideration of alternative routes, the direct
route through the National Monument is most advantageous
both economically and environmentally. Costs are minimized
due to advantages of length, avoidance of major river and
stream crossings, passage through areas not prone to
solifluction and accessibility to gravel and borrow materials.
Avoidance of Kivalina wetlands minimizes extent of wetland
vegetation to about 5% of the area crossed by the corridor
(2). Except for wetlands, no known critical plant habitats
occur along the corridor and no endangered species are known
to occur in the area. The habitat patterns of most game
animals flank the corridor as opposed to being intersected
by tne corridor. Known peregrine falcon nesting sites
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- 45 -
FIG.5.6 ROUTE MAP
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- 46 -
adjacent to the corridor are outside of the two mile minimum
buffer restriction based on present alignment. Avoidance of
major river and stream crossings minimizes effects on water
quality, fish habitat and riparian habitat.
The preferred corridor to a southern port is 55 miles long
and crosses six major and 41 minor streams (3). Construction
of a gravel road with a 30 foot wide top surface will require
a corridor 65 feed in width resulting in a disturbed land
area of 435 acres. Borrow and gravel pits for subgrade and
surface construction materials are estimated to disturb an
additional 85 acres increasing land disturbance associated
with the transportation corridor to a total of 520 acres
(Table 3.1).
It is conceivable that the transportation corridor will be
used by the region beyond the operating life of the mine
and reclamation will not be required. However, if the road
system is not to be used following mine abandonment it will
be reclaimed. All bridges and stream crossing structures
will be removed and drainage courses will be restored.
The road surface will be scarified to relieve compaction
and, where necessary, recontoured to restore natural
looking contours. Water bars and other surface runoff
diversions will be constructed, as necessary, to control
erosion and prevent sedimentation of streams. Self-
sustaining vegetation indigenous to the region will be
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- 47 -
established on all disturbed surfaces. Borrow pits will
be reclaimed immediately after their usefulness has
terminated. If available, soils suitable for reclamation
will be stockpiled and replaced on the abandoned pit surface
prior to revegetation with native plants. Where practical,
slopes will be recontoured to an appearance compatible with
the surrounding terrain. Precautions will be taken, as
necessary, to control surface runoff, both during the time
the pits are active and following abandonment, to protect
stream habitats from excessive sedimentation.
5.5 Reclamation Concepts for the Port-Shipping Facility
A port facility with concentrate storage to allow for
year round receipt of concentrates shipped from the mine
and suited for seasonal ocean shipping of concentrates
to world markets will be constructed on the sea coast (1).
The coastline is unsheltered and therefore exposed to sea
and ice action. Lagoons along the coast could offer
protection, but either support active marine habitats,
or are very shallow. Near-shore waters are generally
shallow and are a determining factor in the method of
ocean transport. Important environmental aspects to be
considered are the migration of waterfowl, anadromous fish
and marine mammals, sediment transport and the perception
by the people of an industrial facility on the coast.
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- 48 -
Security in the methods for the storage and movement of
concentrates and supplies must also be considered.
Siting of the port facility and alignment of the
transportation corridor from the mine are co-determining.
Shortest distance to deep water, the most economic land
based transportation corridor and environmental concerns
are important criteria for determining the preferred
siting option. The logical terminus of the southern
route through Krusenstern is at VABM 28 where the
Mulgrave Hills intersect the Chukchi Sea (Figure 5.6).
However, selection of VABM 28 for the port site depends
upon resolution of land status issues arising from the
proposed construction of the transportation corridor
through Krusenstern National Monument.
The port facility will incorporate a deep water dock
and shiploading facility with concentrate receiving,
storage and handling facilities. Fuel storage and ware-
housing for supplies necessary to the operation of the
mine are also an important function of the port. Assess-
ment of optional facilities for docking, concentrate
storage and handling and fuel storage has not been
completed. It is assumed that on-shore facilities will
be constructed on crushed rock and will disturb
approximately 50 acres of land.
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- 49 -
It is conceivable that the port system will be used by the
region beyond the operating life of the mine and reclamation
will not be required. In the event the facility is abandoned
all buildings, equipment and other surface structures will
be dismantled and removed from the site. Where the remaining
concrete foundations would be significant surface obstacles,
these will be removed to ground level. Crushed rock pads
will be scarified to relieve compaction and perimeter slopes
will be recontoured. Shoreline features will be restored
following removal of the dock. Vegetation indigenous to
the site will be established on the disturbed areas.
5.6 Reclamation Research Proposals
Effective reclamation of land disturbed by the Red Dog
project will depend on application of site preparation
and revegetation techniques capable of ameliorating
conditions limiting establishment and growth of plant
species native to the region. During the past decade
considerable information useful for planning revegetation
of Alaskan tundra disturbance has been developed in
conjunction with other resource development in northern
Alaska. While it is generally recognized that factors
influencing vegetation establishment and growth vary
with geographic setting of the mine, the nature of the
ore deposit and the type of land disturbance, develop-
ment of revegetation techniques for the various kinds
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- 50 -
of land disturbance at the Red Dog project will be based on
currently available revegetation technology developed in
Alaska and on reclamation experience at other Cominco mines
in North America. During the operating period of the project
revegetation techniques will be assessed and refined on sites
representative of the major kinds of land disturbance. Prior
to initiation of insitu investigations laboratory and growth
room studies will be conducted on waste rock and tailing
to identify plant growth limiting factors and to assess tech-
niques for modifying mine and mill wastes to improve plant
growth potential. Techniques investigated will depend on
the nature and severity of factors identified as limiting
*
growth on the various waste materials. Establishment of
diverse, self-sustaining communities of native plant species
will require development of effective propagation and
planting techniques. Development of practical methods for
conserving surficial soil material for use in reclamation
of waste rock, tailing and borrow pits may also be necessary.
Early during the operating period of the project, surficial
soils within land areas selected for mine and mill waste
disposal will be mapped and characterized to determine
availability and suitability of natural soil materials for
covering waste disposal dumps.
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- 51 -
6 • References
1. Cominco Alaska Inc., Red Dog Mine Project Overview.
Prepared by Cominco Alaska Inc., January, 1983.
2. Dames and Moore et al. Environmental Baseline Studies,
Red Dog Project, Cominco Alaska Inc., January, 1983.
3. Faxcom from D.F. Vinish, CESL Trail to H.A. Noah,
Cominco Alaska Inc., October 26, 1982.
4. Cominco Engineering Services Ltd., Wastewater Collection
and Management, Red Dog Project, May, 1983.
5. Cominco Engineering Services Ltd., Tailing Impoundment
Preliminary Design, Red Dog Project, March, 1983.
6. Ball, D.L., Application of the HDS Process in the
Treatment of Red Dog Tailings Pond Water. A study
conducted by Chemical Process Research Group,
Technical Research Centre, Cominco Ltd., Trail, B.C.
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Appendix 2
Spill Prevention, Control and
Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan
-------
PRELIMINARY SPILL PREVENTION, CONTROL
AMD COUNTERMEASURES PLAN
RED DOG PROJECT
Prepared By:
COMINCO ALASKA
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1 .1 Purpose 1
1.2 Statement of Policy 2
2. MATERIALS QUANTITIES AND PROPERTIES 2
2.1 Concentrator Reagents 2
2.2 Reagent Shipping Containers 5
2.3 Concentrates 6
2.4 Fuel Requirements 8
3. MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION AND DEPORTMENT 8
3.1 Port 9
3.1.1 Concentrator Reagent Handling 12
3.1.2 Concentrate Shipment 12
3.1.3 Fuel Storage 13
3.2 Transporation 13
3.2.1 Reagents Transport 16
3.2.2 Concentrates Transport 17
3.2.3 Fuel Transport 17
3.3 Mill Site Materials 17
3.3.1 Reagents Utilization 19
3.3.2 Concentrates Production & Storage 19
3.3.3 Fuel Storage and Distribution 20
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
Paqe
4. ADMINISTRATIVE SPILL PREVENTION AND CONTROL
PROCEDURES 20
4.1 Materials Management 21
4.2 Documentation and Notification 22
5. COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS 23
5.1 Mobile Equipment 23
5.2 Aircraft 25
5.3 Communications 25
5.3.1 Port Site 25
5.3.2 Mine Site 25
5.4 Chemical Spills Control 26
5.5 Concentrate Spills Control 27
5.6 Oil Spills Control 27
6. SPILLS RISK AND CONTROL 28
6.1 Port Site 28
6.1.1 Reagents 28
6.1.2 Concentrates 30
6.1.3 Fuel 31
6.2 Materials Transportation 32
6.2.1 Reagents 33
6.2.2 Concentrates 34
6.2.3 Fuel 34
6.3 Mill Site 35
6.3.1 Reagents 35
6.3.2 Concentrates 35
6.3.3 Fuel 36
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PREFACE
This report is preliminary in nature. It is based on the level of conceptual
engineering design detail necessary to establish capital and operating costs
only for financial feasibility. Operatin details are based on concepts devel-
oped from experience at other Cominco operations.
Final design details will develop more optimum solutions to some of the prob-
lems discussed herein. The actual mine operating personnel assigned during
the final detail design of the project will be charged with the responsibility of
developing an operating management practices manual which may alter some of
the details of this SPCC plan.
The general philosphy and commitment by Cominco as a responsible coperate
citizen to ensure a minimal disruption to the environment will not change upon
finalizatio of this SPCC plan.
in
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1. INTRODUCTION
The proposed Red Dog mining project will produce lead, zinc and barite con-
centrates from mined ore and consume various chemicals as mill process
reagents. In addition, substantial volumes of fuel will be used for electric
and mature power generation. The port facility will receive and trans-ship
fuel on behalf of the Nana Region villages. Handling and storage facilities
will be designed to prevent accidents and spills. However, spills of all of
these commodities, although remote, can cause detrimental environmental im-
pacts which in, the case of certain chemical reagents, may be acute. The
issue of personal safety is of paramount importance in all operations involving
these materials.
Notwithstanding Federal and State requirements, it is incumbent upon the
project to plan and implement procedures which will minimize the risk of spills
and to prepare practicable and effective countermeasures. Such planning
must necessarily integrate both the resources and liabilities in the project
components in terms of personnel, equipment and the environmental setting.
It is a basic principle that these objectives are consistent with good engi-
neering and operating practices.
1.1 Purpose
This report presents Cominco Alaska's plan at the feasibility level for
the prevention and control of chemical, oil and concentrate spills which
may emanate from components of the Red Dog operations. It is important
to recognize that the comprehensive specification of materials management
and spills control procedures can only be completed when detailed engi-
neering is substantially complete and materials procurement is underway.
It is proposed that the final selection of specific countermeasures re-
sources be made in consultation with the appropriate State and Federal
agencies.
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The planning documented herein is based on the project alternatives
which include the offshore island (ballasted tanker) as a part of the port
facility).
1.2 Statement of Policy
The following are key elements of Cominco Alaska's policy with respect to
spills prevention and control and environmental protection in general:
0 To comply with all existing State and Federal regulations.
0 To provide additional environmental protection measures where
warranted that are technically feasible and economically viable.
0 To encourage, support and conduct research to establish high
standards of performance and to improve methods for environ-
mental control.
0 To anticipate future pollution control requirements and to make
provision for them in long range planning.
0 To keep employees, agency personnel and the general public fully
informed concerning all environmental aspects of company opera-
tions.
0 In all emergency situations, in order of priorities are: personal
safety, environment, property and production.
- 2 -
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2. MATERIALS QUANTITIES AND PROPERTIES
2.1 Concentrator Reagents
The chemical reagent requirements for Red Dog have been established
from a comprehensive program of metallurgical testwork. There are no
feasible alternatives to these materials which may be applied without in-
curring losses of the valuable minerals to tailing, or inferior concentrate
grades. All are in safe use in similar base metal concentrators around
the world and there is ample experience upon which to base effective
management procedures and facilities design.
Table 2.1 provides the quantities of reagents to be used in the initial
production period and an estimate of the requirements when concentrate
production will be expanded in about year six of the operation.
Table 2.1
Red Dog Concentrator Reagents
Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4'
Copper sulfate (CuSO )
Sodium cyanide (NaCN)
Methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC)
Sodium isopropyl xanthate (NalPX)
Sodium cetyl sulfonate (EC-Ill)
Sulfuric acid, 93% (H_SC> )
Hydrated lime ((CaOH) )*
Polyacrylamide flocculant (Percol 730)*
Initial
Production
tons/year
529
529
106
53
529
79
1,057
4,182
6
Initial
Production
tons/year
982
982
197
98
982
79
1,962
6,553
6
*NOTE: Part of the lime and all of the flocculant will be used in the
wastewater treatment process.
- 3 -
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In zinc and copper sulfates are slightly acid, water soluble salts which
will be used as conditioners in flotation. These materials will be shipped
in bulk, 2,000 Ib. capacity, reinforced plastic bags and can be compat-
ibly sorted together.
Sodium cyanide is a water soluble and toxic reagent which must be
stored and handled in isolation from other chemicals, particularly those
which are acidic in nature. It is commonly supplied in lump form and
will be shipped in 2,000 Ib. capacity plastic bags. This reagent has
been proven to be essential to the metallurgical process as a depressant
of iron minerals and cannot be substituted by potential alternatives such
as sodium sulfite.
Methyl isobutyl carbinol is a flammable alphatic liquid alcohol which is
lighter than and has only a modest solubility in water. This material
will be shipped in 400 Ib. capacity steel drums and can be safely stored
with the other chemicals. It will be used as a frothing agent in flota-
tion.
The sodium isopropyl xanthate is an essential sulfide mineral collector in
the flotation process. It will be shipped as pellets in 2,000 Ib. capacity
plastic bags which are preferably stored apart from acidic materials.
Sodium cetyl sulfonate is a paste-like surface active agent used for
barite flotation that has only a moderate solubility in water. It is es-
sentially non-toxic and has been approved for use in food applications.
It will be shipped in 400 Ib. capacity steel drums.
Sulfuric acid will be shipped and stored in bulk tanks. Although the
concentrated 93% acid form does not attack mild steel in normal condi-
tions, it should be generally regarded as being corrosive and great care
is required in materials selection. It is necessary in the process to
ensure that the zinc concentrate has a sufficiently low silica concentra-
tion to be marketable.
- 4 -
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Lime will be used as a pH modifier in flotation and as a neutralizing
agent in the wastewater treatment plant. It is moderately water soluble
and only toxic in concentrations which result in high alkalinity. In the
hydrated form, it is relatively safe to manage and will be shipped in
2,000 Ib. capacity plastic bags.
The flocculant (Percol 730) is a slowly water soluble, high molecular
weight, acrylamide-based polymer that will be used as a solids settling
aid in the wastewater treatment plant. This material is relatively non-
toxic. It will be shipped in 50 Ib. sacks on pallets and must be pro-
tected from temperature extremes in storage.
2.2 Reagent Shipping Containers
With the exception of the liquids, it is planned that all reagents be sup-
plied and handled in the semi-bulk plastic bag containers. This form of
packaging is becoming very widely used instead of the more traditional
forms including fibre and steel drums and polylined sacks. The advan-
tages offered by the large bag containers are:
0 more reliable protection and control of the contained materials,
0 improved economy in both purchase costs and handling opera-
tions,
0 elimination of disposal problems (containers are re-used up to
about 100 times),
0 storage areas are minimized.
The bags are completely integral units and come equipped with fittings
for bottom discharge into system hoppers and reinforced rigging acces-
sories for loading and transport by cranes and forklifts. Typical prop-
erties of a suitable reagent bag material are provided in Table 2.2.
- 5 -
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Table 2.2
Properties of Reagent Container Material
Material
Thickness
Weight
Breaking strength, 3 cm. strip
Ultimate elongation
Hydrostatic resistance, 3 min.
Flexure resistance (Scott type test)
Low temperature
Thermal resistance
Chemical resistance
PVC Coated Polyester Fabric
1.00 ± .05 mm
1,130 ± 100 g/sq. m.
Warp 150 Kg, Fill 150 Kg
Warp 25%, Fill 30%
+3,000 g/sq. cm.
Fine 1 Kg 1,000 times
Satisfactory handling to -40°C
No damage to 70°C
Excellent with both 10% NaOH
and 10% HUSO.
2.3 Concentrates
The lead and zinc concentrates to be produced at Red Dog are essen-
tially the sulfides of the respective metals accompanied by minor amounts
of other metal sulfides and gangue impurities. For example, the zinc
concentrate will typically assay 59.0% Zn, 3.7% Fe and 2.2% Pb while the
lead concentrate will contain 62.5% Pb, 7.4% Fe and 8.0% Zn. The mois-
ture contents will be about 7-8% and the various flotation reagents will
be present in the form of surface complexes bound to the solids. The
individual particles have a high specific gravity (Pbs 7.5, ZnS 4.1) and
they will virtually all be less than 400 mesh in size.
In terms of basic chemical properties, the concentrates are relatively in-
active in comparison to the corresponding metal sulfates. Being largely
inert, they are not immediately a threat to biological organism in situa-
tions where discharge to the environment may occur. Strong supporting
evidence for this fact is provided by experience in concentrators where
the biological monitoring of workers exposed to airborne metal sulfides is
- 6 -
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conducted. Blood lead values are low in these situations and no health
problems are encountered. Apparently, the stability of metal sulfides
can permit their intake and clearance from organisms without appreciable
biological accumulation.
The barite to be produced is essentially water insoluble and is regarded
by chemists as being chemically inert. In fact, as a mitigative measure
in dealing with spills of the soluble barium salts, conversion to the
barite form (BaSO.) is a recommended technique. The Red Dog material
will be about 90% BaSO., containing silica (SiO_) and minor concentra-
tions of heavy metals as impurities. It will be dried in the concentrator
to essentially zero moisture content before shipment. The concentrate
production capacities are given in Table 2.3 as follows:
Table 2.3
Red Dog Concentrate Production, tons/year
Lead Concentrate Zinc Concentrate Barite
Initial Production 79,000 350,000 50,000
Expanded Production 119,000 585,000 50,000
It should be noted that the barite production capacity is as noted above,
and the actual quantities produced in any given year may be substan-
tially less, and vary with market demand.
All handling and shipping operations of the lead and zinc concentrates
will be in the bulk form. Barite will be packaged in the recycleable,
plastic bag-type containers identical to those used for reagents.
- 7 -
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2.4 Fuel Requirements
Red Dog operations will annually require about 5.5 million gallons of No.
1 grade diesel fuel for electric power generation. This quantity will in-
crease to an excess of 7.0 million gallons when production is expanded in
about year six. In addition to diesel, a relatively small supply of jet
fuel and aviation gasoline will be maintained at the mine site, primarily
for emergency purposes.
Typical specifications of the "Arctic Diesel" fuel to be used are given in
Table 2.4.
Table 2.4
Typical Fuel Specifications
Gravity °API - 40.0
Flash Point, °C - 48
Viscosity @ 40%C, cSt - 1.4
Pour Point, °C - 50
Cloud Point, °C - 46
Sulfur, mass % - O.'ll
Sediment and water, Volume % - .05
Ash, mass % .01
Cetane number - 45
Btu per gallon - 134,700
Distillation end point, C - 282
3. MATERIALS TRANSPORTATIN AND DEPORTMENT
This section considers the transport and storage logistics of chemical rea-
gents, concentrates and fuel as a basis for subsequently evaluating spill
prevention and control. The three elements within the overall system are the
-------
port, road and mill site. Within the port and mill there are, naturally, sub-
elements which consist of discrete handling and/or comsumption operations.
3.1 Port
The receiving of general supplies, oil and chemical reagents and the
shipment of concentrates will be during the open water season which
normally runs from early July to the end of October. These operations,
as well as the major storage of all materials will be at the port complex
illustrated in Figure 3.1. The three major facilities in the complex are
the deep water dock, the shallow water dock and storage area and the
concentrate storage building located 2.5 miles inland.
The deep water dock will be a modified ice-strengthened 250,000 DWT
tanker permanently ballasted in 35 feet of water about 4,000 feet from
the shoreline. Figure 3.2 illustrates the general configuration of the
vessel and its material handling system. It will have the capacity for
storing up to three months of concentrate production and 9.4 million
gallons of fuel (initial requirement 5.5 million gallons). A 1,000 ton
capacity lightering barge will transport supplies and concentrates to or
from the shore during the open water season.
The shallow water dock is a reinforced earth-fill causeway some 400 feet
in length having a sheet pile face. This facility also includes chemical
reagents and supplies storage, a fuel transfer facility, a small accom-
modation complex and ancillary support facilities.
The main concentrate storage capacity for 8.5 months production will be
in a long building 2.5 miles from the coast. Trucks will either dump
(from the mill) or load (to the dock) within the building and a tracked
loader will be used for pile construction or reclaim.
- 9 -
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0
•a—
TIP O0« T .
4-
-t !
v,
51
-------
-------
3.1.1 Concentrator Reagent Handling
All chemicals, with the exception of sulfuric acid, will be shipped
to the port in normal ocean freight carriers and off-loaded by
crane into the lighter for transport to the dock. Forklift/truck
combinations will then place the containers in a secure storage
area on the side of the wide road between the shallow water dock
and its service area. The small reagent lots of about 100 tons or
less each will be directly transported to the mill site. Materials
will be segregated according to the requirements outlined in Sec-
tion 2.1 and protected from vehicular movements.
The annual supply of sulfuric acid will be provided in on ocean-
going barge or ship. An 1,800 ft. long, 6 in. dia. pipeline will
then convey the acid into a 30 ft. high by 30 ft. dia. heat traced
and insulated mild steel storage tank. An acid resistant lined
berm of 110% tank capacity will provide contingency containment
around this vessel.
3.1.2 Concentrate Shipment
Lead and Zinc concentrates will normally be reclaimed from the
storage building and transported to an enclosed area near the
shallow water dock face in a tractor drawn unit, consisting of 2-75
ton capacity side dump boxes. A portable shuttle conveyor will
load the concentrates from there into the lighter barge.
This vessel will discharge its cargoe to the deep water dock as
illustrated in Figure 3.2 at a location which is actually within the
bow of the ballasted tanker. Concentrates will be conveyed to
the storage holds or directly to the shiploaders which are fitted
with "elephant trunks" for discharge deep into the holds of the
concentrate carriers. All exposed conveyor systems will be
covered to protect against wind transport of concentrate par-
ticles .
- 12 -
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3.1.3 Fuel Storage
Two center tanks of the deep water dock, protected by reinforced
wing tanks, will receive the annual fuel supply from an ocean-
going tanker. Fire protection for this storage will be provided
and the status of the tanks will be monitored by instrumentation.
Fuel will be pumped to a shore-based 50,000 gallon transfer week
at an average rate of approximately 100,000 gallons per week.
The undersea fuel line will consist of a 4 in. dia. Schedule 40
steel line set inside a 6 in. dia. Schedule 40 line which will be in
a backfilled trench in the sea bottom. The entire shore-based
fuel facility, with the exception of dispensing lines will be set in
a lined berm of 110% tank capacity and protected by appropriate
security and fire suppression measures.
3.2 Transportation
An overall perspective of all material movements required for the opera-
tion is provided in Figure 3.3. The haulage of mine waste and ore is
included in the figure but this issue is outside the scope of this report.
It gives an effective summary of the transportation schedules and vehicle
types used between the mill and the port site, with the latter assumed to
be at VABM 28. The road considered is that along the shortest route
(56.7 miles) passing through the Cape Krusenstern N.M. This alignment
is illustrated in Figure 3.4.
The road will be gravel surfaced, of 30 ft. nominal width and con-
structed almost entirely of fill. Passing places of 50 ft. width will be
provided every two miles and the maximum grade is 4%. Five bridges
are required varying in length from 50 to 160 feet. Culverts will be
constructed in 122 stream and watercourse crossings with an additional
60 installed to handle spring runoff.
- 13 -
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-.[
bill ol M.I.,1.1
i
^L
<;) w co
Cktettt. «?
UI(/H^,
LOW- **Vfnr
f roj*»if
t_^<^^
^< /*rt. c - ^'u
C*/f-r^
_ ] r i
QQoG _ . Ovj
L~
:DQ_ ., ojoi5o .. ouu
_sG-<
> '•*st>/r/<>f/»
W j ife.._ooot}a
Figure 3.3
OSL
-H-
-------
Krusenstern
National
Monument
Red Dog Port
( VABM 28)
Figure 3.4
-------
All transport vehicles using the road will be in radio communication with
a dispatcher at the mill site and with each other. This service will be
utilized for schedule monitoring, the constant monitoring of road condi-
tions and for controlling the passing of vehicles travelling in opposite
directions.
3.2.1 Reagents Transport
The smaller reagent lots indicated in Table 2.1 including cyanide,
MIBC, EC-111 and flocculant, will likely be immediately trans-
ported to the mill site as they are received in the annual sea lift.
The remainder will be transported along with general supplies
throughout the year according to vehicle availability and the
minimum requirement of maintaining a three week operating supply
at the mill.
Any reagent containers which are determined by inspection to be
damaged in shipment or storage will be placed in spare contain-
ment bags and immediately hauled to the mill for contents utiliza-
tion.
Reagents will be transported to the mill utilizing the backhaul of
the concentrate transport units. Bags will be placed directly in
the trailers and up to 10 trips per day are potentially available
for reagents, but the normal frequency will be substantially less
as general supplies must also be moved.
Sulfuric acid will be transported approximately once every 10
days in the dedicated tanker unit of highway acid specifications.
The tanker capacity will be 6,400 gallons which is equivalent to
about 49 tons.
3.2.2 Concentrates Transport
Lead and zinc concentrates will be shipped to the port in 75 ton
capacity trailers which will be covered. Two trailers and a trac-
- 16 -
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tor will make up one unit and 10 trips per day will normally be
necessary during the initial production period.
Barite shipments in bags will be on flat bed trailers or in the
concentrate trailers depending on the availability of the latter.
The frequency will be 2-6 shipments per week depending on
market conditions which are evident when the operation is
started.
3.2.3 Fuel Transport
Fuel will be shipped to the mill site in units consisting of two
10,500 gallon capacity trailers. Supply maintenance will normally
require one round trip per day.
3.3 Mill Site Materials
The major handling of all reagents, concentrates and fuel will center in
and around the mill complex illustrated in Figure 3.5.
3.3.1 Reagents Utilization
All storage of chemicals at the site will be in the concentrator
building in accordance with the previously outlined requirements
for segregation, particularly as they apply to sodium cyanide.
The method of handling solid reagents will be initial dissolution in
solution preparation tanks, followed by transfer to stock tanks
from which the solutions are dispensed to various points in the
process in clearly identified lines. Cyanide handling will be done
in a secure enclosed area within the wastewater treatment build-
ing, that is isolated from all other reagents.
- 17 -
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o ?
run
life
c
n
CD
^ u>
ill
-------
MIBC will be directly applied from drums by metering pumps and
sulfuric acid will be used directly from a bulk storage tank of
about 7,000 gallons capacity. This vessel will be protected in a
similar manner to the larger storage tank at the port.
The basement of the general reagents preparation area will be
confined separately from that serving the process section of the
concentrator. Solution spills will be collected in a sump and re-
turned to the appropriate stock tank.
3.3.2 Concentrates Production and Storage
Lead and zinc concentrates recovered in slurry form from flotation
cells will be pumped to their respective thickeners which are ex-
ternal to the main concentrator building. Large sumps will collect
minor spills and be used to contain the entire content of these
vessels in the event they have to be emptied for maintenance.
Concentrates collected in these sumps and process spills within
the concentrator building will be returned to the process.
Thickened concentrates will be pressure filtered and dried to a
moisture content of 7-8% and conveyed to concentrate storage
buildings which have a design capacity of six weeks production.
Transports will therein be loaded and the trailers covered with a
heavy roll-up tarpaulin before being dispatched to the storage
facility at the coast.
Barite will be processed in a similar manner with the exceptions
that it will be dried to essentially a zero moisture level and
bagged, with up to six weeks production being stored beneath
the dewatering section of the plant.
3.3.3 Fuel Storage and Distribution
A 200,000 gallon tank near tl-e mill will provide the main fuel
storage for the power plant and mobile equipment at the site. In
- 19 -
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addition, there will be a 50,000 gallon emergency supply tank
located adjacent to the accommodation complex. A 15,000 gallon
tank will be located at the airstrip to store jet fuel, but the
actual volume maintained will be determined by experience during
the initial period of operation. A small supply of aviation gaso-
line in drums for the emergency refueling of light aircraft will
also be stored in this location. All tanks and ancillary pumping
facilities will be protected by lined berms providing a containment
volume equalling 110% of tank capacity.
All external fuel distribution lines will be located in above ground
utilidors. Those which are in the mill complex will be isolated
from all other process and service lines.
4. ADMINISTRATIVE SPILL PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROCEDURES
Comprehensive and detailed programs to prevent spills and minimize their
environmental impacts will be implemented before the start of operations and,
specifically, during the detailed design of the project facilities. In addition
to ensuring the implementation of sound technical and engineering practices,
these will include the establishment of administrative procedures for materials
management and spills control. It is obvious that these must address the
regulatory requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. In
addition, however, the security of operations and personal safety are issues
of particular importance in view of the realities of location and climate.
4.1 Materials Management
Responsibility for this function will be charged to a Materials Management
Committee under the direction of the Manager or his assistant. Key
personnel will include the Mill Superintendent (reagents, concentrates),
- 20 -
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Maintenance Superintendent (fuel, transportation), Chief Storekeeper and
the Fire Chief who will be in charge of security and safety. Other
personnel with specific responsibilities such as the Environmental Tech-
nician and the Training Officer will be called upon to support this group
from time to time.
Important taks of this Committee shall include:
Inventory Control - The maintenance and review of accurate records of
the department, and consumption or production of all chemicals. Con-
centrates and fuel-loss detection and response planning are specific
objectives.
Security - The provision of effective devices and procedures to protect
materials in storage and to ensure access to these by only authorized
and trained personnel is essential to spill prevention. The Committee
will also review housekeeping issues and implement appropriate inspection
schedules.
Training - Training manuals will be prepared and programs of instruc-
tion conducted. These will focus on the hazards of various materials
and procedures for their safe handling and use. Particular attention will
be given to mill reagent operators and those responsible for transporta-
tion and the various handling operations.
Emergency Response Procedures - The Committee will regularly review
emergency response procedures in the light of operating experience and
changine risks. These will be optimized and countermeasures equipment
changed as required. An additional duty will be the investigation of
spills or near spills which involve a threat to the environment or per-
sonal safety.
Appropriate response teams will be delegated and trained in accordance
with the potential location of a spill and the material involved. All spill
- 21 -
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response co-ordination will be done by the Fire Chief. The logistical
aspects of the operations dictate more than just a central response team.
4.2 Documentation and Notification
It will be the policy of Cominco Alaska to document all material spills
whether or not they result in external discharge and environmental im-
pairment. These will be filed with the Manager for regularly scheduled
revies by the Materials Management Committee. Information to be
promptly compiled in the event of a spill shall include:
0 Specific location of spill.
0 Date and time of spill.
0 Ambient conditions at location.
0 Specific material and estimated quantity.
0 Apparent cause.
0 Nature and extent of environmental contamination.
0 Proportions of material contained and lost.
0 Hazards to personnel, injuries.
0 Specific countermeasures employed.
0 Disposition of spilled material.
0 Clean-up procedures implemented and date of completion.
Notification of spills with at least the potential for environmental impact
will be promptly made to EPA, ADEC and the Coast Guard (river or
marine situations). If, in the judgement of the Manager, major impacts
are possible or external assistance with countermeasures is required,
these notifications will be done immediately. The village of Kivalina and
the Nana headquarters will also be immediately advised and briefed in
the event of a major spill at the port or one which might severely
threaten the Wulik River.
The agencies will be notified in advance of any planned changes in the
nature or quantities of the materials utilized or produced at Red Dog.
- 22 -
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Maintenance Superintendent (fuel, transportation), Chief Storekeeper and
the Fire Chief who will be in charge of security and safety. Other
personnel with specific responsibilities such as the Environmental Tech-
nician and the Training Officer will be called upon to support this group
from time to time.
Important taks of this Committee shall include:
Inventory Control - The maintenance and review of accurate records of
the department, and consumption or production of all chemicals. Con-
centrates and fuel-loss detection and response planning are specific
objectives.
Security - The provision of effective devices and procedures to protect
materials in storage and to ensure access to these by only authorized
and trained personnel is essential to spill prevention. The Committee
will also review housekeeping issues and implement appropriate inspection
schedules.
Training - Training manuals will be prepared and programs of instruc-
tion conducted. These will focus on the hazards of various materials
and procedures for their safe handling and use. Particular attention will
be given to mill reagent operators and those responsible for transporta-
tion and the various handling operations.
Emergency Response Procedures - The Committee will regularly review
emergency response procedures in the light of operating experience and
changine risks. These will be optimized and countermeasures equipment
changed as required. An additional duty will be the investigation of
spills or near spills which involve a threat to the environment or per-
sonal safety.
Appropriate response teams will be delegated and trained in accordance
with the potential location of a spill and the material involved. All spill
- 21 -
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response co-ordination will be done by the Fire Chief. The logistical
aspects of the operations dictate more than just a central response team.
4.2 Documentation and Notification
It will be the policy of Cominco Alaska to document, all material spills
whether or not they result in external discharge and environmental im-
pairment. These will be filed with the Manager for regularly scheduled
revies by the Materials Management Committee. Information to be
promptly compiled in the event of a spill shall include:
0 Specific location of spill.
0 Date and time of spill.
o
0 Ambient conditions at location.
0 Specific material and estimated quantity.
Apparent cause.
0 Nature and extent of environmental contamination.
0 Proportions of material contained and lost.
0 Hazards to personnel, injuries.
0 Specific countermeasures employed.
0 Disposition of spilled material.
0 Clean-up procedures implemented and date of completion.
Notification of spills with at least the potential for environmental impact
will be promptly made to EPA, ADEC and the Coast Guard (river or
marine situations). If, in the judgement of the Manager, major impacts
are possible or external assistance with countermeasures is required,
these notifications will be done immediately. The village of Kivalina and
the Nana headquarters will also be immediately advised and briefed in
the event of a major spill at the port or one which might severely
threaten the Wulik River.
The agencies will be notified in advance of any planned changes in the
nature or quantities of the materials utilized or produced at Red Dog.
- 22 -
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This will also apply to the systems required for the handling and storage
of material.
5. COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS
The detailed specification of resources which will be available solely for spills
control is not possible at this time, but will be done in the procurement phase
of the project. However, a preliminary indication as to the nature and scope
of the proposed capabilities can be given. It is planned that EPA, ADEC and
the Coast Guard be consulted to ensure that the resources finally selected
conform with regulatory requirements and optimum technology which is avail-
able at the time.
5.1 Mobile Equipment
A detailed list of mobile equipment to be available at the mine and port
sites is presented in Table 5.1. This equipment will be used for spills
control according to the order of priorities stated in Section 2.1.
5.2 Aircraft
No aircraft will permanently be maintained at the site but light aircraft
and helicopters will be available from Kotzebue which is less than one
hour flying time away. A 5,000 ft. long runway at the mine and a heli-
port at the port site will be available for emergency transportation pur-
poses. Large cargo loads of countermeasures equipment can be brought
in by Hercules or similar aircraft from Anchorage or other points in the
south.
- 23 -
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Table 5.1
Mobile Equipment Available for Spills Conl.ro!
Mine Site
Size
3 Front End Loaders
1 Front End Loader
2 Tracked Dozers
2 Tracked Dozers
1 Wheeled Dozer
3 Road Graders
1 Hiab Truck
a Water/Gravel/Sand Truck
1 Lowboy Tractor/Trailer
1 Snowblower
1 Snowpiow Truck
1 Crane
2 Buses
8 Pick-up Trucks
1 Fire Truck
3 Forklifts
1 Service Truck
4 Haul Trucks
Port Site
1 Forklift
1 Crane
1 Front End Loader
1 Front End Loader
1 Tracked Dozer
1 Tracked Loader
2 Pickups
3 Fuel Oil Trailers
1 Acid Trailer
8 Flat Bed Trailers
1 Load Lugger
4 Tractors
1 Crane
1 Container Forklift
Typical Unit
7 cu. yd.
1/2 cu. yd.
410 HP
200 HP
310 HP
180 HP
3 ton
5 ton
15 ton
20 ton
82 passenger
1/2 & 3/4 ton
1 ,000 gallon
4,000 lb/6,000 Ib
3 ton
150 tons
Size
6,000 Ib.
20 ton
7 cu. yd.
4 cu. yd.
200 HP
3 1/4 cu. yd.
3/4 ton
10,500 gallon
6,400 gallon
40 ft.
50 ton
20 ton
Cat 988B
Low Profile
Komateu D355A
Cat D7
Cat 824C
Cat 146
Kenworth
V-blade Kenworth
Mobile-Rought Terrain
Bluebird
4 Wheel Drive
4 Wheel Drive
Diesel
Kenworth Truck &
2 Trailers
Typical Unit
4 Wheel Drive
Mobile-Rough Terrain
Cat 988B
Cat 966B
Cat. D7
Cat. 977C
4 Wheel Drive
Fruehauf
Fruehauf
Fruehauf
Mobile-Rough Terrain
Taylor TY 520M
- 24 -
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This will also apply to the systems required for the handling and storage
of material.
5. COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS
The detailed specification of resources which will be available solely for spills
control is not possible at this time, but will be done in the procurement phase
of the project. However, a preliminary indication as to the nature and scope
of the proposed capabilities can be given. It is planned that EPA, ADEC and
the Coast Guard be consulted to ensure that the resources finally selected
conform with regulatory requirements and optimum technology which is avail-
able at the time.
5.1 Mobile Equipment
A detailed list of mobile equipment to be available at the mine and port
sites is presented in Table 5.1. This equipment will be used for spills
control according to the order of priorities stated in Section 2.1.
5.2 Aircraft
No aircraft will permanently be maintained at the site but light aircraft
and helicopters will be available from Kotzebue which is less than one
hour flying time away. A 5,000 ft. long runway at the mine and a heli-
port at the port site will be available for emergency transportation pur-
poses. Large cargo loads of countermeasures equipment can be brought
in by Hercules or similar aircraft from Anchorage or other points in the
south.
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Table 5.1
Mobile Equipment Available for Spills Control
Mine Site
Size
3 Front End Loaders
1 Front End Loader
2 Tracked Dozers
2 Tracked Dozers
1 Wheeled Dozer
3 Road Graders
1 Hiab Truck
a Water/Gravel/Sand Truck
1 Lowboy Tractor/Trailer
1 Snowblower
1 Snowplow Truck
1 Crane
2 Buses
8 Pick-up Trucks
1 Fire Truck
3 Forklifts
1 Service Truck
4 Haul Trucks
Port Site
1 Forklift
1 Crane
1 Front End Loader
1 Front End Loader
1 Tracked Dozer
1 Tracked Loader
2 Pickups
3 Fuel Oil Trailers
1 Acid Trailer
8 Flat Bed Trailers
1 Load Lugger
4 Tractors
1 Crane
1 Container Forklift
Typical Unit
7 cu. yd.
1/2 cu. yd.
410 HP
200 HP
310 HP
180 HP
3 ton
5 ton
15 ton
20 ton
82 passenger
1/2 & 3/4 ton
1 ,000 gallon
4,000 lb/6,000 Ib
3 ton
150 tons
Size
6,000 Ib.
20 ton
7 cu. yd.
4 cu. yd.
200 HP
3 1/4 cu. yd.
3/4 ton
10,500 gallon
6,400 gallon
40 ft.
50 ton
20 ton
Cat 988B
Low Profile
Komateu D355A
Cat D7
Cat 824C
Cat 146
Kenworth
V-blade Kenworth
Mobile-Rought Terrain
Bluebird
4 Wheel Drive
4 Wheel Drive
Diesel
Kenworth Truck &
2 Trailers
Typical Unit
4 Wheel Drive
Mobile-Rough Terrain
Cat 988B
Cat 966B
Cat D7
Cat 977C
4 Wheel Drive
Fruehauf
Fruehauf
Fruehauf
Mobile-Rough Terrain
Taylor TY 520M
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5.3 Communications
5.3.1 Port Site
Radio - Air-to-ground and marine VHP radio systems to maintain
communications with inbound and outbound ships and aircraft. A
small "seaport services" system for operational personnel and
vehicles at the port.
Telephone - a small PABX (8 lines) system to provide public net-
work access to key locations at the port.
Status Monitoring - a 12 channel telemetry system for monitoring
the status of major storage tanks from the mine site.
5.3.2 Mine Site
Seaport Mine Link - A UHF radio link to provide a multi-channel
facility to support telephone and analog telemetry systems.
Transportation System - A VHP radio repeater system to provide
reliable communications to haulage vehicles from the mill complex
and seaport.
Mine/Mill System - A VHP radio repeater system to provide com-
munications between the operating offices, mobile units and mine/
mill and service personnel using protable radios.
HP Marine - HP radio including antenna and towers system to
provide communications to ships associated with the seaport.
Deadlock Mountain Site - A site facility to support the various
radio systems associated with Red Dog operations.
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5.4 Chemical Spills Control
The on-site equipment available would be essentially that on the mobile
equipment list supplemented with various hand tools and portable pumps
for reclaiming spilled sulfuric acid. Spare reagent containers will be
maintained for repackaging those damaged in shipment or handling.
Lime is available, both as a countermeasure and restorative agent, for
dealing with acid spills. The bag containers will be fitted for bottom
discharge and the material can be readily dispensed from either cranes
or helicopters. The use of available sulfuric acid to neutralize lime
spills will not be conducted as this countermeasure would pose risks
greater than those associated with the lime spill.
A supply of either calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite will be
maintained at both the port and mill sites to combat the effects of sodium
cyanide spills. No decision has yet been made on which material to
select. The calcium salt has a long shelf life but it is in a granular
form that is difficult to apply. The sodium salt is in a solution form but
has a shorter shelf life and requires a greater weight over the calcium
salt for the equivalent cyanide oxidizing capacity.
5.5 Concentrates Spill Control
The on-site equipment available for cleaning up spilled concentrates
would be that on the mobile equipment list. In the unlikely event of a
vessel sinking (i.e. lighter barge), special slurry reclaim pumps suitable
for marine applications are available from another Cominco operation.
5.6 Oil Spills Control
As indicated previously in this report, the selection of equipment specif-
ically for oil spills control will be made later in the project development
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and with agency consultation. However, it is recognized that oil spill
control equipment will be essential in an effective countermeasures plan,
this information will be presented in the Final SPCC Plan.
6. SPILLS RISK AND CONTROL
6.1 Port Site
An obvious risk factor which could contribute to spills of all material at
the port during handling operations is the weather. In order to mini-
mize this risk it is essential that the operation take advantage of all
possible aids in obtaining accurate forecasts of weather and sea condi-
tions in order to schedule loading and unloading activities. A clear set
of directives governing the curtailment of operations during difficult
weather is also vital.
6.1.1 Reagents
Container security discussed in Section 2.2 will be an effective
preventive measure in preventing the spills of chemicals. Car-
goes will be inspected prior to unloading from supply ships to
ensure that damaged containers are repackaged prior to being
transferred to lighters. Secure rigging and crane operation prac-
tices will prevent the accidential discharge of containers to the
sea.
If discharged to the sea, several of the chemicals have bulk
densities less than that of water and these containers will float.
Divers would be brought in to assist in the underwater recovery
of sunken containers. Since the containers are waterproof, either
situation should not result in marine contamination provided that
they remain intact. There are no feasible containment or recov-
ery procedures which may be applied if reagents are in direct
contact with seawater.
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In the unlikely event of a reagent spill in the sea, short-lived
impacts on marine life in the immediate vicinity will occur but
should dissipate quickly.
The prevention of spills on shore will be effected by the imple-
mentation of careful security in storage and safety with vehicle
movements. The materials in segregated storage will be inspected
at regular intervals and damaged containers immediately trans-
ported to the mill for the use of the contents. Under no circum-
stances will the handling of reagent containers be permitted if
ambient temperatures are less than the safe level specified by the
manufacturer.
Acid will be directly unloaded at the shallow water dock from an
ocean-going barge. Spills prevention will originate in careful
materials selection and continue with the regular inspection of all
storage and handling systems. A check-list system will be imple-
mented to protect against the improper operation of pumps and
valves. The status of the acid storage tank will be monitored
from the mill by telemetry and any major spill from this source
will be contained by a berm lined with acid resistant material.
There are no mitigative procedures which can be applied if acid is
spilled to the sea. Short term toxic impacts by virture of pH
depression may be evident in the immediate vicinity of the spill.
Small land spills at the port will be neutralized with lime and the
contaminated soil excavated and transported to the mill for dis-
posal in the tailings pond.
6.1.2 Concentrates
Potential origins of concentrate spills at the port are conveyor,
shiploading, lighter and truck operations. Short of a major acci-
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dent such as the sinking of a loaded lighter, most potential
causes of spills would be relatively minor and of a poor operating
or housekeeping nature.
Trucks will be covered and if rear dumps are used for haulage,
tailgates will be tightly secured. All exposed conveyors will be
covered to prevent the wind transport of concentrate particles
and return belts will be cleaned to remove sticking material wAjch
could potentially fall in the sea. Conveyor transfer points will be
enclosed housings which will be regularly cleaned out and systems
will be interlocked. Shiploaders will be equipped with elephant
trunks to direct concentrates deep into ships hold and prevent
spillage on decks.
Minor losses to the sea are expected to be rapidly dispersed by
the dynamic sea conditions at the VABM 28 site and to have
negligible marine impacts. Spillage will result in some release of
surface adsorbed flotation reagents and heavy metals but the sul-
fides will remain chemically intact and be inundated by normal
marine sediments.
If major spills, such as those from a vessel sinking, are localized,
every effort would be made to recover the materials using a
slurry pump system. This utilizes a pump fitted with an agitator
assembly that fluidizes consolidated material to a pumpable form.
6.1.3 Fuel
An essential feature of fuel spill prevention is the integrity of the
deep water dock itself in the light of sea and ice conditions ex-
pected at the port. Storage will be in center compartments pro-
tected from the sea by two layers of steel. Prior to being per-
manently ballasted in a prepared bottom location, the outer hull
will be ice strengthened by the addition of about 600 tons of new
steel plate and about 200 tons of steel will be provided for addi-
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tional bulkheads in the tanks. Approximately 95,000 cubic yards
of gravel ballast will be used to permanently stabilize the vessel
on the sea bottom.
Corrosion protection measures will be provided on the outer hull
and an ice load monitoring system will be installed. Status moni-
toring of the fuel in storage will continually be conducted by
instrumentation and the bilges between hull compartments will be
routinely inspected.
Fuel transfers to the berm-protected shore facility using the
undersea double line will be closely monitored. Flow detectors
will be incorporated to warn of smooth transfer disruptions and
leak detectors will be installed to sense fuel leakage in the space
between the inner 4-inch and outer 6-inch line.
If spills to the sea are detected, containment and clean-up mea-
sures would be initiated using equipment available at the port. It
is recognized that sea conditions could be such that containment
is not practicable since boom effectiveness is limited. By the
nature of the viscosity of diesel fuel, it is not expected that sub-
stantial long lasting beach accumulations would occur during high
shoreward winds. Therefore, it is not proposed that the removal
of contaminated beach material be a standard feature of clean-up
measures. It is quite possible that this practice would cause
more physical damage to beach systems than would result from the
spilled oil itself.
6.2 Materials Transportation
The significant cause of potential spills during transportation are common
to all materials handled. Driver error or carelessness is the predominant
factor in major transportation accidents throughout North America and
every effort must be made to eliminate this as an element of risk at Red
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Dog. Comprehensive training and safety rules are essential and must be
backed by strong management policies with respect to infractions and
driver performance.
The road will generally be constructed according to standards employed
on the North Slope. Impact engineered guard rail systems will be in-
stalled on bridges and the berming of approaches will be employed on a
site specific basis if these do not constitute a greater safety hazard^by
trapping snow. Reflectors will be installed as road side markers.
Maintenance is a vital protective measure as it applies to both road and
vehicle conditions. Base inspections and prompt surface repair will be
conducted during the warmer months and will be particularly emphasized
during the break-up period in the spring. Snow removal will be routine
during winter, coupled with improvement programs to control drifting
and troublesome locations. All haulage vehicles will be on fixed preven-
tive maintenance schedules and their safety systems shall be inspected
daily.
Vehicle collisions are a potential cause of material spills which can be
eliminated by effective communications between drivers and dispatchers.
Frequent contacts between drivers proceeding in opposite directions will
permit scheduled vehicle passing at the prepared passing locations. At
all times, trucks hauling reagents from the port will have the right-of-
way over concentrate trucks from the mill. Frequent radio contacts will
also serve to alert drivers during periods of rapidly changing road
conditions and losses of contact will result in the dispatch of assistance
followed by the deployment of appropriate spill countermeasures.
Once the road alignment is fixed and detailed design is underway recon-
naissance of sensitive locations and stream crossings will be conducted to
assist in the tactical planning of spill countermeasures appropriate to
specific sites. For example, it would be impossible to contain a fuel spill
at the point of a stream crossing, but there may be downstream locations
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of opportunity at which containment could be effected. These site
assessments will also include planning for access vehicle types and
routes.
6.2.1 Reagents
Under most circumstances in which accidents occur during trans-
portation it is expected that the reagent containers will be of
sufficient strength to remain intact or, at worst, suffer only
minor ruptures with small losses. Where possible, the spill area
will be isolated and the materials reclaimed for immediate use in
the concentrator. Highly contaminated soils and muskeg or snow
will be removed and disposed of in the tailings pond, and the site
later revegetated. Areas where sodium cyanide spills result in
ground contamination will be treated with hypochlorite. Sulfuric
acid spills will be reclaimed where possible and the impacted
ground area neutralized with lime. Reagent spills to watercourses
will be dealt with by procedures to be developed in the site
specific tactical planning. These will always involve the dispatch
of the Environmental Technician and assistants with field analyt-
ical kits to establish the advance and extent of stream contamina-
tion. Consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
will be immediately initiated if there appears to be a potential for
impact on fish resources. Field data from watercourses and spill
magnitude estimates will then be used to decide on appropriate
countermeasures which could involve outside support such as heli-
copters.
Since containment of water soluble reagent spills in stream flows
is not normally possible, specific countermeasures might include
the broadcast application of lime from helicopters for mitigating
acid impacts, or a similar use of hypochlorite for cyanide destruc-
tion. Such in-situ actions require effective field monitoring sup-
port, and careful control and would be initiated with agency
approval.
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6.2.2 Concentrates
There is the potential for a spill of up to 150 tons of concentrates
in a single event. Lost materials would be reclaimed by mobile
equipment appropriate to the site and either transported onto
storage at the port or sent back to the concentrator for retreat-
ment if the material is contaminated. Impacted soils and muskeg
would be stripped and handled in a manner similar to that with
reagent spills.
Since the concentrate particles have a high specific gravity and
the chemical availability of the metal sulfides is low, significant
detrimental impacts of spills on watercourses are not expected.
Particles would rapidly settle out and appreciable accumulations
could later be recovered by dredging with backhoes or other
appropriate equipment.
6.2.3 Fuel
Fuel spills on land would initially be contained by appropriate
ditches or berms and reclaimed into portable tanks by pumping
and residues would be cleaned-up by the application of a loose
sorbent such as peat moss. Contaminated soils and muskeg would
be stripped and the contained fuel incinerated at the mill site.
The prior tactical planning would be most effective in managing
fuel spills to watercourses. Appropriate countermeasures includ-
ing booms, sorbents and ancillaries would be deployed at pre-
selected downstream locations to intercept and recover spills.
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6.3 Mill Site
The environment is most protected from material spills at this location by
the integral nature of the operations. Through long established design
and operating practices, concentrators contain internal facilities for spills
management and materials recovery. Simply put, there is no physical
possibility of spills being discharged from the concentrator building. A
final line of defence is the tailings pond which would serve to trap all
materials and contaminated runoff emanating from the entire mill area.
6.3.1 Reagents
The facilities to process reagents and contain spills have been
previously discussed. Appreciable concentrations of these mate-
rials will not occur in tailings pond water since, by virture of
their chemical properties, there is a vital requirement for care-
fully managed application in the process. They normally report
almost completely to the concentrates with the balance remaining
bound to residual sulfides in tailings. Overdoses in the process
would be immediately reflected by upset conditions and, since
about 85% water recycle from the tailings thickener will be prac-
ticed, continual optimum control will be essential.
6.3.2 Concentrates
Concentrator spills will be reclaimed by internal systems and the
housing of storage areas and conveyor galleries will prevent the
wind borne transport of these materials. Tailing will contain
residual metal sulfide values but unacceptable losses to tailing
could not be tolerated for economic as well as environmental rea-
sons.
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6.3.3 Fuel
Fuel spills from storage tanks will be contained by protective
berms and the material consumed in the power plant. Distribution
lines will be regularly inspected and minor leakages corrected im-
mediately.
Fuel would be an unacceptable contaminant in the wastewater
treatment plant but any present in the tailings pond water will
normally report as a scum on the surface of the treatment clari-
fier. Any fuel present as a visible sheen will be recovered and
disposed of by standard procedures for water borne spills.
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Appendix 3
Endangered Species Biological
Assessment
-------
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
of the
Red Dog Mining Project's Potential Effects
on Endangered Species
Prepared Pursuant to
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 (as amended)
Introduction
This Biological Assessment has been prepared in partial fulfillment of
responsibilities under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. It is
meant to complement the Red Dog Mine Project Environmental Impact
Statement which provides a detailed project description (Chapter II) and
description of the affected environment (Chapter IV). Information on
threatened and endangered species is included in Chapter IV and in
Chapter V, Environmental Consequences. The reader will find specific
page references for each species addressed in this Biological Assessment
in the EIS index (Chapter XIII).
Terres t ri a1 Spec i e s
Based on information supplied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
arctic peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus tundrius) is the only listed
endangered terrestrial species present in the study area. Additionally,
several rare Alaska plants that are considered candidates for possible
future listing as threatened or endangered have potential to occur in the
area.
Threatened and Endangered Plant Species
According to Murray (1980), three candidate species have potential to
occur in the area. The Kobuk locoweed (Oxytropis kobukensis), which is
under consideration for endangered status, occurs along a 25-mile stretch
of the Kobuk River on sand dunes. The kokrines oxytrope (Oxytropis
kokrinensi s) occurs in the western Brooks Range on dry alpine slopes,
ridge crests, and fellfields. Erigeron muirii has been located on dry
slopes northwest of the project area near Cape Thompson. Both of these
species are under consideration for threatened status. Walpole poppy
(Papaver walpolei), considered previously to be threatened, is no longer
under consideration for protected status (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1980). This species occurs on coarse, well-drained soil in the lower
Noatak and middle Kobuk Rivers.
Of these plant species, the kokrines oxytrope has the most potential to
occur near the proposed mine area. The kobuk locoweed has potential to
occur along proposed corridors, primarily near rivers between the mine
-------
area and coast, and perhaps on coastal sand dunes. None of the species
of concern have been located to date by field searches conducted from
1981 to 1983 by Dames & Moore (1983a,b). Thus, it appears unlikely that
candidate threatened or endangered, or rare plant species are present in
areas proposed for development by the Red Dog Mine project.
Plant collections (Dames & Moore 1983a,b) strongly indicate that the
limited distribution of many species desginated as "rare" is in fact due
to inaccessibility. For example, the Dames & Moore studies indicated
that ranges of Alii urn schoenoprasum var. si bin'cum, Angelica lucid a, and
Senecio pseudoarnica are apparently more widespread than previously
indicated by Hulten (1968). Similarly, Taraxacum phymatocarpum, although
rarely collected, is well-represented along the coast, both south and
north of Kivalina.
Peregrine Falcons
Although the project area is located within 150 miles of one of the
largest concentrations of peregrines in North America, the Colvilie River
drainage (Kessel and Cade 1958, Cade 1960), the southern slopes of the
Brooks Range are not noted for high peregrine density. The Noatak
drainage to the east supported a few peregrines in the past (Mines 1963,
Haugh and Potter 1975). The Cape Thompson region, northwest of the
survey area, has historically supported a couple pair of peregrines
(Swartz 1966). Located east and northeast of the project area, the
Kuparuk and Ipewik River drainages have had peregrines in the past (Mines
and Williamson, quoted in White and Boyce 1977). More specific to the
project area, both the Kivalina and Wulik Rivers were surveyed by fixed
wing aircraft by White and Boyce (1977) but no peregrines were found.
According to those investigators, overall habitat along the Kivalina and
Wulik Rivers was considered of lesser importance compared to other rivers
in the region because of the lack of and quality of cliff structures.
Raptor surveys (Douglas and Bente 1980) conducted in 1978 and 1979 by LGL
for GCO's proposed mine located proximate to the Cominco Red Dog Mine
located no peregrine nests in the study area.
Dames & Moore 1982 field studies of the Wulik and Kivalina River
drainages located seven active peregrine eyries in the vicinity of
proposed northern and southern transportation corridors for the Red Dog
Mine (Dames & Moore 1983a). An additional 11 peregrines were observed
away from nests. The sites identified as peregrine nests were not
located along the major rivers but were found along the cliffs and bluffs
in less obvious areas (i.e., small streams and tributaries) not generally
covered during previous peregrine surveys.
Between June 15-23 and on July 31, 1983, followup field studies (Dames &
Moore 1983c) were conducted to determine if the peregrine nests located
in 1982 were again occupied by the birds and to survey the Singoalik
River drainage. A check of each nest site where peregrines were located
on the 1982 survey failed to yield a single active peregrine nest. A
total of four sites were completely inactive, one site was occupied by
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rough-legged hawks (Buteo lagopus), and three of the cliffs were occupied
by gray-phase gyrfalcons (Fa 1eg r u s t i col us). No active raptor nests were
located along the remainder of the Singoalik River drainage.
Peregrines present in the project area would be most vulnerable to human
disturbance during nesting. Possible effects could be loss of birds and
reduced reproductive success. The current alignments of transportation
corridors proposed for the project are located greater than 2 miles from
any peregrine nest located during Dames & Moore's 1982 studies. If a
2-mile buffer around these sites or any others located prior to
construction is honored, essentially no impact should occur to peregrines
nesting in the area. Any migrating peregrines would avoid areas where
potentially disturbing activity occurs.
In addition to providing a 2-mile buffer around the nests, steps would be
taken to avoid disturbance to peregrines from aircraft and helicopters.
Operators would be provided maps and be required to travel corridors and
at altitudes which would avoid disturbing known peregrine falcon nests.
There would be no significant impact on prey species. Shorebirds and
waterfowl generally comprise a major portion of the peregrine's diet.
However, the location of project components avoids the major shorebird
and waterfowl nesting and staging areas (see Figure IV-3, page IV-13, of
the DEIS). Upland habitat losses along the preferred road corridor would
be locally insignificant in view of the abundance of this type of habitat
in the project area. Thus any upland species which may comprise a
portion of the peregrine's prey base would not be significantly
affected. However, peregrine feeding activity may be modified due to
construction of the road. No herbicides or pesticides are proposed to be
used. Potential disturbance of peregrine nests due to increased access
to the area should not be a problem since the access road would not be
available for general public use.
Conclusions
No candidate threatened or endangered plant species have been located at
the mine site, along proposed transportation corridors, or at proposed
port sites. Ranges of "rare" species are apparently more widespread than
previously indicated.
If 2-mile buffer zones around peregrine nesting sites are honored and
aircraft avoid known nesting sites, minimal or no impact to this species
should occur as a result of the Red Dog project.
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REFERENCES
Cade, T.G., 1960. Ecology of the peregrine and gyrfalcon populations in
Alaska. Univ. of Calif. Publ. Zool. 63.
Dames & Moore, 1983a. Environmental baseline studies, Red Dog Project.
Prepared for Cominco Alaska, Inc.
Dames & Moore, 1983b. Vegetation mapping of the Omikviorok River corridor
and threatened-endangered plant species search (Draft). Prepared for
Cominco Alaska, Inc.
Dames & Moore, 1983c. 1983 raptor surveys (Draft). Prepared for Cominco
Alaska, Inc.
Douglas, R.J. and P.J. Bente, 1980. Baseline studies of raptors in a
proposed mineral development area in the DeLong Mountains during 1978 and
1979. Prepared by LGL for GCO Minerals.
Haugh, J.R., J.P. Potter, 1975. Evaluation of raptor populations; Tuxedni
Bay, Iliamna Lake, Noatak River Valley and Fortymile River Valley of
Alaska. Report to USDI, BLM and USFWS.
Mines, J.Q., 1963. Birds of the Noatak River, Alaska Condor 65:410-425.
Hulten, E., 1968. Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories; a manual of
the vascular plants. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.
Kessel, B., T.J. Cade, 1958. Birds of the Colville River, northern Alaska.
Biological Papers of the University of Alaska No. 2. 83 pp.
Murray, D.F., 1980. Threatened and endangered plants of Alaska. U.S. Dept.
Agriculture, Forest Service, and U.S. Dept. Interior, Bureau of Land
Management.
Swartz, 1966. Seacliff birds. Jn_ Wi 1 imovsky, J.N., and N.J., Wolfe, eds.
Environment of the Cape Thompson Region, Alaska. U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission. Div. of Tech. Info. PNE-481.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1980. Endangered and threatened wildlife and
plants; Review of plant taxa for listing as endangered or threatened
species. Federal Register (45-242), pp. 82480-82569.
White, C.M., and D.A. Boyce, 1977. A profile of various rivers and their
raptor populations in western Alaska in 1977. Tech. Rept. No. 01
USDE-BLM, Anchorage, AK.
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Marine Mammals
Based on comments received from the National Marine Fisheries Service,
bowhead and gray whales are endangered species present in the study
area. The bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and the gray whale
(Eschrichtius r obus tus) are listed as endangered under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 as amended. Both species migrate into or through the
Chukchi Sea near the study area.
Bowhead Whales
The most recent estimate of the number of bowhead whales in waters
adjacent to Alaska is 3,857 individuals. The western Arctic population
winters in the western and central Bering Sea (Braham et al., 1980). The
northward migration is collated with the timing of ice breakup usually
beginning in early April. As they move through the Chukchi Sea, the
bowhead whales follow ice leads occurring seaward of the landfast ice.
These leads usually bring them across outer Kotzebue Sound in a
northeasterly direction to the vicinity of Cape Thompson. Some whales
move through a persistent polynya that forms between Kivalina and Point
Hope (Braham et al., 1980). Most of these animals then move from the
Chukchi Sea into the Beaufort Sea and on the summering areas near Banks
Island in Arctic Canada. After summering in Canadian waters, the fall
migration takes the bowhead whales past Point Barrow and on westward
toward Hereld and Wrangel1 Islands and on to the western portion of the
Chukchi Sea (Braham and Krogman, 1977; and Cowles, 1981).
Dames & Moore (1983) conducted field surveys to locate all marine mammals
in the project area. No bowhead whales were observed during their
traditional migration period in late April and early May. However, a cow
and calf were observed on June 25, 1982, a few hundred yards offshore of
Kivalina Village heading north. During subsequent flights both north and
south of Kivalina helicopter pilots reported seeing large black whales
approximately 6 times during the following week. The whales were
swimming north generally within one mile of the shore. Groups size
ranged from four to six. The last sighting occurred around July 1, 1982.
Gray whales
The National Marine Fisheries Service assumes that essentially the entire
population of California Gray Whales, estimated at 15,000 to 17,000
individuals, migrates north from their wintering grounds and into the
Bering Sea in April and May. By June many move through the Bering Strait
and enter the Chukchi Sea. During the summer, most of the population
concentrates in shallow waters around St. Lawrence Island and northward
to the Chukchi Sea where the gray whale distribution coincides with high
densities of the benthic gammarid amphipods, on which they forage.
Between July and September, low numbers of gray whales regularly move as
far east as Point Barrow (Marguette and Braham, 1982). A smaller number
of gray whales may occassionally move as far east as the northwest
territories in Canada (Maher, 1960; Johnson et al., 1980; and Rugh and
Fraker, 1981).
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During Dames & Moore's marine mammal surveys, gray whales were sighted on
three different occasions between July and August 1982. The first
observation occurred on July 18, when a lone animal was observed feeding
off Kavorak Lagoon in very shallow water. The second sighting was on
July 22, 1982, when another gray whale was seen off Imikruk Lagoon as it
passed under the boat of the diving crew in very shallow water. The last
observation occurred on August 2, 1982, during an annual bird survey when
a lone animal was seen swimming southward off Ipiavik Lagoon. The latter
animal appeared to have a very noticeable lateral curvature of the lower
spine just above the tail. This feature could possibly help to identify
this individual in other parts of its range.
Conclusions
Bowhead whales in the project area would be most vulnerable to human
disturbance during the migration period. Based on potential impacts
identified during research in other parts of Alaska, possible effects
would include disturbance from boats or low-flying aircraft. However,
the disturbance of these animals during spring migration is tied to
open-leads in the ice pack and little disturbance would be anticipated
from shoreside activities related to the mineral concentrate storage and
transfer facilities because the area of landfast ice is usually 1 mile or
more in width.
Vessel traffic for movement of concentrate away from Alaska or supplies
or materials to Alaska would occur after the ice has gone, which usually
occurs around July 1st. As a result, the bowhead migration would pass
through the Kivalina area before the annual shipping season begins,
resulting in no disturbance to migrating bowhead whales.
Gray whales within the project area would be most vulnerable to human
disturbance during the summer shipping period since they migrate and feed
in very shallow nearshore waters in July and August. However, gray
whales are uncommon in the Kivalina area and marine mammal specialist
John Burns (Alaska Department of Fish & Game) said that he anticipates
essentially no impact from gray whales encountering causeway/dock
structures approximately 400 feet or less in length. However, vessel
traffic during lightering operations between the dock structure and an
offshore island system may have to be interrupted for short periods if
gray whales should begin feeding within the port area. It is assumed
that any migrating whales would avoid the areas where potentially
disturbing activity was occurring.
In order to avoid any potential for harassment of endangered whales in
the project area, the following guidelines would be adhered to:
(l)(a) Vessels and aircraft would avoid concentrations of groups
of whales. Operators would, at all times, conduct their
activities at a maximum distance from such concentrations of
whales. Under no circumstances, other than an emergency, would
aircraft be operated at an altitude lower than 1,000 feet when
within 500 lateral yards of groups of whales. Helicopters would
not hover or circle above such areas or within 500 lateral yards
of such areas.
- 5 -
-------
(b) When weather conditions do not allow a 1,000 foot flying
altitude, such as during severe storms or when cloud cover is
low, aircraft would be operated below the 1,000 foot altitude
stipulated above. However, when aircraft are operated at
altitudes below 1,000 feet because of weather conditions, the
operator would avoid known whale concentration areas and would
take precautions to avoid flying directly over or within 500
yards of groups of whales.
(2) When a vessel is operated near a concentration of whales the
operator would take every precaution to avoid harassment of
these animals. Vessels would reduce speed when within 300 yards
of whales and those vessels capable of steering around such
groups would do so. Vessels would not be operated in such a way
as to separate members of a group of whales from other members
of the group.
(3) Vessel operators would avoid multiple changes in direction
and speed when within 300 yards of whales. In addition,
operators would check the waters immediately adjacent to a
vessel to ensure that no whales would be injured when the
vessel's propellers [or screws] are engaged.
(4) Small boats would not be operated at such a speed as to make
collisions with whales likely. When weather conditions require,
such as when visibility drops, vessels would adjust speed
accordingly to avoid the likelihood of injury to whales.
- 7 -
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REFERENCES
Braham, H.W., Fraker, M.A., and Krogman, B.D., 1980. Spring migration of
the western Arctic population of bowhead whales, Mar. Fish. Rev.
42(9-10):36-46.
Braham, H.W., and Krogman, B.D., 1977. Population Biology of the Bowhead
(Balaena mysticetus) and Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Whale in the
Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. National Marine Fisheries Service,
National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center.
Processed Report. 28 pp.
Cowles, C.J., 1981. Biological Assessment for Endangered Whales of the Arctic
Region with Respect to Proposed Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration. Bureau
of Land Management, Alaska OCS Office. 42 pp.
Dames & Moore, 1983. Environmental Baseline Studies, Red Dog Project.
Prepared for Cominco Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska.
Johnson, J.H., Braham, H.W., Krogman, B.D., Marquette, W.M., Sonntag, R.M. and
Rugh, D.J., 1980. Research conducted on bowhead whales, June 1979 to June
1980: preliminary results: Int. Whal. Comm., 32nd annual meeting,
Cambridge, England. Document SC/32/PS-10. 50 pp.
Maher, W.J., 1960. Recent records of the California gray whale (Eschrichtius
glaucus) along the north coast of Alaska. Arctic 13:257-265.
Marquette, W.M., and Braham, H.W., 1982. Gray Whale distribution and catch
by Alaskan eskimos: a replacement for the bowhead whale? Arctic 35(3):
386-394.
Rugh, D.J., and Cubbage, J.C., 1980. Migration of bowhead whales past Cape
Lisburne, Alaska. Mar. Fish. Rev. 42(9-10):46-51.
Rugh, D.J., and Fraker, M.A., 1981. Gray Whale (Eschrichtlus robustus)
sightings in eastern Beaufort Sea. Arctic 34(2): 186-187.
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Page 2
a. An onsite inspection of the area affected by the proposed project.
b. Interviews with recognized experts on the species at issue.
c. A literature review to determine the species distribution, habitat
needs, and other biological requirements.
d. An analysis of possible impacts to the species, including cumulative
effects.
e. An analysis of measures to minimize impacts.
Biological assessments may be prepared by a designated non-Federal
entity. If, as a result of the assessment, it is concluded that the
proposed activity may affect the Peregrine Falcon, then a request for
formal consultation should be submitted with a copy of the assessment to
the Regional Office of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
We appreciate your concern for endangered wildlife. Questions or
requests for further assistance can be directed to our Endangered Species
Division (907) 786-3435.
Sincerely,
^VRegional Director1
cc: NAES
LWRDP
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
P.O. Box 1668
Juneau, Alaska 99802
'....V^*
September 28, 1983
Mr. William M. Riley
Environmental Evaluation Branch (M/S 443)
Environmental Protection Agency %$•*••• "$NV '
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
Dear Mr. Riley:
This letter is in response to your September 2, 1983, request for
information concerning rare, threatened, or endangered species under the
jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which occur
in the Chukchi Sea between Cape Thompson and Cape Krusenstern. NMFS
bears responsibility for two species of endangered whales which frequent
the Chukchi Sea in the area under consideration by the Red Dog Mining
project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): the bowhead whale (Balaena
mysticetus) and the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus).
General description of endangered whales occurrence in the Chukchi Sea:
Bowhead whale: The most recent estimate of the number of bowhead whales
in waters adjacent to Alaska is 3857 individuals. The western Arctic
population of bowhead whales winters in the western and central Bering
Sea (Braham et al., 1980). The northward (spring) migration is
correlated with the timing of ice breakup, usually beginning in early
April. Most of the whales move through the Straif Anadyr, passing west
of St. Lawrence Island, when they leave the Bering Sea. From there,
they generally pass through the Bering Strait west of Big Diomede
Island. However, the availability of open water determines the bow-
head's migratory path and the whales could possibly use the east side of
the Strait in some years (Braham et al.,1980; Cowles, 1981). Once in the
Chukchi Sea, the bowhead whales follow ice-leads occurring seaward of
the landfast ice. These leads usually bring them across outer Kotzebue
Sound in a north-easterly direction to the vicinity of Cape Thompson.
Some whales move through a persistent polynya that forms between
Kivalina and Point Hope (Braham et al., 1980). Open leads are again
followed past Cape Thompson and Point Hope to Cape Lisburne. In the
vicinity of Cape Lisburne, the population begins to follow the leads
adjacent to the landfast ice on its way to Point Barrow (Braham et al.,
1980; Rugh and Cubbage, 1980).
From Point Barrow, the bowheads travel north-east toward Banks Island in
Canada. The majority of the whales enter the Canadian Beaufort Sea by
-------
mid-June, where they spend the summer. The fall migration, after
passing Point Barrow, travels west toward Herald and Wrangell Islands
prior to heading south. The migration toward the Bering Strait is
believed to occur in the western Chukchi Sea (Braham arid Krogman, 1977;
Cowles, 1981).
Gray Whale: Virtually the entire stock of California gray whales,
estimated at 15,000 to 17,000 individuals, migrates north from their
wintering grounds and enter the Bering Sea in April or May. By June,
many move through the Bering Strait and enter the Chukchi Sea. During
the summer, most of the population concentrates in shallow waters around
St. Lawrence Island north to the Chukchi Sea where the grey whale
distribution coincides with high densities of the benthic gammarid
amphipods, on which they forage. Between July and September, low
numbers of gray whales regularly move as far east as Point Barrow
(Marquette and Braham, 1982). A smaller number of gray whales may
occasionally move as far east as the Northwest Territories in Canada
(Maher, 1960; Johnson et _al_., 1980; Rugh and Fraker, 1981).
If we can be of further assistance, or if additional details on these
endangered whales are needed, please do not hesitate to consult further
with us.
Sincerely,
bbert W. McVey
Director, Alaska Region
-------
Literature Cited
Braham, H.W., Fraker, M.A., and Krogman, B.D., 1980. Spring migration
of the western Arctic population of bowhead whales., Mar. Fish. Rev.
42(9-10):36-46.
Braham, H.W. and Krogman, B.D., 1977. Population Biology of the Bowhead
(Balena mysticetus) and Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Whale in the
Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. National Marine Fisheries Service,
National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Northwest and Alaska Fisheries
Center. Processed Report. 28 pp.
Cowles, C.J., 1981. Biological Assessment for Endangered Whales of the
Arctic Region with Respect to Proposed Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration.
Bureau of Land Management, Alaska OCS Office. 42 pp.
Johnson, J.H., Braham, H.W., Krogman, B.D., Marquette, W.M., Sonntag,
R.M. and Rugh, D.J., 1980. Research conducted on bowhead whales, June
1979 to June 1980: preliminary results: Int. Whal. Comm., 32nd annual
meeting, Cambridge, England. Document SC/32/PS-10. 50 pp.
Maher, W.J., 1960. Recent records of the California gray whale
(Eschrichtius glaucus) along the north coast of Alaska. Arctic
13:257-265.
Marquette, W.M. and Braham, H.W., 1982. Gray whale distribution and
catch by Alaskan eskimos: a replacement for the bowhead whale? Arctic
35(3): 386-394.
Rugh, D.J. and Cubbage, J.C., 1980. Migration of bowhead whales past
Cape Lisburne, Alaska. Mar. Fish. Rev. 42(9-10):46-51.
Rugh, D.J. and Fraker, M.A., 1981. Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
sightings in eastern Beaufort Sea. Arctic 34(2):186-187.
-------
United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND N\ II.DL I FT, SERVIC'E
IN REPLY REFER TO. 101 1 E. TUDOR RD.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 99503
SE (907) 276-3800
William M. Riley, EIS Project Officer ^ .
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Each project component which may directly or indirectly affect the Arctic
peregrine on either a short or long-term basis should be addressed and
the specific area of conflict identified. Examples of potential impacts
include: greater frequency of low-flying aircraft, increased recreational
use of the area as a result of improved access, changes in the prey base
brought on by alteration of vegetation, and. use of chemical insecticides.
Once potential conflicts have been identified, means of avoiding or
minimizing the impacts (e) should be discussed. At this point in time,
we do not believe your analysis is thorough enough to support your
conclusion that the Red Dog Mine project, with its associated
transportation corridors and other developments, will not affect the
endangered Arctic peregrine falcon.
If measures are taken to avoid all conflicts, the project will obviously
have no effect on endangered species and formal consultation will not be
required. If conflicts remain, however, endangered species may be
affected and formal consultation will be necessary.
Questions regarding these comments may be directed to our Endangered
Species Division at (907) 786-3435. Thank you for the opportunity to
review the BA and for your cooperation in protecting endangered wildlife.
Sincerely,
•3,,,, Regional Direct
-------
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
rtto Sri,. R E G ! O N X
0^ $
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Appendix A
NPDES Draft Permit
-------
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 442-1214
NOTICE OF PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF A NATIONAL POLLUTANT
DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT TO
DISCHARGE TO WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES,
NOTICE OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, AND
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, AND
NOTICE OF STATE CERTIFICATION
Public Notice No.: AK-003865-2
Public Notice Issuance Date: March 16, 1984
Public Notice Expiration Date: May 14, 1984
1. Applicant:
Cominco Alaska Incorporated
5660 "B" Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99502
a. The applicant has applied for a National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge pollutants to navigable waters
pursuant to the provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The applicant
proposes to operate an open pit mining and mineral concentrating facility
north of Kotzebue in Northwest Alaska. The treated wastewater discharges
resulting from the proposed facility will be discharged to Red Dog Creek,
which is being reclassified by the State for applicable Water Quality
Standards.
b. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that a detailed
statement be preparea for every major federal action with a potential for
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. This statement,
called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), evaluates the potential
environmental effects of such federal actions in addition to identifying
alternatives to the proposal. EPA's NPDES regulations state that the issuance
of an NPDES permit to a new source may be a major federal action and therefore
subject to the NEPA requirements.
An NPDES permit is required for the proposed Red Dog mining and milling
facility. This facility has been determined to be a new source under the
NPDES regulation definitions. An environmental review conducted for this
proposal shows that significant environmental impacts may occur. Therefore,
the issuance of an NPDES to the proposed Red Dog facility is a major federal
action requiring the preparation of an EIS.
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-2-
c. The EIS has been prepared and is being released for concurrent public
review with the proposed NPDES permit. The EIS considers the environmental
impacts of the proposal as well as project alternatives (such as the location
and design of the transportation corridor). Environmental, cultural, social
and economic impacts on the NANA region in particular and State of Alaska in
general are discussed at some length. A unique feature of the Red Dog project
is that the applicants preferred alternative would involve a transportation
corridor through Cape Krusenstern National Monument. This would require
consideration of the specific requirements mandated by Title XI of ANILCA for
acquiring a right-of-way across the monument.
EPA and Dept. of Interior have been the lead agency in preparing the EIS, and
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a cooperating agency. Technical
assistance was provided by OTT Water Engineers.
d. On the basis of the information in the draft EIS, EPA has made a
preliminary determination to issue the NPDES permit to the applicant.
2. Tent at i ve peterrni nati on
The Region 10 Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
tentatively determined to issue a discharge permit which incorporates effluent
limitations which must be complied with to satisfy the New Source Performance
requirements and State of Alaska water quality standards.
3. Pub!i c Hear in gs
EPA will hold public hearings on the proposed NPDES permit and the draft EIS
at the following locations and times:
ANCHORAGE KOTZEBUE WASHINGTON, D..C.
May 2, 1984 May 3, 1984 April 24, 1984
Nat. Park Srv. Office NANA Museum Room 7000 B
Room 110 7:30 P.M. Main Interior Bldg.
2525 Gambel St. 18th & C St. N.W.
7:30 P.M. 1:00 P.M.
4. Public Comments
The proposed issuance of the NPDES permit and the availability of the draft
EIS will be announced in the Federal Register on March 16, 1984.
This announcement will initiate a 60 day review period, ending May 14, 1984.
EPA solicits comments from all interested persons and will consider these
comments before any final actions are taken. All comments should include the
name and address of the commentator, and concise statements of the relevant
background documentation or facts which the comment is based upon.
Written comments on the EIS should be submitted to EPA to the attention of
Bill Riley, Mail Stop 443, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101 by
May 14, 1984 or presented to EPA at the public hearing. Written comments on
the NPDES permit should be submitted to EPA to the attention of Wally
Scarburgh, Water Programs Coordinator - Alaska, 3200 Hospital Drive, Juneau,
Alaska 99801 by May 14, 1984 or presented to EPA at the public hearing.
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-3-
Oral comments will be accepted at the public hearing.
Persons wishing to comment on the State Certification should submit written
comments to the State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation,
Central Office, Pouch C, Juneau, Alaska 99811, by May 14, 1984 or presented
at the public hearing.
5. State Certifi c at ion
This Notice will also serve as Public Notice of the intent of the State of
Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation to consider certifying that
the subject discharge will comply with the applicable provisions of Sections
208(e), 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Clean Water Act. The NPDES permit
will not be issued until the certification requirements of Section 401 have
been met.
6. Adnri n i strati v e Re cord
The proposed NPDES permit, draft EIS and other related documents are on file
and may be inspected at any time between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm Monday through
Friday at EPA in Room 11D, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington. A copying
machine is available in the Seattle office for public use at a charge of 20
cents per copy sheet. There is no charge if the cost is less than 25 dollars.
Additional copies of the NPDES permit and fact sheet may be obtained from
Terry Moan, Mail Stop 521, EPA, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101
or by calling (206) 442-1286.
Additional copies of the draft EIS may be obtained from Bill Riley, Mail Stop
443, EPA, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101 or by calling
(206) 442-1760.
7. Avai1abi1i ty of Documents
EPA and DOI will announce the availability of this document in the Federal
Register on Friday, March 16, 1984, initiating a 60-day review and comment
period. Comments should be submitted by May 14, 1984 to:
Will iam Ni. Riley
EIS Project Officer
Environmental Evaluation Branch M/S 443
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Telephone: (206) 442-1760
Please bring this information to the attention of other persons who might be
interested in this matter.
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Permit No.: AK-003865-2
Application No.: AK-003865-2
AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act, as amended, (33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq; the "Act"),
COMINCO ALASKA INCORPORATED
is authorized to discharge from a facility located 82 miles north of Kotzebue,
Alaska to receiving waters named Red Dog Creek in accordance with the
discharge point, effluent limitations, monitoring requirements and other
conditions set forth herein.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and the authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight,
(five years from the effective date).
Signed this day of
DRAFT
Director, Water Division, Region 10
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Page 2 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Sheet—Issuance and Expiration Dates
I. Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements
A. Specific Limitations and Monitoring Requirements
B. Receiving Water Monitoring Program
C. Biomonitoring Program
0. Precipitation and Evaporation Monitoring Program
E. Best Management Practices
F. Definitions
II. Monitoring, Recording and Reporting Requirements
A. Representative Sampling
B. Monitoring Procedures
C. Penalties for Tampering
D. Reporting of Monitoring Results
E. Compliance Schedules
F. Additional Monitoring by the Permittee
G. Records Contents
H. Retention of Records
I. Twenty-four Hour Notice of Noncompliance Reporting
J. Other Noncompliance Reporting
K. Inspection and Entry
III. Compliance Responsibilities
A. Duty to Comply
B. Penalties for Violations of Permit Conditions
C. Need to Halt or Reduce not a Defense
D. Duty to Mitigate
E. Proper Operation and Maintenance
F. Removed Substances
G. Bypass of Treatment Facilities
H. Upset Conditions
I. Toxic Pollutants
IV. General Requirements
A. Changes in Discharge of Toxic Substances
B. PIanned Changes
C. Permit Actions
D. Duty to Reapply
E. Duty to Provide Information
F. Other Information
G. Signatory Requirements
H. Penalties for Falsification of Reports
I. Availability of Reports
J. Oil and Hazardous Substance Liability
K. Property Rights
L. Severability
M. Transfers
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Page 3 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
I. Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements
A. Specific Limitations and Honitoring_ Requirements
1. The following effluent limitations and monitoring requirements
shall apply to all discharges from the tailings impoundment wastewater
treatment facility (outfall 001):
Effluent
Characteristics
Effluent Limitations
Flow (mgd)
Copper (mg/1)
Zinc (mg/1)
Lead (mg/1)
Cadmium (mg/1)
Mercury (mg/1)
Total Suspended
Solids (mg/1)
PH
Temperature
Daily
Maximum
7.1
0.3
1.5
0.6
0.10
0.002
30 Day
Average
5.4
0.15
0.75
0.3
0.05
0.001
Moni tori ng Requirements
30.0 20.0
(see paragraph 4. below)
N/A N/A
Frequency
(During
Continuous
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Daily
Daily
Samp 1 e Jype
DiscVargej
Recorded
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
24 hr.
Composite
Grab
Grab
2. Discharges
October.
are only permitted during the months of May through
3. There shall be no discharge of floating solids or oily wastes
which produce a sheen on the surface of the receiving water.
4. The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater
than 10.5 standard units.
5. All discharges shall comply with Alaska Water Quality Standards
(18 AAC10).
B. Receiving Water Monitoring Program
1. Ambient water quality monitoring shall be performed at two (2)
stations on Ikalukrok Creek. Data collection shall occur seasonally from
break-up (mid May) to freeze up (mid October). The initial three years of
monitoring prior to discharge beginning the effective date of this permit will
be used to expand the existing baseline data. Subsequent monitoring following
the initiation of discharge from the tailings impoundment wastewater treatment
facility will be used to characterize impacts of the operation on the Wulik
River drainage.
Station identification codes correspond to those identified in
the Dames and hoore "Environmental Baseline Studies - Red Dog Project" as
follows:
Site 9: Ikalukrok Creek above confluence with Red Dog Creek
Site 73: Ikalukrok Creek downstream of confluence with Red Dog Creek
DRAFT
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Page 4 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
The following table identifies parameters and frequency of collection for
both receiving water and biomonitoring programs:
Flow
Conductivity
Suspended Solids
Turbidity
Cadmium (total)
Iron
Lead
Zinc
Aluminum
Hardness
Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
PH
Frequency Codes:
Site 73 Site 9
b a
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
a) continuous
b) weekly (grab)
c) daily (grab)
Flow-thru
Biomonitoring Facility
a
a
c
c
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
c
c
2. A quality assurance plan shall be developed, the primary purpose
of which shall be to assist in explaining data anomalies, if and
when they occur. The quality assurance plan shall also provide
information on sampling and laboratory analytical techniques.
The plan shall include activities such as replicates on ten
percent of samples, analyses of sample blanks to identify
contaminated sampling equipment and spiked samples for metals
analysis.
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Page 5 of 19
Permit Mo.: AK-003865-2
C. B1pmonitori ng Program
To provide an early warning system as a part of the water treatment plant
process control, the permittee will be required to develop, subject to State
approval, a continuous flow-thru biomonitoring facility which meets the
following criteria:
1. The biomonitoring facility shall provide for the maintenance of
cola-water fish specie(s). Control and test organisms shall be continuously
subjected to water which is a dilution of the effluent with local surface
waters. Effluent to surface water dilution ratios shall produce a surrogate
of the effluent's ultimate dilution in the Ikalukrok,-except that the dilution
shall be 10% more concentrated than would be expected as a safety margin.
This will be accomplished using realtime flow data from the Ikalukrok above
the confluence of Red Dog Creek and realtime flow data from the plant
effluent. The surrogate solution shall be monitored for pH, conductivity,
temperature and divalent cations.
2. The test organisms shall be continuously or frequently observed
for symptoms of distress and mortality. TYPE I and TYPE II warning levels are
recommended. The TYPE I warning level is defined as symptoms of distress
related to engineering failure of the biominitoring facility. A TYPE II
warning level is defined as an effluent caused distress incident.
Observations of distress (either TYPE I or TYPE II) will result in necessary
actions being taken by personnel to prevent distress in the monitored
organisms.
3. Notification of ADEC within 24 hours from the time of occurrence
of a TYPE II warning level will be required, including information on pH,
conductivity, temperature and divalent cations at the time of the incident.
Any remedial actions taken to mitigate the TYPE II incident will also be
communicated.
4. Fish which have exhibited symptoms of distress, whether TYPE I
or TYPE II, shall be replaced with fresh equivalent stock, maintained for that
purpose.
5. This biomonitoring facility shall be tested, verified and
operational when discharge commences from the tailings impoundment water
treatment facility.
D. Precipitation and Evaporation Monitoring Program
1. The permittee shall establish monitoring stations at the mine
site for determining the annual precipitation and annual evaporation rates.
This monitoring program shall begin on the effective date of this permit and
end on the expiration date.
2. The permittee shall submit to EPA the monitoring results
annually. The first report is due one year from the effective date of this
permit.
DRAFT
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Page 6 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
E. Best Management Practices
The permittee shall develop a Best Management Practices (BMP)
program in accordance with good engineering practices and the
following conditions:
a. The BMP program shall:
(1) Be documented in narrative form, and shall include any
necessary plot plans, drawings or maps;
(2) Establish specific objectives for the control of toxic
and hazardous pollutants.
(i) Each facility component or system shall be
examined for its potential for causing a release of
toxic or hazardous pollutants to waters of the United
States due to equipment failure, improper operation,
natural phenomena such as rain or snowfall, etc.
(ii) Where experience indicates a reasonable
potential for equipment failure (e.g. a tank overflow
or leakage), natural condition (e.g. precipitation),
or other circumstances to result in significant
amounts of toxic or hazardous pollutants reaching
surface waters, the program should include a
prediction of the direction, rate of flow and total
quantity of toxic or hazardous pollutants which could
be discharged from the facility as a result of each
condition or circumstance;
(3) Establish specific best management practices to meet
the objectives identified under paragraph a.(2) of this
section, addressing each component or system capable of
causing a release of toxic or hazardous pollutants to the
waters of the United States.
DRAFT
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Page 7 of 19
Permit No.: AK.-003865-2
(4) The BMP program:
(i) May reflect requirements for Spill Prevention
Control and Countermeasure (SPCC Plan) under Section
311 of the Act and 40 CFR Part 112, and may
incorporate any part of such plans into the BMP
program by reference;
(ii) Shall assure the proper management of solid and
hazardous waste in accordance with regulations
promulgated under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as
amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
of 1976 (RCRA)(40 U.S.C. 6901 et seq). Management
practices required under RCRA regulations shall be
expressly incorporated into the BMP program; and
(iii) Shall address the following points for the
ancillary activities:
(A) Statement of Policy;
(B) Spill Control Committee;
(C) Material Inventory;
(D) Material Compatibility;
(E) Employee Training;
(F) Reporting and Notification Procedures;
(G) Visual Inspections;
(H) Preventive Maintenance;
(I) Housekeeping; and
(J) Security.
[Ancillary activities include but are not limited to:
Materials storage areas; in-plant transfer, process and
material handling areas; loading and unloading operations;
plant site runoff; and sludge and waste disposal areas.]
2. The permittee shall submit this BMP program to both EPA and ADEC
for approval within eight months of the effective date of this
permit.
3. The BMP program shall be fully implemented as soon as possible
but no later than one year after the effective date of this
permit or upon commencement of facility construction activities,
whichever occurs first.
4. The permittee shall amend the BMP program whenever there is a
change in the facility design, construction, operations, or
maintenance which materially affects the facility's potential
for discharge of significant amounts of hazardous or toxic
pollutants into the waters of the United States.
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Page 8 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
5. If the BMP program proves to be ineffective in achieving the
general objective of preventing the release of significant
amounts of toxic or hazardous pollutants to those waters and the
specific objectives and requirements under paragraph l.a. of
this section, the permit and/or the BMP program shall be
subjected to modification to incorporate the revised BMP
requirements.
6. Upon approval, the terms and conditions of the BMP program shall
become part of this permit.
7. The permittee shall maintain a description of the BMP program at
the facility and shall make the description available to the
Director upon request.
F. Definitions
1. "30 Day Average" shall mean the total units discharged during a
monitoring month divided by the number of days in that period
that the production or commercial facility was operating. Where
less than daily sampling is required by this permit, this
average shall be determined by the summation of the measured
daily discharges divided by the number of days during the
monitoring month when the measurements were made.
2. "Daily Maximum" shall mean the maximum value attained on any day
in a given monitoring month.
3. "Monitoring Month" shall mean the period consisting of the
calendar weeks which end in a given calendar month.
4. A "24 hour composite" ("24 hr. Comp.") sample shall mean a
flow-proportioned mixture of not less than 4 discrete aliquots.
Each aliquot shall be a grab sample of not less than 100 ml and
shall be collected and stored in accordance with procedures
prescribed in the most recent edition of Standard Methods for
the Examination of_ Water and Wastewater.
5. A "Grab" sample is a single sample or measurement taken at a
specific time or over as short a period of time as is feasible.
6. "Upset" means an exceptional incident in which there is
unintentional and temporary noncompliance with technology-based
permit effluent limitations because of factors beyond the
reasonable control of the permittee. An upset does not include
noncompliance to the extent caused by operational error,
improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment
facilities, lack of preventive maintenance, or careless or
improper operation.
DRAFT
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Page 9 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
7. "Bypass" means the intentional diversion of waste streams from
any portion of a treatment facility.
8. "Severe property damage" means substantial physical damage to
property, damage to the treatment facilities which causes them
to become inoperable, or substantial and permanent loss of
natural resources which can reasonably be expected to occur in
the absence of a bypass. Severe property damage does not mean
economic loss caused by delays in production.
II. Monitoring, Recording and Reporting Requirements
A. Representative Sampling
Samples taken in compliance with the monitoring requirements
established under Part I. A. shall be collected from the effluent
stream prior to discharge into the receiving waters. Samples and
measurements shall be representative of the volume and nature of the
monitored discharge.
B. Monitoring Procedures
Monitoring must be conducted according to test procedures approved
under 40 CFR Part 136, unless other test procedures have been
specified in this permit.
C. Penalties for Tampering
The Clean Water Act provides that any person who falsifies, tampers
with or knowingly renders inaccurate, any monitoring device or method
required to be maintained under this permit shall, upon conviction,
be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 per violation, or by
imprisonment for not more than 6 months per violation, or by both.
D. Reporting of Monitoring Results
Monitoring results shall be summarized each month on Discharge
Monitoring Report (DMR) form (EPA No. 3320-1). The reports shall be
submitted monthly and are to be postmarked by the 10th day of the
following month. Legible copies of these, and all other reports,
shall be signed and certified in accordance with the requirements of
Part IV. G. Signatory Requirements, and submitted to the Director,
Water Division and the State agency at the following addresses:
original to: United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
Attn: Water Compliance Section, Mail Stop 513
DRAFT
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Page 10 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
copy to: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Northern Regional Office
675 7th Avenue
P.O. Box 1601
Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
E. Compliance Schedules
Reports of compliance or noncompliance with, or any progress reports
on interim and final requirements contained in any Compliance
Schedule of this permit (Part I. A.) shall be submitted no later than
10 days following each schedule date.
F. Additional Monitoring by the Permittee
If the permittee monitors any pollutant more frequently than required
by this permit, using test procedures approved under 40 CFR 136 or as
specified in this permit, the results of this monitoring shall be
included in the calculation and reporting of the data submitted in
the DMR. Such increased frequency shall also be indicated.
G. Records Contents
Records of monitoring information shall include:
1. The date, exact place, and time of sampling or measurements;
2. The individual(s) who performed the sampling or measurements;
3. The date(s) analyses were performed;
4. The individual(s) who performed the analyses;
5. The analytical techniques or methods used; and
6. The results of such analyses.
DRAFT
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Page 11 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
H. Retention of Records
The permittee shall retain records of all monitoring information,
including all calibration and maintenance records and all original
strip chart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation,
copies of all reports required by this permit, and records of all
data used to complete the application for this permit, for a period
of at least 3 years from the date of the sample, measurement, report
or application. This period may be extended by request of the
Director at any time.
I. Twenty-four Hour Notice of Noncompliance Reporting
1. The following occurrences of noncompliance shall be reported by
telephone within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware
of the circumstances:
a. Any noncompliance which may endanger health or the
environment.
b. Any unanticipated bypass which exceeds any effluent
limitations in the permit. (See Part III. G. Bypass of
Treatment Facilities.)
c. Any upset which exceeds any effluent limitation in the
permit. (See Part III. H. Upset Conditions.)
d. Violation of a maximum daily discharge limitation for any of
the pollutants listed in the permit to be reported within 24
hours.
2. A written submission shall also be provided within 5 days of the
time that the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. The
written description shall contain:
a. A description of the noncornpliance and its cause;
b. The period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times;
c. The estimated time noncompliance is expected to continue if
it has not been corrected; and
d. Steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate., and prevent
reoccurrence of the noncompliance.
3. The Director may waive the written report on a case-by-case
basis if the oral report has been received within 24 hours by
the Water Compliance Section in Seattle, Washington by phone,
(206) 442-1213.
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Page 12 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
4. Reports shall be submitted to the addresses in Part II. D.
Reporting of Monitoring Results.
J. Other Noncompliance Reporting
Instances of noncompliance not required to be reported within 24
hours shall be reported at the time that monitoring reports for
Part II. D. are submitted. The reports shall contain the information
listed in Part II. I. 2.
K. Inspection and Entry
The permittee shall allow the Director, or an authorized
representative, upon presentation of credentials and other documents
as may be required by law, to:
1. Enter upon the permittee's premises where a regulated facility
or activity is located or conducted, or where records must be
kept under the conditions of this permit.
2. Have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that
must be kept under the conditions of this permit;
3. Inspect at reasonable times any facilities; equipment (including
monitoring and control equipment), practices, or operations
regulated or required under this permit, and
4. Sample or monitor at reasonable times, for the purpose of
assuring permit compliance or as otherwise authorized by the
Clean Water Act, any substances or parameters at any location.
III. Compliance Responsibilities
A. Duty to Comply
The permittee must comply with all conditions of this permit. Any
permit noncompliance constitutes a violation of the Clean Water Act
and is grounds for enforcement action; for permit termination,
revocation and reissuance, or modification; or for denial of a permit
renewal application. The permittee shall give advance notice to the
Director of any planned changes in the permitted facility or activity
which may result in noncompliance with permit requirements.
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Page 13 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
B. Penalties for Violations of Permit Conditions
The Clean Water Act provides that any person who violates a permit
condition implementing sections 301, 302, 306, 307, 308, 318, or 405
of the Clean Water Act is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
$10,000 per day of such violation. Any person who willfully or
negligently violates permit conditions implementing sections 301,
302, 306, 307, or 308 of the Clean Water Act is subject to a fine of
not less than $2,500, nor more than $25,000 per day of violation, or
by imprisonment for not more than 1-year, or both. Except as
provided in permit conditions on Part III. G. Bypass of Treatment
Facilities and Part III. H. Upset Conditions, nothing in this permit
shall be construed to relieve the permittee of the civil or criminal
penalties for noncompliance.
C. Need to Halt or Reduce not a Defense
It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action
that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted
activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of this
permit.
D. Duty to Mitigate
The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent
any discharge in violation of this permit which has a likelihood of
adversely affecting human health or the environment.
E. Proper Operation and Maintenance
The permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all
facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related
appurtenances) which are installed or used by the permittee to
achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit. Proper
operation and maintenance includes effective performance, adequate
funding, adequate operator staffing and training, and adequate
laboratory and process controls, including appropriate quality
assurance procedures. This provision requires the operation of
backup or auxiliary facilities or similar systems only when necessary
to achieve compliance with the conditions of the permit.
F. Removed Substances
Solids, sludges, filter backwash, or other pollutants removed in the
course of treatment or control of wastewaters shall be disposed of in
a manner such as to prevent any pollutant from such material from
entering navigable waters.
DRAFT
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Page 14 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
G. Bypass of Treatment Facilities:
1. Bypass not exceeding limitations; the permittee may allow any
bypass to occur which does not cause effluent limitations to be
exceeded, but only if it also is for essential maintenance to
assure efficient operation. These bypasses are not subject to
the provisions of paragraphs 2. and 3. of this section.
2. Notice:
a. Anticipated bypass; if the permittee knows in advance of the
need for a bypass, it shall submit prior notice, if possible at
least 10 days before the date of the bypass.
b. Unanticipated bypass; the permittee shall submit notice of
an unanticipated bypass as required under Part II. I.
Twenty-Four Hour Reporting.
3. Prohibition of bypass:
a. Bypass is prohibited and the Director may take enforcement
action against a permittee for a bypass, unless:
(1) The bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life,
personal injury, or severe property damage;
(2) There were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such
as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of
untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of
equipment downtime. This condition is not satisfied if the
permittee could have installed adequate backup equipment to
prevent a bypass which occurred during normal periods of
equipment downtime or preventive maintenance; and
(3) The permittee submitted notices as required under
paragraph 2. of this section.
b. The Director may approve an anticipated bypass, after
considering its adverse effects, if the Director determines that
it will meet the three conditions listed above in paragraph 3.a.
of this section.
DRAFT
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Page 15 of
Permit No.:
19
AK-003865-2
IV.
H. Upset Conditions:
1. Effect of an upset; an upset constitutes an affirmative defense
to an action brought for noncompliance with such
technology-based permit effluent limitations if the requirements
of paragraph 2. of this section are met. No determination made
during administrative review of claims that noncompliance was
caused by upset, and before an action for noncompliance, is
final administrative action subject to judicial review.
2. Conditions necessary for a demonstration of upset; a permittee
who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of upset shall
demonstrate, through properly signed, contemporaneous operating
logs, or other relevant evidence that:
a. An upset occurred and that the permittee can identify the
specific cause(s) of the upset;
b. The permitted facility was at the time being properly
operated; and
c. The permittee submitted notice of the upset as required
under Part II. I. Twenty-Four Hour Notice of Noncompliance
Reporting.
d. The permittee complied with any remedial measures required
under Part III. D. Duty to Mitigate.
3. Burden of proof; in any enforcement proceeding, the permittee
seeking to establish the occurrence of an upset has the burden
of proof.
I. Toxic Pollutants
The permittee shall comply with effluent standards or prohibitions
established under Section 307(a) of the Clean Water Act for toxic
pollutants within the time provided in the regulations that establish
those standards or prohibitions, even if the permit has not yet been
modified to incorporate the requirement.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
A. Changes in Discharge of Toxic Substances
Notification shall be provided to the Director as soon as the
permittee knows of, or has reason to believe:
That any activity has occurred or will occur which would result
owing
1. That any activity has occurred or will occur which would r
in the discharge of any toxic pollutant which is not limited i
permit, if that discharge will exceed the highest of the follc
permit
"notification
levels":
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Page 16 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
a. One hundred micrograms per liter (100 ug/1);
b. Two hundred micrograms per liter (200 ug/1) for acrolein and
acrylonitrile; five hundred micrograms per liter (500 ug/1) for
2, 4-dinitrophenol and for 2-methyl-4, 6-dinitrophenol; and one
milligram per liter (1 mg/1) for antimony;
c. Five (5) times the maximum concentration value reported for
that pollutant in the permit application;
2. That the permittee has begun or expects to begin to use or
manufacture as an intermediate or final product or byproduct any
toxic pollutant which was not reported in the permit application.
B. Planned Changes
The permittee shall give notice to the Director, as soon as possible,
of any planned physical alterations or additions to the permitted
facility. The permittee shall also give advance notice of any
planned changes in the permitted facility or activity which may
result in noncompliance with permit requirements.
C. Permit Actions
This permit may be modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated for
cause. The filing of a request by the permittee for a permit
modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination, or a
notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance, does
not stay any permit condition.
D. Duty to Reapply
If the permittee wishes to continue an activity regulated by this
permit after the expiration date of this permit, the permittee must
apply for and obtain a new permit. The application should be
submitted at least 180 days before the expiration date of this permit,
E. Duty to Provide Information
The permittee shall furnish to the Director, within a reasonable
time, any information which the Director may request to determine
whether cause exists for modifying, revoking and reissuing, or
terminating this permit, or to determine compliance with this
permit. The permittee shall also furnish to the Director, upon
request, copies of records required to be kept by this permit.
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Page 17 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
F. Other Information
When the permittee becomes aware that it failed to submit any
relevant facts in a permit application, or submitted Incorrect
information in a permit application or any report to the Director, it
shall promptly submit such facts or information.
G. Signatory Requirements
All applications, reports or information submitted to the Director
shall be signed and certified.
1. All permit applications shall be signed as follows:
a. For a corporation: by a responsible corporate officer;
b. For a partnership or sole proprietorship: by a general
partner or the proprietor, respectively.
c. For a municipality, State, Federal, or other public agency:
by either a principal executive officer or ranking elected
official.
2. All reports required by the permit and other information
requested by the Director shall be signed by a person described
above or by a duly authorized representative only if:
a. The authorization is made in writing by a person described
above and submitted to the Director.
b. The authorization specified either an individual or a
position having responsibility for the overall operation of the
regulated facility or activity , such as the position of plant
manager, operator of a well or a well field, superintendent, or
position of equivalent responsibility. (A duly authorized
representative may thus be either a named individual or any
individual occupying a named position.)
3. Changes to authorization. If an authorization under paragraph
IV. G. 2. is no longer accurate because a different individual
or position has responsibility for the overall operation of the
facility, a new authorization satisfying the requirements of
paragraph IV. G. 2. must be submitted to the Director prior to
or together with any reports, information, or applications to be
signed by an authorized representative.
DRAFT
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Page 18 of 19
Permit No.: AK-003865-2
4. Certification. Any person signing a document under this section
shall make the following certification:
"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all
attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in
accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified
personnel properly gather and evaluate the information
submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who
manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for
gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the
best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete.
I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting
false information, including the possibility of fine and
imprisonment for knowing violations."
H. Penalties for Falsification of Reports
The Clean Water Act provides that any person who knowingly makes any
false statement, representation, or certification in any record or
other document submitted or required to be maintained under this
permit, including monitoring reports of compliance or noncompliance
shall, upon conviction be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000
per violation, or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months per
violation, or by both.
I. Aval 1 abi 1 ity of Reports^
Except for data determined to be confidential under 40 CFR Part 2,
all reports prepared in accordance with the terms of this permit
shall be available for public inspection at the offices of the State
water pollution control agency and the Director. As required by the
Act, permit applications, permits and effluent data shall not be
considered confidential.
J. Oil and Hazardous Substance Liability
Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution
of any legal action or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities,
liabilities, or penalties to which the permittee is or may be subject
under Section 311 of the Act.
K. Property Rights
The issuance of this permit does not convey any property rights of any
sort, or any exclusive privileges, nor does it authorize any injury to
private property or any invasion of personal rights, nor any
infringement of Federal, State or local laws or regulations.
DRAFT
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Permit No.: AK-003865-2
L. Severability
The provisions of this permit are severable, and if any provision of
this permit, or the application of any provision of this permit to
any circumstance, is held invalid, the application of such provision
to other circumstances, and the remainder of this permit, shall not
be affected thereby.
M. Transfers
This permit may be automatically transferred to a new permittee if:
1. The current permittee notifies the Director at least 30 days in
advance of the proposed transfer date;
2. The notice includes a written agreement between the existing and
new permittees containing a specific date for transfer of permit
responsibility, coverage, and liability between them; and
3. The Director does not notify the existing permittee and the
proposed new permittee of his or her intent to modify, or revoke and
reissue the permit. If this notice is not received, the transfer is
effective on the date specified in the agreement mentioned in
paragraph 2. above.
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FACT SHEET
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle Washington 98101
(206) 442-1214
Date: March 16, 1984
Application No: AK-003865-5; Cominco Alaska Incorporated
PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF A NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES)
PERMIT TO DISCHARGE TO THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT.
Applicant: Cominco Alaska Incorporated
5660 "B" Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99502
has applied for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permit to discharge pollutants from an open pit lead and zinc mine pursuant to
the provisions of the Clean Water Act. The facility will be located 82 miles
north of Kotzebue, Alaska at Latitude 68° 4' 17" N., Longitude 162° 52' 05" W.
The receiving waters will be Red Dog Creek. This fact sheet includes (a) the
tentative determination of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue
the permit, (b) information on public comment, public hearing and appeal, (c)
background information and a description of the proposed discharges, (d) basis
for limitations and monitoring, and (e) other information.
The proposed NPDES permit and other related documents are on file, and may be
inspected and copied in Room 11D, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle Washington,
98101, at any time between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Copies and other information may be requested by writing to EPA at the above
address to the attention of the Water Permits Section M/S 521, or by calling
(206) 442-1214. This material also is available from the EPA Alaska
Operations Office, 3200 Hospital Drive, Juneau, Alaska 99801, and EPA Alaska
Operations Office, Room E556, Federal Building, 701 C Street, Anchorage,
Alaska 99513. A copying machine is available in the Seattle and Juneau
offices for public use at a charge of 20 cents per copy sheet. There is no
charge if the total cost is less than $25.00.
A. TENTATIVE DETERMINATION
EPA has tentatively determined to issue an NPDES permit to discharge to
the above listed applicant subject to certain effluent limitation and
monitoring requirements.
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B. PUBLIC COMMENT
Persons wishing to comment on the tentative determination of the proposed
permit may do so by the expiration date of the Public Notice. All comments
should be submitted in writing to EPA as described in the Public Comments
section of the attached Public Notice.
After the expiration date of the Public Notice, a final determination will
be made with respect to the permit. The tentative determinations contained in
the draft permit will become final conditions if no substantive comments are
received during the Public Notice period.
The permit will become effective 30 days after the final determinations
are made, unless a request for an evidentiary hearing is submitted within this
30 day period. An evidentiary hearing will be granted only if it meets all
the requirements of 40 CFR 124.74.
C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Following a U.S. Bureau of Mines study in the Red Dog area during the
early 1970's information was released in 1975 indicating a zone of high lead
and zinc mineralization. Although Cominco staked claims in the years to
follow, the NANA Regional Coorporation obtained selection rights to the Red
Dog claims with the passage of ANILCA in 1980. Cominco was soon selected by
NANA to act as a partner and developer of the deposit. An NPDES permit
application was submitted by Cominco Alaska Inc. on January 15, 1983.
Cominco is defined as a new source according to the NPDES regulation
definitions (40 CFR 122.2).
D. PROPOSED PROJECT
Proposed mining methods are to consist of waste rock removal followed by
drilling and blasting of ore benches in a open pit. Waste rock not suitable
for processing will be stockpiled. During the first stages of preproduction
it is anticipated that 1,365,000 tons of material will be removed. Production
mining will involve an annual extraction of 1,057,000 tons of ore with
approximately 3400 tons of ore daily being sent to a concentrator mill. A
selective flotation process will be employed to concentrate the minerals.
Milling processes will include size reduction through crushing and autogeneous
grinding, selective mineral concentration and dewatering of concentrates.
E. DESCRIPTION OF DISCHARGE
It is anticipated that during the first five years of operation the
lead/zinc concentrator will require approximately 2100 gallons per minute of
water to process approximately 3000 tons of ore per day. The applicant
proposes maximum recovery of processed water utilizing recycling in excess of
85 percent. The remaining "bleed" of process water will be discharged into
the tailings impoundment and co-mingled with mine-site drainage. The tailing
pulp discharge into the impoundment will be alkaline at a pH of 9.0 to 9.5. A
berm/ditch system is proposed by the applicant which will divert mine runoffs
to the tailings impoundment site. This runoff will typically be characterized
by high heavy metals concentrations, particularly zinc.
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Additional discharges to the tailings impoundment will include sanitary
wastewater yielding a total 8005 input to the impoundment of approximately
56.3 Ibs. per day.
All discharges from the tailings impoundment will be treated via a High
Density Sludge (HDS) wastewater treatment plant. This process consists of the
addition of lime to neutralize acidity and precipitate soluble metals as
hydroxides followed by flocculent induced clarification to remove sludge
solids. The applicant has summarized the treated effluent characteristics as
follows:
Parameter Concentration
Flow, mgd 3.9 (6.0 cfs)
pH 10.5
Suspended Solids, mg/1 5.0
Aluminum, mg/1 0.15
Arsenic, mg/1 .002
Barium, mg/1 .05
Beryllium, mg/1 .003
Calcium, mg/1 500
Cadmium, mg/1 .02
Chromium, mg/1 .03
Cobalt, mg/1 .02
Copper, mg/1 .015
Lead, mg/1 .02
Mercury, mg/1 .00005
Nickel, mg/1 .025
Zinc, mg/1 1.5
F. RECEIVING WATER CHARACTERISTICS
The waters of Red Dog Creek do not support aquatic life typical of most
undeveloped arctic streams due to high concentrations of metals which result
as the main stem flows through the highly mineralized exposed ore body. The
primary pollutants, cadmium, lead and zinc stabilize at highest concentrations
near the confluence of the main stem and the South Fork. At this point
background values for these three parameters all exceed EPA effluent guidelines
(40 CFR § 440.104). Although concentrations are lower in the North Fork, Red
Dog Creek below the confluence of these drainages still exhibits elevated
concentrations of these parameters. Typical concentrations of selected
parameters on the main stem just prior to the confluence with the South Fork
are as follows:
Parameter Concentration
Flow, mgd 7.8 (12 cfs)
pH 6.0
Suspended Solids, mg/1 14.3
Aluminum, mg/1 0.65
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Arsenic, mg/1
Barium, mg/1
Beryllium, mg/1
Calcium, mg/1
Chromium, mg/1
Cobalt, mg/1
Copper, mg/1
Lead, mg/1
Mercury, mg/1
Nickel, mg/1
Zinc, mg/1
26
.0002
0.21
.001
5
.01
.027
.02
0.26
.0002
.051
18.03
The Red Dog Creek drainage, due to its natural toxic
productive biological resource with the exception of the
used as grayling habitat. Fish migrating to this point,
to high stress and mortalities.
conditions is not a
North Fork which is
however, are subject
Ikalukrok Creek, below the confluence with Red Dog Creek is the primary
biological resource of concern which could be impacted by discharges into Red
Dog Creek from the proposed project. A mixing zone is evident downstream of
the confluence and benthos distribution corresponds accordingly. Water
quality both upstream and downstream of this mixing zone represents a
typically unpolluted arctic stream with
concentrations. It is anticipated that
receiving water monitoring program will
water quality.
the exception of some elevated metals
the following effluent limitations and
assure the maintenance of existing
G. BASIS FOR NPDES PERMIT EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
Section 301 (a) of the Clean Water Act provides that the discharge of
pollutants to waters of the United States is unlawful except in accordance
with the terms of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permit. A violation of any condition of a permit constitutes a violation of
the Act and subjects the discharger to the penalties specified in Section 309
of the Act.
On December 3, 1982, the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated the
Ore Mining and Dressing Point Source Category Effluent Limitations Guidelines
and New Source Performance Standards (40 CFR Part 440). Cominco Alaska Inc.
is subject to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) as specified in
40 CFR 440.104 of these guidelines. Following is a summary of effluent
limitations and monitoring requirements as proposed in the draft permit.
Effluent
Characteristics
Flow (mgd)
Copper (mg/1)
Zinc (mg/1)
Lead (mg/1)
Mercury (mg/1)
Effluent Limitations
Daily 30 day
Maximum Average
Monitoring Requirements
Frequency Sample type
7.1
.3
1.5
.6
0.002
5.4
.15
.75
.3
0.001
Continuous
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Recording
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
-------
-5-
Cadmium (mg/1) .10 .05 Weekly Grab
Total Suspended 24 hour
Solids mg/1 30.0 20.0 Weekly composite
pH 10.5 (minimum 6.0) Daily Grab
Temperature N/A N/A Daily Grab
It should be noted that the NSPS does not permit the discharge of mill
process wastewater, only mine drainage. Additionally, in areas where annual
precipitation exceeds annual evaporation the permittee is allowed to discharge
the volume of water equivalent to the net precipitation falling on the
tailings impoundment plus the total precipitation for the mine drainage
diversion area. [40 CFR 440.104 (b)(2)(i)] Based on available precipitation
and evaporation data for the area the total allowable annual discharge was
determined as follows:
Precipitation = 28"
Evaporation = 9"
Net precipitation = 19"
Tailings impoundment (1st five years) = 200 Acres
Drainage area = 2.75 sq. miles @ 640 acres/sq. mile = 1,760 acres
Tai1i ngs Impoundment
[200 ac.] x [(19/12)ft./year=(net precip.)] x [43,560 ft.2/ac.] x [7.5 gal/ft.3]
365 days
= 283,438 gal/day
Drainage Area
[1760 ac.] x [(28/12)ft./year=(total precip.)] x [43,560 ft.2/ac.] x [7.5 gal/ft.3]
365 days
3,675,748 gal/day
Total allowable annual discharge = 1.44 x 10^ gallons
The applicant's NPDES permit application has specified a daily maximum
flow of 7,100,000 gallons per day and a daily average flow of 5,400,000
gallons. The requested discharge is for a six month period for the months
of May through October. Using the applicant's daily average discharge of
5,400,000 gallons the annual projected discharge would be 972,000,000
gallons. This would fall within the allowable criteria. Consequently,
NPDES flow limitations will be those requested in the application.
Effluent limitations for total copper, zinc, lead, mercury, cadmium and
suspended solids are specified as daily maximums and 30 day averages and
reflect New Source Performance Standards as specified in 40 CFR § 440.104.
-------
-6-
The effluent limitation of 10.5 for pH exceeds the NSPS range of 6.0 to
9.0. However, 40 CFR § 440.131 (d) allows for a pH adjustment to exceed 9.0
if the application of neutralization and sedimentation technology to comply
with metals limitations results in an inability to comply with the pH range
of 6.0 - 9.0. This elevated pH value of 10.5 was identified in pilot plant
testing as the level needed to obtain optimum cadmium control. The
applicant has estimated the net effect at the point of discharge in the
receiving water to be a slight increase in pH from 6.1 to 6.2.
F. RECEIVING WATER MONITORING PROGRAM
The major in-stream use of the Wulik drainage is the significant
subsistence, commercial and recreational fishing. References cited in the
Draft EIS identify the lower 40 miles of the Wulik River as a major
anadromous and sport fishing stream. This segment is also used for arctic
char over-wintering, salmon spawning and as a drinking water source.
Ikalukrok Creek is used by arctic char, arctic grayling and salmon for
spawning, rearing and migration.
An ideal ambient water quality monitoring program to identify impacts on
the aquatic community would include annual in-stream biological surveys.
However, this type of program could also prove to be logistically difficult
as well as expensive. A more cost-effective plan is to establish receiving
water monitoring stations where key physical and chemical parameters could
be measured. This approach provides information that would relate directly
to Alaska water quality standards (18 AAC 70) and reflect water quality
goals.
Sampling performed at these stations should provide information needed
to evaluate immediate impacts from the proposed project. Parameters
monitored will be used primarily for:
1) An analysis of pollutant loadings and receiving water dilutions.
2) An analysis of compliance with state water quality standards and
beneficial use impacts.
Data should be collected at a frequency which will support the use of a
probability theory to evaluate statistically defensible exceedance curves.
For two parameters, flow and conductivity, it is desirable to employ
continuous monitoring equipment. This would identify the representativeness
of grab sample days with respect to conditions on days not sampled.
-------
-7-
Two stations are proposed for ambient water quality monitoring in the
Wulik drainage. Data collection would occur seasonally from break-up (mid
hay) to freeze-up (mid October). Station identification codes correspond to
those identified in the Dames and hoore environmental baseline report as
follows:
Site 73: Ikalukrok Creek downstream from confluence with Red Dog Creek.
Site 9: Ikalukrok Creek above confluence with Red Dog Creek.
To provide an early warning system as a part of the water treatment
plant process control, the permittee will be required to develop, subject to
State approval, a continuous flow-thru biomonitoring facility which meets
the following criteria:
1. The biomonitoring facility shall provide for the maintenance
of cold-water fish specie(s). Control and test organisms shall be
continuously subjected to water which is a dilution of the effluent with
local surface waters. Effluent to surface water dilution ratios shall
produce a surrogate of the effluent's ultimate dilution in the Ikalukrok,
except that the dilution shall be 10% more concentrated than would be
expected as a safety margin. This will be accomplished using realtime flow
data from the Ikalukrok above the confluence of Red Dog Creek and realtime
flow data from the plant effluent. The surrogate solution shall be
monitored for pH, conductivity, temperature and divalent cations.
2. The test organisms shall be continuously or frequently
observed for symptoms of distress and mortality. TYPE I and TYPE II warning
levels are recommended. The TYPE I warning level is defined as symptoms of
distress related to engineering failure of the biominitoring facility. A
TYPE II warning level is defined as an effluent caused distress incident.
Observations of distress (either TYPE I or TYPE II) will result in necessary
actions being taken by personnel to prevent distress in the monitored
organisms.
3. Notification of ADEC within 24 hours from the time of
occurrence of a TYPE II warning level will be required, including
information on pH, conductivity, temperature and divalent cations at the
time of the incident. Any remedial actions taken to mitigate the TYPE II
incident will also be communicated.
4. Fish which have exhibited symptoms of distress, whether TYPE I
or TYPE II, shall be replaced with fresh equivalent stock, maintained for
that purpose.
5. This biomonitoring facility shall be tested, verified and
operational when discharge commences from the tailings impoundment water
treatment facility.
-------
The following table identifies parameter and frequency of collection for
the receiving water and biomonitoring programs:
Flow-thru
Site 73 Site 9 Biomonitoring Facility
Flow b a a
Conductivity b b a
Suspended Solids b b c
Turbidity b b c
Cadmium (total) b b a
Iron b b a
Lead b b a
Zinc b b a
Aluminum b b a
Hardness b b a
Temperature b b a
Dissolved Oxygen b b c
pH b b c
Frequency Codes: a) continuous
b) weekly
c) daily
Rationale for the above sampling program.
The NPDES permit will be issued for a period of five years. Since mine
operations will not begin until 1987/1988 and permit issuance is anticipated
in 1984, the first three years of the monitoring program will provide
additional baseline data. Monitoring during mine operations will be for a
period of approximately two years during the effective dates of the proposed
permit. Results of this monitoring program will be used to develop
subsequent permit conditions.
Although the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has not
established a mixing zone for the proposed discharge, it is not anticipated
that ambient water quality conditions will be exceeded in Red Dog Creek.
G. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Section 304(e) of the Clean Water Act requires EPA to include conditions
in the NPDES permit that require the permittee to develop a Best Management
Practices Plan to control the discharge of toxic or hazardous pollutants by
way of plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, and
drainage from raw materials storage.
The intent of the Best Management Practices (BMP) Plan is to recognize
the hazardous nature of the various substances used and produced by the
facility and the ways that such substances may be accidently dispersed.
Facilities should be designed and built to contain and recover such losses
or to neutralize them before any adverse impacts can occur. The BMP should
address methods to detect and control all leakages. Specifically, all areas
where concentrated solutions of hazardous substances are handled should have
closed-drain systems and collection sumps to confine leaked or spilled
materials within the facility.
The permittee is required to submit the BMP program to EPA within eight
months of the NPDES permit effective date.
-------
References
1. NPDES Permit Application (AK-003865-2), January 15, 1983
2. Ore Mining and Dressing Point Source Category Effluent Limitations
Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards (40 CFR Part 440).
December 3, 1982
3. Wastewater Collection and Management - Red Dog Project, Cominco
Engineering Services Ltd., May, 1983
4. Tailings Impoundment Preliminary Design - Red Dog Project, Cominco
Engineering Services Ltd., March, 1983
5. Red Dog Mine - Project Overview, Cominco Alaska Inc., January, 1983
6. Application of the HDS Process in the Treatment of Red Dog Tailing Pond
Water - A Study Conducted by:Chemical Process Research Group
7. Environmental Baseline Studies - Red Dog Project, Cominco Alaska Inc.,
Dames & Moore
8. Final Development Document for Ore Mining & Dressing. EPA 440/1-82/061,
November, 1982
9. February 25, 1983 letter from Walter Kuit, Cominco to L. W. Scarburgh,
EPA concerning pH and zinc variances.
10. May 12, 1983 memo from Robert Burd, Director, Water Division, to Steven
Shotzow, Director, Office of Water Regulations and Standards, re: New
Source Performance Standards
11. May 10, 1983 letter from Richard Neve', Commissioner, ADEC to Harry
Noah, Cominco Alaska, re: Preliminary Water Quality Standards
12. May 19, 1983 response from Effluent Guidelines Division, re: pH and
zinc variances
13. July 14, 1983 letter from W. J. Kuit, Cominco, to L. W. Scarburgh, EPA,
re: Effluent Guidelines Division response to pH and zinc variances
-------
Appendix 5
Department of the Army Public
Notice and Section 404(b)(1)
Evaluation
-------
US Army Corps
of Engineers
Alaska District
Regulatory Functions Branch
Pouch 898
Anchorage, Alaska 99506
Public Notice
of Appl
for Permit
PUBLIC NOTICE DATE: March 16,
REFERENCE NUMBER: 07l-OYD-4-840012
WATERWAY NUMBER: Chukchi Sea 11
Interested parties are hereby notified that an application has been received
for a Department of the Army permit for certain work in waters of the United
States, as described below and shown on the attached plan.
APPLICANT: Cominco Alaska, Incorporated
LOCATION: Red Dog Mine, sec. 19, T. 13 N., R. 18 W., K.R.M.
WORK: 1) Tailing Dam: Place approximately 2,800,000 cubic yards of
dredged and fill material in the south fork of Red Dog Creek and adjacent
wetlands to construct a tailing dam. The dam will be 150 feet high and 30
feet wide at the crest, with an embankment approximately 2,400 feet long.
The upstream slope will be 2:1 with downstream side slope of 4:1. A
spillway will be constructed to meet the 10-year, 24-hour rainfall event.
2) Access Road: Place approximately 177,408 cubic yards of fill material
in wetlands to construct a gravel access road connecting the mill site,
tailing dam, and mine. The 2.1 mile road will be constructed 6 feet high
and 60 feet wide at the crown with 2:1 side slopes.
PURPOSE: The purpose of these activities is to construct support facilities
for the efficient and environmentally safe operation of the Red Dog Mine.
All activities will be located on private lands.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Environmental
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement
Protection Agency (EPA) is
(EIS) for the Red Dog Mine
The Alaska District Corps of Engineers is a coorperating agency in
A permit decision regarding the road and tailing dam will not be
after the Final EIS has been prepared. This public notice
applicant's preferred alternative. Other alternatives are
in the EIS process and a discussion of these alternatives
III of the EIS.
project.
the EIS.
made until
reflects the
being considered
can be found in Chapter
AUTHORITY: This permit will be issued or denied under the following
authorities:
(X) Discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States -
Section 404, Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
-------
WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: A permit for the described work will not be
issued until a certification or waiver of certification as required under
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (Public Law 95-217), has been received
from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
PUBLIC HEARING: The Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection
Agency will hold joint public hearings on the Draft EJS. The dates and
locations of these public hearings can be found in the Draft EI5.
CULTURAL RESOURCES: The applicant's perferrea alternative may affect
cultural resources located within and adjacent to Cape Krjsentstern National
Monument. Formal consultation pursuant to Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (33 CFR 800) is required.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: Preliminarily, this described activity will not affect
endangered species, or their critical habitat designated as endangered or
threatened, under the Endangerea Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 844). Formal
consultation under Section 7 of the Act is not required for the described
activity.
FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT: Evaluation of the described activity will include
conformance with appropriate State or local flood plain standards;
consideration of alternative sites and methods of accomplishment; and
weighing of the positive, concentrated and dispersed, and short and
long-term impacts on the flood plain.
EVALUATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an
evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the
proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the
national concern for both protection and utilization of important
resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the
proposals must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments.
All factors which may De relevant to the proposal will be considered
including the cumulative effects thereof; among these are conservation,
economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural
values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land
use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply
and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber
production, mineral needs, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the
people.
Comments on tne described work, with the reference number., should reach this
office no later than 30 days after the publication of the notice of
availability of the Final EIS to become part of the record and be considered
in the permit decision. Copies of any comments should be sent to Mr. Bill
Riley, Environmental Evaluation Branch (M/S 443), Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101. If further
information is desired concerning this notice, contact Mr. Joe Williamson at
(907) 552-4942 or 279-6713.
-2-
-------
The Notice of Application for State Mater Quality Certification and
Certification of Consistency with the Alaska Coastal Management Program,
will be public noticed by the State of Alaska at a later date.
District Engineer
U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers
Attachments
-3-
-------
RE DJDOG
N
DEADLOCK
MTN
Vicinity Map
LEGEND
MONUMENT BOUNDARY
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR
VABM 28
PORT SITE -
67°30N NATIONAL NONUMENT
CHUKCHI SEA 11
Cominco Alaska
Red Dog Projecl
Sheet 1 of 4
LOCATION MAP
-------
CHUKCHI SEA 11
SITE PLAN
Cominco Alaska
Red Dog Project
-------
NOTE: MINE SITE ROADS TO REQUIRE 177.408
CU. YDS. FILL. INITIAL PIT DEVELOPMENT TO//
SUPPLY SUITABLE WASTE ROCK FOR USE //
AS FILL MATERIAL. //
AVG. 6' FILL
ROAD SECTION-TYPICAL
MfAif- ni-r i * \ff\iIT Commco Alaska
MINE PIT LAYOUT Red Dog Pr0ject
•Sheet a of 4 1/84
-------
ORE
BOt>Y
ACCOMMODATION
SEEPAGE/CONTINGENCY «r
DIVERSION DITCH
IMPOUNDMENT-PLAN
HAUL ROAD
YEAR
LINER
SEEPAGE CONTINGENCY
0AM
EL 950
EL 870
HAUL ROAD
EL 800
NOTE: UPSTREAM a DOWNSTREAM SLOPES FOR
YEAR 1 ARE Z: 1
930
310
DAM SECTION
FILL REQUIREMENTS ( cu. yds. )
( MINE WASTE MATERIAL )
CHUKCHI SEA 11
TAILING IMPOUNDMENT
YEAR 1
YEAR 5
255.000
2.800.000
Comlnco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Sheet 4 of 4 1/84
-------
Public
sisssar of
Alaska District ^
Regulatory Functions Branch V4%B0
Pouch 898 IWl
Anchorage, Alaska 99506
PUBLIC NOTICE DATE: March 16, 198^
REFERENCE NUMBER: 071-OYD-2-830359
WATERWAY NUMBER: Chukchi Sea 9
Interested parties are hereby notified that an application has been received
for a Department of the Army permit for certain work in waters of the United
States, as described below and shown on the attached plans.
APPLICANT: Cominco Alaska, Incorporated
LOCATION: Port Facility: sec. 10, T. 25 N., R. 24 W., K.R.M.
Mine Site: sec. 19, T. 31 N., R. 18 W., K.R.M.
A gravel road would be constructed from the port facility to the
mine site along the route shown in the attached plans.
WORK: The proposed work can be described in two parts:
1. Road: Approximately 3,980,000 cubic yards of fill material will
be required to construct a gravel road, including 28 turnouts, in wetlands.
The 56.7 mile road will be constructed approximately 6 feet high and 30 feet
wide at the crown, with 2:1 side slopes. The dimensions for a typical
turnout are 350 feet x 20 feet x 6 feet, with 2:1 side slopes. The road
will have a total of 175 culverted crossings and 2 bridge crossings. Gravel
material for the road and turnouts will be obtained from several borrow
sites. These borrow sites will be permitted at a later date when the exact
locations are known. Possible borrow site locations have been shown on the
attached plans.
2. Port Facility: The port will consist of the construction of
concentrate transfer facility, dock, upland port facility, and a concentrate
storage building. The concentrate transfer facility will consist of
ballasting a large ship on the sea floor approximately 4,000 feet offshore.
The ship will be ballasted in 35 feet of water and will be used to transfer
lead and zinc concentrate from the dock to ocean going ships. The .area
dredged for such an action would be 1,000 feet by 150 feet by 5 feet deep,
with the dredged material pumped into the ship's wing tanks to act as ballast
(total of 25,000 cubic yards). In addition, 1,000 feet to the north, an
area 1,000 feet by 200 feet by 10 feet deep will be dredged to supply
ballast for the tanker (total of 75,000 cubic yards). There would be no
onshore storage of dredged material. The dock will be 400 feet long and
extend to 12 feet of water offshore, with 3:1 side slopes. Twenty-nine
thousand (29,000) cubic yards of fill would be needed for the dock,
including armor rock located at the toe of the structure. The upland port
-------
site will be constructed in wetlands adjacent to the Chukchi Sea and will be
used as a staging area for concentrate shipping, the movement of mine
supplies, and building materials. Tne Pad will be 510 feet by 265 feet and
10 feet deep. The total fill required is 63,000 cubic yards. The
concentrate storage building will be located on the excavated barrow site
approximately 2.5 miles from the shore side facility. The building will be
912 feet by 180 feet by 80 feet tall. No fill will be required. The
opening of the port lagoon would require the dredging of an opening which
would be 60 feet by 370 feet by 12 feet. A total of 15,000 cubic yards of
material would be moved. This would be done to allow access to the lagoon
for the construction barge to be used in the initial development of the road
and port.
PURPOSE: The purpose is to develop a road and port facility for the
construction and operation of the Red Dog Mine. The road will be an
industrial use road constructed to carry 150 ton trucks which will move
lead/zinc concentrate from the mine to the port. The road would carry up to
12 truck trips per day plus other assorted mine related vehicle trips. The
port would function approximately 4 months of the year and would act as the
incoming and outgoing point for all material for the Red Dog Mine.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
preparinganEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Red Dog Mine
project, including the gravel road and port facility. The Alaska District
Corps of Engineers is a coorperating agency in the EIS. A permit decision
regarding the road and port facility will not be made until after the Final
EIS has been prepared. This public notice reflects the applicant's
preferred alternative. Other alternatives are being considered in the EIS
process and a discussion of these alternatives can be found in Chapter III
of the EIS.
AUTHORITY: This permit will be issued or denied under the following
authorities:
(X) Perform work in or affecting navigable waters of the United States
Section 10, River and Harbor Act 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403).
(X) Discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States
Section 404, Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
(X) Title XI, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (PL 96-487;
94 Stat. 2371).
WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: A permit for the described work will not be
issued until a certification or waiver of certification as required under
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (Public Law 95-217), has been received
from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ALT CERTIFICATION: Section 307(c)(3) of the Coastal
Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended by 16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3), requires
the applicant to certify that the described activity affecting land or water
uses in the Coastal Zone complies with the Alaska Coastal Management
Program. A permit will not be issued until the Office of Management and
Budget, Division of Governmental Coordination has concurred with the
applicant's certification.
-------
Public Notice
of Application
Alaska District ^ •». • m
Regulatory Functions Branch Y^^IP •M'^kl^W^lB
Pouch 898 IVl • ^•••••»
Anchorage, Alaska 99506
PUBLIC NOTICE DATE: March 16, 1981*
REFERENCE NUMBER: 071-OYD-2-830359
WATERWAY NUMBER: Chukchi Sea 9
Interested parties are hereby notified that an application has been received
for a Department of the Army permit for certain work in waters of the United
States, as described below and shown on the attached plans.
APPLICANT: Cominco Alaska, Incorporated
LOCATION: Port Facility: sec. 10, T. 25 N., R. 24 W., K.R.M.
Mine Site: sec. 19, T. 31 N., R. 18 W., K.R.M.
A gravel road would be constructed from the port facility to the
mine site along the route shown in the attached plans.
WORK: The proposed work can be described in two parts:
1. Road: Approximately 3,980,000 cubic yards of fill material will
be required to construct a gravel road, including 28 turnouts, in wetlands.
The 56.7 mile road will be constructed approximately 6 feet high and 30 £eet
wide at the crown, with 2:1 side slopes. The dimensions for a typical
turnout are 350 feet x 20 feet x 6 feet, with 2:1 side slopes. The road
will have a total of 175 culverted crossings and 2 bridge crossings. Gravel
material for the road and turnouts will be obtained from several borrow
sites. These borrow sites will be permitted at a later date when the exact
locations are known. Possible borrow site locations have been shown on the
attached plans.
2. Port Facility: The port will consist of the construction of
concentrate transfer facility, dock, upland port facility, and a concentrate
storage building. The concentrate transfer facility will consist of
ballasting a large ship on the sea floor approximately 4,000 feet offshore.
The ship will be ballasted in 35 feet of water and will be used to transfer
lead and zinc concentrate from the dock to ocean going ships. The .area
dredged for such an action would be 1,000 feet by 150 feet by 5 feet deep,
with the dredged material pumped into the ship's wing tanks to act as ballast
(total of 25,000 cubic yards). In addition, 1,000 feet to the north, an
area 1,000 feet by 200 feet by 10 feet deep will be dredged to supply
ballast for the tanker (total of 75,000 cubic yards). There would be no
onshore storage of dredged material. The dock will be 400 feet long and
extend to 12 feet of water offshore, with 3:1 side slopes. Twenty-nine
thousand (29,000) cubic yards of fill would be needed for the dock,
including armor rock located at the toe of the structure. The upland port
-------
site will be constructed in wetlands adjacent to the Chukchi Sea and will be
used as a staging area for concentrate shipping, the movement of mine
supplies, and building materials. The Pad will be 510 feet by 265 feet and
10 feet deep. The total fill required is 63,000 cubic yards. The
concentrate storage building will be located on the excavated barrow site
approximately 2.5 miles from the shore side facility. The building will be
912 feet by 180 feet by 80 feet tall. No fill will be required. The
opening of the port lagoon would require the dredging of an opening which
would be 60 feet by 370 feet by 12 feet. A total of 15,000 cubic yards of
material would be moved. This would be done to allow access to the lagoon
for the construction barge to be used in the initial development of the road
and port.
PURPOSE: The purpose is to develop a road and port facility for the
construction and operation of the Red Dog Mine. The road will be an
industrial use road constructed to carry 150 ton trucks which will move
lead/zinc concentrate from the mine to the port. The road would carry up to
12 truck trips per day plus other assorted mine related vehicle trips. The
port would function approximately 4 months of the year and would act as the
incoming and outgoing point for all material for the Red Dog Mine.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
preparinganEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Red Dog Mine
project, including the gravel road and port facility. The Alaska District
Corps of Engineers is a coorperating agency in the EIS. A permit decision
regarding the road and port facility will not be made until after the Final
EIS has been prepared. This public notice reflects the applicant's
preferred alternative. Other alternatives are being considered in the EIS
process and a discussion of these alternatives can be found in Chapter III
of the EIS.
AUTHORITY: This permit will be issued or denied under the following
authorities:
(X) Perform work in or affecting navigable waters of the United States
Section 10, River and Harbor Act 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403).
(X) Discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States
Section 404, Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
(X) Title XI, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (PL 96-487;
94 Stat. 2371).
WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: A permit for the described work will not be
issued until a certification or waiver of certification as required under
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (Public Law 95-217), has been received
from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ALT CERTIFICATION: Section 307(c)(3) of the Coastal
Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended by 16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3), requires
the applicant to certify that the described activity affecting land or water
uses in the Coastal Zone complies with the Alaska Coastal Management
Program. A permit will not be issued until the Office of Management and
Budget, Division of Governmental Coordination has concurred with the
applicant's certification.
-------
PUBLIC HEARING: The Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection
Agency will hold joint public hearings on the Draft EIS. The dates and
locations of these public hearings can be found in the Draft EIS.
CULTURAL RESOURCES: The applicant's perferred alternative may affect
cultural resources located within and adjacent to Cape Krusentstern National
Monument. Formal consultation pursuant to Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act ( 33 CFR 800) is required.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: The proposed action may affect threatened or endangered
species or their critical habitats. Formal consultation with the U.S. Fish
ana Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, under Section 7
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 844), is required.
FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT: Evaluation of the described activity will include
conformance with appropriate State or local flood plain standards;
consideration of alternative sites and methods of accomplishment; and
weighing of the positive, concentrated and dispersed, and short and
long-term impacts on the flood plain.
EVALUATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an
evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the
proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the
national concern for both protection and utilization of important
resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the
proposals must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments.
All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered
including the cumulative effects thereof; among these are conservation,
economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural
values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land
use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply
and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber
production, mineral needs, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the
people.
Comments on the described work, with the reference number, should reach this
office no later than 30 days after the publication of the notice of
availability of the Final EIS to become part of the record and be considered
in the permit decision. Copies of any comments should be sent to Mr. Bill
Riley, Environmental Evaluation Branch (M/S 443), Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101. If further
information is desired concerning this notice, contact Mr. Joe Williamson at
(907) 552-4942 or 279-6713.
The Notice of Application for both State Water Quality Certification and
Certification of Consistency with the Alaska Coastal Zone Management Program
will be public noticed by the State of Alaska at a later date.
District Engineer
U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers
-------
RED,DOG
SlTf
A :
DEADLOCK
MJLbl
Vicinity Map
LEGEND
IPIAVIK
LAGOON-
VABM 28
PORT SITE -
MONUMENT BOUNDARY
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR
67 50N NATIONAL NONUMENT
LOCATION MAP
Cominco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
071-OYO-2-830359
Sheet 1 of 13 1/8'
-------
BALLAST FOR TANKER
APPRQX. 75,000 CU. Y0S.
4
1 000'
DOCK OVER SHEET PILES
VOR CONCRETE CAISSON 65' .
BARGE DOCK
335'
4" FUEL LINE ( NTS )
EARTH FILL
20.000 cu yds.
" .PROTECTIVE
CASING < NTS)
DREDGE
CUT Dredging & backfill of trench
involve 12,000 cu. yds. of material
SECTION ELEVATION (§)
hor. 1"= 170*
ver. 1"= 50'
o
o
o
PLAN OF PORT FACILITIES
1" 400'
tu
z
DEEP WATER DOCK BARGE
( BALLASTED TANKEp )
ODD O D~
( See sheet 10 for
tanker section )
Approximate location of
undersea fuel line
1017'
1000'
700'
BREAK REPRESENTS 2750'
GENERAL SITE DEVELOPMENT
63.000 cu yds. FILL
20' Dl A
FUEL STG£
TANK AND
DRUM STGE
BOWER
GENERATION
(PORT. LAGOON
DREDGED AREA.
SEABED
SECTION ELEVATION ® hor- 1"-400'
ver. 1" = 40'
NOTES: Port facility location may be slightly
altered to reduce impact to cultural
resource site.
200' 510'
BREAK'REPRESENTS 500'
SEAPORT FACILITIES
Cominco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
071-OYD-2-83035S
Sheet 2 of 13 1/8
-------
CHUKCHI SEA
NOTE:
DARK AREA REPRESENTS
ACTUAL PIT AMO WOULD 8UPP1Y
ALL GRAVEL NEEDED
EXPLORATION AREA IS THE
TOTAL AREA WITHIN WHICH
THE PIT MAY BE LOCATED
Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi S«« 0
071-OYD-a-830359
Sheet 9 ol t8 1/84
PORT SITE
-------
a:
o
K
I
Comlnco Alaska
R«d Doy P'<>i«ct
Chukchi Sea 6
071-OYD-2-830»59
Sheet 4 «f 1» 1/84
00
UJ
a:
o
-------
MA TCH LINE B
MATCH LINE C
-------
MATCH LINE C
MATCH LINE D
-------
MATCH LINE
-------
CENTRATC STORAGE BUILDING
lFme
AT MILE 2.5
PORT SITE
LOCATION DETAIL
ACCESS ROAD
912'0"
SECTION ELEVATION
CONCENTRATE STORAGE
FACILITY BUILT ON BEDROCK OF
FORMER BARROW SITE AT PT. (
Cominco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
071-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 8 of 13 1/84
-------
PORT SITE
( See sheet Z. for detail )
ORIGINAL GROUND
PORT LAGOON
SECTION ELEVATION (B
= 300' ( approx.)
hot. 1"=68' ver. 1"=40'
ORIGINAL GROUND
NATURAL BREACH
DREDGE.SPOILS
o SHORELINE 570 FEET
SECTION ELEVATION (A
hor. 1"=225' ver. 1"=40'
T
*
o
co
>
ac
o
i-
I
tr
o
0
o
H
K
O
O
>
O
a
g
$
li.
KITCHEN /DINER /REC.
BARGE LAYOUT
" = 50'
20'
NOTJE:
12'
20'
CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES
ELEVATION
1"=50
Comtnco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
071-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 9 of 13 1/84
-------
I DRY GOODS
{ CONTAINERS i
BALLAST
100.000 CU. YDS.
SECTION ELEVATION
"= 120'
190'j
SEABEDL
AVAILABLE STORAGE DEPTH-42'
35' ,
n
1-H
i /ZINC^f
.BALLAST
i n
T
_5'iL__ " '-
—4 t—
BALLAST ^
SEABED
X ||~Ft;Et~{
\1 OIL 7
\t /
n
H-
BUI K > ^ BULK
DREDGED PAD TO PRODUCE
25,000 CU. YDS. MATERIAL
TO BE USED AS BALLAST
( vertical exaggerated )
( vertical
exaggerated )
1 50'
SECTION ELEVATION (A)
1"= 120'
154'9"
CARRIER
DEEP WATER DOCK
SECTION ELEVATION
1"= 120'
Cominco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
07 1-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 10o» 13 1 /84
-------
2% DRAINAGE DITCH
SLOPE VARIABLE
DEPENDENT ON MATERIAL
TYPICAL CROSS SECTION of BORROW PIT
_____
CUT SLOPE VARIABLE
NOTE:
VOLUME OF OVERBURDEN
NOT AVAILABLE
NO OVERBURDEN STOCKPILES
SHOWN AT THIS TIME
TYPICAL BORROW PIT
CROSS SECTION&PLAN
TYPICAL PLAN of BORROW, PIT
N.T.S.
Cominc o Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
071-0YD-2-830359
Sheet 11 of 13 1/84
-------
ESTIM. ANNUAL
HIGH WATER
AVG. CROSSING 8000 cu.yds. Fill
TYPICAL BRIDGE CROSS SECTION
SCALE :HOR. 1'=20'VERT.1"=10'
30'
r
GRADED ROCK
PROTECTION AROUND
CULVERT AS REQUIRED
TYPICAL SIDE SLOPE
2
NATURAL STREAM SLOPE
CORRUGATED STEEL CULVERT
TYPICAL ROAD CROSS SECTION SHOWING TYPICAL CULVERT
— „ —,—.
AVG. 1500 cu. yds. of fill
EXPLANATION of ROAD
• 56.7 MILES LONG,30' NOMINAL WIDTH
W/GRAVELED SURFACE & AVG.
6' SUBBASE of GRANULAR FILL
• TOTAL FILL : 3,866,000 cu. yds.
• TOTAL CULVERTS : 175
• TOTAL TURNOUTS : 28
- 4000 cu. yds. FILL
-DIM. 50' WIDE X 350'LONG
PER TURNOUT
• MAJOR BRIDGES : ONE
• CROSSING of RIVERS & STREAMS :
- OMIKVIOROK RIVER
BRIDGE&ROAD
CROSS SECTIONS
Cominco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi sea 9
07 1-OYD-2-830359
Sheet12of13 1/84
-------
SLOPE
\ \ \ \
\ \ \
350'
\ \ \
ROAD
/ / /
/ / /
SLOPE
TYPICAL PLAN OF TURNOUT
SCALE 1' 60'
-20-
GRADED ROCK PROTECTION
AROUND CULVERT
NATURAL STREAM SLOPE
TYPICAL CROSS SECTION OF TURNOUT
N.T.S.
20'
\ \
30'
NOTE:
REFER TO SHEET 2 of 13
TYPICAL SIDE SLOPE
Commco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
CROSS SECTION & PLAN 0/1-0x0-2-830359
^==^========^==^==_ Sheet13o(13 1/84
TYPICAL TURNOUT
-------
OFFICE OF TSB GOVERNOR
DIVISION OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING
GOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION UNIT
BILL SHEFFIELD, GOVERNOR
POUCH AW (MS • 01651
JL'!,'EA U.ALASKA SSS11
FHOt.'B: IS0
Certification of Consistency with the
Alaska Coastal Management Program
Re: Department of the Army Permit
Application No. 071-OYD-2-830359
Appl icant „• Cominco Alaska
o.f
Section 307(c)(3) of the' Coastal Zone Management Act
1972 as amended by 16 DSC 1456(c)(3) requires the applicant
for a Federal permit to conduct an activity affecting land
cr water u^es in the Alaska ccastal zone to provide certifi
cation that.the activity will comply with the Alaska
Coastal Management Program (ACMP).
The
is w
requ
Pub!
cat i
the
be f
Plan
info
cent
AK 9
p ropos e
ithin t
i red be
ic Noti
on, the
ce rt i fi
o rwa rde
n i n g f o
r m a t i o n
act the
9811, o
d activity desc
he ACMP, and th
fore your appl i
ce. Upon recei
Public Kotice
cation s tatemen
d to the Divisi
r its co n cur re n
on the Al es ka
Office of Coas
r the Division
ribed in your permit application
e following certification is
cation can be processed to
pt of the signed, dated cert if i-
will be issued and will include
t.- The Public Notice will
on of Policy Development and
ce or objection. For additional
Coastal Management Program,
tal. Management, Pouch AP, Juneau,
at the above address.
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the proposed activity described in Department of the Army
Application No. Q71-QYD-2-830359 complies with the approved
will
Alaska Coastal Mana percent Program , and
in a manner consistent with such programs
be conducted
Signature t>T Applicant
September 6, 1983
Date
WW: jo
-------
APPENDIX 5
EVALUATION OF THE DISCHARGE OF DREDGED AND FILL
MATERIAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 404(b)l GUIDELINES
SUBPART A - ACCEPTABILITY
Dredged and fill material should not be discharged into the
aquatic ecosystem unless it can be demonstrated that such a dis-
charge would not have an unacceptable adverse impact either
individually or in combination with other known and/or probable
impacts of other activities affecting the ecosystem of concern.
SUBPART B - RESTRICTIONS
I
The proposed Red Dog Project woud involve a discharge of fill
material into a special aquatic site for construction of mine
site facilities, a road/railbed to the coast, and port facilities.
A description of the proposed project and alternatives evaluated
for impact analysis is found in the Summary and Chapters II and
III of the draft EIS. All practicable alternatives to the pro-
ject would involve a discharge into a special aquatic site. As
discussed in the Summary and Chapter III of the draft EIS, the
applicant's proposed project is the environmentally preferred
alternative and will have less adverse impacts than any of the
other alternatives identified.
The discharge of fill material will have to be certified as
being in compliance with State Water Quality Standards and the
project cannot violate applicable Federal toxic effluent standards
pursuant to Section 307 of the CWA (40 CFR 219).
As determined in Subparts C through G of this evaluation and
as discussed in Chapter V of the draft EIS, the proposed project
or any of the alternatives, would not contribute to significant
degradation of waters of the United States including adverse
effects on human health, life stages of organisms dependent on the
aquatic ecosystem, ecosystem diversity, productivity and sta-
bility, and recreational, aesthetic, and economic values.
Appropriate and practical steps have been identified in
Subpart H which would minimize potential adverse impacts of the
discharge on the aquatic ecosystem. These mitigating measures
would be incorporated into the project design or would be required
by permit conditions or other agreements.
SUBPART C - PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL IMPACTS
Pertinent information about primary, secondary, and cumula-
tive impacts of the proposed project and alternatives related to
the substrate; turbidity/suspended particulates; physical and
-------
chemical changes to the water column; current, circulation, or
fluctuation; and salinity gradients is contained in Chapter V of
the draft EIS.
SUBPART D - BIOLOGICAL IMPACTS
Pertinent information about primary, secondary, and cumula-
tive impacts of the proposed project and alternatives related to
threatened and endangered species, aquatic organisms, and wildlife
is contained in Chapter V of the draft EIS.
SUBPART E - POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON SPECIAL AQUATIC SITES
Special aquatic sites that would be affected by the proposed
project are wetlands, mud flats, and vegetated shallows. Depend-
ing on the exact alignment of the road/railbed, riffle and pool
complexes may also be affected. Discussions about impacts of the
proposed project and alternatives on values associated with those
special aquatic sites are found in Chapter V of the draft EIS.
SUBPART F - IMPACTS ON HUMAN USE CHARACTERISTICS
Human use characteristics that would be affected by the pro-
posed project include subsistence species, recreational and com-
mercial fisheries, water-related recreation activities,
aesthetics, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, and archeological
sites. As discussed in the draft EIS, the proposed project will
have a low level of impact on each of these characteristics. Per-
tinent information about potential impacts of the proposed project
and alternatives is found in the Summary and Chapters III and V of
the draft EIS.
SUBPART G - EVALUATION AND TEST
The source and type of discharge material that would be used
to develop the proposed project or any of the alternatives is
described in chapter II of the draft EIS. Based on these evaluat-
ions and discussions, and the locations of the potential gravel
sites described, the possibility that the proposed discharge
material is a carrier of contaminants is very unlikely. Based on
this evaluation, there is little likelihood that discharges
associated with the proposed project would result in contamination
of the aquatic ecosystem; therefore, no testing would be re-
quired.
SUBPART H - ACTION TO MINIMIZE ADVERSE EFFECT
Those practicable actions which are not part of the appli-
cant's current proposal but which could be taken to minimize sig-
nificant adverse effects of the proposed discharge are described
in Chapter V of the draft EIS.
-------
Appendix 6
AIMILCA Title XI Right-of-Way
Application
-------
16 rof.'n r»«
p,..c,i»,d br DOl/usDAyDOT APPLICATION FOR TRANSPORTATION AND
'•%££»?•-'>-"? UTIl-'TY SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES
ON FEDERAL LANDS
FORM APPROVED
OMB NO. IOO4-0060
NOTE: Before (completing and flllntc the application, the applicant ihould completely review thll pack-
ace and~schedulc a prcapplicalion meet'nR with teprcienl alive* of the agency responiible for
processing the application. Each agency may have >pecLfic and unique requircmenti to be met
In preparinc and processing the application. Many times, with the help of the agency represen-
tative, the application caq be completed m the preapplication meeting.
FOR AGENCY USE ONLY
Application Number
Date filed
'pv/icoH HPT iA
1. Name and address of applicant (include zip
code)
COMINCO ALASKA
DIVISION OF COMINCO AMERICAN INC.
5660 B St., Anchorage, AK 99502
2. Name, title, and address of authorized agent
U different from Item 1 (include rip code)
H. M. GIEGERICH, PRESIDENT
COMINCO ALASKA
5660 B St., Anchorage, AK 99502
3. TELEPHONE (a,,a cojf)
Applicant
907/563-3686
Authorized Agent
Same
4. As applicant are you? (check one)
a. | | Individual
b. txx! Corporal ion *
c. | ] Partnership/Association *
d. | | State Government/State Agency
e. I I Local Government
f. I I Federal Agency
* If ctteied. complete tupplrmentat page
5,
Specify what application is for: (cheek one)
a. I I New authorization
b. I 1 Renew existing authorization No..
c. I I Amend existing authorization No..
d. I I Assign existing authorization No.
e. | | Existing use for which no authorization has been received '
f. 3f?TI Other'Supply additional information
* If cheeked, provide detail* under Item 7
6. If aa individual, or partnership are you a citizen(s) of the United States? jy"! Yes | | No
7. Project description (detcribe in detail): (a) Type of system or facility, (e.g.. canal, pipeline. road): (b) related structures and facili
tics; (c) physical specifications (length, width. grading, tic.); (<0 term of years needed; (e) time of year of use or operation; (f) Vol-
ume or amount of product to be transported; (g) duration and timing of construction; and (h) temporary work areas needed for construe-
Uon. (Attack additional ibtttt. if additional if/act it nttded.)
SEE ATTACHMENT "A"
8. Attach nap covering area and show location of project proposal
SEE ATTACHMENT "B"
•9. State or local government approval: i I Attached I ! Applied for •!• J Not required See Attachment "A"
10. Nonrctumable application fee: I ! Attached j j Not required
11. Does project cross international boundary or affect international waterways? 1 I Yes KXl No (I/ "yet." indicate on map)
12. Civ* ststcmcnt of your technical and financial capability to construct, operate, maintain, and terminate system for which authorizatic
la being requested.
SEE ATTACHMENT "A"
-------
134. D« scribe, other r«« ton«ble •lt«rn«(iv« routes «admod«* con«ld«rcd.
'SEE ATTACHMENT "A"
b. Vhy wcr« thei* alternative! not lelecled?
SEE ATTACHMENT "A"
c. Give explanation aa to why it is necessary to crois Federal landi.
The proposed route represents the alternative which would have the least environmental
impact of the routes considered. Further, the route through the Monument represents the
best engineering alternative for construction of access in this region. Please refer to the
preliminary draft EIS for a complete review of this subject.
14. List authorizacions and pending applications filed for similar projects which may provide information to the authorizing agency. (Sfei
i/y number. Jate. code, or name.)
SEE ATTACHMENT "A"
IS. Provide statement of need Cor project, including the economic feaaibitity and items such aa: (a) cost of proposal (construction, ope.
ttion. and maintenance); (b) estimated cost of next best alternative; and (c) expected public benefits.
SEE ATTACHMENT "A"
16. Describe probable effects oa the population in the area, including the social and economic aspects, and the rural lifestyles.
SEE ATTACHMENT "A"
17. Describe likely environmental effects that the proposed project will have on: (a) air quality: (b) visual impact; (c) surface and grouc
water quality and quantity: (d) the control or structural change on any stream or other body of water; (e) existing noise levels; an
(0 the surface of the land. Including vegetation, permafrost, soil, and soil stability.
•SEE ATTACHMENT "A"
18. Describe the probable effects that the proposed project will have on: (a) populations of fish, plant, wildlife, and marine life, mcludLi
threatened and endangered species;.and (b) marine mammals, including hunting, capturing, collecting, or killing these animals.
SEE ATTACHMENT "A"
19. Name all the Dcpartmcnt(a)/Ageacy(ic*) where this application is being filed.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
U.S. CORPS OF ENGINEERS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
I HCRCBY CCRTirY. That I am of legal age and authorized to do business in the Stale and that I have personally examined the informatior
contained in the application and belie** that the information submitted is correct to the best of my knowledge.
„
Title 18. U.S.C. Section 1001. makes it a crime for any person knowingly and willfully to make to any department or agency of the Unitec
States any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations as to any matter within its jurisdiction.
-------
APPLICATION FOR TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITY SYSTfcMS
AND FACILITIES ON FEDERAL LANDS
8y
GENERAL INFORMATION
ALASKA NATIONAL INTEREST LANDS
'ransportation and utility systems and facility uses for which the
.pplication may be used are:
1. Caoals, ditches, flumes, laterals, pipes, pipelines, tunnels,
ad other systems for the transportation of water.
2. Pipelines and other system* for the transportation of liquids
ther than water, including oil, natural gas, synthetic liquid and
iseous fuels, and any refined product produced therefrom.
3. Pipelines, slurry and emulsion systems, and conveyor belts
or transportation of solid materials.
4. . Systems for the transmission and distribution of electric
nergy.
S. Systems for transmission or reception of radio, television.
elephone. telegraph, and other electronic signals, and other means
•f communications.
6. Improved rights-of-wsy for snow machines, air cushion
chicles, and all-terrain vehicles.
7. Roads, highways, railroads, tunnels, tramways, airports,
finding strips, docks, and other systems of general transportation.
.Tus application mutt be filed simultaneously with each Federal
epartment or agency requiring authorization to establish and
•perate your proposal.
n Alaska, the following agencies will help the applicant file an
ipplication and identify the other agencies the applicant should
:ontact and possibly- file with:
Deportment of Agriculture
Regional Forester. Forest Service (USFS)
Federal Office Building, P.O. Box 1628
Juneau, Alaska 99802
Telephone: (907) 588-7247 for * local Fort it Service Officrl
Department ef Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Juneau Area Office. P.O. Box 3-8000
Juneau. Alaska 99802
Telephone: (907) 586-7209
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
701 C Street. Box 13
Anchorage. Alaska 99S13
Telephone: (907) 271-SOS5 for a local BLM Office)
National Park Service (NFS)
Alaska Regional Office. 540 West Sth Avenue. Room 202
Anchorage. Alaska 99501
Telephone: (907) 271-4196
U.S. Fish b Wildlife Service (FWS)
Office of the Regional Director
1011 East Tudor Road
Anchorage. Alaska 99503
Telephone: (907) 276-3800
Note-Filings with any Interior acency may be filed with any office
noted above or with the: Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
Regional Environmental Officer. Box 120. IC7S C Street. Anchor-
age. Alaska 99513.
of I f
^^^^^^^^
Federal Aviation Administration
Alaaka Region AAL-4. P.O. 14
Anchorage. Alaaka 99513
NOTE ~ The Otpartment of Transportation has established the
above central filing point for agencies within that Department.
A/fected agencies »re: Federal Aviation Administration (F^A).
Coast Guard (USCG). Federal Highway Administration (FK'.VA).
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA),
OTHER THAN ALASKA NATIONAL INTEREST LANDS
Use of this form is not limited to National Interest Conservation
lands of Alaska.
Individual departments/agencies may authorize the use of this
form by applicants for transportation and utility systems and
facilities on other Federal lands outside those areas described
above.
•For proposals located outside of Alaska, applications will be file-J
at the local agency office or at a location specified by the respon-
sible Federal agency.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Items not lilted are self-explanatory)
Item
7
Attach preliminary site and facility construction plans. The
responsible agency will provide instructions whenever speci-
fic plans are required.
8 Generally, the nap mutt show the section(s). township(s),
and range(s) within which the project is to be located. Show
the proposed location of the project on the map as accurately
as possible. Some agencies require detailed survey maps.
The responsible agency will provide additional instructions.
9. 10. and 12 — The responsible agency will provide additional
instructions.
13 Providing information on alternate routes and modes in as
much detail as possible, discussing why certain routes or
modes were rejected and why it is necessary to cross
Federal lands will assist the agency(iea) in processing your
application and reaching a final decision. Include only
reasonable alternate routes and modes as related to current
technology and economics.
14 The responsible agency will provide instructions.
IS Generally, a simple statement of the purpose of the proposal
will be sufficient. However, major proposals located in
critical or sensitive areas may require a full analysts with
additional specific information. The responsible agency
will provide additional instructions.
16 through 18 — Providing this information in as much detail as
possible will assist the Federal agency(ies) in processing
the application and reaching a decision. When completing
these items, you should use sound judgment in furnishing
relevant information. For example, it the project is not near
a stream or other body of water, Jo not address this subject.
The responsible agency will provide additional instructions.
Applicstion must be signed by the applicant or applicant's
authorized representative.
If additional space is needed to complete any item, please put t!ie
information on o separate sheat of paper end identify it as "Contin-
uation of Item".
'For supplemental, tee reverie)
-------
SUPPLEMENTAL
NOTE: The rtiponnble •«ency(ie>) will provide • dditional inilruclioni.
I _ PRIVATE CORPORATIONS
a. Articles of Incorporation
b. Corporation Bylaws
A certification from the State showing the corporation ia in good standing and it entitled to operate within the
• State.
d. Copy of reaolution authorizing filing
e. The name and address of each shareholder owning 3 percent or more of the shares, together with the number
and percentage of any class of voting shares of the entity which such shareholder is authorized to vote and
the name and address of each affiliate of the entity togetheivwith. in the case of an affiliate controlled by the
entity, the number of shares and the percentage of any class of voting stock of that affiliate owned, directly
or indirectly, by that entity, and in the case of an affiliate which controls that entity, the number of chares
and the percentage of any class of voting stock of that entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the affiliate.
f If application is for an oil or gaa pipeline, describe any related right-of-way' or temporary use permit appli-
cations, and identify previoua applications.
g. If application is for an oil and gas pipeline, identify all Federal lands by agency impacted by proposal.
CHECK APPROPRIATE
BLOCK
ATTACHED
n
n
a
a
a
a
a
FILED •
£]
(3
13
C
a
a
D
a - PUBLIC CORPORATIONS
a. Copy of law forming corporation
b. Proof of organization
c. Copy of Bylawa
d. Copy of resolution authorizing filing
If application is for an oil or gas pipeline, provide information required
' by Item "M" and "I-g" above.
n
n
n
n
a
a
a
a
a
a
in - PARTNERSHIP OR OTHER UNINCORPORATED ENTITY
a. Articles of association, if any
•b. If on* partner is authorized to sign, resolution authorizing action is
c. Name and address of each participant, partner, association, or other
. If application is for an oil or gas pipeline, provide information required
by Item "W" and "It" abov*.
n
n
n
n
n
CD
n
n
• If the required information is already filed with the agency processing this application and is current, check block entitled "Filed.
Provide the file identification information (e.g., number, dale, coJe. name). If not on file or current, attach the requested information.
NOTICE
The Privacy Act of 1974 provides that you be furnished the
following information in connection with information required by
this application for so authorization.
AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 310; 5 U.S.C. 301.
PRINCIPLE PURPOSE: The Information is to b« used to process
the application.
ROUTINE USES: (1) Th« processing at the applicant's request
for an authorization. (2) Documentation for public information.
W Transfer to appropriate Federal agencies when concurrence
Is required prior to granting a right in public lands or resources.
'(4X$) Information from lha> record and/or the record will be trans*
ferrcd (a appropriate Federal. Slate, local or foreign agencies.
when relevant to civil, criminal or regulatory investigations or
prosecutions.
EFFECT OF NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION: Disclosure of the
Information is voluntary. If all the information is not provided, the
application may be rejected.
DATA COLLECTION STATEMENT
The Federal agencies collect this Information from applicants
requesting right-of-way, permit, license. Icaae. or certification for
the use of Federal lands.
The Federal agencies use this information to evaluate the ap-
plicant's proposal.
The public la obligated to respond to this information request if
they wish to obtain permission to use Federal lands.
-------
ATTACHMENT A
INTRODUCTION
Due to the scope of the questions asked in the Title 11 application, presented
below are responses to questions 7, 9, 12, and 13 to 18 as outlined in Stan-
dard Form 299.
QUESTION 7:
The Project Description
The proposed project would consist of constructing a road and associated
facilities through the northwest corner of Cape Krusenstern National Monu-
ment. The road would be single lane, 30 feet wide with slightly larger
section of the road (50 feet wide) developed to serve as turnouts. The road
fill would average approximately 6 feet in depth with an average grade of 1 to
3 percent. The associated facilities will entail borrow sites used to obtain fill
material for the road and a concentrate storage building located 2.5 miles from
the coast.
There would be approximately 6 potential borrow sites within Cape Krusen-
stern National Monument. Table 1 gives the details of the borrow sites.
The specific barrow site locations are listed in Appendix C_.
The concentrate storage building would hold the lead and zinc concentrate at
the coast before shipment. The building would be 912 feet by 180 feet by
80 feet high. The building would be located on a excavated barrow pit to
reduce the need to disturb additional ground. Please refer to Appendix C_
for additional information.
The purpose of the road is to provide access to the Red Dog Mine. The
development of the associated barrow permits is essential to the cost effective
construction of the roadway. Transporting borrow from outside the Monument
would substantially increase the cost of the southern corridor. The increase
in cost, although cumulatively not greater than the cost of constructing the
northern alternative, would make the southern corridor prohibitive to build.
The purpose of the concentrate storage building is to hold concentrate for
later shipment. The proposed location offers the best option for placement
due to access to the road, foundation conditions, and limiting the amount of
disturbed land within the Monument (due to the placement of the building on
an existing borrow site).
The total right-of-way requested is 250 feet from the centerline of the road.
The centerline will be set after additional engineering design is complete.
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Table I
PRELIMINARY BORROW SITE SPECIFICATIONS,
SOUTHERN CORRIDOR
Borrow
Site
Number
1*
2
3
4
5
6
Exploration
Area
ha
85.5
49.2
57.0
98.4
77.7
163.2
ac
211.2
121.6
140.8
243.2
192.0
403.2
Average Access
Disturbed Approximate Excavation Road
Pit Area Volume Needed Depth Length
ha ac m3 yd3 m ft km mi
19.4 48.0 305,853 400,043 2.1 7.0 0.19 0.12
9.5 23.4 289,144 378,188 3.0 10.0 0.39 0.24
--
5.2 12.8 190,189 248,760 4.9 16.0 1.29 0.80
13.9 34.4 590,100 771,826 4.3 14.0 1.08 0.67
_ _ __ __ __ __ — - - - - -
Within 91 m
(100 yd)
of Stream
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
* Will also serve as the coastal concentrate storage facility site after borrow excavation.
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The road would serve as access to the Red Dog Mine for the expected project
life which is presently estimated at 50 years. Use of the road would be
year-round with the possible exceptions of a period during spring breakup
and during significant caribou migration periods.
Construction is scheduled to begin in July of 1985. Road construction will
require approximately 16 months with a majority of initial construction in the
Monument to be completed between January through April of 1986.
The movement of the mine's output of lead and zinc concentrate will require a
total between 9 to 12 trips per day when the mine is operating.
Please refer to Appendix C_ for specific details of turnout location, siting of
the road corridor, specifics on the concentrate storage building and detail on
the borrow pits.
QUESTION 9:
State or Local Approvals
There are no specific state or local approvals which must be obtained as part
of the formal Title XI process. However, there are two State of Alaska
certificates which must be obtained by the Corps of Engineers and one by
EPA for the federal process to move forward. The Corps of Engineers (COE)
must obtain a 401 Consistency Determination of the 404 Wetlands permit.
Further, the COE must obtain from the state a Coastal Zone Management
Consistency Determination to complete the Section 10/404 process. Cominco
has made application for the Coastal Zone Management Consistency Determina-
tion. In addition the National Park Service must obtain approval from the
State Historic Preservation Officer as to how cultural resources will be main-
tained.
EPA must obtain a 401 Water Quality Consistency Determination from the
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to complete the NPDES
process. Cominco is not aware of any specific action which the company
needs to take on the 401 state certifications.
Question 14 outlined all permits which need to be obtained for the total Red
Dog project.
QUESTION 12:
Review of Technical and Financial Ability to Construct Such a Route
Cominco Alaska is a division of Cominco American, Incorporated which in turn
is wholly-owned by Cominco Ltd. Cominco Ltd. is a public company and cur-
rently has outstanding approximately 5.8 million preferred shares and 18.8
million common shares of stock. Sales of products and services for the
worldwide Cominco operation during 1982 amounted to $1.24 billion, and its
assets were $2.09 billion at December 31, 1982. Cominco Ltd. in turn is 51
percent owned by Canadian Pacific Enterprises Ltd., a wholly owned subsid-
iary of Canadian Pacific Railway.
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Cominco Ltd. has been in the mining business for more than 75 years. The
mining and integrated metals segment of its business comprises mining, pro-
cessing, smelting and refining of lead, zinc, copper, silver and gold.
Cominco Ltd. and its subsidiaries have substantial experience in mining under
Arctic conditions. Most recently, its new Polaris Mine on Little Cornwallis
Island in the Canadian High Arctic became the most northerly mine in the
world.
Cominco American, Incorporated has been engaged in the conduct of a trade
or business within the United States since June 6, 1929 and is currently
qualified to do business in 30 states. It is a substantial operating company
that has mining operations in Bixby, Missouri; Garrison, Montana; and Lone
Pine, California. It also has substantial chemical fertilizer operations in
Beatrice, Nebraska and Borgey, Texas and an electronic materials operation
located in Spokane, Washington.
QUESTION 13:
Identify Alternatives to the Proposed Project
A. A total of three options and five suboptions were considered for the
transportation route. In addition, four options and two suboptions were
considered for the mode or system of transport. See the following table
for a complete listing of routes and modes initially considered.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS & SUBOPTIONS
INITIALLY CONSIDERED
Transportation
0 Route
Option
Suboption
Northern
Southern
Noatak
GCO Route
Western Route
Omikviorok Route
Kruz Route
0 Mode
Slurry Pipeline
Hovercraft
Railroad
Road
Winter only
"Year-Round"
- 4 -'
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Transportation Route:
Characteristics important in selecting a route include distance, ability to
maintain grades suitable for both a railroad and road, suitability of soil
conditions, avoidance to the extent possible of major stream crossings,
subsistence use areas and archeological sites, impact on Cape Krusen-
stern National Monument, and impacts on other regional uses. See the
following table for the total distance traversed by each route considered.
DISTANCES FOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR OPTIONS AND SUBOPTIONS
Transportation Corridor
Option
Northern
Suboption
GCO
Asikpak
Total Distance
Mine to Port Site Within Monument
(Miles)
83.5
73.1
(Miles)
Southern Western (VABM 17)
Western (VABM 28)
Omikviorok (VABM 17)
Omikviorok (VABM 28)
KRUZ (VABM 28)
59.9
65.5
55.4
61.0
56.2
9.8
17.0
21.6
28.8
24.0
Noatak To Noatak Village
To Fish Hatchery
51.0
69.0
Northern Corridor:
The northern corridor has two suboptions. The first would be the GCO
route originally suggested by General Crude Oil (GCO) Minerals. This
route would connect GCO's Lik mineral prospect 19 km (12 mi) northwest
of Red Dog Valley to the Chukchi Sea port site at Singoalik Lagoon, 42
km (27 mi) northwest of Kivalina. The route, as modified to reach the
Red Dog Valley, would traverse the Wulik and Kivalina Rivers and then
cross into and down the Singoalik River drainage to the coast. It would
be 133.6 km (83.5 mi) long and have eight major multi-span bridge
crossings (greater than 30.5 m [100 ft]).
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The second northern corridor suboption would be the Asikpak route.
This route would share a common alignment with the GCO route for the
first 46.6 km (29.1 mi) from Red Dog Valley. From the point of diver-
gence at the west fork of the Wulik River, the Asikpak route would
proceed westerly similar to the GCO route, but south of it, reaching the
coast via the Asikpak River at Tugak Lagoon, 24 km (15 mi) northwest
of Kivalina. The route would be 120 km (75 mi) long and have six major
multi-span bridge crossings.
Southern Corridor:
The southern corridor would share a common alignment with the northern
corridor for the first 11.8 km (7.4 mi). At that point the southern
corridor continues southwest along the flanks of the Mulgrave Hills.
The southern corridor has three suboptions, all following the same
alignment for approximately the first 48.3 km (30.2 mi) south from Red
Dog Valley. At that point, just north of the northern boundary of Cape
Krusenstern National Monument, the western route suboption would
diverge west to within approximately 3.2 km (2 mi) of the Wulik River.
It would then turn south into Native-selected, but not yet conveyed,
lands still within the Monument, paralleling the Omikviorok River to the
VABM 17 port site, or crossing the river and proceeding south to the
VABM 28 port site. The leg to VABM 17 would cross no major streams.
The leg to VABM 28 would have one major multi-span bridge crossing.
Termination of the southern corridor at VABM 17 versus VABM 28 would
be determined by selection of the port site based on relative environ-
mental consequences.
The Omikviorok route suboption would also diverge west from the common
alignment. Beginning just south of the northern boundary of the Monu-
ment, the route would parallel the Omikviorok River to VABM 17, or
cross the Omikviorok River and proceed south to VABM 28. The leg to
VABM 17 would cross no major streams. The leg to VABM 28 would have
one major multi-span bridge crossing.
The Krusenstern route suboption would continue to VABM 28 from the
points of divergence from the other suboptions. It would cross the
Omikviorok River considerably further upstream than the other two sub-
options.
Noatak Corridor:
The Noatak corridor option would proceed south from Red Dog Valley on
the same alignment as the southern corridor for approximately 20.8 km
(13 mi) and then southeast down Eviangiknuk Creek into the Noatak
Valley. It would then proceed south on the west side of the Noatak
River, paralleling the river at least as far as the Village of Noatak
81.6 km (51 mi). It would probably continue on to the vicinity of the
fish hatchery approximately 28.8 km (18 mi) downriver from Noatak
(total corridor length of 110.4 km [69 mi]) to reach deeper water for
barge transport.
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Transportation Mode
Four options were identified (slurry pipeline, hovercraft, railroad and
road). The road had two suboptions: a winter only road and a year-
round road. Characteristics important in selecting a transportation
system include availability of technology and reliability.
Screening Process
To determine the best options, a two-step options screening process was
conducted. In the first step all options were reviewed to eliminate from
further consideration those which were clearly unreasonable or infeasible
primarily for environmental or technical reasons. The table below lists
those options eliminated during the initial review process.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS & SUBOPTIONS
ELIMINATED DURING INITIAL REVIEW PROCESS
Transportation Option Suboption
0 Route Noatak
0 Mode Slurry Pipeline
Hovercraft
Road Winter
(See table "Major Reasons for Elimination of Transportation Options and Sub-
options During Initial Review Process".)
In the second step, the remaining, options were individually evaluated in
detail from the perspective of each resource or technical discipline
(e.g., water quality, wildlife, subsistence, technical feasibility). For
each discipline, a specific set of "options screening criteria" was used to
identify potential impacts for each option. Then, each options was com-
pared to all other related options to identify the best option (i.e., the
one with the least potential impacts) for both the transportation route
and mode.
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COMPARISON TABLE
Component
Option Relative Level of Potential Impact1
Suboption Low
Transportation Route2
Northern Corridor
GCO Route
C
O
M
p
A
R
D Asikpak Route Cultural Resources
Regional Use
Southern Corridor
Western Route Krusenslern Impact
C Omikviorok Route
0
M
P
A
R
E
0
Moderate
Subsistence
Regional Use
Water Quality
Vegetation
Freshwater Biology
Fish
Wildlife
Technical Feasibility
Water Quality
Freshwater Biology
Subsistence
Cultural Resources
Technical Feasibility
Water Quality
Vegetation
Wildlife
Subsistence
Cultural Resources
Krusenstern Impact
Technical Feasibility
Economic Feasibility
High
Water Quality
Vegetation
Freshwater Biology
Fish
Wildlife
Cultural Resources
Technical Feasibility
Economic Feasibility
Subsistence
Economic Feasibility
Vegetation
Fish
Wildlife
Economic Feasibility
Freshwater Biology
Fish
E
L
1
M
I
N
A
T
0
E
L
I
M
I
A
T
E
D
I
M
I
N
A
T
E
D
Kruz Route*
Water Quality
Vegetation
Freshwater Biology
Wildlife
Subsistence
Technical Feasibility
Economic Feasibility
Fish
Cultural Resouces
Krusenstern Impact
Transportation Mode
Railroad
C
O
M
P
Subsistence
Water Quality
Air Quality
Vegetation
Freshwater Biology
Fish
Wildlife
Cultural Resources
Regional Use
Krusenstern Impact
Recreation
Technical Feasibility
Economic Feasibility
E
L
I
M
N
A
T
E
D
E
D
Road (year-round)1
Recreation
Regional Use
Technical Feasibility
Economic Feasibility
Vegetation
Freshwater Biology
Fish
Wildlife
Subsistence
Cultural Resouces
Krusenstern Impact
Water Quality
Air Quality
Disciplines having the same level of potential impact for all options arc not shown.
Suboptions are compared only with other(s) for same corridor (i.e., CCO and Asikpak routes for
northern corridor; western, Omikviorok and Kruz routes for southern corridor.)
Proposed alternative.
- 8 -
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Following the options screening process, the best option for mode of
transport was relatively easy to identify. However, the route location
had two options each which appropriately addressed one or more of the
scoping issues. These options, shown in the following table, were car-
ried through the comprehensive environmental impact assessment process.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS ELIMINATED DURING SCREENING PROCESS
OR RETAINED FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Retained
Transportation
0 Route
Option
Suboption
Eliminated
Option
Suboption
Northern Asikpak Route Northern GCO Route
Southern
Kruz Route
Southern
Western Route
Omikviorok Route
0 Mode
Road
Year-Round
Railroad
B. Identify Why Alternatives Were Eliminated
Each option and suboptions for the transportation route and mode iden-
tified during the scoping process was individually reviewed from envi-
ronmental and technical perspectives. If an option (or suboption) was
environmentally and technically reasonable, it was retained for further
detailed analysis. If, however, the option (or suboption) was deter-
mined to be unreasonable or infeasible on environmental or technical
grounds, and if other options retained adequately addressed the scoping
issues, it was eliminated. The following table presents those options and
suboptions eliminated during the initial review process and outlines the
major reasons why each was eliminated.
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MAJOR REASONS FOR ELIMINATION OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND
SUBOPTIONS DURING INITIAL REVIEW PROCESS
Transportation
0 Route
Option
Noatak Corridor
0 Mode
Slurry Pipeline
Hovercraft
Winter Road
Major Reasons for Elimination
Road would cross many lowlands
with substantial permafrost and
wetlands problems
Many stream crossings with asso-
ciated impacts on water quality
and fish
Cold weather slurry lines not yet
feasible
High spill hazard
Slurry water disposal problems
Wasteheat from power generation
couldn't be used to dry concen-
trates
Units large enough to efficiently
haul concentrates not yet available
Excessive fuel consumption
Noise levels reach 105 db
Substantial disturbance to wildlife
Unpredictability of snow availability
Annual construction of ice/snow
bridges at river crossings pose
erosion problems
Greater spill hazards at river
crossings
Increased disturbance to wintering
caribou
Less flexibility for other regional
uses
Each of the remaining options (or suboptions) was then individually
evaluated in detail from the perspective of each resource or technical
discipline (e.g., water quality, subsistence, technical feasibility, etc.).
For each discipline, or specific set of "options screening criteria" was
developed against which each option (or suboption) was screened to
identify potential impacts upon that discipline.
- 10 -
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For each discipline, once each option for the transportation route and
mode had been evaluated against all screening criteria, each option was
then compared to other related options and a "relative level of potential
impact" was assigned. It is important to understand that potential
impacts were assigned relative to the other options for each project
component (i.e., route and mode). The relative levels of potential
impact were low, moderate and high.
It should be noted that the suboptions for the northern and southern
transportation corridors, respectively, were compared only against the
other suboption(s) for each of those corridors (i.e., the GCO route and
the Asikpak route were compared only against each other for the
northern corridor, and the western, Omikviorok and Kruz routes were
compared only among themselves for the southern corridor). This was
done to specifically address the Title 11 requirement that alternate
routes around the Monument be fully evaluated in the EIS process. By
comparing each corridor's routes only among themselves, the best route
for each corridor was identified, thus guaranteeing that each corridor
would be considered during the evaluation of alternatives process and be
included in the alternatives for formal public review in the draft EIS.
In the next step of the process, the levels of potential impact for all
disciplines were grouped for each option. This provided a combined
picture of the individual levels of potential impact.
The final step of the option screening process was to select the best
option for the route and mode of transportation. This was done by
determining the option which showed the lowest overall level of potential
impact (the lower the potential level of impact, the better the option).
That option was then selected unless one of the other options for that
component more favorably addressed one or more of the scoping issues.
In the case of the transportation route, two options (one for each
corridor) appropriately addressed one or more) of the scoping issues and
therefore, both were retained. The Asikpak route to Tugak Lagoon was
selected as the best suboption for the northern corridor as was the Kruz
route to VABM 28 for the southern corridor.
For the mode of transportation, the railroad initially appeared to have a
lower overall level of potential impact. However, analysis showed that
several of the individual discipline differences were either not signifi-
cantly different, or could be mitigated or eliminated by construction or
operational procedures. The road was finally selected on the bases of
greater regional use flexibility, substantially less capital cost, and the
fact that the transportation corridors would be initially laid out to meet
the more restrictive railroad grade constraints, thus keeping open the
option for construction of a railroad within the same right-of-way at a
later time.
The evaluation criteria were applied separately to the two route options
to determine a "relative total impact value" (low, moderate or high) for
each. It is important to note that the relative total impact value
assigned to each option was derived only by evaluation of that option
- 11 -
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relative to the other for each criterion, and thus does not necessarily
represent the absolute impact. The northern Asikpak route was not
selected because it would present a relatively higher level of total impact
than the southern Kruz route. An accounting of the relative total
impact follows.
RELATIVE TOTAL IMPACT VALUES ASSIGNED
TO THE TWO TRANSPORTATION ROUTE OPTIONS1
Evaluation Criteria
1. Risk of Water Quality
Deterioration
2. Impact to Fish and Fish
Habitat
3. Impacts to Wildlife and
Wildlife Habitat
4. Impact to Traditional Sub-
sistence Harvest Activities
5. Impact on Cape Krusenstern
National Monument
6. Technical Complexity
7. Cost
Southern
Kruz Route Northern Asikpak Route
Higher Impact
Higher Risk
Higher Impact
Higher Impact
Higher Impact
Higher Complexity
Higher Cost
Potential impact to other resources (i.e., coastal geologic processes;
marine life and marine habitat; cultural resources; and local social,
cultural and economic conditions) would be similar for both options.
The southern Kruz route rated inferior to the northern route only for
impacts to the Monument, while the northern route rated inferior to the
southern route for water quality, fish, wildlife, subsistence, technical
complexity and cost. Based on these, relative impacts, and considering
the southern route would not significantly impact the Monument, it was
determined that the northern transportation route would not present a
prudent option for the development of an access route to the Red Dog
Project.
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QUESTION 14:
List Required Authorizations to Allow Construction of the Project
Before construction and operation of the Red Dog Project can begin, Cominco
must obtain several federal and state approvals. The major permits or other
approvals include:
Federal Government*
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
0 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE)
0 Section 404 Permit (wetlands)
0 U.S. COE Section 10 (port site)
U.S. National Park Service (NPS)
0 Right-of-Way for Transportation System
Other permits which are needed for construction but fall outside Title 11
jurisdiction:
0 U.S. EPA NPDES Water Quality Permit (mine)
0 U.S. COE Section 404 (mine site)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS)
0 Possible Section 7 Consultation (for the endangered peregrine
falcon)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
0 Possible Section 7 Consultation (for endangered marine mammals)
State of Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
0 Air Quality Permit to Operate
0 Certificate of Reasonable Assurance (Water Quality)
0 Wastewater Disposal Permit
0 Solid Waste Disposal Permit
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
0 Title 16 Anadramous Fish Stream Permit
* There are State of Alaska approvals which must be obtained as part of the
federal permit decisions.
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Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
0 Right-of-Way Permit
0 Water Rights Permit
0 Tidelands Use Permit
0 Tidelands Lease
o
Materials Sale Contract
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
0 Archaeological Clearance
Governor's Office of Management and Budget, Division of Governmental
Coordination
0 Coastal Zone Management Consistency Determination
Local Government
North Slope Borough (NSB)
0 Land Use Permit
QUESTION 15:
Statement of Need
The proposed route represents the most logical siting of the transportation
corridor to provide access to the Red Dog Project. The mine represents a
significant economic stimulus to the NANA region and individual shareholders
of the NANA Regional Corporation. Congress clearly encouraged the develop-
ment of this mine when the land was withdrawn from the Noatak Preserve and
made available to the Regional Corporation for selection.
The proposed route would have the least potential environmental impact of all
the routes considered along with the least potential to adversely effect exist-
ing subsistence activities in the project area.
The proposed route would cost approximately $74.7 million for the entire
corridor from Red Dog to the sea. The next most acceptable route which
would avoid the National Monument would cost approximately $125.7 million.
In addition, the more expensive corridor would have significantly greater
impacts to wildlife, fisheries and subsistence values. The project would
provide jobs for an economically depressed area of Alaska. However, without
a prudent and cost-effective route to the coast, development of the mine
would not occur in the foreseeable future.
The benefits to the public would be represented through the construction of
an environmentally acceptable route which could serve the Red Dog Project
and other potential mining operations in the district. The Red Dog area
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represents one of the most significant undeveloped mineralized areas in the
United States. The proposed route will provide access to this district in a
manner compatible with the existing lifestyle in the region and the aims of
Congress in the protection of resources as outlined in the Alaska Lands bill.
QUESTION 16:
Effect on the Population of the Area
The potential effect on existing socio-economic characteristics of the NANA
region can only be predicted based on the total Red Dog Project.
The Red Dog mine would provide permanent, yeai—round employment in a
developing region with substantial unemployment. The project management,
as expressed by the NANA-Cominco agreement, places high priority on
policies and practical steps designed to make feasible a high rate of resident
hire. Apart from the mine, there are no projects in the region that seem
likely to improve economic or job conditions to a significant extent. At final
capacity, the project would contribute about 547 jobs and an annual payroll of
$8.4 million to NANA region residents. For comparison, the Alaska Depart-
ment of Labor reports that in 1982, the average annual employment for the
Kobuk census division was 1,863 employees, with a total annual payroll of
$39.0 million. Thus, compared to 1982 levels, the mine at final production
would increase resident employment by about 29 percent and resident earnings
by about 30 percent. The project would also create about 248 construction
jobs and about 157 permanent production jobs for workers commuting from
other areas of the state, plus an undetermined number of secondary jobs.
The economic impact of the project would accelerate during construction and
then level off as production began. Sudden prosperity might cause some
transitional problems (e.g., price and labor inflation) in the local economy;
until the local supplies of goods and services and labor adjusted to meet new
consumer demand. For the long run, however, it seems probable that eco-
nomic growth would promote local diversification and economies of scale to
offset short-term inflation.
It is estimated that the mining project would eventually add about 354 persons
to the total population of the region above the baseline forecast without the
mine. Much of this growth would occur at the early stages of the project.
This would include an estimated 118 new resident workers, plus their house-
holds. It is assumed that Kotzebue's more developed commerce, transporta-
tion and community facilities and services would make it more appealing to
newcomers than the smaller remote communities. Therefore, nearly all (about
90 percent) of these new residents would probably reside in Kotzebue, with
the rest dispersed among the other rural villages.
Recent decades show a pattern of intraregional migration to Kotzebue from its
hinterland villages, but this trend appears to be leveling off. The effects of
mine project on population movements within the region are, at best, specula-
tive. On the one hand, Kotzebue's more developed cash economy and com-
munity services may prompt some migration there of village residents working
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at the mine. However, provision for direct commuting rather than via
Kotzebue, plus a preference of village residents to use new income to make
their families better off in their home communities might neutralize this
tendency. A best guess is that the project would not have much net effect
on intraregional population movement.
QUESTION 17:
Information provided for item 17 will focus on likely environmental effects of
only those components of the project (i.e., transportation route and mode)
directly associated with Cape Krusenstern National Monument. Potential
environmental impacts associated with the project in its entirety have been
fully assessed in the project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Please
refer to this document for a discussion of potential impacts other than those
directly associated with the Monument:
A. Air Quality
Vehicle traffic on the road would be the only source of pollutant emmis-
sions within the Monument. Pollutant emmissions from these vehicles
would not reach significant levels even under the worst of atmospheric
conditions. Dust generation, however, could effect directly surrounding
vegetation.
B. Visual
The degree of visual impact of the road port site and transfer facility
would be dependent on the attitude of the viewers. While present
visitor use of this portion of the Monument is very low (i.e., less than
five visitors per year from outside the region), the road port site and
the transfer facility would be obvious to viewers from most parts of the
western portion of the Monument.
The proposed port site and transfer facilities would be located in partial
retention VQO areas, although port site facilities would be located on
private land, and the VRM Program is not applicable to private land.
The layout and colors of the port facility could however be made to con-
form with the VQO to mitigate much of the visual impact. The visual im-
pact of the large ballasted tanker would be high, but not significant
considering the purposes for which the Monument was established. The
partial retention VQO could also be achieved here if appropriate visual
quality considerations were made during facility design.
C. Surface and Groundwater Quality and Quantity
Potential groundwater impacts associated with the road would primarily
involve the risk of groundwater contamination from fuel and chemical
spills. Soils containing groundwater might then act as conduits for con-
taminant migration to nearby streams. Travel time between a spill site
and a nearby stream would depend on the location of the spill, the sub-
stance spilled and the nature of intervening soil materials. Spillage con-
trol plans and rapid response to spills would be the primary mitigative
- 16 -
-------
measures. The SPCC Plan outlines the proposed draft plan for spill
reaction.
Within the Monument, the road would have only one major bridge cross-
ing the Omikviorok River and 20 minor bridge or culvert crossings.
Assuming proper methods of construction and drainage control are fol-
lowed, environmental impacts would be insignificant. The road construc-
tion and maintenance guidelines described below and elsewhere in the
application would largely protect against water quality degradation due to
sediment. The Red Dog mine project would follow acceptable guidelines
for road construction in the Arctic.
The road would be constructed to protect the thermal regime. It would
generally be composed of a 2.0 m (6.5 ft) deep layer of crushed rock or
0.6 m (2 ft) of crushed rock over 7 cm (3 in) of insulation. These
specifications would prevent permafrost thawing and resulting severe
erosion problems. Borrow areas would be situated to minimize potential
water quality impacts on local drainages. Buffer strips and sedimenta-
tion ponds would be used at rock quarry areas to protect water quality.
Haul roads for construction materials would receive special attention due
to their temporary nature and potential for tundra and permafrost dam-
age.
D. Control or Structural Change on any Stream or other Body of Water
Information pertinent to this item has been included under item (c)
above. However, the possibility of development of a port facility has
raised questions concerning potential impact upon the historic beach
ridges at Cape Krusenstern, although no project related facility actually
within the Monument would affect the transport of coastal sediments.
Location of a port site at VABM 28 with a short causeway and ballasted
tanker would have only a relatively minor and local effect on sediment
transport, and no significant effect on the Cape Krusenstern beach
ridges. (See Woodward/Clyde, October 1983 "Coastal Transport Cape
Krusenstern to Cape Thompson".)
E. Noise
The road would be used consistently for nine to twelve round trips per
day by concentrate truck/trailer units. Additional daily tanker and
supply truck trips and one or two trips per day by light utility vehicles
would occur. Sound levels from the road would be intrusive (to human
conversation) under optimum propagation conditions (low temperature
inversion) out to a distance of 0.8 km (0.5 mi) and discernible to the
human ear up to 8 km (5 mi) from the road.
Noise disturbance to visitors at Cape Krusenstern National Monument
would be unavoidable within 8 km (5 mi) of the road. The relative
briefness of any potential exposure and the present infrequent visitation
to this portion of the Monument would suggest that noise impacts due to
traffic on the road would not be significant.
- 17 -
-------
F. Surface of the Land (Vegetation, Permafrost, Soil & Soil Stability)
Much information pertinent to this item has been included in the discus-
sion under item (c) above. Other effects include direct loss of vegeta-
tion and potential changes in the ground cover due to human activity,
dust and compaction. Road construction through the Monument would
destroy approximately 77 ha (190 ac) of vegetation; generally avoiding
the more valuable wetland areas. Any off-road foot or vehicle traffic on
snow covered ground might result in compaction and late melting or
impeded drainage and increased erosion. Direct damage to uncovered
vegetation might include breakage of plant parts, depression of the
ground surface, ponding and increased erosion.
QUESTION 18:
A. Populations of Fish, Plant, Wildlife, and Marine Life
(Threatened & Endangered Species)
The road would cross the Omikviorok River at least once on three of its
five forks and once on the upper part of the main stem. The lower por-
tion of the river provides spawning and rearing habitat for char.
Tributaries to the Omikviorok River would also be crossed, but none of
these tributaries is known to contain fish in the vicinity of the road
crossings. New Heart Creek would also be crossed and is known to con-
tain Arctic char. Both the Omikviorok River and New Heart Creek flow
into Ipiavik Lagoon where some subsistence fishing occurs. These
systems are less critical than the Wulik and Kivalina River drainages,
but should be afforded the protection of proper crossing site selection,
crossing design and construction timing.
The road would cross approximatley 38 km (24 mi) of the Monument, and
approximately 77 ha (190 ac) of vegetation would be destroyed by actual
road construction. A large percentage of the vegetation destroyed would
consist of tussock tundra, low shrublands and complexes of both. The
more valuable wetlands (e.g. waterfowl habitat) would generally be
avoided. Three candidate threatened or endangered plant species had
the potential for occurrence in the project area, but none were found
during extensive field surveys from 1981 to 1983. Impacts are not con-
sidered regionally significant as the loss would be small, relative to the
total of similar resources in the area. Maximum dust fall might occur to
a distance of approximately 300 m (984 ft) from the road, impacting
roadside vegetation. Mosses and lichens would be most susceptible and
might, with other heath and herbaceous plants, experience a loss of
vitality along the road. Other taxa, for example cottongrasses, might
increase in relative abundance in the roadside environment (Brown et. al
1980).
Construction of the road could cause a significant loss of habitat for
song bird and small mammal species, but it would not be significant on a
greater than local basis. For birds of prey and larger mammal species,
direct habitat loss would not be significant even on a local basis. In-
direct habitat loss, however, would be of significance on a greater than
- 18 -
-------
local basis. While local song bird and small mammal populations would
likely accommodate to the presence of the road and associated activities,
birds of prey and larger mammals would generally be affected to dif-
fering degrees by avoiding the area.
Indirect habitat loss would likely be significant for caribou on a local
basis, and could even be of greater than local significance. The
southern corridor passes between primary caribou low tussock tundra
winter range in the Wulik and Kivalina lowlands, and secondary winter
range on the more wind-swept slopes of the Mulgrave Hills to the south-
east. Road activity would cause avoidance of the corridor, and hence
displacement, thereby limiting to some extent the use of otherwise avail-
able winter habitat. There would also likely be some mortality due to
vehicle collisions or added stress from winter traffic. (It should be
noted that any route chosen within the project area would have at least
the same level of impact or greater.)
The Cominco/NANA agreement specifically recognizes the possibility of
major caribou migration interruptions. NAN A has retained the authority
to suspend operation of the project during periods when caribou move-
ments are imminent to minimize the possibility of such interruptions.
Two nest sites of the endangered peregrine falcon have been reported
along the corridor in the Monument. The road alignment has been
altered to provide a buffer of at least 3.2 km (2 mi) around the pere-
grine nests. Aside from road construction disturbance that might cause
nest abandonment during the first two years of project development,
long-term raptor breeding would likely not be seriously affected by road
activity because of the distances from the nests.
Limited waterfowl habitat exists along the southern corridor. The road
would cause no significant direct habitat loss, and relatively little in
direct habitat loss. The major impact would be from long-term increased
human access to the area, particularly by hunters or other visitors who
might disturb molting or staging Canada geese.
B. Marine Mammals
Not applicable.
- 19 -
-------
ATTACHMENT B
Access corridor map
-------
LEGEND
IPUVIK
LAGOON'
VABM 28
PORT SITE
MONUMENT BOUNDARY
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR
CAPE KRUSENSTERN
|67*30NNATIONAL MONUMENT
DQCB PROJECT
-------
ATTACHMENT C
Corps of Engineers
Permit $
071-04D-2-830359
Cnukchi Sea 9
Section 10/404
Background Data
-------
VOMIWENT BOUNDARY
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR
LOCATION MAP
Cominco A la sK a
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
071-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 1 of 13 1/84.
-------
£\
BALLAST FOR TANKER
APPROX. 75.OOO CU. YDS.
1000'
o
- o
eg
DOCK OVER SHEET PILES
.OR CONCRETE CAISSON
4" FUEL LINE ( NTS )
SEABED
HIGH TIDE LINE
16'II ==!='=
65'
BARGE DOCK
335'
EARTH FILL
29,000 cu yds.
" .PROTECTIVE
7 rr^ T CASING ( NTS )
DREDGE 1Z
CUT Dredging & backfill of trench
involve 12,000 cu. yds. of materiafX
SECTION ELEVATION (§)
hor. 1 " = 170'
ver. 1"= 50'
o
o
o
DEEP WATER DOCK
( BALLASTED TANKEP )
ODD O C
( See sheet 10 for
tanker section )
PLAN OF PORT FACILITIES
1" 400'
BARGE
Approximate location;of
undersea fuel line j
1017'
700'
BREAK REPRESENTS 2750'
UJ
z
GENERAL SITE DEVELOPMENT
63,000 cu yds. FILL
20' Dl A
-.^ STGE
TANK AND
200' 510'
BREAK^REPRESENTS 500'
1000'
L
AREA.
SECTION ELEVATION ®
SEABED
NO TES- Port facility location may be slightly
altered to reduce impact to cultural
resource site.
hor. 1"
ver. 1 " = 40'
SEAPORT FACILITIES
Cominc o Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
071-OYD-2-83035J
Sheet2of13 1/8
-------
CHUKCHI SEA
NOTE:
DARK AREA REPRESENTS
ACTUAL PIT AND WOULD SUPPLY
ALL GRAVEL NEEDED
EXPLORATION AREA IS THE
TOTAL AREA WITHIN WHICH
THE PIT MAY BE LOCATED
vV^ ' ' \
PORT SITE
Comlnco Alaska
1 MILE Red Dog Project
ChuKchl Sea 9
071-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 3 of 13 1/84
-------
Comlnco Alaska
1 MILE Red Dog Project
Chukchi S»a 6
071-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 4 of 13 1/84
-------
Comlnco Alaska
1 MILE Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea G
071-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 5 of 13 1/84
-------
-> « y,
/ V /
-
Comlnco Alaska
1 MILE Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 6
071-OYO-2-830359
Sheet 6 °' 13 1/84
-------
WU. SITE
- _/ \
> \ o.
Comlnco Alaska
1 MILE Red Doy Protect
Chukchi Sea 0
071-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 7 of 13 1/84
-------
Page 3
Preliminary Barrow Area Locations Kruz Route
Borrow
Site #
Disturbed
Area (Pit)
(Acres)
Exploration
Area
(Acres)
Average
Volume
Req'd
(Cu. Yd.)
Average
Exc. Depth
(Ft. )
Access Rd,
Length
(miles)
Within 100 yards
of stream
48.0
211.2 400,043 7.0
0.12
No
23.4
121.6 378,188 10.0
0.24
No
140.8
No
12.8
243.2 248,760 16.0
0.80
No
34.4
192.0
771,826 14.0
0.67
No
403.2
Yes
-------
Page 4
Preliminary Barrow Area Locations Kruz Route
Borrow Disturbed
Site # Area (Pit)
(Acres)
7 6.0
8 12.4
9 13.8
10 15.5
11 7.3
12 7.3
13 16.1
14 11.5
Exploration
Area
(Acres)
166.4
147.2
217.6
51.2
51.2
41.6
89.6
38.4
Average
Volume
Req'd
(Cu. Yd.)
195,471
401,669
553,140
322,543
70,640
70,640
228,697
224,580
Average
Exc . Depth
(Ft. )
20
20
25
13
6
6
9
12
Access Rd. Within 100 yards
Length of stream
(miles )
0.30 No
0.66 No
2.46 No
0.15 Yes
0.10 No
0.10 No
0.10 No
0.05 No
-------
' -x
LOCATION DETAIL
ACCESS ROAD
912'0"
SECTION ELEVATION
1"=35'
CONCENTRATE STORAGE
FACILITY BUILT ON BEDROCK OF
FORMER BARROW SITE AT PT. (T
Cominco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
071-OYD-2-830359
Sheets of 13 1/84
-------
BARGE
PORT LAGOON
PORT SITE
( See sheet 2 for detail )
ORIGINAL GROUND
15
SECTION ELEVATION (B
" = 300' ( approx.)
hoc. 1 "- 68' ver. \"- 40'
ORIGINAL GROUND
hor 1 " = 225' ver. 1" =40'
NATURAL BREACH
DREDGE SPOILS
168'0"
T
p
o>
tr
0
*-
2
(T
0
>-
^
o:
0
Q
^
O
t-
2
o:
o
Q
•f
^
^
KITCHEN/DINER/REC
BARGE LAYOUT
WO TE:
20'
ELEVATION
1" = 50'
1 2'
20'
CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES
Comlnco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
07 1-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 9 of 13 1/84
-------
BALLAST
1 00,000 CU. YDS.
SEABED
AVAILABLE STORAGE DEPTH-42'
BALLAST
SECTION ELEVATION
1" = 1 20'
35'
, DREDGED PAD TO PRODUCE
\ 25,00 Q CU, YDS. MATERIAL
TO BE USED AS BALLAST
( vertical exaggerated )
BALLAST
X
^5-:i .
(vertical ' 150'
exaggerated )
SEABED
l>"g*-1
(I OIL '
n
BULK
* CARRIER
SECTION ELEVATION ®
1 54'9"
BULK
CARRIER
DEEP WATER DOCK
1"= 1 20'
SECTION ELEVATION (§)
1" = 120'
Comlnco Alaska
Red Dog Project
ChuKchl Sea 9
071-OYD-2-830359
Sheet 10 of 13 1/84
-------
SLOPE VARIABLE
DEPENDENT ON MATERIAL
^— 2% DRAINAGE DITCH
TYPICAL CROSS SECTION of BORROW PIT
NT.S.
CUT SLOPE VARIABLE
NOTE-
VOLUME OF OVERBURDEN
NOT AVAILABLE
NO OVERBURDEN STOCKPILE
SHOWN AT THIS TIME
TYPICAL PLAN of BORROW PIT
N.T S ~
TYPICAL BORROW PI
CROSS SECTION&^LAt
Cominco Alaska
Red Dog Project
Chukchi Sea 9
071-0 Y D-2-8303£
S h e et 1 1 o f 13 1/t
-------
:zsrfr:.'.€ >;i ^
n i i a a
"^^//^('
TYPICAL BRIDGE CROSS SECTION
SCALE :HOR. 1'=20' VERT. 1 "=1 0'
30
GRADED ROCK
PROTECT 1C N AROUND
CULVERT AS REQUIRED
TYPICAL SIDE SLOPE
2
NATURAL STREAM SLOPE/ CORRUGATED STEEL CULVERT
TYPICAL ROAD CROSS SECTION SHOWING TYPICAL CULVERT
AVG. 1 500 cu. yds. of fill
AVG. CROSSING 8000 cu.yds. Fill
EXPLANATION of ROAD
• 56.7 MILES LONG,30' NOMINAL WIDTh
W/GRAVELED SURFACE & AVG
6' SUBBASE of GRANULAR FIL'_
• TOTAL FILL . 3.866,000 cu. yds
• TOTAL CULVERTS : 175
• TOTAL TURNOUTS : 28
- 4000 cu. yds. FILL
• DIM. 50' WIDE X 350'LONG
PER TURNOUT
• MAJOR BRIDGES ONE
• CROSSING of RIVERS & STREAMS :
OMIKVIOROK RIVER
C u min c o Alaska
Red Dog P r o j o c t
Chukcrii Sea 9
071-0 Y D-2-8303 5
Shoet12oM3 1/8<
BRIDGE&ROAD
CROSS SECTIONS
-------
SLOPE
\\\
\ \ \ \
350'-
\ \
ROAD
30'
s/op/
TYPICAL PLAN OF TURNQU_T
SCALE T 60'
NOTE:
REFER TO SHEET 2 of 13
-20-
TYPICAL SIDE SLOPE
GRADED ROCK PROTECTION
AROUND CULVERT
NATURAL STREAM SLOPE
TYPICAL CROSS SECTION OF TURNOUT
N.T.S.
Commc o Alaska
Red D°9 Pro'ect
ChuKch, Sea 9
CROSS SECTION & PLAN 0/1-0x0-2-83035
. Sheet13o(13 m
TYPICAL TURNOUT
lYri^AL IUHNVUI
-------
ATTACHMENT D
Environmental Protection Agency
NPDES Permit
(Port Site)
-------
i. AT 1C1-''-1, POLL'JTAK'T iJISCM-r'iGr C L l'.'.l\'M IOI.' S VSTEf.'.
STANDARD FOFIfvi C - ;.-,A.','UFACTU.RIf«G AND COMMERCIAL
SECTIC'J I. APPLICANT AN'D FACILITY DESCRIPTION
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION rO=» SCt-tCTEO ITCr.-.S
? BOOKLET er^ORE FILLIPS P-* THESE
IN SCPARATC INiT HUCTlO'c BOOKLCT Ai ir
-------
(tt-tl (1-
3»•. *4 ».*;•:*:
03
Xrp jxl tt»ot|t< pwnnom
,<»p j»d tueiirS punnou:
<««p i»d tuaiitl 0wn»«ui
Xrp ,
Xfp »d tuotit* punnem
Xip j>d IWOM>* pwnoawi
i
i ":'i
• to
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• to
P«O
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4>Ot
f >"»»»»•>• A
,>»V>O
MI u| Xt
•»
-------
/.. ' .•:>•'. f
lytten-.
Surface imoounamcni wttr> no
Facility dltcnaro « and volume
•If there arc dltchargtt to 'other.*
"***•!
ic-kcl
io»al
10»el
ICJII
.to»gt
'>**" •"•
'•loiii'l
.toil
io»ji
•tout ';
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'•-. •:*.•• o*
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;
10X2
10*12
JOInZ
10IIZ
IOSIZ '
01K2 ';
ouz :•
-< -i- vs,iu-nt U'vc =
i
! 2.0
i
J
2.0
'
1 O. rirmltt, LIceriMi an* Application*
U'^"K*
. . - - .,?„•>;
•* " " 1
Type of Permit
• or LJcente
J^*S(!(cj ~"'.iif*..
ID Number
•:.-' ''Xdix -«:-:.
Date
Hied
VR/MO/OA'
•".. i<«) • '. ' •-'
Date
Iffuad
VR/MO/OA
.',<'*#) *vr:
V
Date
Denied
. VR/MO/OA
._*' •*(« .-• '.v
Cxplratlon
Dale
VR/MO/OA
••(M •"«•
1 I, Mapt anrf Dr*wlnf»
Attach all required map* »nd arawlotj* to the back of thU application.(ftc« ln«lrucf*on«)
tZ. AeltfllUnal lnfa>rmatl*li
'•1 tZ Item Number
Information
-------
I-'OHM AI'l'KOVED
OMB No. 1SS-R0100
FOR AGENCY USE
STANDARD FORM C - MANUFACTURING AND COMMERCIAL
SECTION II. BASIC DISCHARGE DESCRIPTION
Complete Ihis section for cJch discharge indicated in Section I, Item 0. that is to surface waters. This includes dischar9es to municipal sewerage
systems in whicli the wattcwalcr does not 90 through a treatment works prior to being discharged to surface waters. Discharges to wells must
be described where there are also discharges to surface waters from this facility. SEPARATE DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH DISCHARGE ARE
REQUIRED EVEN IF SEVERAL DISCHARGES ORIGINATE IN THE SAME FACILITY. All values for an existing discharge should be repre-
sentative of the twelve previous months of operation. If this is a proposed discharge, values should reflect best engineering estimates.
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SELECTED ITEMS APPEAR IN SEPARATE INSTRUCTION BOOKLET AS INDICATED. REFER
TO BOOKLET BEFORE FILLING OUT THESE ITEMS.
I. Discharge Serial No. and Name
a. Discharge Serial No.
(see instructions)
b. Discharge Name
Give name of discharge, if any.
(see instructions)
c. Previous Discharge Serial No.
If previous permit application
was made for this discharge (see
Item 4. Section I), provide previ-
ous discharge serial number.
2. Discharge Operating Dates
a. Discharge Began Date If the
discharge described below is in
operation, give the date (within
best estimate) the discharge
began.
b. Discharge to Begin Date If the
discharge has never occurred but
is planned for some future date,
give (he date (within best esti-
mate) the discharge will begin.
c. Discharge to End Date If dis-
charge ft scheduled to be discon-
tinued within the next S years.
give the date (within best esti-
mate) the discharge will end.
J. Engineering Report Available
Check if an engineering report Is
available to reviewing agency upon
request, (see instructions)
4. Discharge Location Name the
political boundaries within which
the point of discharge is located.
State
County
(if applicable) City or Town
S. Discharge Point Description
Discharge is into (check one);
(see instructions)
Stream (includes ditches, arroyos.
and other intermittent watercourses)
Lake
Ocean
Municipal Sanitary Wastewater
Transport System
Municipal Combined Sanitary and
Storm Transport System
20U
20tb
ZOtc
ZOZa
ZOZb
Z02e
20}
204«
204b
204C
205a
001
DOMESTIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT
VR MO
YR MO
D
Agency Use
Alaska
NANA region
Z04d
204«
DSTR
QLKE
SOCE
OMTS
EPA Form 7550.23 (7-73)
Thin section contains 9 pajjes.
-------
DISCHARGE SERIAL NUMUER
MtiMicip.il Storm Water Transport
System
well (Inaction)
Other
l( 'oihet' is checked, specify
C. Discharge Point — Lit/Long Give
the precise location of the point
of dlschar9« to the nearest second.
Latitude
Longitude
7. Discharge Receiving Water Name
Name the waterway at the point
of discharge.(see instructions)
If the discharge is through an out-
tall that extendt beyond the shore-
line or is below the mean low
water line, complete Item 8.
Offlhore Discharge
a. Discharge distance (rom shore
b. Discharge Depth Below Water
Sur(ace
9. Discharge Type and Occurrence
a. Type o( Discharge Check
whether the discharge is con-
tinuous or Intermittent.
(lee Instructions)
b. Discharge Occurrence Days per
Week Enter the average num-
ber of days per week (during
periods of discharge) this dis-
charge occurs.
c. Discharge Occurrence —Months
If this discharge normally
operates (either Intermittently.
or continuously) on less than
a year-around basis (excluding
shutdowns (or routine mainte-
nance), check the months dur-
ing the year when the discharge
is operating, (see instructions)
Complete Items 10 and UK "inter-
mittent" is checked in Item 9.1.
Otherwise, proceed to Item 12.
10. Intermittent Discharge Quantity
State the average volume per dis-
charge occurrence in thousands o(
gallons.
11. Intermittent Discharge Duration
and Frequency
a. Intermittent Discharge Duration
Per Day State the average
number o( hours per day the
discharge is operating.
b. Intermittent Discharge
Frequency State the average
number of discharge occur-
rences per day during days
when discharging.
12. Maximum Flow Period Give the
time period in which the maximum
flow of this discharge occurs.
EPA Form 7550-73 (7-73)
DSTS
QWEL
DOTH
FOR AGENCY USE
ZOta
ZOCb
Z07a
201*
XOt I
20*t>
ZOtC
2111
211k
JO MIN
164 DFd 14 MIN
-SEC
-SEC
For Agency Use
Major
Minor
Sub
207e
For Agency Use
303e
500
-feel
14
.feet
3QC(con) Continuous
D(int) Intermittent
—days per week
DJAN, QFEB OMAR DAPR
OJUN QJUL
)QsEP GOCT fl NOV DDEC
.thousand gallons per discharge occurrence.
.hours per day
.discharge occurrences per day
F,..mJuly ,0 Oct
month month
n-2
-------
DISCHARGE SERIAL NUMBER
FORM APPROVED
OMB No. 158-ROIOO
FOR AGENCY USE
13. Activity Oeicrlpllon Give a
narrative description of activity
producln9 this discharge.fsee
instructions)
ZIJi
UP TO 20 PEOPLE (NORMALLY 14) WILL BE ACCOMMODATED
AT THE PORT SITE DURING THE SHIPPING SEASON. DOMESTIC
WASTEWATER WILL BE GENERATED IN THE KITCHEN, SHOWER, 5,
SANITARY FACILITIES WHICH WILL BE A PART OF THE CAMP
ACCOMMODATIONS. THESE WASTEWATERS WILL BE COMBINED &
TREATED PRIOR TO DISCHARGE.
14. Activity Causing Discharge for
each SIC Code which describes
the activity causing this discharge.
supply the type and maximum
jmount of either the raw material
consumed (Item Ma) or the product
produced (Item 14b) In the units
specified In Table I of the Instruc-
tion Booklet. For SIC Codes not
listed In Table I. use raw material
or production units normally used
for measuring production.(see
Instructions)
a. Raw Materials
Maximum Unit Shared Dischargee
SIC Code Name Amount/Day (See Table 1) (Serial Number)
(»)
-:. -.- (2) •;• -**;.- -
: ""X - 'fSJ^ • •" -
(4)
fS>
b. Products
Maximum Unit Shared Discharges
SIC Code Name Amount/Day (See Table 1) (Serial Number)
*I4* (1)
(2)
W>
(4)
(S)
EPA Form 7SSO-23 (7-73)
II-3
-------
DISCHARGE SERIAL NUMBER
FOR AGENCY USE
IS. Wnte Abjtemtnt
a. Wjftc Abatement Practices
Describe the waste abatement
practices used on this discharge
with a brief narrative, (see
Instructions)
b. Watte Abatement Cedes
Using the codes listed In Table
II of the Instruction Booklet.
describe the waste abatement
processes for this discharge In
the order In which they occur
If possible.
2Kb
„,„,„„,: WASTEHATER WILL BE COLLECTED IN A COMMON SURGE
TANK AND TREATED BY EXTENDED AERATION. THE SOLIDS WILL
BE SETTLED IN A CLARIFIER & AEROBICALLY DIGESTED PRIOR
TO DISPOSAL. THE CLARIFIER OVERFLOW WILL BE DISINFECTED
AND DISCHARGED TO THE SEA.
PEQUAL
(4) PSEDTM
(7)
(10)
(13)
(16)
(19)
(22)
(25)
(2)
(5)
(8)
(11)
(M)
(17)
(20)
(23)
PAERAT
(3)
(9)
(12)
(IS)
(21) ,
(24)
BACTIV
SAP-ROB
EPA Form 7550-23 (7-7J)
11-4
-------
DISCHARGE SERIAL NUMBER
FORM APPROVED
OMll No. 158-R0100
FOR AGENCY USE
1C. Wistewater Characteristics
Check the box beside each conilltuent which It present In the effluent (discharge water). This determination Is to be based on actual analysis
or best estlmate.ffee Instructions)
Parameter
216
Color
00080
Ammonia
00610
Organic nitrogen
00605
Nitrate
00620
Nitrite
00615
Phosphorus
00665
Sulfate
00945
Sulfide
00745
Sulfite
00740
Bromide
71870
Chloride
00940
Cyanide
00720
Fluoride
00951
Aluminum
01105
Antimony
01097
Arsenic
01002
Beryllium
01012
Barium
01007
Boron
01022
Cadmium
01027
Calcium
00916
Cobalt
01037
Chromium
01034
Fecal coliform bacteria
74055
c
«.
4
cu
X
X
X
X
x
Parameter
216
Copper
01042
Iron
01045
Lead
01051
Magnesium
00927
Manganese
01055
Mercury
71900
Molybdenum
01062
Nickel
01067
Selenium
01147
Silver
01077
Potassium
00937
Sodium
00929
Thallium
01059
Titanium
01152
Tin
01102
Zinc
01092
Algicides*
74051
Chlorinated organic compounds*
74052
Pesticides*
74053
Oil and grease
00550
Phenols
32730
Surfactants
38260
Chlorine
50060
Radioactivity*
74050
C
Si
V
£
X
X
•Specify substances, compounds and/or elements in Item 26.
Pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides) must be reported in terms of the acceptable common
names specified in Acceptable Common Namet and Chemical Namet (or the Ingredient Statement on
Pettlcide Labels. 2nd Edition, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington. D.C. 20250, June 1972, at
required by Subsection 162.7(b) of the Regulations for the Enforcement of the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
EPA Form 7550-23 (7-73)
II-5
-------
OISCHAHGE SERIAL NUMOEH
FOR AGENCY USE
17. Oeicrlption of Intike and Oltch«r?e
For each o( trie parameters listed below, enter In the appropriate box the value or code letter answer called (or.(see Instructions)
In addition, enter the parameter name and code and all required values lor any of the following parameters If they were checked In Item 16;
ammonia, cyanide, aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, zinc, phenols, oil and grease
and chlorine (residual). '
Parameter and Code
*5 I'T".^*
-. . f"
Flow*
Gallons per day
00056
pH
Units
00400
Temperature (winter)
°F
74028
Temperature (summer)
•F
74027
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD 5-day)
mg/l
00310
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
mg/l
00340
Total Suspended (nonfilterable)
Solids
mg/l
00530
Specific Conductance
micromhos/cm at 25* C
00095
Settleable Matter (residue)
ml/1
00545
Influent
^
00
•° >
<
»- X
*> ™
lie
CD
2,250
8.2
34
42
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
•o ^
0 u
t> ej 2
r" ^ >
~ •*• *C
c c Q
(2)
1,500
7.0
55
60
Nil
NA
NA
NA
NA
Effluent
n
<
X
13
n
0
(3)
1,500
X'
70
80
30
NA
20
0.5
« 2
3 •-
•a 5
> SQ
E *o "o **
' 5i ••* ti i*
1 1 ^ « 1
S O W Q <
(4)
500
6.5
60
70
10
NA
10
NA
0.2
X
*> c1 ~
E r> "a **
3 \* o 2*
'x S 5. J{
S o u a
(S)
2,000
7.5
75
85
50
NA
45
NA
0.75
t__
J> -
3 X
£ <
(6)
w-
u »
^> X
E -3
3 C
Z <
(7)
a.
u
a.
n
CO
(8)
'Other discharges sharing intake flow (serial numbers).(see instructions)
EPA F«m 7550-23 (7-73)
11-6
-------
FORM APPROVED
OMO No. 158-R0100
DISCHARGE SERIAL NUMBER
FOR AGENCY USE
17. (Confd.l
Parameter and Code
?««
Arnrnonia flflfilO
Qi 1 6 Gcease OQ550
rhlorinp 50060
Influent
Untreated Intake
3 Water
(Daily Average)
NA
NA
NA
In-Plant Treated
3 Intake Water
(Daily Average)
NA
NA
NA
Effluent
O
00
n
0
<
JK
*«
o
(3)
5.0
LT 5.0
2.0
Minimum Value
Observed or
3 Expected During
Discharge
Activity
3.0
LT 5.0
1.0
Maximum Value
.— , Observed or
••* Expected During
Discharge Activity
10.0
5.0
3.0
„» Frequency of
~* Analysis
' ~* Number of
*•*
| *•* Analyses
'<* Sample Type
II, Plant Contrail Check If the fol-
lowing plant control! are available
for thlt discharge.
Alternate power source for major
pumping facility.
Alarm or emergency procedure for
power or equipment failure
Complete Item 19 If discharge Is
from cooling and/tor tteam water
generation and water treatment
additives are used.
I*. Water Treatment Additives If the
discharge Is treated with any con-
ditioner. Inhibitor, or algiclde,
answer the following:
a. Name of Materlal(t)
Name and address of manu-
facturer
c. Quantity (pounds added per
million gallons of water treated).
2t*«
2Kb
O APS
Q ALM
EPA F«m 7S50-2J (7-73)
11-7
-------
DISCHARGE SERIAL NUMBER
FOR AGENCY USE
d. Chemical composition of these
additives (tee Instructions).
21»d
Complete Items 20-25 I) there Is a thermal discharge
(e.9.. associated with a steam and/or power generation
plant, steel mill, petroleum refinery, or any other
manufacturing process) and the total discharge flow is
1 0 million gallons per day or more, (see Instructions)
20. Thermal Discharge Source Check
the appropriate Item(s) Indicating
the source of the discharge, (see
instructions)
Boiler Slowdown
Boiler Chemical Cleaning
Ash Pond Overflow
Boiler Water Treatment — Evapora-
tor Slowdown
Oil or Coal Fired Wants — Effluent
from Air Pollution Control Oevlcef
Condense Cooling Water
Cooling Tower Slowdown
Manufacturing Process
Other
21. Discharge/Receiving Water Temper-
ature Difference
Give the maximum temperature
difference between the discharge
and receiving waters for summer
and winter operating conditions.
(see Instructions)
Summer
Winter
22. Discharge Temperature. Rate of
Change Per Hour
Give the maximum possible rate of
temperature change per hour of
discharge under operating con-
ditions, (see Instructions)
23. Water Temperature. Pereentlle
Report (Frequency of Occurrence)
In the table below, enter the
temperature which Is exceeded 10%
of the year. 5% of the year. 1% of
the year and not at all (maximum
yearly temperature), (see Instructions)
Frequency of occurrence
a. Intake Water Temperature
(Subject to natural changes)
b. Discharge Water Temperature
24. Water Intake Velocity
(see Instructions)
2S. Retention Time Give the length of
time. In minutes, from start of
water temperature rise to discharge
of cooling water, (see Instructions)
220
tttt
2230
«*
OBLBD
DBCCL
DAPOF
DOCFP
DCONO
QCTBO
OMFPR
DOTHR
_°F./nour
10%
°F
°F
s%
°F
OF
1%
OF
°F
Maximum
°F
°F
_feet/sec.
.minutes
Ef A Fe*m 7550-23 (7-73)
II-8
-------
FORM APPROVED
No. I58-RV100
DISCHARGE SERIAL NUMQER
FOR AGENCY USE
26. Additional Information
226 item
Information
EPA Form 7550-23 (7-73)
II-9
CPO tO«.OI4
-------
ATTACHMENT F
Supplemental Corporate Information
Cominco Alaska
-------
r
of Alaska
Bcpartttttnt
of
01
nrnmcrcE
anfc
IE
conomtc
Bcuelopmcnt
11 t
derttftcatE
The undersigned, as Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Develop-
ment of the State of Alaska, and custodian of corporation records for
said State, hereby certifies that
COMINCO AMERICAN INCORPORATED
a corporation organized under the laws of Washington did,
on the 26thday of December 1973 , qualify as a foreign corporation
authorized to do business in the State of Alaska; and
I FURTHER CERTIFY that the said corporation has not withdrawn
since qualifying herein, and that all required corporate reports have
been filed to date and all corporate taxes and fees due this office are
paid to date. ~~
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF. I execute this certificate and
affix the Great Seal of the State of Alaska this
2nd day of September
o. 19
85
RICHARD A LYON
COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCE AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
-------
BY-LAWS
of
COMINCO AMERICAN INCORPORATED
ARTICLE I
Shareholders
Section 1. Place of Meetings; Any meetings of the shareholders, including
the annual meeting, may be held at such places and at such times, within or
without the State of Washington, as may be designated and as set forth in
the Notice of Meeting.
Section 2. Annual Meeting: The annual meeting of the shareholders of
the corporation shall be held once in each calendar year and at such date and
time as the Board of Directors may designate, at which time the shareholders
shall elect a Board of Directors for the ensuing year and transact any and
all other business that may come before the meeting.
Section 3. Special Meetings; Special meetings of the shareholders of
the corporation may be called by the Chairman of the Company, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, if one is so designated, the
President or by a quorum of the directors, or by the holder or holders of
not less than one-tenth (1/10) of the shares of common stock outstanding and
entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings; Written notice for the holding of the
annual meeting of the shareholders or of a special meeting of the shareholders
shall be given by the Secretary of the corporation or by the person or persons
authorized to call the meeting. The notice, shall state the place, day, and
hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting of the shareholders,
the purpose of the special meeting. The notice shall be mailed to each holder
-i-
-------
of shares of common stock of the corporation outstanding and entitled to vote
at the meeting by first class United States mail not less than ten (10) days
nor more than fifty (50) days before the date designated for the annual meeting
and not less than two (2) days before the date designated for holding a special
shareholders meeting. The address to which the notice is mailed shall be that
designated by the shareholder.
Section 5. Quorum: The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders
of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote shall constitute
a quorum at all meetings of the shareholders and the majority vote of such
shares shall be the acts of the meeting, unless otherwise required by law
or these By-Laws.
Section 6. Meeting by Consent and Waiver of Notice: When the share-
holders entitled to vote are present at any meeting, except the annual meet-
ing, and sign a written consent thereto on the record of such meeting, then
the holding of that meeting and the acts of that meeting are valid, regardless
of how called, noticed, or where held.
Section 7. Informal Action of Shareholders: The shareholders, in lieu
of their meeting together, may act by a resolution in writing approved, con-
sented to and signed by all of the shareholders entitled to vote on the action
taken and said act or acts shall be as valid and effective as if same had been
passed at any other meeting of the shareholders. Such resolution shall be
filed by the Secretary of the corporation in the corporate records as the
minutes of a shareholders meeting.
Section 8. Voting Rights: Bona fide common shareholders, having stock
in their names on the stock books of the corporation at least ten (10) days
prior to any meeting at which a vote shall be taken, are entitled to one vote
for each share of stock so held; provided, however, that when voting for directors,
-2-
-------
each shareholder shall be entitled to accumulate his vote by giving one candidate
for director as many votes as the number of such directors to be elected multiplied
by the number of his shares shall equal, or by distributing such votes on the
same principal among any number of such candidates.
Section 9. Proxies: A Shareholder entitled to vote may do so either
in person or by proxy in writing. A proxy shall not be valid after eleven
(11) months from the date of its execution unless a longer period is expressly
stated in the proxy. A proxy may be revoked by a writing of a later date
or by attendance of the shareholder at the meeting and so declaring.
Section 10. Adjournments: Any meeting of the shareholders may adjourn
from day to day or from time to time. Prior to adjournment, the time and
place of the continuation of the meeting shall be announced and, unless the
adjournment is for more than fourteen (14) days, no other notice of the adjourned
meeting or of the business to be transacted shall be necessary. Matters pertaining
to the adjournment shall be set forth in the minutes of the meeting. Upon
reconvening pursuant to the adjournment, if a quorum is present any business
may be transacted which could have been transacted at the meeting originally
called.
In case of any meeting involving the election of directors, the adjournment
must be for a time no later than the next day and those who attend the adjourned
meeting although less than a quorum as provided in these By-Laws shall never-
theless constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing directors.
ARTICLE II
Board of Directors
Section 1. Number and Term of Office: The business, property and affairs
of the corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors which shall
-3-
-------
be comprised of never less than three (3) persons, but which by resolution
duly passed by the Board of Directors may at any time be increased to any
number not exceeding fifteen (15) or, having once been increased, may be reduced
to any number not less than three (3). The directors shall be elected annually
by the shareholders at their annual meeting and shall hold their office for
one (1) year or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 2. Committees: The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted
by a majority of the full Board of Directors, may designate from among its
members an Executive Committee and one or more other committees including,
without limitation, a Compensation Committee, and such committees shall have
the powers granted to them by the Board of Directors, the By-Laws or by Law,
but no committee shall have the authority of the Board of Directors in reference
to amending the articles of incorporation, adopting a plan of merger or consoli-
dation, recommending to the shareholders the sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition of all or substantially all the property and assets of the corporation
otherwise than in the usual and regular course of its business, recommending
to the shareholders a voluntary dissolution of the corporation or a revocation
thereof, or amending the By-Laws of the corporation.
Section 3. Vacancies: Upon the death, resignation or removal of a director
from office, the Board of Directors may elect a director to hold office until
the next annual election and a successor is elected and qualified. Any directorship
to be filled by the Board of Directors by reason of an increase in their number
may be filled by the Board of Directors for a term of office continuing only
until the next annual election of the directors by the shareholders.
Section 4. Compensation: Directors shall receive such compensation
and expenses for their services as Directors as the Board of Directors may
designate.
-------
Section 5. Removal: At a meeting called expressly for that purpose
any or all of the Directors may be removed with or without cause by a vote
of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election
of directors.
Section 6. Place of Meetings; Meetings of the Board of Directors may
be held at such time and at such places, either within or without the state,
as designated in a Notice of Meeting.
Section 7. Annual Meeting: The Board of Directors shall meet each year
immediately after the conclusion of the annual meeting of the shareholders
and shall elect officers and consider such other business as may come before
it.
Section 8. Special Meeting: A special meeting of the Board of Directors
may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Company, Chairman of the
Executive Committee, the President or a Vice President if a member of the
Board of Directors, or by a quorum of the directors whenever he or they may
deem it expedient.
Section 9. Notice of Meetings; Written notice for the holding of the
annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given not less than ten
(10) days in advance of the meeting, nor not less than two (2) days in advance
of the meeting in the case of a special meeting of the Board of Directors,
by notice issued by the Secretary after having first been authorized so to
do.
Section 10. Quorum; Until changed by resolution of the Board of Directors
three (3) directors is a sufficient number to form the Board for the transaction
of business of the corporation and every decision of a majority of those directors
present at a meeting in which a quorum is present shall be the act of the
Board of Directors.
-------
Section 11. Meeting by Consent and Waiver of Notice: When all directors
are present at any meeting and sign a Waiver of Notice and a consent to the
holding of such meeting, and such Waiver and consent is made a part of the
record of such meeting the holding of such meeting and the acts of that meeting
are valid regardless of how called, noticed or where held.
Section 12. Informal Action of the Board of Directors: The directors,
in lieu of their meeting together, may act by a resolution in writing approved,
consented to and signed by all of the directors and said act or acts shall
be as valid and effective as if same had been passed at any other meeting of
the directors. Such resolution shall be filed by the Secretary of the corpo-
ration in the corporate records as the minutes of a directors meeting.
Section 13. Attendance by Conference Communication: Members of the Board
of Directors or any committee designated by these By-Laws or appointed by
the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of such Board or Committee
by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by
means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other
at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute the presence
in person at the meeting of all persons so participating in the meeting.
Section 14. Adjournment: Any meeting of the Board of Directors may
adjourn from day to day or from time to time. Prior to adjournment the time
and place of the continuation of the meeting shall be announced and, unless
the adjournment is for more than fourteen (14) days, no other notice of the
adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted shall be necessary.
Matters pertaining to the adjournment shall be set forth in the minutes of
the meeting. Upon reconvening pursuant to the adjournment if a quorum is
present any business may be transacted which could have been transacted at
the meeting originally called.
-6-
-------
Section 15. Other Capacity: A director may serve the corporation In the
capacity other than a director and may receive such compensation for services
rendered in the other capacity as the Board of Directors may designate.
A director may be or become a director or officer of any company promoted
by this corporation or in which it may be interested as a shareholder or otherwise.
No director shall be disqualified in respect of his office by reason
of his holding any office or place of profit in this corporation or in any
company in which this corporation is a shareholder or in any company holding
shares in this corporation; nor shall any contract or arrangement entered
into by or on behalf of this corporation in which any director is in any way
interested (whether by reason of being a shareholder of or otherwise interested
in any other company for that reason) be void and every director so interested
and having declared his interest shall have the right to vote respecting any
such contract or arrangement; nor shall any director be liable to account
to this corporation for any profit realized from any such office or place
of profit or realize by any such contract or arrangement by reason only of
such director holding that office or place of profit or fiduciary relation
thereby established.
ARTICLE III
Officers, Managers, or Representatives
Section 1. Officers: The officers of the corporation shall consist
of a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and
such other officers or assistant officers as the Board of Directors shall
designate, or as are designated in these By-Laws. Any two or more offices
may be held by the same person except the office of Chairman, if one is so
elected, or President and Secretary.
-7-
-------
Section 2. Election and Term of Office: The officers of the corporation
shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at their annual meeting
at which time they may, in their discretion, elect a Chairman of the Company,
who may also be President and, in the absence of any agreement to the contrary
shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 3. Vacancies: Upon the death, resignation, or removal of an
officer from office, the Board of Directors may elect or appoint a replacement
to hold office until the next annual election and a successor is elected and
qualified.
Section 4. Other Officers, Managers or Representatives: The Board of
Directors may appoint or elect such other officers, managers or representatives
as, in its discretion, it deems necessary to serve at the will of the Board.
Section 5. Chief Executive Officer: The Board of Directors may designate
the Chairman of the Company, if one is so elected, or the President to be the
Chief Executive Officer, who shall be the general executive head of the company
and who shall exercise the general supervision, management and control of all
business and affairs of the company. In the absence of such a designation the
President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the company.
Section 6. Duties of the Chairman: The Chairman of the Company shall
preside at all meetings of the directors or shareholders and shall perform
other duties as are prescribed by these By-Laws and as the directors may,
from time to time, require.
Section 7. Duties of the President: The President shall have such duties
as may be assigned to him, from time to time, by the Board of Directors or as
are prescribed by the By-Laws of the company.
Section 8. Duties of Vice Presidents: The Vice President, or if more
than one, the Vice Presidents in order of seniority (as determined by the
-8-
-------
directors) shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties
of the President in the absence or disability or refusal to act of the President,
save that no Vice-President shall preside at a meeting of the Directors who
is not a member of the Board of Directors. The Vice President, or if more
than one, the Vice-Presidents, shall also have such other powers and duties
as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or them, respectively, by the
directors.
Section 9. Secretary: It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep alpha-
betically the names and addresses of all shareholders; he shall, along with
the President, sign all of the stock certificates of the company and keep
the records thereof; the seal of this corporation shall be in his custody;
he shall give or cause to be given all notices of all meetings of the directors
or shareholders; and shall record all proceedings of the meetings of shareholders
and directors; and sh'all perform such other duties as may be required by laws,
these By-Laws or as the directors may require of him.
Section 10. Treasurer; It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep
safely all moneys and securities of this corporation, and he shall deposit,
disburse or deliver the same under the direction of the directors; he shall
submit a statement of his accounts when called for by the President or directors,
and shall perform such other duties as may be required by laws, these By-Laws
or as the Board of Directors may require from time to time and to give such
bonds as the directors may require.
ARTICLE IV
Shares of Stock
Section 1. Capital Stock: The capital stock of the corporation shall
be as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation. Issuance of stock shall
-------
be subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws.
All certificates of stock shall be signed by the President or such other officers
designated by the Board of Directors and countersigned by the Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary, and shall be impressed with the corporate seal.
Signatures and the corporate seal may be imprinted thereon as facsimilies thereof
if authorized by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Treasury Stock: Stock of the corporation held by the corpora-
tion shall be treasury stock, and shall neither vote nor participate in dividends,
and its disposition shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Transfers: Transfers of stock shall be subject to these
By-Laws and applicable law of the State of Washington. Transfers of stock
shall be made only on the books of the corporation. The old certificate,
properly endorsed, shall be surrendered to the Secretary and cancelled before
a new certificate is issued.
Section 4. Close of Stock Book: The stock book of the corporation shall
be closed against tranfers for a period of ten days before payment of dividends
and for a period of ten days before each meeting of the shareholders.
Section 5. Loss of Certificate: In case of loss or destruction of a
certificate of stock, a new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof after
satisfactory proof has been made to the Board of Directors of the loss or
destruction and, in addition, upon the giving of satisfactory security, by
bond or otherwise, as the Board of Directors shall require, against any loss
to the corporation by reason of the issuance of a duplicate. A replacement
certificate shall have the word "DUPLICATE" marked on its face.
Section 6. Mailing Address Required: At the time of issuance of stock,
the Secretary of the corporation shall obtain from the recipient shareholder
his mailing address which shall be entered in the stock ledger and shall become
-10-
-------
a part of the permanent records of the corporation. It shall thereafter be
the obligation of each shareholder to advise the Secretary of any change of
such address and the Secretary shall promptly enter such a change in the stock
ledger. First Class mail, whether regular, airmail, registered, or certified,
addressed to such address shall be sufficient for all corporate notices and
for all official communications between the shareholders pertaining to corporate
business, except where specifically set forth otherwise in these By-Laws.
ARTICLE V
Seal
Section 1. Seal: The seal of this corporation shall bear the following
inscription in the words "COMINCO AMERICAN INCORPORATED - Washington" in the
form of a circle, and with the words "CORPORATE SEAL" in the center of the
circle.
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous Corporate Acts
Section 1. Corporate Funds: All funds of the corporation shall be deposited
in the bank or banks designated by the Board of Directors. All checks, drafts
or orders for the payment of money and all notes and acceptances and bills
of exchange shall be signed by such officer or officers or designated persons
of the corporation as the Board of Directors shall designate.
Section 2. Execution of Written Instruments: All written instruments
requiring formal execution on behalf of the corporation shall be executed
by the President or a Vice President and attested by the Secretary and impressed
with the seal of the corporation; provided, however, that the Board of Directors
may in any particular instance designate another procedure for execution.
-------
Section 3. Dividends: Dividends shall be paid from the surplus earnings
of the corporation as the Board of Directors shall from time to time designate,
but no dividend shall be paid that will impair the capital structure of the
corporation.
Section 4. Sale, Merger. Dissolution or Mortgage of all Corporate Property:
At a meeting of all the shareholders called, among other things, for that
purpose, the shareholders representing two-thirds of the stock entitled to
vote may dissolve and distribute the assets of the corporation, direct the
sale, merger, or mortgaging of all or substantially all of the corporate proper-
ties, and in such case, the directors shall cause such conveyances, documents,
or mortgages to be made accordingly.
ARTICLE VII
Indemnity
Section 1. Indemnity; Any person made a party to any action, suit or
proceedings, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer,
employee, trustee or representative of the corporation, or of any corporation,
partnership, trust or joint venture in which he served as such at the request
of the corporation, shall be indemnified by the corporation against the reasonable
expenses, including attorney's fees, judgments, fines or amounts actually
and necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense of such action,
suit or proceedings, or in connection with any appeal therein, if he acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settle-
ment, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall
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not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith
and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was
unlawful.
The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of
any other rights to which any officer, director, employee, trustee or repre-
sentative may be entitled apart from the provisions of this section.
The amount of Indemnity to which any officer or any director may be entitled
shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, except that in any case where there
is no disinterested majority of the Board available, the amount shall be fixed
by either independent legal counsel in a written opinion or by the shareholders.
The corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of any person who is or was a director, trustee, officer, employee,
or representative of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request
of the corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation
would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions
of this section.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
Section 1. Repeal. Amendment, Adoption of By-Laws: The By-Laws of the
corporation may be changed or amended at any time by the Board of Directors
subject, however, at all times to the power of the shareholders to change,
alter, repeal or to adopt new By-Laws.
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iAi AS TO FOR;.-. AND ?:LH
SEP 27 -,255
RESTATED ARTICLES OP INCORPORATION A uuiDLOW .
-------
(c) To engage In the mercantile, merchandise, ^eal
estate, brokerage, commission, consignment, warehouse,
rr^ufacturins and transportation business, the conduct and
cpsration of irrigation works, the caneration and distribution
cf electrical energy, the conduct of public utilities and the
rendering of public service in any of the phases or branches
thereof, and to acquire, own, use and dispose of the necessary
tools, machinery, equipment, stocks, buildings, stores, wharves,
warehouses, real estate, vehicles, boats, vessels, aeroplanes,
ar.d other property, real and personal, necessary therefor and
to dispose of the products thereof, and to assess and collect
compensation for services rendered, goods, wares and merchan-
dise sold and delivered, and benefits conferred, and to exercise
the right of eminent domain.
(d) To establish, form and subsidize or. otherwise assist
in the promotion or foundation of other companies or the
prosecution of any other undertaking or enterprise of any
description which may advance directly or indirectly the objects
of this corporation, and to secure by purchase, trade, sub-
scription,- or otherwise acquire and to deal and trade in, the
stock, certificates of interest, debentures, bonds or other
securities of other companies, trusts or other organizations.
(e) To loan money and grant credits; to incur indebted-
i
r.sss, borrow or raise money with or without security, to evidence
the same by proper instruments, and to secure the payment of
money borrowed or raised when deemed expedient by the issue of
debentures, bonds, chattel mortgages, real estate mortgages,
deeds of trust, or the pledging of collateral or the giving of
other security and upon such terms as to priority and discount,
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or otherwise as shall be thought fit and to purchase or
i-sdeen (at a premium if deemed expedient) any notes, deben-
tures, bonds, mortgages or securities of this corporation.
(f) To pay for any rights or property acquired by or
services rendered to this corporation in connection with its
promotion, organization, operation or maintainance, in fully
or partly paid shares of stock, debentures, bonds, other
securities of this corporation, cash, privileges or anything
of value.
(g) To pay any commission or brokerage, for the purpose
of securing the subscription or sale of all or any part of
•;he stock of this corporation.
(h) To procure this corporation to be legalized,
domiciled, or recognized in any foreign country, state or
colony and to transact any business there.
(i) To do all such acts and things as are incidental,
conducive, necessary or permissable to or under the above
objects in their broadest sense or which will aid any of the
tsove objects, and to establish and carry on any business or
vr.iar taking permissable under the law which may seem calculated
•0 enhance the value of any of the property or rights of this
company or to facilitate the disposition thereof and to
er.gc.3e in any and all kinds of business that a natural person
might or could engage In and to engage In such business as the
Hoard of Trustees may deem to the advantage of this corporation.
III.
1. The authorized capital stock of this Corporation
shall be Thirty-Five Million Dollars ($35,000,030.00)
divided into:
« (i) Seven hundred thousand (700,000) shares of
common stock with a par value of Ten Dollars
($10.00) each with full and equal voting
privileges;
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(ii) Two million eight hundred thousand (2,800,000)
shares of six percent (6£) non-voting r.on-
cumulative redeemable participating preferred
shares of the par value of Ten Dollars ($10.00)
each (hereinafter called the "preferred shares")
having attached thereto the rights, restrictIor.s,
conditions and-limitations hereinafter set out.
2. The holders of the preferred shares shall be entitled
to receive and this corporation shall pay thereon, quarterly,
semi-annually or annually, as and when declared by the
board of directors out of the moneys of this corporation
properly applicable to the payment of dividends fixed
preferential non-cumulative cash dividends at the rate
of six percent (656) per annum on the amounts from time
to time paid up thereon. The board of directors shall
be entitled from time to time to declare part of the
said preferential dividend for any fiscal year notwith-
standing that the dividend for that fiscal year shall
not be declared in full. If, within four months after
the expiration of any fiscal year of this corporation,
the board of directors in its discretion shall not have
declared the said fixed preferential dividend or any
part thereof on the preferred shares for that fiscal
year, then the rights of the holders of the preferred
shares to such dividend or to any undeclared par?
thereof for such fiscal year shall be forever extinguished.
No dividend shall at any time be declared or paid or set
aside for the common shares or any part thereof for any
fiscal year unless the fixed preferential dividend for
such fiscal year on all the preferred shares then
outstanding shall have been declared and paid or a sum
set aside for payment thereof.
3. Whenever In any calendar year a dividend or dividends
aggregating sixty cents a share have "been paid or declared
on the common shares outstanding any and all further
dividends (not being the preferential dividends on the
'preferred shares) declared and payable in such calendar
year shall be declared and paid in equal amounts per share
on all the preferred shares and common shares at the time
outstanding without preference or distinction as between
preferred shares and common shares.
k. This corporation may at any time or times purchase
for cancellation the whole or any part of the preferred
shares outstanding from time to time by-such means and
at such price or prices as the board of directors may
authorize.
5. This corporation may redeem at any time all or from
time to time any part of the outstanding preferred shares
on payment to the holders thereof of the amount paid up
thereon, together with all declared and unpaid preferential
non-cumulative cash dividends thereon, but such right to
redeem may not be exercised in any case prior to the end of
five years from the date of issuance of the preferred share
or shares to the holder thereof.
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6. in any case of redemption of preferred shares uncle:-
the provisions of clause 5 hereof, this corporation shc.il
at least twenty (20) days before the date specified for
redemption mall to each person who at the date of nailins
is a. registered holder of preferred shares to be redeemed
a notice in writing of the intention of this corporation
to redeem such preferred shares. Such notice shall be
mailed in a prepaid letter addressed to each such share-
holder at his address, as it appears on the books of this
corporation or in the event of the address of any such
shareholder not so appearing then to the last knov;n address
of such shareholder; provided, however, that accidental
failure to give any such notice to one (1) or more of
such shareholders shall not affect the validity of such
redemption. Such notice shall set out the redemption price
and the date on which redemption is to take place and if
part only of the shares held by the person to whoa it is
addressed is to be redeemed the number thereof so to be
redeemed. On or after the date so specified for redemp-
tion this corporation shall pay or cause to be paid to or
to the order of the registered holders of the preferred
shares to be redeemed the redemption price thereof on
presentation and surrender at the head office of this
corporation or any other place designated in such notice
of the certificates representing the preferred shares
called for redemption. If a part only of the shares
represented by any certificate be redeemed a new certifi-
cate for the balance shall be issued at the expense of
this corporation. From and after the date specified for
redemption In any such notice the preferred shares called
for redemption shall cease to be entitled to dividends
and the holders thereof shall not be entitled to exercise
any of the rights of shareholders In respect thereof
unless payment of the redemption price shall not be nada
upon presentation of certificates in accordance with the
foregoing provisions, In which case the rights of the
'shareholders shall remain unaffected. This corporation
shall have the right' at any time after the mailing of
notice of its Intention to redeem any preferred shares
as aforesaid to deposit the redemption price of the shares
so called for redemption or of such of the said shares
represented by certificates which have not at the date of
such deposit been surrendered by the holders thereof in
connection with such redemption to a special account in
any bank named in such notice to be paid without interest
to or to the order of the respective holders of such
preferred shares called for redemption upon presentation
and surrender to such bank of the certificates representing
the same and upon such deposit being made or upon the date
specified for redemption In such notice, whichever is the
later, the preferred shares in respect whereof such deposit
shall have been made shall be redeemed and the rights of
the holders thereof after such deposit or such redemption
date, as the case may be, shall be limited to receiving
without Interest their proportionate part of the total
redemption price so deposited against presentation and
surrender of the said certificates held by them respectively.
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7. The holders of the preferred shares shall i-.ot have
any voting rights for the election of directors r.or,
wlthour limiting generality, for any other purpoce; no.-
shall they be entitled to attend shareholders' .T.ee-cinsc.
8. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of
t:ii3 corporation or any other distribution of ics c.~set=
ar.ons the shareholders, the holders of the preferred
shares shall.be entitled to receive the par value of
their holdings in priority to any distribution so she
holders of the common shares or any shares of any o'cher
cl.-xss ranking Junior to the preferred shares, but the
he-cars of the preferred shares shall not be entitled to
share any further in th3 distribution of assets.
IV.
The duration of this Corporation shall not be limited to
ar.y number of years, but shall be P2RP2TUAL.
V.
The management of the Corporation shall be vested in a
Board of Directors which shall consist of not less than three
(3) persons and the number, qualification, terms of office,
r.anr.er of election, time and place cf meeting, and powers ar.d
du-ies of the Directors shall be such as are prescribed by the
Sy-laws of the corporation. The names and addresses of the
^tractors in office at the time of the adoption of these
?;i5i;at5d Articles are.-
R. Hendricks
Room 3100
630 Dorchester Boulevard West
Montreal 2, Quebec, Canada
P. 2. Burnet
2ast 1224 - 2?th Avenue
Spokane, Washington
J. C. MacLean
818 Riverside Avenue
Spokane, Washington
H. T. Fargey
Room 3100
630 Dorchester Boulevr.rd west
Montreal 2, Quebec, Canada
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A. o. woif-f
Room 3100
630 Dorchester Boulevard west
Montreal 2, Quebec, Canada
R. D. Perry
Room 3100
630 Dorchester Boulevard West
Montreal 2, Quebec, Canada
D. D. Morris
Room 3100
630 Dorchester Boulevard West
Montreal 2, Quebec, Canada
VI.
The principal place of business of this corporation shall
be located at the city of Spokane, in the County of Spokane,
and state of Washington.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have set our hands and seals under
tl-.ese presents this IH& day of September, 1965.
T.'S^ Burnet;"' president
ATTEST :
--- _
{ 25
J. D/Rae, Secretary-Treasurer
STATE 0? WASHINGTON )
: ss.
County of Spokane }
P. E. Burnet and J. D. Rae, being first duly sworn on
cath, depose and say:
(a) That they have been authorized to execute the within
Restated Articles by resolution of the Board of Directors
adopted on the 8th day of September, 1965.
(b) That the Restated Articles correctly set forth the
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text of the Articles of Incorporation as amended and supple-
r.or.ted to tr.e date of the Restated Articles, and
(c) That tl-.3 Restated Articles supersede and take the
pl^cc of theretofore existing Articles of Incorporation and
;_T.er.d.T.ents thereto.
F7E. Burnet
J-. IX. Rae
SUBSCRIBED AKD SWORN to before me this
, 1965.
cay of
Notary Public in and for the stare
of Washington, residing at Spokane
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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ALASKA DISTRICT. CORPS OF ENGINEERS
POUCH 898
ANCHORAGE. ALASKA 99506
8 February 1984
ATTBHTION OFl
Regulatory Functions Branch
Special Actions Section
Mr. Harry Noah
Cominco Alaska
5660 B Street
Anchorage, Alaska
Dear Mr. Noah:
99502
This letter is in regards to your Title XI
transportation system (Q71-OYD-2-830359, Chukchi
Department of the Army (DA) permit application for
the mine site (071-OYD-4-840012, Chukchi Sea 11).
application for the
Sea 9) ?.nd your
certain activities at
These applications are complete and soon a public notice for each
permit application will be published as an appendix in the Red Dog Mine
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The public notices are required to
solicit comments regarding your project. Any comments received will be
evaluated and considered in our permit decision. We expect to make a
permit decision approximately 30 days after the publication of the notice
of availability of the Final EIS.
Sincerely,
Copy Furnished:
Larry iH Reeder
Chief, Special Actions Section
Regulatory Functions Branch
Mr. Bill Riley
Environmental Evaluations Branch (M/S 443)
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 6th Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
FEB 00
EISJ404
IPMWIW
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION X
'•^ 1200 SIXTH AVENUE
s TOK^ 1 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101
ATTNY0° M/S 443
February 6, 1984
Mr. H,M. Giegerich, President
Cominco Alaska
5660 "B" Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99502
Dear Mr. Giegerich:
The EPA has reviewed the revised consolidated ANILCA Title XI application
submitted by your company December 14, 1983, for Federal permits necessary
to construct a transportation system across Cape Krusenstern National
Monument. With regard to the proposed wastewater discharge from the port
facility, the information submitted is adequate for EPA to begin processing
your application.
Sincerely,
Rogdr K. Mochnick, Chief
Water Permits Section
cc: Ron Kreizenbeck, AOO (Juneau)
Floyd Sharrock, NPS
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United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Alaska Regional Office
2525 Gambell Street, Room 107
IN REPLY REFER TO: Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2892
L76 (ARO-P)
FEB 10 1984
Mr. Harry A. Noah
Environmental Coordinator
Cominco Alaska
5660 B Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99502
Dear Mr. Noah:
We have reviewed the revised Title XI application submitted by Cominco
January 31, 1984. It is our understanding that the application has been
submitted to the Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and that it will be published in this form in the Red Dog Mining
Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) along with our review
comments and those of the Corps and the EPA.
We have no objection to the application appearing in this form in the DEIS.
However, it does not contain all information required by Title XI of the
Alaska Natural Interest Lands Conservation Act and applicable laws insofar as
the National Park Service is concerned. The following corrections must be
made and the indicated additional information (earlier requested in our letter
dated January 6, 1984) must be provided.
Item 4. Because Cominco Alaska is a private corporation, items (d) and (e) of
the supplemental data sheet are to be completed.
Item 7. You have indicated that the concentrate storage structure is a related
facility (to the use system), as is the borrow area in which it is to be
constructed. The borrow area (and structure) are to be situated on lands
selected and tentatively approved for conveyance to NANA. Therefore at such
time as you provide the information requested in Item 15, it will be necessary
to anticipate the possibility that title conveyance may not occur and that the
facility would therefore remain on Cape Krusenstern Monument lands adminis-
tered by the National Park Service. Because title to these lands has not been
conveyed, the acreage (211 acres) will be figured in the application fee to be
provided as part of the Title XI application.
Your response (attachment A, page 1, paragraph 6) to our request for a descrip-
tion and explanation of why related structures and facilities (identified by
Cominco) are minimally necessary for construction, operation, and/or maintenance
-------
of the system, is inadequate. The National Park Service must have sufficient
fiscal data to make an independent evaluation of your conclusion as indicated
in attachment A.
We appreciate that the information in the detail requested in our January 6
letter item 7(e)(f) is not now available. But we will require it to be
provided at such time as engineering studies are completed that are adequate
to realistically identify and evaluate the system in relation to the natural
and cultural landscape.
Item 9. We repeat the request of our January 6 letter, that the status of
required applications for state and local governmental permits indicated in
item 9 be consistent with the information provided in item 14.
Item 10. If we understand your application correctly, the lineal right-of-way
through Cape Krusenstern National Monument is 24 miles. Based on 36 CFR
14.22(a)(3), there will be a nonrefundable fee of $500.00 for each 20 miles or
fraction thereof for a total of $1,000. For each 40 non-linear acres or
fraction thereof, there is authorized a charge of $250. Since there has been
no determination concerning borrow as a related structure or facility, we will
defer the acre charge until such time as borrow might be authorized.
Item 15. We note the continuing request indicated in our January 6 letter for
additional information and appropriate documentation as follows:
a) Detailed cost figures for the proposed construction, operation, and
maintenance, including the economic feasibility of the proposed trans-
portation system.
b) The cost of the alternatives to routing the system through Cape Krusenstern
National Monument, including the economic feasibility of these alternatives,
c) The cost of alternatives locating no borrow sites within Cape Krusenstern
National Monument, including the economic feasibility of these alternatives,
d) Any expected impact on the national security interests of the United
States that may result from approval or denial of the application.
Sincerely,
Re
Alaska Region
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Appendix 7
Cultural Resources Protection
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Advisory
Council On
Historic
Preservation
The Old Post Office Building
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, #809
Washington, DC 20004
January 26, 1984
Mr. Floyd Sharrock ' 7 -
National Park Service ' ; —
2525 Gambell :~~
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Dear Floyd,
This is with regard to our telephone conversation today concerning the
draft environmental impact statement on the granting of rights-of-way
for facilities connected with the Red Dog Mine, and with regard to our
earlier meeting on the same subject.
As you know, NPS has not yet requested the comments of the Council on
this undertaking pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Pres-
ervation Act and our regulations, 36 CFR Part 800. This is appropriate,
however, as you are at the draft EIS stage; we do not discourage earlier
consultation, but many agencies find it convenient to provide the draft
EIS as the Preliminary Case Report required by our regulations, and
obtain our comments in time for inclusion in the final EIS, and we
encourage this sort of integration of Section 106 and NEPA responsibilities.
The approach you have described to me verbally, in which Section 106
consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer and Council
will lead to either protection in place of, or data recovery from,
National Register-eligible archeological sites already identified through
intensive survey of the areas to be affected by the undertaking,_seems
to be a reasonable way to proceed. We will look forward to receiving
your formal request for comments, and to bringing our review to a prompt
conclusion.
Sincerely, ^ //f
f'' /
;
'.Thomas F/ King, Director
^-'Office of Cultural "Resource Preservation
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DEPARTMENT OF NATITRAL
DIVISION OF PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION
January 30, 1984
File: 3130-1 (NPS)
BILL SHEFFIELD, GOVERNOR
225A CORDOVA STREET
ANCHORAGE ALASKA 99501
PHONE (907) 2762653
Mr. Roger Contor, Regional Director
Alaska Regional Office
National Park Service
2525 Gambell , Rm. 107
Anchorage, AK 99503
Dear Mr. Contor:
We have reviewed the Draft
Red Dog Mining Project.
Environmental Impact Statement for the
In general, we feel that it is a well-done document that responds
to the critical issues. As for heritage resources, there is little
specific information presented beyond the number of sites to be im-
pacted. However, more complete data is readily available in the cited
reports by Hall. It appears that the level of archaeological survey
has been adequately intensive to identify most, if not all, of the sites
in the project area (except those, if any, that are deeply buried and
cannot be discovered by normal survey techniques).
The general procedure for dealing with impacts to heritage resources
is adequately presented. We concur with avoidance of sites if feasible
and this appears to be the best alternative in the majority of cases.
Some sites, of course, will require mitigation by data collection. We
look forward to working with the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation
and involved federal agencies in developing a Memorandum of Understanding
on mitigation of National Register eligible sites and emergency procedures
for sites discovered during construction (if any).
In conclusion, we concur that the project will have no significant
adverse impact on cultural resources with appropriate mitigation efforts.
Please contact us at 265~^1^0 if there are any questions.
Sincerely,
Nei1 C. Johannsen
Director
i Hi plane
State Historic Preservation Officer
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