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Donlin Mine Nabs Two Key Federal Permits To Move Forward

Maver Carey (far left), CEO of the Kuskowkim Corporation and Andrew Guy (far right) CEO of Calista Regional Native Corporation watches the signing ceremony for Donlin Gold's federal permits.
Krysti Shallenberger
/
KYUK

A huge proposed gold mine in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta cleared a major hurdle on Monday. Donlin Gold recieved two major permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Land Management, the final federal permits it needs. Donlin is trying to develop one of the biggest gold mines in the world. 

Because the mine will impact 3,500 acres of wetlands and includes a gas pipeline that runs through BLM land, it needed permits from both agencies. To get those permits, Donlin Gold, the company behind the proposed mine, had to go through a lengthy and expensive environmental review process with federal and state agencies as well as local stakeholders. It took six years.

The Army Corps’ record of decision usually caps that process. It signals how the Army Corps thinks a project should proceed, and it's separate from the permits, which generally come later. But Donlin got both at the same time on Monday. For two Native Corporations,  Calista Regional Native Corporation and the Kuskokwim Corporation, the permits mean that the Y-K Delta could get more jobs.

"This is one of those steps that we need in order to improve conditions we have out in the region," said Andrew Guy, the CEO of Calista, which leased the subsurface rights to Donlin Gold.

But Donlin faces growing opposition from Y-K Delta tribes. Nearly a dozen have passed anti-mine resolutions in the past two years. The tribes fear the mine would damage their subsistence lifestyle, and they fear a mine accident could contaminate the Kuskokwim River, a vital food source. The Orutsararmiut Native Council and the Yukon Kuskokwim River Alliance, a local working group, oppose the mine. They released a statement today saying that the permitting process left out many voices from the region.

But Guy says that their concerns have been heard throughout the process.

"We are involved in subsistence too, with our own families, so that’s a very valid concern that we’ve always kept in the top of our heads," Guy said. 

Donlin Gold spokesman Kurt Parkan says that Donlin held multiple meetings throughout the EIS process. The gold mine needs at least 100 permits before it can start mining and Donlin Gold says that they plan to get the major ones out of the way this year. The rest of them could be completed in two years.