The Tongass National Forest is seeking the public’s input on a proposed expansion of operations at the Kensington Gold Mine, located north of Juneau. The USDA Forest Service is hosting a virtual public meeting on Thursday to allow the public to comment on the project’s Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
The proposed additions will extend the life of the mine and allow for continuous site operations in a safe, environmentally sound, technically feasible, and economically viable manner, while complying with regulatory requirements. The current predicted life of the Kensington mine is 2023. Activities under the proposed Plan of Operations Amendment will add 10 years to the expected mine life to 2033.
USDA Forest Service experts will work toward minimizing the impacts of mining activities on other forest resources by working closely with the state and other federal agencies with regulatory authority to ensure that measures are in place to protect water quality and nearby aquatic habitats.
The Thursday, December 10 meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. and can be joined online by clicking here. For an audio-only call-in option, call (213) 357-2812 and use Conference ID 698 690 093 #.
