Water Management
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PROJECT UPDATE SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2011 AUGUST’s WORD OF WATER MANAGEMENT: THE MONTH WINNER KAREN LIDSTER UNDERSTaNDING ONE OF THE Congratulations to Karen REGION’S MOST IMPORTaNT RESOURCES Lidster, who guessed closest to the correct amount of times (23) the word “mine” was referenced in last Water is one of the most valuable month’s newsletter. and important resources in the Yukon Kuskokwim (YK) region. MONTHLY WORD GAME Streams and rivers provide a habitat for salmon, transportation WIN A PRIZE! for residents and nourishment to Join Donlin’s word game by wildlife. The YK region also has a finding out how many times plentiful source of fresh surface the Word of the Month was water, with about 20 inches of referenced in the newsletter. Each correct answer will be precipitation annually at Donlin. entered in a prize drawing. Throughout the history of the project, Donlin Gold has made it a priority SEPTEMBER’s WORD to study the quality and quantity of OF THE MONTH: water in the area, in order to design a GOLD project that will minimize impacts on the environment. All of the water that Please submit your answer by comes into contact with the proposed November 4, by email at mine facilities would need to be [email protected] or mail Danny Twitchell, Environmental Specialist, it to the address listed on the managed to ensure that any discharge collecting water samples. back of this newsletter. would meet permitted standards. Donlin has been gathering surface water quality data since 1995, and has collected surface and groundwater quality data quarterly since 2003. Currently, the Donlin Environmental Department routinely collects water quality samples from about 20 surface water stations, and about 25 groundwater wells. Other environmental baseline studies are conducted in the area’s streams and rivers as well. Aquatic biologists have conducted salmon and resident fish surveys since 2004 to document fish species, run timing, and aquatic habitat. A fish weir has been installed seasonally since 2008 to provide more definitive numbers of fish entering the Crooked Creek watershed. CONTINUED INSIDE: “WaTER MaNaGEMENT” Face to Face with Stan Foo Fall is my favorite time of year, but always how eager and anxious many people are to seems like a short season in Alaska, going prepare for the job opportunities that our from long summer days to long crisp project will provide. nights. We begin to change our routines and plan for freeze up, while we enjoy MOVING FORWARD being outside in the fall colors and the As we move to the next phase of the cooler weather. Things are no different at project, we want residents and stakeholders the Donlin Gold project. to continue to communicate with us about Public input is a very their concerns and needs. We strive to important part of our TIME OF TRANSITION produce a project built on the strength of planning process, and we Fall signals the end to our field season at open communication between Donlin and would like to hear from you. Donlin Gold. Staff wrap up projects that residents in the Yukon Kuskokwim region, need to completed before winter and and can accomplish this by sharing ideas SEND MaIL TO: make sure the camp is winterized. Fish and information with each other. Donlin Donlin Gold surveys and other environmental baseline will continue to create opportunities for 4720 Business Park studies are winding down for the year and gatherings, dialogue and partnerships. We Blvd., Suite G-25 crews are bringing back their equipment to hope residents will continue to provide Anchorage, AK 99503 be stored. Plans for environmental surveys us with feedback utilizing the various that will be conducted through the winter communication outlets –phone, mail, email, PHONE: are being made. visiting our village offices, or attending our project update meetings. (907) 273-0200 The Donlin Gold project will also be (888) 225-7590 toll free transitioning in an important way as we I hope everyone has a safe and successful For more project complete our updated feasibility and hunting season, and I look forward to information visit us online engineering studies and continue to hearing your ideas and sharing ours. at www.DonlinGold.com prepare to begin the permitting process early next year. We expect permitting To voice concerns or to take at least three years to complete, complaints about the and possibly longer. Through the many project contact us at meetings and tours we have held for people Stan Foo [email protected] from the villages this year, we have listened General Manager or (855) 279-0382 and learned about the concerns people Donlin Gold have about protecting the environment, the Kuskokwim River and subsistence resources in the region. We have also heard Timeline NEPA PROCESS - 3+ YeaRS CONSTRUCTION OPERaTION MINE ONGOING MINE 16 YeaRS OF EXPLORATION anD REGIONAL AND TRIbaL CONSULtatION wITH StatE CLOSURE aND SITE aND WaTER AND FEDEraL REGULatORY AGENCIES Up to 3,000 jobs Up to 1,000 jobs ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 3-4 Years 27+ years RECLaMaTION MONITORING National Environmental Policy Act will require an Environmental Impact Statement. Up to 22 jobs Up to 5 jobs The proposed Natural Gas Feasibility There will be opportunities for formal public comment project is defined Pipeline Studies Studies are during the NEPA process. by Donlin Gold. are conducted. conducted. Agencies define The findings of The final NEPA the scope of the NEPA processes findings are CONTINUING NEPA process. are drafted. submitted. EXPLORATION Donlin is here PERMIT appLICATIONS SUBMITTED PERMIT DECISION Continued from front cover WATER MANAGEMENT Along the Kuskokwim River, from Georgetown to Bethel, Danny has a personal connection with the Kuskokwim Bay, river use surveys have been conducted Kuskokwim River. “It has given me a great respect for the to document how and when people use the river for watershed,” Danny said. “It has provided fishing, hunting, subsistence, recreational, and commercial activities in transportation, and recreation and most of my fondest order to help Donlin plan a project that minimizes any memories growing up had to do with spending quality impacts on resident’s river use and subsistence activities. time with family and friends on the Kuskokwim River.” Donlin Gold will continue to conduct water quality In addition to environmental compliance activities, monitoring throughout the life of the project and long Danny commits the time and patience to follow data after the mine is closed. Donlin anticipates moving collection protocol to efficiently conduct quarterly forward into the permitting process during 2012. As water quality baseline studies, support the air quality part of the permitting process, the agencies will conduct monitoring program, and participate in aquatic surveys. an Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed “I’m honored to be a member of an environmental project, including its potential impacts on local water team that works very hard to ensure our lands and our resources. During that time there will be opportunities Kuskokwim River are protected for future generations,” for the public to comment on Donlin’s proposed water Danny said. management plans. Tisha Woolley, who was born and raised in Bethel and MEET DONLIN’S ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM whose grandfather is Joe Lomack, joined Donlin in Over the past several years, three environmental 2005 as a geologist. A year later, she joined Donlin’s specialists, Jill Duerfeldt, Danny Twitchell and Tisha environmental department. As part of Tisha’s job to Woolley, have been conducting water quality baseline manage Donlin’s water quality monitoring program, she studies and collecting environmental data for the conducts on-site visits during water sampling to ensure Donlin project. All of them have family ties to the YK that proper collection procedures are being followed. region and understand the importance of protecting the environment and the area’s aquatic resources. In addition to the team members highlighted in this article, other Donlin employees have assisted with water Jill, who was raised in Oregon, has family ties in Eek monitoring activities including Joe Bobby of Lime Village, and Kongiganak, Alaska. After graduating from college, Gerald “Bubba” Beans of Eagle River and Greg Sakar of she worked for Calista’s Land and Natural Resources Crooked Creek. department, before being offered the opportunity to work with Donlin’s environmental team. Since Donlin Gold is pleased with its environmental team for 2005, Jill has been sharing on-site responsibilities of their hard work and personal dedication over the years environmental compliance, coordinating field studies, to provide accurate, efficient and important information and conducting water quality baseline monitoring. about the region’s water resources. The information from these environmental studies will be used to ensure Lloyd “Danny” Twitchell has been with Donlin’s that Donlin operates a mining project responsibly, with environmental team since 2006. Born and raised in minimal impact. as part of Donlin Gold’s commitment to responsible development, staff will continue to conduct water quality monitoring throughout the project and long after the mine is closed to ensure the region’s viable resource remains protected. Danny Twitchell, Tisha Woolley and Jill Duerfeldt have been conducting water quality baseline studies and collecting environmental data for the Donlin project over several years. LEARNING FROM OTHER PROJECTS: DONLIN TOURS MINES IN NEVADA Envisioning what an operational Donlin Gold mine would look like can be a difficult thing to do, especially when most people are visual learners. Because no actual construction or development has happened at the Donlin site, it’s hard to understand the true scale of the project. That’s why for several years Donlin has made it a priority to visit and host tours at other successful operating gold mines throughout the U.S. in order to show what could potentially exist just 10 miles north of Crooked Creek village.