Preliminary Final Environmental Impact Statement
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PEBBLE PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PRELIMINARY FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ADEC Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation ADF&G Alaska Department of Fish and Game ADNR Alaska Department of Natural Resources AHRS Alaska Heritage Resources Survey APDES Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System APE area of potential effects ARD acid rock drainage AS Alaska Statute ATV all-terrain vehicle BBEDC Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation BMP best management practice BSEE Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations cfs cubic feet per second CMP Compensatory Mitigation Plan CWA Clean Water Act DA Department of the Army DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA US Environmental Protection Agency ES Executive Summary FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement FR Federal Register GHG greenhouse gas HDD horizontal directional drilling HUC hydrologic unit code H:V Horizontal:Vertical LEDPA Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative LPB Lake and Peninsula Borough MAD mean annual discharge ML metal leaching MLLW mean lower low water FEBRUARY 2020 PAGE | i PEBBLE PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PRELIMINARY FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT MM Maximum Management (level) MOVES Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NFK North Fork Koktuli River NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NWUS navigable waters of the US PA Programmatic Agreement PAG potentially acid generating PLP Pebble Limited Partnership RFFA reasonably foreseeable future action RFI Request for Information ROD Record of Decision ROW(s) right(s)-of-way SCP seepage collection pond SFK South Fork Koktuli River SHPO State Historic Perseveration Office SWHS Statewide Harvest Survey TES Threatened and Endangered Species tpd tons per day TSF tailings storage facility TSS total suspended solids US United States USACE US Army Corps of Engineers USCG US Coast Guard USGS US Geological Survey UTC Upper Talarik Creek WMP water management pond WOUS waters of the US WQC Water Quality Criteria WTP water treatment plant FEBRUARY 2020 PAGE | ii PEBBLE PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PRELIMINARY FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary of Changes from the DEIS ........................................................................................................ 1 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED .................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 LEAD AND COOPERATING AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES ........................................................... 4 1.2 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 PROJECT OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................. 5 1.4 ISSUES SELECTED FOR ANALYSIS........................................................................................... 5 1.5 PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED ............................................................................................... 6 2.0 ALTERNATIVES .............................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ...................................................................................................... 9 2.2 APPLICANT’S PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ............................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Mine Site .............................................................................................................. 10 2.2.2 Transportation Corridor ........................................................................................ 13 2.2.3 Amakdedori Port and Lightering Locations .......................................................... 14 2.2.4 Natural Gas Pipeline ............................................................................................ 15 2.3 ALTERNATIVE 1 ................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.1 Mine Site .............................................................................................................. 16 2.3.2 Transportation Corridor ........................................................................................ 16 2.3.3 Amakdedori Port and Lightering Locations .......................................................... 17 2.3.4 Natural Gas Pipeline ............................................................................................ 17 2.3.5 Alternative 1—Summer-Only Ferry Operations Variant....................................... 18 2.3.6 Alternative 1—Kokhanok East Ferry Terminal Variant ........................................ 18 2.3.7 Alternative 1—Pile-Support Dock Variant ............................................................ 19 2.4 ALTERNATIVE 2—NORTH ROAD AND FERRY WITH DOWNSTREAM DAMS ................................. 19 2.4.1 Mine Site .............................................................................................................. 19 2.4.2 Transportation Corridor ........................................................................................ 20 2.4.3 Diamond Point Port and Lightering Locations ..................................................... 20 2.4.4 Natural Gas Pipeline ............................................................................................ 21 2.4.5 Alternative 2—Summer-Only Ferry Operations Variant....................................... 21 2.4.6 Alternative 2—Pile-Supported Dock Variant ........................................................ 22 2.4.7 Alternative 2—Newhalen River North Crossing Variant ...................................... 22 2.5 ALTERNATIVE 3—NORTH ROAD ONLY .................................................................................. 22 2.5.1 Mine Site .............................................................................................................. 22 2.5.2 Transportation Corridor ........................................................................................ 23 2.5.3 Natural Gas Pipeline ............................................................................................ 23 2.5.4 Alternative 3—Concentrate Pipeline Variant ....................................................... 23 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS .................................................................................................... 25 3.1 SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT......................................................................................................... 25 3.1.1 Existing Conditions (Affected Environment) Summary ........................................ 26 3.1.1.1 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................................ 26 3.1.1.2 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................ 26 3.1.1.3 Subsistence ....................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.1.4 Environmental Justice ....................................................................................................... 28 3.1.2 Expected Effects (Environmental Consequences) of Alternatives ...................... 29 FEBRUARY 2020 PAGE | iii PEBBLE PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PRELIMINARY FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 3.1.2.1 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................................ 29 3.1.2.2 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................ 31 3.1.2.3 Subsistence ....................................................................................................................... 34 3.1.2.4 Environmental Justice ....................................................................................................... 37 3.2 WATER ............................................................................................................................... 39 3.2.1 Existing Conditions (Affected Environment) Summary ........................................ 40 3.2.1.1 Surface Water Hydrology .................................................................................................. 40 3.2.1.2 Groundwater Hydrology .................................................................................................... 41 3.2.1.3 Water and Sediment Quality ............................................................................................. 42 3.2.2 Expected Effects (Environmental Consequences) of Alternatives ...................... 43 3.2.2.1 Surface Water Hydrology .................................................................................................. 43 3.2.2.2 Groundwater Hydrology .................................................................................................... 50 3.2.2.3 Water and Sediment Quality ............................................................................................. 57 3.3 FISHERIES (FISH VALUES) .................................................................................................... 63 3.3.1 Existing Conditions (Affected Environment) Summary ........................................ 63 3.3.1.1 Fish and Aquatic