DRAFT Environmental Assessment Palmer Exploration Project Constantine North, Inc. Case File: AA-094088 DOI-BLM-AK-A020-2016-006-EA Glennallen, Alaska April 25, 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office P.O. Box 147 Milepost 186.5 Glenn Highway Glennallen, Alaska 99588 Palmer Exploration Project | Draft Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Glennallen Field Office P.O. Box 147 Milepost 186.5 Glenn Highway Glennallen, Alaska 99588 Palmer Exploration Project Environmental Assessment, DOI-BLM-AK-A020-2016-0006-EA Case File: AA-094088 Applicant: Constantine North, Inc. Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Summary of Proposed Project .................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Background............................................................................................................... 1-7 1.3 Purpose and Need .................................................................................................... 1-7 1.4 Land Use Plan Conformance .................................................................................... 1-8 1.4.1 Bureau of Land Management - Ring of Fire Management Plan .......................... 1-8 1.4.2 Haines Borough Comprehensive Plan ............................................................. 1-13 1.4.3 Haines State Forest Management Plan............................................................ 1-13 1.5 Other Applicable Laws, Regulations, and Policies .................................................. 1-14 1.6 Summary of Public Involvement .............................................................................. 1-14 1.7 Issues Identified/Issues Eliminated from Further Analysis ....................................... 1-15 2 Alternatives .................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Alternative 1 - No Action Alternative .......................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Alternative 2 - Proposed Action Alternative ............................................................... 2-4 2.2.1 Personnel .......................................................................................................... 2-8 2.2.2 Equipment ......................................................................................................... 2-8 2.2.3 Gravel and Rock Infrastructure .......................................................................... 2-9 2.2.4 Drill Sites and Drilling Operations ..................................................................... 2-16 2.2.5 Water Management ......................................................................................... 2-22 2.2.6 Solid and Septic Waste .................................................................................... 2-24 2.2.7 Hazardous Materials ........................................................................................ 2-24 2.2.8 Reclamation ..................................................................................................... 2-25 2.2.9 Post-closure Management ............................................................................... 2-27 2.2.10 Schedule .......................................................................................................... 2-27 2.2.11 Applicant-Committed Environmental Protection Measures ............................... 2-28 2.2.12 Use and Occupancy Under the Mining Laws.................................................... 2-31 2.3 Alternatives Considered But Not Analyzed in Detail ................................................ 2-31 Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office, P.O. Box 147, Milepost 186.5, Glennallen, Alaska 99588 i Palmer Exploration Project | Draft Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 2.3.1 Unreclaimed Access Road Alternative ............................................................. 2-31 2.3.2 Existing Cat Trail Alternative ............................................................................ 2-32 2.3.3 Switchbacks Alternative ................................................................................... 2-34 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ......................................... 3-1 3.1 Issue 1: Surface Water and Groundwater Resources ............................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Study Methodology ............................................................................................ 3-2 3.1.3 Affected Environment ......................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.4 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 1 – No Action Alternative ................ 3-7 3.1.5 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 2 – Proposed Action Alternative .... 3-10 3.1.6 Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................... 3-12 3.1.7 Recommended Mitigation ................................................................................ 3-14 3.2 Issue 2: Wetlands ................................................................................................... 3-15 3.2.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................. 3-15 3.2.2 Study Methodology .......................................................................................... 3-15 3.2.3 Affected Environment ....................................................................................... 3-18 3.2.4 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 1 – No Action Alternative .............. 3-19 3.2.5 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 2 – Proposed Action Alternative .... 3-19 3.2.6 Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................... 3-20 3.2.7 Recommended Mitigation ................................................................................ 3-22 3.3 Issue 3: Fisheries .................................................................................................... 3-23 3.3.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................. 3-23 3.3.2 Study Methodology .......................................................................................... 3-25 3.3.3 Affected Environment ....................................................................................... 3-27 3.3.4 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 1 – No Action Alternative .............. 3-39 3.3.5 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 2 – Proposed Action Alternative .... 3-41 3.3.6 Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................... 3-43 3.3.7 Recommended Mitigation ................................................................................ 3-44 3.4 Issue 4: Vegetation and Non-native Invasive Species ............................................. 3-45 3.4.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................. 3-45 3.4.2 Study Methodology .......................................................................................... 3-46 3.4.3 Affected Environment ....................................................................................... 3-47 3.4.4 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 1 – No Action Alternative .............. 3-53 3.4.5 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 2 – Proposed Action Alternative .... 3-54 3.4.6 Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................... 3-55 3.4.7 Recommended Mitigation ................................................................................ 3-57 3.5 Issue 5: Wildlife ....................................................................................................... 3-59 3.5.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................. 3-59 3.5.2 Study Methodology .......................................................................................... 3-60 3.5.3 Affected Environment ....................................................................................... 3-60 3.5.4 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 1 – No Action Alternative .............. 3-67 3.5.5 Direct and Indirect Effects from Alternative 2 – Proposed Action Alternative .... 3-69 3.5.6 Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................... 3-74 3.5.7 Recommended Mitigation ................................................................................ 3-75 Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office, P.O. Box 147, Milepost 186.5, Glennallen, Alaska 99588 ii Palmer Exploration Project | Draft Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.6 Issue 6: Geology and Soil/Geologic Hazards .......................................................... 3-77 3.6.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................. 3-77 3.6.2 Study Methodology .......................................................................................... 3-78 3.6.3 Affected