The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced an unexpected two-week extension of the public comment period for a proposed mining project in Safety Sound.
Monday was originally the final day for the public to submit their comments on IPOP’s proposed gold dredging project, 25 miles east of Nome. However, Friday afternoon the Corps released a statement saying public comments would be received until September 15th.
According to spokesperson John Budnik, the Corps extended the public comment period, “to allow [our] partner agencies additional time to review bathymetric mapping and seagrass study information that was provided by the applicant in late August.”
IPOP’s permit application proposes constructing an access channel, dredging material into four disposal areas, and mining from a continuous channel for five years using a 36-inch cutterhead dredge.
The U.S. Army Corps has previously described this project as complex due to five endangered species, various types of salmon and migratory birds, as well as the multiple regional tribes that all intersect on the land near the mining site.
You can submit comments to the Corps by calling 753-5515 or by emailing Leslie.W.Tose@usace.army.mil.
Image at top: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters in Washington DC. Photo from the Corps, used with permission (2020).
