6
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE STUDIES 2004 PROGRESS REPORTS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION JUNE 2005
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DRAFT INTRODUCTION
______________________________________________________________________________ Introduction 6/16/05
Table of Contents Section Page
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... i
1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Purpose.......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Background................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................... 1-1 1.4 Approach....................................................................................................................... 1-2
LIST OF FIGURES (following document) Figure 1-1, General Project Location
DRAFT INTRODUCTION
______________________________________________________________________________ Introduction 6/16/05
1 Introduction
1.1 Purpose This Draft Environmental Baseline Progress Report provides a description of the work conducted for the Northern Dynasty Mines Inc. (NDM) 2004 baseline environmental program. This Pebble Project progress report presents the characterization of the existing conditions related to environmental and social conditions of the project area and their incorporation into the project design and operation. This draft report is presented for agency and stakeholder review and comment, to ensure the approach followed and results obtained provides a comprehensive and thorough baseline environmental characterization of the Pebble Project.
1.2 Background The Pebble Project is a proposed open pit mine for the gold, copper, molybdenum, and silver deposit located in southwestern Alaska near Lake Iliamna, as shown on Figure 1-1. NDM has commenced extensive study programs to collect the engineering, geological, environmental, and socioeconomic data necessary for a feasibility study and the preparation of applications for state and federal permits.
In July 2004, the Draft Environmental Baseline Studies, Proposed 2004 Study Plan (2004 Study Plan) was prepared by NDM. This document was submitted for agency and stakeholder review and comment. The 2004 Study Plan described the environmental baseline studies that were initiated in 2004. NDM received comments from federal agencies including the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as from State of Alaska agencies including the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Conservation and Fish & Game between July 26, 2004, and January 18, 2005. In addition, agency meeting were held for four days in late October 2004 to present and discuss preliminary summer field results and to review and discuss the baseline study programs.
1.3 Goals and Objectives The primary goal of this progress report is to present the preliminary results of the 2004 environmental and socioeconomic baseline programs for the purpose of agency and stakeholder review. Agency and stakeholder feedback on this progress report is solicited to ensure that NDM produces a comprehensive and thorough baseline characterization of the Pebble Project. The results of the progress reports (2004 and future reports) will be used to:
• Develop sound technical basis both for project design and permitting, and for ongoing evaluation of environmental effects during mine construction, operation and closure.
• Define the methods and approach for data gathering and analysis for review by others.
DRAFT INTRODUCTION
______________________________________________________________________________ Introduction 6/16/05
This document describes the characterization of the baseline environmental and social conditions existing in the project area. These baseline environmental studies are focused on compiling and analyzing the information that will be incorporated into the sound environmental design of the project, into assessing and managing project impacts, and for rigorous project review, permitting, and impact assessment.
1.4 Approach There are a wide variety of environmental and socioeconomic values in the project area that require the contributions of experts from a variety of disciplines. Accordingly, there has been a coordinated integration of the project’s environmental and engineering teams to incorporate environmental design considerations into the project design. In addition, the baseline characterization is intended to provide the optimum amount of information for a thorough environmental and socioeconomic impact assessment.
The biophysical and socioeconomic resources are characterized through detailed surveys and mapping, followed by analysis and interpretation of the data. The site conditions, such as meteorology and hydrology, are defined through site installations and regular monitoring programs. The data are used to develop site models of the existing environment and, as engineering proceeds, of the sites of potentially viable project development concepts. Each study discipline will have a unique approach, which is described in chapters that follow.
Mine development concept evaluation and optimization continue as the project engineering develops and as the assessments of the baseline data are available. In this way, environmental considerations are incorporated into the evaluation of options for the various project components and ultimately the identification of the preferred mine development concept.
The baseline programs are designed to characterize the disciplines listed in Table 1-1.
DRAFT INTRODUCTION
______________________________________________________________________________ Introduction 6/16/05
Table 1-1 Pebble Project Environmental Baseline Studies Program
Discipline Consulting Firm
Meteorology Hoefler Consulting Group
Noise Michael Minor & Associates
Surface Water Hydrology Mine — HDR Alaska, Inc.
Road/Port — Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services
Groundwater Hydrogeology Mine — Water Management Consultants / SLR Alaska, Inc.
Road/Port — Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services
Water Chemistry Mine — HDR Alaska, Inc.
Road/Port — Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services
Trace Elements Mine — SLR Alaska, Inc.
Road/Port — Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services / SLR Alaska, Inc.
Geochemical Characterization and Acid Rock Drainage/Metal Leaching (ARD/ML)
Steffen Robertson and Kirsten (Canada) Inc.
Terrestrial Wildlife and Habitats ABR, Inc. — Environmental Research & Services
Wetlands Mine — Three Parameters Plus
Road/Port — Three Parameters Plus / HDR Alaska, Inc.
Fish And Aquatic Habitat Buell & Associates
HDR Alaska, Inc.
Northern Ecological Services
Marine Habitat ABR, Inc. — Environmental Research & Services
Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services
PENTEC Environmental
RWJ Consulting
Subsistence Stephen R. Braund & Associates
Cultural Resources Stephen R. Braund & Associates
Recreation Kevin Waring & Associates
Land Use Kevin Waring & Associates
Socioeconomics Kevin Waring & Associates
McDowell Group
Visual Land Design North
Data Management and Geographic Information System (GIS)
Resource Data Inc.
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I l i a m n a L a k e
Mine Area
Port Site 4
Port Site 1Port Site 3
Port Site 2
Iliamna
Newhalen
Pedro Bay
Nondalton
155°24'0"W
155°24'0"W
155°12'0"W
155°12'0"W
155°0'0"W
155°0'0"W
154°48'0"W
154°48'0"W
154°36'0"W
154°36'0"W
154°24'0"W
154°24'0"W
154°12'0"W
154°12'0"W
154°0'0"W
154°0'0"W
153°48'0"W
153°48'0"W
153°36'0"W
153°36'0"W
153°24'0"W
153°24'0"W
153°12'0"W
153°12'0"W59
°36'
0"N
59°4
8'0"
N
Legend
Routes of InterestRoutes of Interest
Orebody
Existing Roads
!( Port Sites
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!
!!
!
!
!!
Iliamna Lake
Cook In
let
Kenai
HomerIliamnaNewhalen
Soldotna
Seldovia
Nondalton
Anchorage
Ninilchik
158°0'0"W
158°0'0"W
157°0'0"W
157°0'0"W
156°0'0"W
156°0'0"W
155°0'0"W
155°0'0"W
154°0'0"W
154°0'0"W 153°0'0"W
153°0'0"W
152°0'0"W
152°0'0"W
151°0'0"W
151°0'0"W
150°0'0"W
150°0'0"W
149°0'0"W
149°0'0"W
148°0'0"W
148°0'0"W
147°0'0"W
60°0
'0"N
61°0
'0"N
Canada
ARCTIC OCEAN
PebbleProject Area
GULF OF ALAS KA
IL IA 8
IL IA 7
IL IA 6
IL IA 5
IL IA 3
IL IA 4
IL IB 8
IL IB 7
IL IB 6
IL IB 5
IL IB 4
IL IB 3
IL IC 8IL IC 7
IL IC 6
IL IC 5
IL IC 4
IL IC 3
IL ID 8IL ID 7
IL ID 6
IL ID 5
IL ID 4
IL ID 2
IL ID 3
IL ID 1
D IL A 3
D IL A 2
D IL A 1
D IL B 3
D IL B 2
D IL B 1
DIL C 3
DIL C 2
DIL C 1
DIL D 3
DIL D 2
DIL D 1
KE N B6
SE L D8
TAY A 3
TAY A 2
TAY A 1
XL C A 8
XL C A 7
XL C A 6
XL C A5
XL C A4
XL C A3
XL C A1
XL C A2
TAY B 3
TAY B 2
TAY B 1
X LC B 8
X LC B 7
XL C B 6
XL C B5
XL C B4
XL C B3
XL C B1
XL C B2
TAY C 2
TAY C 1
X LC C 8
X LC C 7
X LC C6
X LC C5
X LC C1
X LC C4 X L
C C3X L
C C2
KE N A8 K
E N A7
KE N B7
KE N B8
K EN C6
K EN C7
K EN C8
A F G C1A F G C2
A F G C6
A F G C5
A F G D6N A K C 3
N A K C 2
N A K C 1
NA K D 3
NA K D 2
N A K D 1
X M K C 6
X M K C 5
X M K C 4X M K C 3
X M K C2
X M K C1
X M K D 6X M K D 5
X M K D 4
X M K D 3
X M K D2X M K D1
IL IA 2
IL IB 2
IL IC 2
IL IC 1
S E L A6
SE L B6
A F G D1
A F G D5
A F G D4
0 4,500 9,000 13,500 18,000
Meters0 16,000 32,000 48,000 64,000
Feet
1:424,036ScaleAlaska State Plane Zone 5 (units feet)
1983 North American Datum
Date: June 28, 2004
Author: RDI-DWR
File: RDI_ND_SPLAN1-1_11x17L_1of1.mxd
Version: 2
³
Received Access Routes AutoCAD fiel from PN&D, 6/7/2004
General Project LocationFigure 1.1
Pebble Project
Northern Dynasty Mines Inc.
Local Vicinity
Project Area
