Aqqaluk Expansion Project at Red Dog Mine
In 2007, Teck Cominco submitted documents to begin expansion of mining operations into the Aqqaluk Deposit.
Aqqaluk Deposit
On May 4, 2007 Teck-Cominco, owner of the Red Dog Mine, submitted a request for an NPDES permit modification for the Aqqaluk Project. The 1984 EIS did not evaluate potential impacts from developing the Aqqaluk Deposit. Therefore, EPA determined that an SEIS was necessary in order to fully evaluate impacts from the Aqqaluk Project and support EPA’s future NPDES permitting actions associated with the Aqqaluk Project. The SEIS is also intended to support permitting of the Aqqaluk Project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) under CWA Section 404. Both federal actions, the NPDES permit and the 404 permit require compliance with NEPA.
The Aqqaluk Deposit is located on the north side of the middle fork of Red Dog creek, directly across from the Main Deposit, the currently mined ore deposit where mining in the main pit has been conducted since 1988. Mining of the Aqqaluk deposit would begin in approximately 2010, with initial waste production placed in the existing Main Waste Stockpile. Once mining in the Main Pit is complete, Aqqaluk waste rock would be placed in the mined out main pit. Ore processing would use the existing facilities, and tailings deposition would continue in the existing tailings impoundment. Dam raises would be required to accommodate the additional tailings. Mining of the Aqqaluk Deposit is expected to be complete in 2031
On December 5, 2008 the dsEIS for the Aqqaluk Expansion project was released for public review and comment. The public comment period ended February 3, 2008.
Click here to download the Draft SEIS for the Aqqaluk Expansion Project.
The Northern Center along with the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, Trustees for Alaska, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, and the Center for Science in Public Participation submitted comments on the dsEIS.
Click here to download NAEC's comments on the Aqqaluk dsEIS. 
On October 9, 2009, the EPA released the Final SEIS for Aqqaluk Expansion project.
Click here to download the FSEIS for the Aqqaluk Expansion Project. [59 MB]
On December 15, 2009, the Department of Environmental Conservation issued it's certification of the NPDES permit [21 MB]. The Northern Center joined with other groups to appeal the State's certification, which does not comply with the Clean Water Act or Alaska's regulations. Click here to read the press release.
