Rock Creek Mine Project Request to Modify Class V UIC Permit - Nome Alaska
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900 (OCE-127)
Seattle, Washington 98101
Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program
Ground Water Protection Unit
NOTICE OF REQUEST TO MODIFY A CLASS V UIC PERMIT FOR THE DISPOSAL OF TREATED MINE DEWATERING WASTEWATER AT THE
ROCK CREEK MINE PROJECT,
NOME, ALASKA
Public Notice Issuance Date: February 14, 2008
Closure Date: March 15, 2008
1. Permittee
Alaska Gold Company (AGC), a subsidiary of NovaGold Resources Inc.,
P.O. Box 640
Nome, Alaska 99762-0640
EPA Permit Number: AK-5X27-001-A
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has direct implementation responsibility in Alaska for the regulation of Class V injection wells through the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program, which is authorized by Part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Class V injection wells are used for the disposal of fluids into aquifers which could serve as current or future underground sources of drinking water (USDW).
EPA has received a request to modify UIC permit No. AK-5X27-001-A issued to AGC. The AGC permit is an area permit issued under 40 C.F.R. § 144.33. The permit authorizes the disposal of treated mine dewatering wastewater into a Class V Injection Well System located at the Rock Creek Mine project area, which is approximately six miles north of Nome, Alaska.
Mine dewatering wastewater (wastewater) is derived from Rock Creek Mine operations, storm water collected from mine dewatering, and a one time disposal of treated wastewater contained in AGC’s tailings storage facility associated with closure of the Rock Creek Mine project. The permitted Injection Well System will be comprised of at most 15 UIC disposal wells that will inject wastewater into the upper portion of a shallow bedrock aquifer (less than 400 feet in depth below ground surface). Treated wastewater will be injected into the bedrock aquifer at low pressures (not to exceed 50 pounds per square inch). Prior to disposal into the Injection Well System, wastewater will undergo treatment to ensure that the concentration of any constituent in the treated wastewater injectate will not exceed any Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL), Health Advisory concentration (including lifetime concentration, if one exists), or any limits imposed under the Alaska Department of Environment Conservation (ADEC), State Waste Management Permit No. 2003-DB0051. The permitted injection well system area is not in a source water area.
Under this permit, AGC shall give a written notice with well data to EPA prior to conducting mechanical integrity tests on any Class V well. This requirement does not apply to any pilot testing activities. No Class V well shall commence injection of treated wastewater prior to successfully demonstrating mechanical integrity and receiving EPA approval.
Prior to issuing the AGC permit, EPA determined that underground injection is an appropriate disposal method for Class V wastewater generated at the Rock Creek Mine. This permit will increase EPA’s role in oversight and inspections of the AGC Class V Injection Wells. The permitted Injection Well System has also been reviewed and approved by the State of Alaska (ADEC Waste Management Permit 2003-DB0051, August 9, 2006).
2. Tentative Determination
EPA has made no final decision on the request to modify permit No. AK-5X27-001-A issued to AGC. EPA intends to gather more information prior to determining whether cause exists for modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination of permit No. AK-5X27-001-A.
3. Public Comments
Under EPA regulations, when EPA receives a request for a permit modification, it may determine that the request establishes one or more causes to take such an action under 40 C.F.R. §§ 144.39 and 144.40. To aid our determination of whether such cause exists, EPA requests public comments on the following: (1) whether AGC has failed to comply with any condition under permit No. AK-5X27-001-A; (2) whether AGC failed in the application process or in the permit issuance process to disclose fully all relevant facts, or AGC misrepresented any relevant fact at any time; and/or (3) whether the activity authorized under permit No. AK-5x27-001-A endangers human health or the environment and can only be regulated to acceptable levels by permit modification or termination.
Persons wishing to comment must do so in writing by the close of the Public Comment period, March 15, 2008, at 5 pm Pacific Daylight Time. All comments must include (1) the name, address, and telephone number of the person commenting; (2) a concise statement of the exact basis of any comment; and (3) the relevant facts upon which all comments are based. All written comments and requests should be submitted to Thor Cutler of the UIC program at the above address or via e-mail to cutler.thor@epa.gov.
4. Relevant Documents
Copies of permit No. AK-5X27-001-A, fact sheet, and permit application are on file and may be viewed at EPA’s Regional Office Library between 9:00 am and 2:30 pm Pacific Daylight Time, Monday through Friday. Copies of the issued permit and fact sheet may be requested from Thor Cutler at (206) 553-1673 or via e-mail at cutler.thor@epa.gov. Copies may also be obtained from the EPA Alaska Operations Office, Room 537, Federal Building, 222 West 7th Avenue, #19, Anchorage, Alaska (907) 271-5083 or through the Internet at www.epa.gov/r10earth/uic.htm.
Class V UIC Permit Fact Sheet for the Rock Creek Mine Project (5 pp. 55K, about PDF)
Class V UIC Permit for Rock Creek Mine Project (21 pp. 93K, about PDF)
Previous Public Notice for Class V UIC Permit (2 pp. 19K, about PDF)