Special Use Permit Application Submitted For Environmental Infrastructure At New Amalga Gold Project

VANCOUVER – Grande Portage Resources Ltd. has applied to the US Forest Service (USFS) for a Special Use Permit related to its New Amalga Gold project in Southeast Alaska. The application covers the installation of infrastructure & equipment related to environmental studies and monitoring, including: 1) An environmental data collection station at the potential location of the mine’s surface facilities to collect key meteorological data and inform project development decisions as well as future application for an Alaska Department of Conservation Air Quality Control permit and Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES) permit. 2) Additional meteorological monitoring equipment above the potential future location of underground workings. 3) Stream gauging sensors to understand seasonal fluctuations in river levels and support design of a mine water treatment and handling system which is protective of fish habitat. 4) Satellite uplink communications and power infrastructure necessary for system operation.
This infrastructure is intended to be utilized not only for preliminary environmental studies but also for ongoing monitoring during construction, operations, and closure of the potential mine facility.
Ian Klassen, President and CEO, said, “The submission of the Special Use Permit application is a key step towards gathering all the data necessary to design and permit a low-footprint mining operation which is protective of the surrounding environment. Installation of this equipment is also a milestone as the first instance of developing long-term infrastructure at the project site that could be utilized throughout construction, operation and closure of a future mine.”
The Company has also conducted contracted fieldwork over the preceding two months which includes identification of fish-habitat streams and mapping of aquatic resources in the project vicinity as well as delineation of wetlands around the potential areas of mine surface infrastructure development. This new data is now being incorporated into the design and layout of the mine facilities to ensure protection of fish habitat, maintain integrity of wetlands, and minimize overall ecological footprint which will help facilitate the future environmental review and permitting process for the project.
The facilities at the project site are not planned to include an ore processing plant. Due to the resource location near tidewater and less than 4 miles (6.5km) from existing paved highway, the Company considers off-site processing by a third party to be the most favorable configuration for the project.