North of 60 Mining News - The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking public comment on its plans to issue an air quality control minor permit to Teck Cominco Alaska Inc. for the Red Dog Mine in northwest Alaska, according to a public notice published June 22.

Teck Cominco plans to install a 50,000 cubic feet per minute baghouse, or giant industrial filter, to control dust emissions that are escaping from the coarse ore storage building at the huge zinc and lead mine.

Teck Cominco has been monitoring the level of ore concentrate being deposited on the tundra immediately adjacent to the Red Dog Mine. In December 2004, the company notified regulators that the concentrate levels were elevated and appear to be related to fugitive dust emissions from the mining operation.

Dust from transferring, handling

Coarse ore storage is located in an existing enclosed building. Teck Cominco said the dust stems from the transferring and handling coarse ore via conveyors and heavy equipment. In addition to the baghouse, the company also plans to install a building fan.

Teck Cominco said the baghouse and fan will reduce emissions of particulate matter, while not increasing toxic emissions such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide

DEC said it has classified the move as a de-bottlenecking action that requires a minor permit under state law.

DEC said it intends to incorporate these minor permit provisions into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Title V operating permit for the mine after that agency's 45 day review.