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

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Feb. 5 reported that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has selected AECOM as the third-party contractor that will support them in completing an environmental impact statement for the Pebble project – a significant milestone in the advancement of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the proposed open pit copper-gold-molybdenum mine in Southwest Alaska.

AECOM is a global, integrated engineering, environmental, construction and infrastructure development firm with a long history of providing NEPA compliance and other regulatory support services associated with development of large mineral and oil and gas resource projects in Alaska and the United States.

"We're pleased to see the NEPA permitting process for Pebble continues to advance in an efficient and predictable way, and look forward to the completion of an environmental impact statement that defines the true impacts, mitigation measures and benefits of our proposed development," said Northern Dynasty President and CEO Ron Thiessen. "We have every confidence that the third-party contractor the Corps has selected will help facilitate an objective, credible and science-based review that supports informed and balanced decision-making about the Pebble project."

The Pebble Partnership confirmed that AECOM is now under contract, and the Corps is expected to move forward to initiate the scoping process for the Pebble EIS in the months ahead. This scoping process provides Bristol Bay residents, Alaskans and all project stakeholders the ability to offer their input on the broad range of issues and concerns before a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Pebble project is developed.

Public scoping meetings will be hosted by the Corps this spring, in addition to other public participation opportunities. A formal consultation and public comment process will also be facilitated by the Corps following publication of the Pebble Draft EIS – expected sometime in 2019.

"With AECOM, the US Army Corps of Engineers has selected a firm with extensive global experience in mineral development and mining, in engineering and environmental science, as well as in working with regulators to develop objective, science-based environmental impact statements for complex, multi-faceted projects like Pebble" said Pebble Partnership CEO Tom Collier. "They also have a strong presence and deep experience in Alaska – strengths that we believe will ensure the efficient advancement of a comprehensive and credible EIS for Pebble over the next several years."

Collier noted that AECOM 's recent experience with NEPA EIS permitting reviews include Alaska's Donlin Gold and Chuitna coal projects, the Midas Gold stibnite project in Idaho, and Lone Star Mine in Arizona. The consulting firm also has recent and relevant engineering and environmental services experience at operating mines throughout the United States, including Red Dog and Greens Creek in Alaska, Kennecott in Utah, and Morenci in Arizona.

–SHANE LASLEY