Palmer Project owner seeks five more years for exploration near Haines

Constantine Mining and Constantine North have asked the state for five more years to finish approved exploration work at the Palmer Project near Haines, and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources opened public comment on the request Friday.

The companies want DNR's approval of their exploration plan of operations extended from Dec. 31, 2028, to Dec. 31, 2033. The notice says the approval covers 16 state mining claims at Glacier Creek, near Haines.

Written comments are due by 5 pm Alaska time Friday, Nov. 6. DNR will then decide on the extension alone.

DNR's public notice says the review covers only the new date. The agency is not reopening the plan of operations or its decision documents, and the notice does not cover the Palmer Project as a whole, the federal claims next door or Mental Health Trust land.

Kris Benusa, Constantine's vice president of environment and sustainability, wrote the extension request Aug. 24, saying the approved work will need more time. "Constantine is not pursuing any additional authorization of activities as part of this request, simply an extension of the time allowed to complete the activities previously reviewed and approved," the letter says.

DNR is weighing the request under a state rule that lets a plan of operations run up to 10 years. If the work is not finished, the rule allows the director to grant an extension rather than require a new plan.

DNR's January 2025 decision approved drilling, groundwater monitoring, test pits, seismic studies using small gelatin dynamite charges and access construction in the Haines State Forest. The work is meant to study ground and groundwater conditions at two sites, Klehini and Plateau, "for potential future mine infrastructure." It covers six acres of new disturbance within 21 bonded acres, 15 of which were already disturbed.

That application drew 158 comment letters, more than 2,100 pages, in 2024. The Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan asked for "at least one Tribal consultation on a Government-to-Government basis" before any approval. DNR replied that its permitting framework does not provide for a separate government-to-government consultation beyond the public comment period.

Alaska News reported July 14 on the Chilkat Valley's opposition to the project.