The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comments through May 11 on a placer mining application for Holdem Creek near Central. Lee St. Pierre applied to operate a mechanical placer mine on state land in the Circle Mining District.

The proposed operation would cover two sections of land in Township 7 and 8 North, Range 14 East, Fairbanks Meridian. If approved, the authorization would run through December 31, 2030, with possible extensions. The application includes a plan of operations and reclamation plan for the mining work.

The department is reviewing whether to approve the mining plan under state regulations. The approval may include conditions or modifications based on public input and agency review. Cross-country travel on state lands outside the mining claims may also be authorized.

Written comments must reach the Division of Mining, Land and Water by 5:00 p.m. on May 11. Send comments to the Fairbanks Mine Permitting Office at 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, or email [email protected]. Contact Michelle Corrigan at 907-451-2743 with questions or to view the full application.

The department will decide whether to issue the authorization after reviewing all comments. A fact sheet on mining permits is available at dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/cdn/pdf/factsheets/mining-permits-through-apma.pdf.