Aerial overview image of North Johnson Tract.

Environmental Assessment Right-of-Way Certificate of Access for North Tract of Johnson Tract


An Environmental Assessment evaluating issuance of a Right-of-Way Certificate of Access for the North Johnson Tract within Lake Clark National Park is now available for public comment. The primary purpose and need of the proposed project is to provide access across the park's North Johnson Tract lands to the subsurface land owner Cook Inlet Regional Incorporated and their lessee, HighGold for purposes of subsurface mineral exploration.

Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) obtained the 20,942-acre North and South Johnson Tracts as part of the Cook Inlet Land Exchange in 1976, before Lake Clark National Park and Preserve was created under ANILCA. The Johnson Tract, a known mineral prospect, is situated in the headwaters of the Johnson River on the west side of Cook Inlet, 125 miles southwest of Anchorage. CIRI and its mineral exploration lessee, HighGold, requested a RWCA under section 1110(b) of ANILCA. The subsurface rights to the North Johnson Tract are owned by CIRI while the surface rights are managed by the NPS as part of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. RWCAs are permits issued by the NPS to private land holders to cross NPS lands to access private lands within parks and preserves established by ANILCA. Access to inholdings is guaranteed by law.

The proposed action and preferred alternative described in the EA would issue a RWCA to HighGold to provide access across the park's North Johnson Tract lands for purposes of subsurface mineral exploration of CIRI-owned subsurface rights. The proposed eight-year seasonal permit would allow helicopter access and exploratory drilling with a maximum season including 150 days of drilling between June 1st and October 31st annually.

The EA addresses water quality, fish, soils, vegetation and wildlife impacts of the proposed RWCA. The project is expected to develop between 20 and 150 drill pads primarily in four focus areas deemed by HighGold to have the highest potential for minerals (see map). The EA highlights potential environmental impacts such as the use of surface water to lubricate drilling, potential acid generation from mineral exposure to the environment, and noise and dust generation from helicopter use, among other impacts. Proposed permit stipulations included in the proposed action and preferred alternative are intended to address identified environmental concerns.
 
Comment Period: Closed        Sep 16, 2020 - Oct 16, 2020
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