Palmer road extension considered

Bureau of Land Management April 28 announced a 30-day public comment period on a request from Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. to extend the planned road at its Palmer project near Haines by 800 feet.

Last year, Constantine gained approval to build 2.5 miles of new road that will provide access to the Glacier Creek deposit at Palmer. This authorization by BLM allows for up to 40 acres of ground disturbance to carry out exploration on their federal claims.

The extension requested by Constantine would involve about 0.5 acres of disturbance, which would be within the 40 acres originally permitted. The extension would provide access to the Mental Health Trust lands the company leased from Alaska.

While within the total area already authorized and bonded for disturbance, BLM is requiring further public, stakeholder, and agency review, including a National Environmental Policy Act analysis for the road extension.

The public comment period on Constantine's proposed plan ends on May 28.

The proposed road plan modification can be reviewed and commented on at https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office. Comments may also be submitted to the BLM Glennallen Field Office, Attn: Constantine, P.O. Box 147, Glennallen, AK 99588.

-SHANE LASLEY