Valdez Creek Mine On Denali Wants To Expand To 80 Acres, BLM Says

Public Comment Sought For Expanded Mining Operations Near Mile 79 Of The Denali Highway 

Valdez Creek Mine (Historic photo, Alaska's Digital Archives) 

Historically, The Mine Is Tied To Cantwell & Gulkana Villages  

Route To Valdez Creek in Early 1900s Started 
At Bear Creek Near Gulkana 

GLENNALLEN, Alaska – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment for proposed expanded gold mining operations on public lands near milepost 79 of the Denali Highway. 

If approved, Valdez Creek Mining Company, LLC could add six adjacent federal mining claims to its existing 11, for a total of 17 claims. The Company’s amended mining plan also increases allowable operational disturbance to improve efficiency and encourage success in returning the land to its natural state, once work is complete. The plan also calls for expanding maximum allowable operational ground disturbance to 80 acres from the 40 acres previously authorized. 

Exploratory drilling would identify resources, and the company will use located resource extraction via open pit methods to expose and mine gold-bearing gravels. Crews would store organics and topsoil removed from the proposed pit and access ramp for later work to return the land to its natural state. 

 

Additional information is available at the BLM National NEPA Register, where comments may be submitted through the ‘Participate Now’ option. Comments may also be delivered to the BLM Glennallen Field Office, Attn: VCM, P.O. Box 147, Glennallen, AK 99588. The comment period will close April 27, 2025.