FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A Fairbanks operator wants to expand its Fort Knox Gold Mine onto federal land.
Fairbanks Gold Mining Inc., which is owned by Kinross, has submitted the request to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to expand the open-pit gold mine.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports (http://is.gd/Pjz5jf) that if it's approved, the company could perform soil sampling, geologic mapping and drilling on nearly 2,000 acres now occupied by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration.
A permit would allow 250 bore holes to be drilled. Each hole would require a 24,00-square-foot drill pad.
NOAA uses the land next to the requested area for a satellite operations facility. It says it doesn't object, as long as the mine abides by certain conditions.
Public comment on the plan will be accepted until Aug. 11.
