Overview
ALASKA GOLD COMPANY - ROCK CREEK MINE is a stormwater outfall in Nome, Alaska, United States. It operates under US EPA NPDES MS4 regulations for industrial stormwater discharges.
ALASKA GOLD COMPANY - ROCK CREEK MINE is a stormwater outfall located 8 miles north of Nome, Alaska, in the Nome Census Area. As an operational facility in the mining sector, it manages stormwater runoff from the Rock Creek Mine site, which is classified under NAICS 238910 for site preparation contractors. The facility is subject to the US Clean Water Act and EPA NPDES permitting requirements for industrial stormwater discharges. In Alaska, stormwater management for mining operations is regulated under the EPA's NPDES MS4 program, with Phase II requirements applying to small municipal separate storm sewer systems. The facility likely employs best management practices such as sediment basins, erosion controls, and treatment systems to manage runoff from the mine site. The remote Arctic location presents unique challenges for stormwater management, including permafrost conditions and seasonal hydrology. The Rock Creek Mine stormwater outfall plays a critical role in protecting local water quality in the Bering Sea watershed. Proper management of stormwater discharges is essential to prevent sedimentation and contamination of nearby streams and rivers that support salmon runs and other aquatic life. The facility's compliance with NPDES permit conditions helps ensure minimal environmental impact from mining operations in this sensitive region.
Environmental context
The Rock Creek Mine is located in a remote Arctic region near Nome, Alaska, where permafrost and seasonal snowmelt dominate hydrology. Stormwater runoff from mining activities can carry sediment and metals into nearby water bodies, potentially affecting salmon habitat and subsistence resources. The facility operates under EPA NPDES regulations to control discharges and protect the Bering Sea watershed, which supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and traditional subsistence uses.
Frequently asked questions
The facility is located at Mile 3 Glacier Creek Road, 8 miles north of Nome, Alaska, in the Nome Census Area. Its coordinates are 64.616000 N, -165.455000 W.
It manages stormwater runoff from the Rock Creek Mine site, an industrial mining operation. The outfall discharges treated or controlled stormwater in compliance with EPA NPDES regulations to protect local water quality.
Stormwater discharges from mining operations are regulated under the US Clean Water Act via EPA NPDES permits. Facilities must implement best management practices for erosion and sediment control, and comply with effluent limits to prevent pollution of surface waters.
The outfall discharges into the Bering Sea watershed, which supports salmon and other aquatic species. Proper management prevents sedimentation and metal contamination from mining runoff, protecting habitat and subsistence resources.
The NAICS code is 238910, which classifies the facility under site preparation contractors. This indicates the primary activity involves preparing mining sites, including stormwater management infrastructure.
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