Constantine Mining is requesting a five-year extension on its permit to explore for minerals at its site known as the Palmer Project, outside Haines.
The company, which is owned by Vancouver-based Vizsla Copper, wrote the Alaska Department of Natural Resources in August saying the work outlined in its approved operations plan will take longer than originally permitted.
The company in 2024 applied for approval to work on mining claims through 2028, but now wants an additional five years.
David Charron, DNR’s mining permitting manager, said it’s standard for companies to apply for new approvals one or two years in advance. He said the state in 2025 changed its process to allow companies to receive approvals for 10 years, up from just five.
He said Constantine is seeking “parity with what’s standard practice now, across the board, permitting wise.”
Constantine owns more than 60 state mining claims associated with the Palmer Project, but is carrying out so-called surface disturbing activities, like drilling and road development, on just 16 of them. The extension would apply to activities that have already been approved on those claims.
The Palmer Project has a long and controversial history in Haines. Proponents say the Chilkat Valley stands to benefit from more industrial activity, while critics argue mining activity poses a threat to the area’s ecosystem — including the Chilkat River, which has runs of all five species of Pacific salmon.
When Constantine applied for approvals last time, DNR received 150 public comments, including one from the Chilkat Indian Village, which voiced opposition to mineral exploration out of concern for the area’s salmon runs and heritage resources.
Constantine declined to comment for this story.
DNR noted that the request would not make any changes to previously approved activities, work areas or the project’s approved Plan of Operations more broadly.
The public has until Nov. 6 to submit written comments on the requested extension.
