From: Craig, BillTo: Bellion, Tara; Evans, JessicaSubject: FW: Donlin EISDate: Monday, March 21, 2016 1:22:04 PMAttachments: BNC Resolution 2016-08.pdf

-----Original Message-----From: Gordon, Keith POA [mailto:Keith.Q.Gordon@usace.army.mil]Sent: Monday, March 21, 2016 12:50 PMTo: Craig, BillSubject: FW: Donlin EIS

DEIS comment

-----Original Message-----From: Jimmie Nelson Jr. [mailto:Jnelson@bncak.com]Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 4:40 PMTo: Gordon, Keith POA Subject: [EXTERNAL] Donlin EIS

Keith:

I have attached the Bethel Native Corporation resolution requesting a 6 month extension to thecomment period of the Donlin Gold EIS. Lori Strickler, City Clerk for the City of Bethel told me toforward any resolutions to your attention. Thank you.

Jimmie Nelson, Jr.

Bethel Native Corporation | Administrative Assistant

P.O. Box 719 | Bethel, Alaska 99559

Office: (907) 543-2124 | Fax: (907) 543-2897

Blockedwww.bethelnativecorp.org

mailto:/O=URS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=BILL CRAIG3F27559Dmailto:tara.bellion@aecom.commailto:jessica.evans@aecom.commailto:Keith.Q.Gordon@usace.army.milmailto:Jnelson@bncak.com

Bethel Native Corporation RESOLUTION 2016-08

RESOLUTION REQUESTING A SIX MONTH EXTENSION TO THE OFFICIAL COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY ON THE DONLIN GOLD PROJECT

WHEREAS, Bethel Native Corporation is the Native village corporation for the Village of Bethel, having incorporated and organized in accordance with Section 8 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) as amended, 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. and the laws of the state of Alaska;

WHEREAS, Bethel Native Corporation represents the cultural and economic interests of its approximately 1800 indigenous Shareholders;

WHEREAS, the Shareholders of BNC rely on their inter-relationship with the Land and the Kuskokwim River for physical, cultural, and spiritual sustenance;

WHEREAS, Donlin Gold LLC has applied for permits to develop an open pit, hardrock mine about 10 miles north of the community of Crooked Creek, in southwest Alaska;

WHEREAS, Donlin Gold's proposed mine is located approximately 145 miles upriver of Bethel and therefore will affect the Shareholders of BNC;

WHEREAS, in addition to the mine site, the project has two other maJor components: transportation infrastructure and pipeline infrastructure;

WHEREAS, the project contemplates a new Bethel Yard Dock to be built in Bethel that appears to extend well into the Kuskokwim River 150 feet and has the potential to cause life-safety and obstruction concerns as well as unknown hydrologic impacts to the surrounding areas upriver and downriver;

WHEREAS, the transportation infrastructure includes barges that will dock within the City of Bethel and transportation barges will utilize the waterways of the Kuskokwim River for transportation of supplies, equipment and toxic materials for the project that will impact many corporation shareholders, corporate lands and impact local business operations;

WHEREAS, the construction of and planned lifetime of the mine lasts for the next 30 plus years;

WHEREAS, monitoring of the tailings and the area around the mine will be required for perpetuity;

Resolution 2016-08

WHEREAS, the project will undoubtedly affect the residents of Bethel and the surrounding villages, and areas along the Kuskokwim river for decades and possibly centuries to come;

WHEREAS, the Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Impact Study (EIS) was released on November 27, 2015;

WHEREAS, the EIS itself totals over 5,300 pages and has taken Donlin and its consultants many years to collect and disseminate data and perform scientific and economic impact analysis related to proposed activities;

WHEREAS, in addition to the sheer volume of the EIS, the report itself includes numerous technical and engineering terms that require additional research and investigation by the average reader;

WHEREAS, currently the comment period for the EIS is essentially five months and is slated to end on April 30, 2016;

WHEREAS, the magnitude of the proposed project and its impacts on subsistence activities, the environment, economic development, job creation and other such concerns make it extremely important that the comment period be open for as long as necessary to allow a thorough understanding and thoughtful comment time period that is not rushed;

WHEREAS, it is essential that all citizens, Alaska Native Corporations, tribal entitles, governmental bodies, and agencies have an adequate amount of time to read, review, digest and form thoughtful comments regarding the EIS report on this project.

WHEREAS, it would be prudent for the Corps of Engineers to allow sufficient time for all affected parties to review, disseminate, comprehend, validate, and otherwise exercise proper due-diligence in an effort to protect the environment, and to assess the economic impacts, cultural impacts, and the impacts to the general health and welfare to individuals and communities directly and indirectly affected by the proposed project identified in the EIS;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Bethel Native Corporation Board of Directors does hereby formally request an extension of at least six (6) months and at least one more public comment meeting in Bethel, with for the public to offer comment on the Army Corps of Engineers' Donlin Gold Environmental Impact Study.

ADOPTED AND DATED this -t.[_th day of February 2016, in Bethel, Alaska, by a vote of _3_ for, $ against, and .f1 not voting.

Resolution 2016-08

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CERTIFICATE

The undersigned, Donna Lindsey, Secretary of Bethel Native Corporation, an Alaskan Corporation, does hereby certify that a meeting of the Board of Directors of said Corporation duly called and held on the \8' th day of February, 2016, at which a quorum was at all times present and voting, the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted.

Attest: N~~":i~--eb D~nna Lindsey, Secretary l