Proposed mine is in the wrong zone
By Anna Lionas
Local gold miner Shawn Pomerenke has an application out for a permit to mine for gold at a long-standing claim within city limits.
Last week it was discovered some of the land he proposes to mine is not zoned for resource extraction.
The Nome Planning Commission in last week’s meeting briefly discussed the proposal after hearing from City Clerk Dan Grimmer who referenced the public notice of the application to mine in U.S. waters submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The proposed hydraulic placer mine is located at the Northern Queen site, which is between Center Creek and Bourbon Creek, across the Nome-Teller Road from Icy View. The mine would comprise 130-acres with a 30-acre disposal area.
“There’s concern that it is overlapping into areas that are zoned outside of resource development,” Grimmer said.
The eastern side of the mine overlaps with an area zoned for industrial use. Toward the west, the disposal also cuts into a corner of industrially zoned land. Pomerenke said it’s unusual for the plots to be categorized as such, especially since they don’t meet city code industrial standards, which requires road access and hook ups to power, water and sewer.
Pomerenke, operating as Northwest Golddiggers, plans to apply for a conditional use permit to mine in the industrial zone, a process that goes through the Planning Commission and requires a public hearing.
Pomerenke is leasing the property from Arctic Gold.
When he first looked at the drill log he saw good gold. His continued research uncovered history. “It’s pretty amazing how much work they did in the early 1900’s underground,” Pomerenke said excitedly. “I found like, 40 or 50 shovels and picks and big hammers and saw tubes.”
Since the May 8 public notice of application was published by the Army Corps, some backlash about the mine’s location was thrown around on social media. Pomerenke said he will do his best to take into account concerns of the community.
If everything goes well with the permits, mining could begin at the end of this season, but more likely will start next year, Pomerenke said.
The public notice from the Corps was published online on May 8 with a 30-day public comment period that’s currently open. Comments are due on June 9 and can be submitted to the Regulatory Division of the Corps by mail or email, stating the reference number POA-2-25-00030 (APMA 9480). The email address is regpagemaster@usace.army.mil
Grimmer encouraged people to voice their opinions.
Chair of the Planning Commission Ken Hughes said the commission will place it on the agenda for their June 3 meeting to discuss any issues or concerns from the public.
Other business
The commission breezed through their agenda, holding a public comment period on the Front Street rezoning ordinance. No one spoke up and the commission passed the ordinance to the Nome Common Council where it will have two readings and a public hearing, scheduled for July 14.
Next month, at their June 2 meeting the commission will hear an appeal from Joe Burnham on his violation of city codes and zoning due to items stored on his property.
