PUBLIC NOTICE OF WATER RIGHT APPLICATION LAS 36201

What is this notice about?

Aurquest Alaska, Inc. has applied to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a water right. The company wants to take up to 14,400,000 gallons of water per day from an unnamed settling pond near Nome for mechanical placer mining, from May 1 through October 31. The public may send written comments or objections by October 23, 2026.

Why was this notice issued?

State water law (Alaska Statute [AS] 46.15 and Alaska Administrative Code [AAC] 11 AAC 93) requires public notice when DNR receives an application for water rights. Aurquest Alaska, Inc. filed an application with a priority date of August 13, 2026.

What action is being taken?

DNR's Water Resources Section is reviewing an application for a water right that would allow withdrawals of up to 14,400,000 gallons per day, May 1 through October 31, from a settling pond within U.S. Mineral Survey 670 (No. 3 Laura Gulch Placer Claim), Sections 18 & 19, Township 11 South, Range 33 West, Kateel River Meridian, to support mechanical placer mining. If a permit is issued, it may later be extended for good cause without more public notice (AS 46.15.110 and 11 AAC 93.120(f)).

Who is involved: Aurquest Alaska, Inc., 64 Industrial Avenue, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C2Y1, Canada (applicant)

How can the public respond?

Respond by Fri, Oct 23, 2026 This deadline has passed.

“Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. October 23, 2026. Written objections must be filed within 15 days of publication or service of notice (October 23, 2026, based on the October 8, 2026 publish date).”

Ways to respond

Mail or in person (comments) Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Water Resources Section, 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-4699
Mail or in person (objections) DNR Commissioner’s Office, 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1400, Anchorage, Alaska, 99501
Fax (objections) (907)-269-8918
Email (objections) dnr.appeals@alaska.gov
Phone (TDD, for people with audio impairments) TDD # 907-451-2770, Public Information Center in Fairbanks, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

What to include

Comments must be in writing and received by the Water Resources Section at the Fairbanks address to be considered. Objections must be in writing and must state the objector's name and address and any facts showing that the objector's rights or the public interest would be harmed by the proposed water use (AS 46.15.133(a)). Refer to application LAS 36201. More details: http://notice.alaska.gov/225277. People with disabilities may request auxiliary aids.

Contact

Jadon Farleigh
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Water Resources Section
(907) 451-2793; fax (907) 451-2703
3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-4699

Will there be public meetings?

The notice does not announce any public meeting or hearing.

Key dates

Aug 13, 2026: Priority date of the water right application
Oct 8, 2026: Notice published
Oct 23, 2026: Deadline for written comments (5:00 p.m.) and written objections (15 days after publication)

Original notice text

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Water Resources Section 3700 Airport Way Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-4699 (907) 451-2793 (907) 451-2703 fax PUBLIC NOTICE OF WATER RIGHT APPLICATION LAS 36201 Pursuant to AS 46.15 and rules and regulations (11 Alaska Administrative Code [AAC] 93) promulgated thereunder, public notice is hereby given that an Application for Water Rights for water withdrawals from an unnamed pond was received from Aurquest Alaska, Inc., 64 Industrial Avenue, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C2Y1, Canada, in support of mechanical placer mining to withdraw up to 14,400,000 gallons per day from May 1st through October 31st from a settling pond located within U.S. Mineral Survey 670 (No. 3 Laura Gulch Placer Claim) within Sections 18 & 19, Township 11 South, Range 33 West, Kateel River Meridian. This application has a Priority Date of August 13, 2026. Visit http://notice.alaska.gov/225277 to view more details. The public is invited to comment on these actions. For further information on the application, please contact Jadon Farleigh at the above address or telephone numbers. The Water Resources Section must receive comments in writing by 5:00 p.m. October 23, 2026 at the above address to be considered. If issued, a permit may be extended for good cause shown, pursuant to AS 46.15.110 and 11 AAC 93.120(f), without additional public notice. Per AS 46.15.133 (a); within 15 days of publication or service of notice, persons may file with the director written objections, stating the name and address of the objector, and any facts tending to show that rights of the objector or the public interest would be adversely affected by the proposed appropriation. Objections must be submitted in writing and may be mailed or hand-delivered to the DNR Commissioner’s Office, 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1400, Anchorage, Alaska, 99501; faxed to (907)-269-8918; or sent by electronic mail to dnr.appeals@alaska.gov. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The state is prepared to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing auxiliary aids when requested. Individuals with audio impairments who wish to respond to this notice by telephone may call the Department’s Public Information Center in Fairbanks between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at TDD # 907-451-2770. The Department of Natural Resources reserves the right to waive technical defects in this publication.

This summary was written by an AI model (Claude) from the official notice text. This is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm deadlines and instructions in the official notice. Legal disclaimer.