On July 31, the Alaska Mental Health Trust approved Constantine Metal Resources’ plan of operations, marking the third and final approval and allowing Constantine to proceed with underground exploration 35 miles north of Haines.

Next summer, Constantine will blast a one-mile tunnel into the mountainside for more extensive and year-round drilling.

Earlier this month, the company was permitted by two state agencies for waste management and a reclamation plan permits.

Along with permit approvals, state agencies published 31 public comments submitted to Department of Natural Resources responding to issues they said were within their regulatory authority.

The company has suspended drilling operations for the summer.

The CVN will print a full report on this story next week.

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