Best-In-class safety management plan
Kinross and its trucking partner, Black Gold Transport, are committed to implementing a best-in-class safety program that includes:
- Fostering a strong safety culture through recruiting, training, ongoing coaching
- Hiring and training experienced drivers
- Meeting or exceeding all legal and regulatory requirements, including load and speed limits, driver duty times
- Scheduling and planning the route to keep drivers within safe and legal duty limits
- Maintaining active communication between drivers and dispatch to alert road hazards and conditions
- Implementing a comprehensive safety management system that includes real-time vehicle and driver monitoring that incorporates fatigue management camera systems
- Using purpose-built equipment and diligently maintaining it
- Covering loads to minimize dust
- Driving to conditions, including slowing or stopping operations as required
- Engaging with communities through continual stakeholder engagement and public feedback mechanisms
Here’s How Trucking Will Work
Route
Approximately 240 MILES each way; 90% on public highways
The trucks will deliver rock from the Manh Choh mine near Tok to the Fort Knox mill north of Fairbanks. The route runs along the Alaska, Richardson and Steese highways.
Timeline
Trucking operations are expected to begin in 2024 and continue for 4 to 5 years.
Operations
Trucks are expected to operate 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
On average: 60 round trips per day, 2.5 trips per hour
Impacts to traffic vary by region
Current traffic volumes vary from a low of 200-300 vehicles on the road each day between Tok and Delta Junction to more than 25,000 vehicles on the road each day near Fairbanks. Ore trucking will increase traffic by 5-20% along the rural portions of the route.
Traffic increase is <1% IN FAIRBANKS and typically 5-20% along the route
Purpose-built Equipment
New purpose-built highway tractor and trailer equipment has been purchased and will be maintained to maximize safety and efficiency of the operation. Equipment will operate within the legal limits set by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF).
- Highway tractors pulling two covered side-dump trailers that are purpose built to maximize safety and efficiency
- Total vehicle length will be 95,’ similar to double fuel and double cargo trailers used in Alaska today
- Payload of about 50 tons and total gross vehicle weight of 82.5 tons per vehicle
Minimal impact on air quality
- Independent modeling shows trucking will contribute less than 0.25% of PM2.5 emissions in the Non-Attainment Area (NAA)
- Trucks will use new, high-efficiency, low-emissions engines
- Engines will meet latest EPA 2021 (Tier 4 comparable) emissions standards
- Using engines meeting this standard reduces PM2.5 emissions by 90% compared to the prior standard
- Will not impact the path back to PM2.5 attainment based on Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s State Implementation Plan (SIP)
Noise levels meet epa standard
- New and most current systems help keep the trucks quiet
- Our trucks will use two types of braking systems in tandem
- Noise level will not exceed 80 dBA, which is the EPA required standard
- Added components help to reduce noise emissions in addition to exhaust emissions
- New exhaust components are now part of the emissions certification; illegal to tamper, modify or remove exhaust components
Meet our partner
Black Gold Transport, a division of Black Gold Express
- Local company based in Interior Alaska
- Serving Alaska since 1987, impeccable safety record driving Dalton Highway
- Contract requires Fairbanks-based jobs, comprehensive safety management system, vehicle and driver monitoring and hiring and training experienced drivers
- Together, we are investing $30 million, including the purchase of 52 new, purpose-built trucks designed for safety, efficiency and low emissions
Now Hiring
The ore transportation plan will support between 100 and 200 good-paying jobs, including highly experienced truck drivers, mechanics and support personnel. Most of these jobs will be based in the Fairbanks area, with some equipment operator and support jobs based at the Manh Choh project site near Tok.
With The Addition of Passing Lanes, The Roadways Will Be Safer for Everyone
DOT&PF is planning improvements along the route including updating and adding up to 10 passing lanes, asphalt resurfacing, bridge replacements and other work. With the addition of passing lanes, there will be a safe opportunity to pass approximately every 10-20 minutes. This is in addition to annual inspection and maintenance.
Learn more at dot.alaska.gov.
Using Existing Infrastructure Reduces Environmental Impact
Trucking rock from Manh Choh to Fort Knox offers significant benefits to the community and environment.
- Eliminates the need to construct a mill and tailings storage facility which significantly reduces environmental impact
- Lowers many capital costs which makes the project economically viable
- Adds new life to the existing Fort Knox mill, which is an economic anchor for the Fairbanks economy
- Boosts the economy along the highway corridor with good-paying jobs and opportunities for local businesses
STAY CONNECTED – SIGN UP FOR PROJECT UPDATES
Kinross Alaska will work diligently to keep you updated on our activities and to listen and take into consideration your suggestions and concerns. In addition to occasional community meetings, you can use our website as a place to ask questions or make comments and to sign up for transport updates. We have organized a local advisory committee to serve as our eyes and ears in the area and we plan to establish a project hotline once trucking operations begin.
Email Manh Choh Community Relations: ManhChohCR@kinross.com
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