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The owner of the proposed Tulsequah Chief mine in British Columbia is still working on responding to the state of Alaska's February request for more information on a proposed unconventional barge system in the winter and spring melt and fall freeze-up seasons.

But the company, Redfern Resources Ltd., doesn't need any state permits to use conventional barges this summer, as it did last summer.

Redfern spokeswoman Salina Landstad said the company would inform Taku users about the barge schedule once it's set.

"We haven't nailed it down yet," she said.

The operations plan for the barge system is "in the final stages," she said.

The Tulsequah Chief multimetal mine site is on the Tulsequah River in Canada, about 40 miles northeast of Juneau. Redfern is based in Vancouver, B.C., and wholly owned by Redcorp Ventures Ltd.

A vehicle called an Amphitrac, newly invented for this project, would pull or push a hoverbarge, also called an air cushion barge. The Amphitrac would use steel screws when traveling over ice, soft rubber tires over land, and Archimedes screws to propel itself through water.

Redfern will need state permits for the vessel system by the time ice begins to form on the river. That usually happens in early November, according to the operations plan Redfern submitted last year to the state.

State permits require that the vessels not damage critical fish and wildlife habitat. Permitters have asked Redfern to elaborate on a wildlife monitoring program, among other requests. They also require the Amphitrac to be tested on ice before it is used on the Taku.

The Amphitrac and hoverbarge have not been built yet, though, according to Landstad.

Redcorp announced to investors in June 2007 that it had begun "detailed design and construction" of the Amphitrac and that it projected finishing by December last year. The company's 2007 financial report said the Amphitrac would be delivered in the first quarter of 2008.

Landstad said the company now estimates the hoverbarge will be delivered by early summer, and the Amphitrac some time after that.

• Contact reporter Kate Golden at 523-2276 or e-mail kate.golden@juneauempire.com.