Current Mining Issues
Tangle Lakes
 Conveyance of the Denali Block (located on the east end of the Denali Highway, and including Tangle Lakes, most of the Tangle Lakes Archeological District, and portions of the Delta Wild and Scenic River Corridor) from the federal government to the State of Alaska is complete. Nevadastar Resources (www.nevadastar.com) is planning to conduct exploratory drilling near 14-Mile Lake and Landmark Gap this summer. Many local residents and users of the Denali Block, while supporting small local placer mining operations, feel strongly that the Denali's scenic vistas, wildlife, and hunting, fishing and recreating opportunities are too rare and too valuable to be sacrificed for hardrock mineral exploration and development.
Despite assurances from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources that steps will be taken to protect the natural integrity of the Denali, many are convinced that hardrock mineral activities are not compatible with the Denali's accessible wild character. Regardless of environmental protections, hardrock mineral activities leave lasting scars and bring industrial elements, such as mills, powerlines, access roads, camps, airstrips, impoundments and waste rock dumps, that irreparably alter landscape, habitat, use patterns and communities.
Ft. Knox Satellite Mine Developments
This summer Fairbanks Gold Mining, Inc., operator of the Ft. Knox mine, continues its program of identifying additional sources of gold ore for the Ft. Knox mill. They recently concluded a drilling program at the Gilmore Tracking Station and are currently drilling 64 additional holes at the Ryan Lode on Ester Dome. The True North pits have substantially increased in size, while dust pollution from the ore haul road connecting True North and Ft. Knox continues to concern Cleary Summit residents.
Pogo
Public comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Pogo gold mine closed on May 13, 2003. Federal and state agencies are currently reviewing comments and revising the final documents and permits. Release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be sometime in early fall, with final permits and approvals completed by the end of 2003.
The draft EIS and related documents may be downloaded from www.pogomineeis.com. State proposed decisions, including those for the proposed access road and solid waste permits, may be downloaded from www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/mining/pogo/index.htm.
1872 General Mining Law Reform
 In addition to its mine-specific component of the mining program, the Northern Center is contributing to national efforts to reform the 1872 General Mining Law, which regulates metal mining on public lands. Promulgated 130 years ago in an effort to encourage mineral exploration and settle the American west, this law has never evolved to keep pace with inflation, changes in mining technology or modern recognition of the need to protect water, air and habitat from pollution and degradation. Under the 1872 Mining Law, public land is still being sold to mining companies at 1872 prices - for $5.00 an acre - there are no provisions to protect our environment, and federal regulators have no authority to deny a mining permit, regardless of other competing land uses or environmental sensitivity.
Additionally, because there are no royalties assessed, the U.S. government is forced to give away $1 - 2 billion in publicly owned minerals annually. These include precious metals such as gold, platinum and silver as well as base metals like zinc, lead and copper. At the same time, taxpayers are paying to clean up abandoned mines on public lands to the tune of approximately $70 billion, according to the Mineral Policy Center.
Right now, the Northern Alaska Environmental Center is participating in efforts to encourage companies that use metals in manufacture to support reformation of the 1872 Mining Law. As a first step in that effort, we are asking people to contact hi-tech companies, such as Intel, to ask them to use only gold that has been mined in an environmentally and socially protective manner. For more information on how to send a letter to Intel to encourage them to use only metals that were produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way see Mining Memos # 29 on our website, or go to:
www.actionnetwork.org/campaign/detox/forward/i8kkd5rl783jki
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