MISSION The Northern Alaska Environmental Center promotes
conservation of the environment in
Interior and Arctic Alaska through
advocacy, education, and sustainable resource stewardship.
Mining Memos
Northern Center Comment Letter to DNR Regarding the Alaska Coastal Zone Management Program
The Northern Alaska Environmental Center (NAEC) has become involved in the re-evaluation process of the Alaska Coastal Zone Management Program (ACMP). This program is one of many that the state uses to manage Alaska's natural environments. Many of the industrial developments currently proposed in Alaska occur in the coastal area. The conservation regulations within the ACMP was degraded or removed from the Murkowski Administration in 2003. These reforms resulted in an institution and policy failure that is recognized by all ACMP participants. Recently the DNR invited ACMP participants, including coastal districts, industry and applicants, state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and interested members of the public, to provide comments and propose changes to the ACMP. Click to download the NAEC's comment letter to the DNR.
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Aug 20, 2008, 13:26
Mining Memos Alaska's Plunge into the Mining Boom
As the weather warms and the bugs come out, mining threats to Northern Alaska also emerge from winter hibernation. This year’s emergence coincides with rising metal prices driven by developing countries. Historically a placer mining state, Alaska sits poised to plunge into a different frontier: mass scale industrial mining, a dive that will reverberate throughout the state for generations to come.
May 23, 2007, 14:32
Mining Memos Court Rules in Favor of Clean Water: Kensington Mine’s Tailings Plan Illegal
Juneau, AK—Today the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of clean water with its decision that the Army Corps of Engineers’ permit allowing the Kensington mine, just north of Juneau, to dump its tailings into a lake is illegal. The decision instructs the District Court to cancel the permits allowing the mine to dump processed mine tailings into Lower Slate Lake and approving the mine transport facility at Cascade Point. The court explained the Corps of Engineers has no authority to permit the dumping of mine waste into Lower Slate Lake. Instead, the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard for mines of this type applies. That standard prohibits any discharge of mine tailings into our lakes, rivers, and streams.
May 23, 2007, 09:59
Mining Memos Court Re-Affirms Injunction to Protect Clean Water at Kensington Mine
Juneau, AK—This afternoon the Ninth Circuit Court re-affirmed the injunction halting the Kensington Gold Mine’s damaging dam construction activities at Lower Slate Lake pending a decision on the appeal. Coeur Alaska asked the court to cancel the injunction. In response, the court concluded, “SEACC has shown a likelihood of success on the merits because it has argued persuasively that the Corps’ permit to Coeur Alaska violates the Clean Water Act,” and that voiding the injunction before a final decision would result in irreparable harm to the environment.
Dec 8, 2006, 12:04
Mining Memos Good News for Tangle Lakes: Anglo American withdraws
A major change took place at Tangle Lakes this weekend: Nevada Star announced that their joint venture, Anglo American Exploration (USA), is withdrawing from Tangle Lakes - effective September 14, 2006. This is excellent news for the campaign to keep mining out of Tangle Lakes.
Aug 23, 2006, 13:49
