The Costs of Mining
Truck hauling ore to the Fort Knox
mine near Cleary Summit subdivision |
Although Alaska mining law requires reclamation of mine sites, the impacts of bulk-tonnage mining are impossible to eradicate after mine closure. A mine site may be returned to functionality as wildlife habitat or recreational area, but the process takes decades. Acceptable reclamation may also be thwarted by ongoing environmental degradation, such as impacts to water quality from heavy metal leaching, which was not accounted for in the original mine/reclamation plan. For example, open pits are rarely filled in at closure; instead, groundwater is allowed to seep back into the pit, eventually creating a pit lake. Unfortunately, the heavy metals and salts that are typically associated with mineral deposits also end up in the water, so that perpetual water treatment is necessary if the lake were to be used for aquatic habitat or recreational purposes.
To date, in Alaska, no open pit mine has undergone complete reclamation or has been released by regulatory agencies as a completed, reclaimed mine project.
Beyond the Glitter
While the slumping price of gold and some base metals has caused the closure of two mines, cooled exploration expenditures and shelved other potential mine proposals, Alaska remains in the top ten, world-wide , as a favorable place for mineral investments (Fraser Institute Annual Mining Companies Survey, 2001/2002). World-class deposits, large tracts of unexplored land, a permissive regulatory environment and the political and economic stability of the United States all combine to make Alaska the place to be for major and junior mining companies alike. Additionally, local governments, fueled by effective public relations campaigns mounted by the mining industry, continue to view metal mining as significant component of the Alaskan economy and a primary source of jobs.
In reality, Alaskan metal mining is directly responsible for only 0.5% of Alaskan jobs and personal income (Power, 2002). In addition, the employment opportunities offered by modern metal mines are decreasing as technological advances shrinks the work force required by a mine (Power, 2002). The average mine-life of one of these mines is on the order of five to 15 years; Red Dog, because of its unusually rich mineralization, is the notable exception to the rule with a present estimated mine life 65 years (Power, 2002).
Given these economic factors, and the fact that these large mines permanently alter landscapes and often leave behind costly environmental problems, such as acid mine drainage, the message promoted by industry boosters - that Alaska mining is the future - needs critical examination. While our modern society depends heavily on metals to function, mining, like any other industry, must be done in a manner that is environmentally, socially and culturally protective. Not every metal deposit that can be mined should be mined - if it means that a community, sacred site or a river will be unduly impacted or harmed. And increasingly, places like Alaska that have pristine or minimally impacted natural landscapes are attracting both visitors and residents that value clean water and air, abundant wildlife, and outdoor recreation.
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