ACWA and local conservation groups continued throughout the year to work with the Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan in opposing the Palmer Project, the copper-zinc mining development in the upper Chilkat Valley. The exploratory effort is controlled and funded by the Dowa Metals and Mining corporation of Japan. About a year ago the junior exploratory company that had been the local “face” of the project, Constantine Metal Resources, was bought out by another Canadian exploratory company, American Pacific Mining. Many of the same people are involved; it was essentially a paper shuffle that hasn’t led to any improvements in action or communication with the public. Dowa continues to hide in the shadows.
Challenges in 2023 to State wastewater discharge permits and land-based activities (building roads and bridges, crew quarters, seismic testing to identify possible tailings dump sites, etc.) held back significant releases of pollutants for the moment and increased the public’s awareness of the potential impacts of the development. But with the total complicity of Alaska’s Governor, and Departments of Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources, it’s been a battle at every step to even know what is happening behind the closed gates that lead to the mine site.
A huge swing in the local political scene in October has been a cause for great optimism. Half of the Haines Borough Assembly (3 seats), the Mayor’s position, and the entire Planning Commission (7 seats) were up for grabs – and all 11 seats were won by candidates who ran on pro-river protection platforms. This should result in a significant shift in the community’s relationship with federal agencies that had been getting approached to use federal tax dollars to build infrastructure that would support the mine development.
In November, a major road project that would have connected the mine site to the Haines Highway was cancelled. The previous local administration had exaggerated the impact of a major storm event in 2020 to try and secure FEMA funding for the road project. Without contacting FEMA, the mine developers started doing their own work to make the rebuilt road even larger and wider, which was a violation of FEMA rules. As a result, FEMA “de-obligated” the $13 million that had been tentatively approved for the Porcupine Road construction.
A proposed municipal dock expansion that would allow for the export of ore from the Palmer mine and possibly Yukon-based mines may be on the ropes as well. The $26.5 million dollar project has been under consideration by the federal Dept. of Transportation for several years. Secretary Buttigieg came to Haines in late summer and met with ACWA’s Director, Tribal representatives and other concerned citizens, and heard first-hand about what the community actually needs in terms of a dock repair, versus what the mining industry would like to see happen for their own benefit. Failing to get the U.S. taxpayers to foot the ~$40 million bill for the road and dock projects (should the dock expansion be scaled back as well) will be a major setback for the mine’s proponents and investors, who were hoping to leverage these public expenditures to get more private investment and increase confidence in the project’s prospects for going forward.
ACWA successfully facilitated getting national media coverage to the Chilkat Valley in November. A CBS News story, including interviews with ACWA’s Director Gershon Cohen and ACWA Advisory Board member Mario Benassi was aired on the Eye on America program. Also check out the PBS special Iconic America (Episode #6, the Bald Eagle) which was filmed almost entirely in the Chilkat Valley Bald Eagle Preserve and again featured Advisory Board member Benassi, an accomplished filmmaker and falconer.
That’s the short story for 2023. If you would like more details about of any these issues, or wish to help support our efforts, please contact us!