UAF penned in its proposal for the re- gional funding under DOE's CORE-CM initiative. The Region 8 critical minerals as- sessment will involve compiling and analyzing historical geological data; collecting new data from existing samples, such as those stored at the Geological Materials Center in An- chorage, Alaska; and collecting new samples from prospective sites across the region. The UAF-led CORE-CM team says several mining and mineral explo- ration companies are also eager to provide samples for critical minerals evaluation under the Region 8 CORE- CM program. "In Phase 2, we will start charac- terizing these samples and assist our private sector partners in understand- ing how to process them economical- ly and environmentally responsibly," UAF penned in its funding proposal. "We will also work to expand part- nering opportunities throughout Or- egon and Washington while adding new partners in Alaska."
egy goes beyond working with state geological surveys, academia col- leagues, and the mining sector. One of the primary objectives of the second phase of the Region 8 CORE-CM program is community en- gagement and early-career workforce development for the burgeoning criti- cal minerals sector in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. This will involve building a strong consortium of partners across the three states and with neighboring ar- eas to support critical minerals and materials resource development. UAF plans to develop customized plans to inform communities and Indigenous groups about CORE-CM and keep them up to date on the pro- gram's progress. An online portal is also being created where stakeholders can get updates and provide feedback on the Region 8 CORE-CM initiatives. On the workforce development front, the Region 8 CORE-CM team will work with universities, region- al colleges, and vocational schools to develop curricula for a broad range of career paths associated with criti- cal minerals exploration, mining, and processing.
The Region 8 CORE-CM team also plans to develop a Technology Inno- vation Center (TIC) designed to inte- grate programs at different regional hub locations that are accessible to stakeholders in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. "The TIC will be developed around the unique challenges and opportuni- ties within each state and include key departments focusing on: Research and Development, Industry Collab- oration, Environmental Justice and Impact, Education and Outreach, and Administration," UAF wrote. UAF says the input it gathers by working closely with Indigenous groups, private sector companies, trade schools and universities, na- tional labs, trade groups, environ- mental organizations, and commu- nities will be crucial to realizing its vision of making Region 8 known for its innovative approach to being an environmentally responsible supplier of the minerals critical to America's economy, security, and clean energy future. — Shane Lasley, North of 60 Mining News
Building partnerships UAF's CORE-CM partnership strat-
Supporting our Communities Red Dog Operations continues to operate responsibly and safely to support our employees and regional communities during the pandemic.
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