A Message from the Executive Director
Thank You for Voicing Your Support of Mining
Dear Alaska Miners, Members, Supporters and Friends: Happy February! While it has been a cold and blustery winter, the issues we are facing are heating up on many fronts. In Juneau, the Legislature and Governor are continuing
source of energy. n Coal provides stability in energy rates. n If coal were removed from the grid, Interior Alaska would face a rate increase of about $242 million annually. By now I hope you’ve had the chance to look through our Winter Alaska Miner magazine. It is one of my favorite issues we have done, as it profiles our full board of directors. It is so entertaining and fascinating to read about this talented group that serves as your board. It is online at www.alaskaminers.org/alaska-miner- magazine. Remember, our ongoing advocacy work (and there is much of it) is possible thanks to your membership and financial support through the Durability Project. We are so thankful for our Hard Hat Heroes, Core Supporters, and Blast Buddies that are continuing to step up to help us keep going. Please see the list of these companies and individuals in this Journal and thank them for their support.
and how we are a foundation of the Southeast economy. I was really thrilled that Brian Erickson, General Manager of Greens Creek, and Mark Kiessling, General Manager of Kensington were there to share amazing data. And they were able to introduce Heather Nelson (Greens Creek) and Rochelle Lindley (Kensington) to the community. The AMA State Oversight Committee has finalized our
as well, on your own or using our click to comment tool. Thank you! On the Manh Choh issue, a few updates. First, early in the month the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly took up a resolution by David Guttenberg to expand the comment period and hold more hearings, clearly to delay this process. Efforts underway to discuss the ore transportation plan as part of the 404 permitting process are obviously inappropriate, and many of you attended the meeting or sent in communications saying as much. Unfortunately, the resolution is being brought back up and we are going to continue to need our members to push back on the attack on mining and our way of life in Interior Alaska. You can learn more at manhchoh.com. Read more in this Journal about the report Usibelli Coal Mine released, conducted by McKinley Research, analyzing the importance of coal in Interior Alaska. Impacts of Coal highlights: n Coal accounts for approximately 43 percent of GVEA’s electricity generation. n Including the military bases, coal accounted for 50 percent of electricity generation in the Interior. n Coal continues to be Interior Alaska’s lowest-cost
work toward resolving ongoing budget challenges, while working to fend off Federal efforts to restrict mining in Alaska. Thanks to the Juneau Branch and Governor Dunleavy’s Chief of Staff Randy Ruaro for an excellent statewide Zoom recently to outline the work they are doing. This month, AMA was in Juneau, for the first time in almost two years! It was wonderful to reconnect with our branch members, see our friends in the Legislature, and connect with sister organizations. We held our co-hosted reception with our
2022 Issues of Concern. There was a lot of thoughtful deliberation on updating some positions and adding some new. The AMA State Oversight Committee meets weekly on Thursdays at 9 a.m via Zoom. To see this year’s Issues of Concern, as all committee communications and efforts throughout the session, like submitted comment letters and testimony, see: www. alaskaminers.org/state-issues. As you can no doubt imagine, the AMA Federal Oversight Committee’s plate stays quite full. We recently submitted comments on the Step One Proposal for definition of the Waters of the
United States. Our comments focused on a third rule change in 10 years, specific principles to keep in mind considering the uniqueness of Alaska, referencing our past comments, and endorsing the nationwide support comments by National Mining Association and American Exploration & Mining Association. Importantly, we also told the agencies to hit pause as the United States Supreme Court again heard the Sackett case and deliberates waters of the US. You can see AMA’s comments at www.alaskaminers.org/ federal-issues. Also, we are collaborating with Senator Murkowski’s office, Alaska DEC, and others to plan for an upcoming roundtable with EPA officials on this issue. We also submitted comments in support of Peak Gold’s (Manh Choh) 404 wetlands permit. We know many of you did
partners at the Contractors and the Truckers. It felt like old times! We had a great time catching up with members of the Legislature, Administration, staff, and our friends in the Juneau Community. We are continuing the ongoing Zoom meetings where we can all join. You can check our webpage for ongoing updates on speakers for virtual and in-person. Your respective branch leaderships are monitoring local situations and working on getting to in-person meetings. Several branches have begun in-person meetings. I was pleased to join an industry panel at the Southeast Conference mid-session summit recently. Prior to the panel, Raincoast Data shared economic information including a survey point that mining has the best outlook in the Southeast Alaska economic sectors. I discussed mining’s role in their theme “getting back to business”
Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director
“We protect the environment because this is the land where we grew up.” – Evan Polty Jr. Lead Mechanic, Donlin Gold Born in Pilot Station and Resident of Russian Mission
Executive Board Bartly Kleven, President Lorali Simon, First Vice President Blake Bogart, Second Vice President Kim Aasand, Treasurer
Branch Chairmen Ted Hawley, Anchorage
The Alaska Miner is the official journal of the Alaska Miners Association, published eight times a year exclusively to our members.
Rich Sivils, Denali Ken Hall, Fairbanks Liz Cornejo, Haines Jim Clark, Juneau Houston Morris, Kenai Ken Hughes, Nome Robert Fithian, Ketchikan/Prince of Wales
It is published in partnership with the Alaska Miners Association by Fireweed Strategies LLC, 4849 Potter Crest Circle, Anchorage, AK 99516.
We actively seek contributions from our members and the mining industry. Please email story ideas and photos to Lee Leschper. Advertising Rates and New Tips For advertising information, or to submit news, story ideas and photos, call or email Lee Leschper at 907-957-6025 or Lee.Leschper@FireweedStrategies.com Alaska Miners Association Staff Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director Jennifer Luiten, Membership and Fundraising Director Darlene Strickland, Bookkeeper/Membership
Respectful development for all generations.
Committee Chairmen Kevin Adler, Convention
Follow us anytime: Online at AlaskaMiners.org Like us on Facebook at Alaska Miners Association Follow us on Twitter @alaskaminers
Howard Grey and JP Tangen, Federal Oversight Mike Satre and Lorali Simon, State Oversight
To learn more, visit us at donlingold.com
4
February 2022 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I February 2022
5
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease