THE ALASKA MINER MAGAZINE: Our magazine is published quarterly and delivered to both the members of the Alaska Miners Association and to key decision-makers and leaders in Alaska and beyond. Our goal is to educate, advocate, and lead our industry as one of the strongest, oldest, and most productive corporate citizens in Alaska. AMA’s mission is to promote responsible mineral development in Alaska. We provide key communication between our members, the industry, and policymakers in and out of Alaska. Each issue includes news and information important to our industry and our constituents.
The official magazine of the Alaska Miners Association and the mining industry in Alaska
AlaskaMiners.org
July 2019 Volume 47, Number 7
80th Anniversary! Celebrating 80 years working for Alaska miners
INSIDE THIS ISSUE u The Alaska Miner through the years u Alaska mining leader profiles u Faces of Mining: Blake Bogart u Improving conditions statewide
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closed mines often and unfairly connected to by those who oppose our industry in general. Comparing a mine constructed 80 years ago in the absence of these laws, and before the technological advances that have been made, paints a grossly inaccurate picture and neglects how the industry has continuously improved for eight decades. Which is a great segue to where we are today: Today, what do we do better than others? I would aPY_`]P_ZR`P^^_SL_YPL]WdSLWQZQXd^_Lʬ_TXPL_ AMA is spent educating policymakers and the public of Alaska’s world-class regulatory system and the oper- ating performance of our mines and projects. Today, Alaska’s mines are permitted to protect all aspects of Z`]PYaT]ZYXPY_%LT]WLYObL_P]ʭ^SLYObTWOWTQPLYO human health. We’ve also made great strides from a socioeconomic perspective. We tend to not think about it, but there was a time where it was a rarity to see women and other minorities working in mines across our country. Now, we don’t give it a second thought — and I think that’s a great thing. One only has to look at Page 57 of this publication to be reminded that all of Alaska’s major resource industry trade associations currently are run by women. It’s an honor to be a part of that group as well, and it gives me warm and fuzzies to hear our members brag about our associations. Indeed, during the past few decades, Alaska’s XTYTYRTYO`^_]dSL^[`_^TRYTʭNLY_TYaP^_XPY_TY_Z developing a workforce composed of Alaskans from every corner of the state. We’ve also seen the creation and completion of a taxation system that appropriately evaluates the industry economics and brings millions of dollars to local and state governments annually. We’re in a great place today. But miners have never been ones to rest on their laurels. Starting tomorrow, what can we do better? For ob- vious reasons, I’m not sure how the conversation went in 1939. But I can speculate that at that time, miners worked in the ways they knew how, and learned a little XZ]PPLNSOLdLMZ`_SZb_ZMPXZ]PPʯNTPY_SZb_Z go a step beyond to make an area safer or the environ- ment better, and how to be better neighbors. And we’ve never stopped striving to be better. Collectively, we’ve focused on continuously improving how we train and hire local Alaskans, striving for even more environ- mental excellence, building and improving infrastruc- ture, and so much more. Eighty years, and it just keeps getting better. And you better believe that is at the core of the mission of AMA. Thank you, Ǎ Executive Director’s Report
D ear Members and Friends of Alaska Miners: It is an honor to be at the helm of an or- ganization on its 80th birthday. Really, it’s a pretty sweet deal to celebrate 80 years of success re- ^`W_TYRQ]ZXPʬZ]_^4SLOWT__WP_ZOZbT_S;WLYYTYRQZ] and executing celebrations and acknowledgements has MPPYLWZ_ZQQ`YQZ]_SP^_LʬLYOXPLYOT_SL^MPPY enjoyable to pause for thought on our past, present and Q`_`]P4ɪXʭYOTYR_SL_TY_SP^PLYYTaP]^L]dOT^N`^ - sions, we seem to be circling around to the same few thought-provoking questions to provide the fullest cov- erage of Alaska’s mining industry from 1939 to today: From 80 years ago, how are we better? It is safe to say there is common knowledge that our industry has come a long way, technologically and socially, from our 1939 operating standard. We still hear phrases like “this is not your grandfather’s gold mine,” referring to a standard that was performed 80 years ago compared with the modern mining we know today. What is perhaps most important to observe over the 80-year timeline are the advent of our nation’s environmental laws, and the complement of Alaska’s statutes that were developed to ensure resource and community development are done safely and respon- sibly. The passage of the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Environmental Policy Act and more, are responsible for the dozens of permits large mines must have in hand to today develop a mineral deposit. It is these and other laws that govern the operations we have in 2019 that sit on a bar so high above the “legacy”
Deantha Crockett AMA Executive Director ctor
The Alaska Miner
July 2019
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 Executive Director’s Report 4 Letter from President Mike Satre 6 DOI releases 1.3 million acres 8 Update from Alaska Legislative Session 12 Celebrating 80 Years! 16 Faces in Mining: Nome’s Blake Bogart 2IQFIV5VSǻPIW 29 2019 Economic Impact of Alaska 38 Project Updates 44 Mining Business and Service Directory 56 Join us at the fair 60 Coming Events
8LISǽGMEPQEKE^MRISJXLI Alaska Miners Association and the mining industry in Alaska
ON THE COVER: August marks the 80th Anniversary of the Alaska Miners Association and our work defending the Alaska QMRMRKMRHYWXV]4YVGSZIVVIǼIGXW the continuing evolution of our industry forward with new projects like Donlin and from our history of miners like this one working a sluice box on Nome’s beach during the 19th century. Photo courtesy Donlin Gold
THIS PAGE: Ryan Vredenburg installs a microwave link between the mill and site data center at the Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine. Vredenburg is the Network Administrator at the Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine. He maintains and secures the internal and external networks that connect users to each other and the outside world. Photo courtesy of Josh Rupp
The Alaska Miner is dedicated to those who work in and support the mining industry in Alaska, its commitment to the people, and resources of our state. Our magazine is published quarterly and delivered to both the members of the Alaska Miners Association and to key decision makers and leaders in Alaska and beyond. Our goal is to educate, advocate and lead our industry as one of the strongest, oldest and most productive corporate citizens in Alaska. AMA’s mission is to promote responsible mineral development in Alaska.
EDITORIAL CALENDAR
ALASKA MINERS ASSOCIATION STAFF
October 2019 Anchorage Convention 2019 January 2020 Legislative and Season Preview
Executive Director
Deantha Crockett Jennifer Luiten
Membership and Fundraising Director
April 2020 Project Updates July 2020 People in Mining
Projects Manager
Laci Michaud
Bookkeeping and Membership
Darlene Strickland
EXECUTIVE BOARD
BRANCH CHAIRMEN
Mike Satre President, Hecla Greens Creek Mining Co., Juneau 'MPP/IǺVIWW First Vice President, SRK Consulting, Anchorage Bartly Kleven Second Vice President, Kinross–Fort Knox, Fairbanks Kim Aasand Treasurer, Aasand & Glore LLC., Anchorage
/MQ)YǽIPH Kenai Blake Bogart Nome Andrew Spokely Ketchikan/
Ted Hawley Anchorage Roger Speer Denali Anna Atchison Fairbanks James Sage Haines Frank Bergstrom Juneau
Prince of Wales
The Alaska Miner 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. For advertising information or news tips, call or email publisher Lee Leschper at 907-957-6025 or Lee.Leschper@FireweedStrategies.com.
July 2019
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Mineral tenure still remains top priority
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BY MIKE SATRE In August 1939, miners in Alaska joined to form the Alaska Miners Association. Eighty years ago, they knew they had to stand together to fight “one-size-fits-all” laws and regulations promulgated in Washington D.C. without any thought as to their impact on Alaska’s miners. In this case, it was the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which did many good things, but failed to understand the reality of the long hours that must be worked in Alaska’s mining camps and family run operations during the short summer season. Eighty years later, the Alaska Miners Association is as strong as ever. This is due to people and companies like you who understand the power of standing together to fulfill our mission to advocate for and promote responsible mineral development in the state of Alaska. We have been part of many successes over the past few years, including defeating the Stand for Salmon ballot initiative, stopping duplicative “one-size-fits-all” Federal rulemaking under CERCLA 108(b) and helping, through our political action committee AMAPAC, to support mining-friendly candidates around the state. But, as always, our work is not done. One year
ago in this column, I shared AMA’s efforts on addressing the mineral tenure issues that plague the holders of state mining claims in Alaska. In a nutshell, the individuals and companies that have been willing to put forth the effort to find a mineral deposit, stake claims and ensure those claims are held through continued work or payments, are finding that something as simple as a typo in paperwork filed years ago may mean their claims are null and void. While this issue might not make headlines, it has cost miners in Alaska millions of dollars and threatens investment on state lands at a time when we need it the most. During the past year, there have been proposed regulatory solutions as well as many efforts to find a legislative fix to the problem. Unfortunately, even though AMA has made a clear and convincing case for what reforms are needed, and has even drafted simple legislation to fix this once and for all, we continue to run into a brick wall. Granted, the current legislature has had other budgetary fish to fry and we can grudgingly see how a fix to mineral tenure might not be a priority. But that does not excuse the inaction at the Department of Natural Resources in abdicating a leadership role on this issue.
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When the new administration was elected, AMA immediately contacted the Governor, his policy advisors and his commissioner designees with a list of our priority issues. We told them that if Alaska was to be “open for business” to the mining industry that the No. 1, top-of-the-page issue that should be addressed is mineral tenure. We warned them that “Alaska cannot attract the investments needed to explore and develop its mineral resources with this risk to land tenure in place,” and that we as industry stood ready to provide solutions to “prevent the senseless loss of mining claims from minor, correctable errors.” We are still waiting. And so are the companies that want to invest in this state. It is time for the leadership team at DNR to take up this issue and settle it once and for all. While not a permanent solution, we know there are things they can do operationally, and possibly through regulation, to ensure that clerical errors do not cause a loss of a claim. The next step would be to meet in good faith with knowledgeable legislators to support
legislation that would fix the problem. But, more importantly to those who are waiting to invest in Alaska, a clear and concise statement from DNR leadership that the problem exists and that they are committed to supporting the solution proffered by the Alaska Miners Association would work wonders. A few weeks ago, hundreds of members and friends of the Alaska Miners Association gathered at the Matanuska Brewery to celebrate Alaska Mining Day and to kick off our 80th anniversary celebration. We all know the future of mining in Alaska is extremely bright and that the past 80 years are just the beginning of our history. We know that this administration sees this bright future and we look forward to working with them.
Mike Satre AMA President
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July 2019
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DOI releases 1.3M Alaska acres Photo courtesy Bureau of Land Management Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (left) and Assistant Secretary of the Interior Joe Balash shake hands after Balash signed the release of more than 1.3 million Alaska acres for future resource development.
SPECIAL TO THE ALASKA MINER The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued two Public Land Orders (PLO) opening up approx- imately 1.3 million acres of public lands in the Fortymile Subunit of the Eastern Interior and the Bering Glacier area in Southcentral Alaska for de- velopment. The PLOs revoke, in part, PLOs issued in 1972 under Sec. 17(d)(1) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Joe Balash announced the release at the recent Alaska Resource Development Council membership lunch in Anchorage. “Signing these PLOs is a return to a coopera- tive partnership with the people of Alaska. These decisions are the product of years of review and analysis, resulting in an action that delivers on overdue federal promises made to Alaskans in the Statehood Act and the Alaska Native Claims Set- tlement Act and to Alaska Native veterans in the recently passed John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act,” Balash said. “We are proud to continue to foster economic
prosperity for local communities, ensure contin- `POLNNP^^_Z[`MWTNWLYO^QZ]S`Y_TYRLYOʭ^STYR for generations to come — both sport and sub- sistence — without compromising stewardship of our nation’s lands.” “These actions are the product of close work between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and State of Alaska Department of Natural Re- sources,” said BLM State Director Chad Padgett. “These collaborations are in keeping with the Secretary’s intent of being a good neighbor and following through with the recommendations we have made in our Resource Management Plans. We’re looking forward to many more collabora- tions in the near future.” This revocation will not impact ANCSA 17(b) easements, which ensure public access to public lands as directed by Secretarial Order 3373. ?SPZ]TRTYLW;7:^LʬPN_POMd_SP^PLN_TZY^bP]P analyzed in the Eastern Interior — Fortymile Re- source Management Plan in 2016, and the East Alaska Resource Management plan in 2007, re- spectively. Both plans recommended these actions.
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July 2019
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Contributed Photo
Welcome, to the newest member of the AMA family O n Saturday, June 8 at 11:30 p.m., Jennifer Luiten delivered baby Lucas at 9 pounds, 5 ounces. Jennifer, baby Lucas and Dad, Tony, are all doing great!
Thank you to the Bethel Search and Rescue team for your dedication to our communities and promoting river safety. To show your support for this volunteer organization, please visit their website at kusko.net/bsar.
July 2019
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Legislature puts its focus on future of our state Contributed Photo Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon (D-Dillingham) leads a house majority consistently at odds with the Senate and Gov. Mike Dunleavy over both balancing the Alaska budget and water policies affecting resource development.
The scale of the reductions as well as the larger PFD — $3,000 per resident compared to $1,600 paid in 2018 and $1,200 paid in 2017 — quickly became points of contention with legislators. .SLYRP T^ OTʯN`W_ ?SP 7PRT^WL_`]P `YOP] heavy pressure from school districts and mu- nicipalities rejected most of the governor’s re- ductions and passed a budget with only modest cuts. Dunleavy may have the last word through his line-item vetoes of spending. Many of the governor’s budget cuts were aimed L_ []ZR]LX^ SP _SZ`RS_ bP]P _ZZ TYPʯNTPY_ Z] which could be paid by users or local taxpayers. Those included the state ferry system; Alas- ka’s Medicaid program, which pays health care for lower-income Alaskans; schools and the uni- versity, and state payments to municipalities in
PFD, budget, water issues still remain unresolved
BY TIM BRADNER
For The Alaska Miner It has been an unusual 2019 legislative ses- sion, putting it mildly. Last spring, new Gov. Mike Dunleavy moved aggressively to put his vision of leaner state government in place. His plan included substantial reductions in spending but also a substantial Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) paid to residents. The proposed budget reductions totaled $1.6 billion, from a state budget of about $4.6 billion in general fund spending.
The Alaska Miner
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revenue-sharing and state support for payment on local school bonds. The Legislature, municipalities, health care providers and educators pushed back strongly, and the debate continued in a special session into early summer and then into a second special ses- sion in early July. Much of the discussion centered on the governor’s proposal for the PFD because it would be paid for either with funds taken from state programs or additional withdrawals from the Permanent Fund’s earnings reserve account. Through all of the heated budget discussion, Dunleavy kept his word that state programs im- portant to economic activity and jobs, particular- ly those supporting natural resource industries like mining, would be treated carefully. The departments of Natural Resources, En- vironmental Conservation and Fish & Game, all important to mining, received cuts in state fund- EDITOR’S NOTE: As this issue of The Alaska Miner goes to press, the Alaska Legislature remains in Special Session debating the State’s budget and Governor Dunleavy’s budget vetoes. This story was a current as possible at press time.
ing but much less than other agencies. In Fish & Game, the habitat division is important because of its stream-crossing permits. Companies engaged in Alaska minerals explo- ration and development, as well as oil and gas, had told the governor and legislators that state agencies’ capacity to issue permits and imple- ment state laws must be maintained because without these companies could not do their work. In many cases, companies are billed by the State for the exact cost it takes to regulate proj- ects. If permits were not prepared properly, with LOP\`L_P^_LʯYR_ST]O[L]_dR]Z`[^Z[[Z^PO_Z OPaPWZ[XPY_bZ`WOʭWPWLb^`T_^LYO^_Z[LN_Ta - ity. With most of the Legislature engaged in the budget debate, and the state House also getting Zʬ_ZLWL_P^_L]_O`P_ZOPWLd^TYT_^Z]RLYTeL - tion and leadership selection, it was no surprise lawmakers had less time to focus on bills of more direct concern to business and industry. One proposal that did receive attention was Anchorage Sen. Chris Birch’s Senate Bill 80, which aims to solve a problem presented by the CONTINUED on PAGE 10
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and would have created a complex new permit- ting system which would also have adversely af- fected all development and construction projects in the state. Another bill that received attention, and which will draw more scrutiny next year, is House Bill 138, a proposal by Anchorage Republican Chuck Kopp that would clarify the state’s procedure in establishing water bodies of importance for extra protection by agencies. @YWP^^ _ST^ []ZNPO`]P T^ NWL]TʭPO bT_S _SP 7PRT^WL_`]P RTaPY ^[PNTʭN L`_SZ]T_d _Z L[[]ZaP these designations — just who approves the des- ignations is now unclear in law — Kopp and oth- er pro-development legislators fear that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at some point could impose the water body designations, which are required by the federal Clean Water Act. A similar bill is proposed in Senate Bill 51 in the state Senate by the Senate Resources Committee, which is chaired by Birch. “Currently the state has no formal process for designating ONRWs (Outstanding Natural Re- source Waters),” Kopp said. However, the federal Clean Water Act and the EPA requires each state to develop a process for
CONTINUED from PAGE 9
salmon initiative defeated by voters in the 2018 general elections. The bill deals with court-ordered severability of citizen ballot initiatives. It passed the Senate ZY8Ld LYOT^YZbTY_SP3Z`^P>_L_P,ʬLT]^ Committee. SB 80 would prohibit the courts from severing unconstitutional parts of a citizen ballot prop- osition as happened with the salmon initiative where the state Supreme Court deleted unconsti- tutional sections from the ballot proposition but allowed parts that remained to go on the election ballot. Birch, a Republican, argues that action placed LMLWWZ_\`P^_TZYMPQZ]PaZ_P]^_SL_bL^OTʬP]PY_ than what they had signed on petitions. SB 80 would require the lieutenant governor to invali- date a ballot proposition if the courts found any part of it unconstitutional. The salmon initiative was initiated by out- of-state environmental groups and some Alaska ʭ^SP]TP^R]Z`[^LYObL^LTXPOXLTYWdL_^_Z[ - ping the Pebble copper/gold/molybdenum project
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nominating outstanding natural resource waters, which once designated would receive the highest level of protection under the Clean Water Act, in PʬPN_YZbL_P]\`LWT_dOPR]LOL_TZY “Currently, Alaska has a formal process for designating the ONRWs, which puts the state at risk of violating the Clean Water Act and the EPA imposing its own designations. This leaves stakeholders — developers and conservationists alike — with uncertainty,” Kopp said. The water body designations are important because once it is made, water quality must be “maintained and protected,” meaning no new or additional discharges into the water may be au- thorized, Kopp said. “In and near water activities like wastewater treatment plants, seafood processing and motor- ized vessels, as well as upland activities including residential and commercial septic systems, road construction and mining and timber harvesting NZ`WOMPTX[LN_POZ]LʬPN_POMd_SP:9=BOP^ - ignation,” Kopp said. In this sense, the ONRW designations are essentially land-use decisions, which under long-standing practice in Alaska is a legislative determination. To date, the Legislature has acted
on 118 legislatively-directed land or water body protections, and the ONRW designations should follow a similar process. Recognizing this regulatory ambiguity, there bL^LYPʬZ]_MdQZ]XP]2Za-TWWBLWVP]_ZP^ - tablish a state process involving the Legislature, M`_T_]LYTY_ZLʭ]P^_Z]XZQZ[[Z^T_TZYQ]ZXPY - vironmental groups and those opposed to devel- opment, who hoped to use the ONRW process to impede mines across Alaska. Walker dropped the bill. While neither SB 51 or HB 138 moved beyond _SPT]ʭ]^_NZXXT__PP^ɨ_SP=P^Z`]NP^.ZXXT_ - tees in both the House and Senate — hearings were held to establish a legislative record, and the stage has been set for more action in the 2020 session. Since a Legislature spans two years, with sessions to do work held annually, bills intro- O`NPOTY $M`_YZ_[L^^POTYʭ]^_dPL]ZQ_SP two-year Legislature are still before lawmakers in 2020, the second year. The intense debate over the Permanent Fund Division was a major preoccupation of legislators all through the 2019 regular and special sessions. CONTINUED on PAGE 12
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Contributed Photo Senate President Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) has remained a steadfast supporter of Alaska resource development industries, including mining.
mechanism like that used by many large endow- ments, should be divided between the PFD and funding state government. Under a formula set in 1982 used to calcu- late the PFD — which would result in a $3,000 PFD for 2019 — the annual dividend would rise over the years, crowding out the share of earn- ings used to support the budget. Many legislators wanted to alter the PFD calculation formula so that it still provided for an ample dividend but left more money for traditional pubic services. Governor Dunleavy and many legislators sup- port continuing the current formula, but oth- er legislators opposed it, fearing the PFD would PaPY_`LWWd`YOP]XTYP_SP^_L_Pɪ^ʭ^NLW^_]`N_`]P It was not an easy debate, and it will no doubt continue. Tim Bradner has been Alaska’s most respected business journalist for more than 40 years and publishes Bradner’s Alaska Legislative Digest. He is a regular contributor to The Alaska Miner. Tim Bradner has been Alaska’s most respected busi- ness journalist for more than 40 years and publishes Bradner’s Alaska Legislative Digest. He is a regular contributor to The Alaska Miner.
CONTINUED from PAGE 11
Alaska is unique in having a mechanism that shares part of the state’s oil wealth directly with its citizens. No other state, or even nation, of the world does this. 0^_LMWT^SPOTY $# WL]RPWd_S]Z`RS_SPPʬZ]_^ of then-Gov. Jay Hammond, the original idea behind the PFD was to provide a safeguard for the state’s Permanent Fund itself, the savings account of oil income. With citizens receiving a direct payment and that based on the Fund’s ʭYLYNTLW [P]QZ]XLYNP NT_TePY^ bZ`WO NWZ^PWd scrutinize any proposal by politicians to use the Fund unwisely for investments. Hammond’s strategy has worked well over the dPL]^ M`_ T_ SL^ YZb NZXP TY_Z NZYʮTN_ bT_S L basic change the Legislature made in 2018 in us- ing a portion of the Fund’s earnings, which are ample, to help fund the state budget. That was needed because state oil revenues are now lower and Alaska needs to diversify its sources of rev- enue. The question legislators confronted is how the annual payment from the Fund’s earnings, de- termined through a percent-of-market-value
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Looking back through the pages of The Alaska Miner T he Alaska Miner, Journal of the Alaska 8TYP]^ ,^^ZNTL_TZY [`MWT^SPO T_^ ʭ]^_ T^ - sue September 1, 1973. While it has only
been around for a little more than half of AMA’s 80 years, the pages of our news magazine provide some striking insight to how much has changed, and how much has not, in Alaska mining. Here are a few of our favorite stories: First issue Alaska Miner :YT_^ʭ]^_NZaP]TY>P[_PXMP] $" ?SP,WL^ - ka Miner announced the U.S. Senate passage of a national land use policy under the Department of Interior, to provide for subsurface resources as well as surface rights. And AMA president Robert J. Mc- Grane proposed a sweeping reorganization of AMA membership categories. ?SL_ʭ]^_T^^`P[]Z`OWdLYYZ`YNPO_SL__SP8TY - er is free to AMA members, available for $10 a year to non-members. Regulations and Elephants An editorial in the January 1975 issue headlined “Regulations and Elephants” likened the confu- sion of agencies regulating Alaska mining as akin to the legendary blind men of India describing an elephant, depending on whether they were touching trunk, leg or side. “…in this issue on placer reg- ulations indicates that the Federal Environmental Protection Agency will examine waste-water dis- charge, State Fish and Game will worry about the PʬPN_^ZYbTWOWTQPLYO>_L_P/P[L]_XPY_ZQ0YaT - ronmental Conservation just wants to watch.” “As in any regulation process, the real questions aren’t asked, and no one is looking for the answers.” Governor withdraws mining tax increase In June 1975, The Miner proudly reported AMA’s ^`NNP^^Q`WPʬZ]__ZRP_2Za5Ld3LXXZYO_ZbT_S - draw his proposal to dramatically raise taxes on Alaska mining. “I want to assure you that it is not the intention of this Administration to destroy or LOaP]^PWd LʬPN_ _SP XTYTYR TYO`^_]d :`] [`][Z^P here is to assure that Alaska gets a fair share of the value of its nonrenewable resources as and when they are produced,” Hammond wrote in the Miner.
The Miner and Water Quality That headlined an editorial in July 1975’s Miner warning that the Water Quality Act of 1972 would change everything for Alaska miners. “In past years, water quality was considered unimportant. This [TN_`]P SL^ YZb NSLYRPO >TRYTʭNLY_ ]PR`WL_TZY^ have been placed on heavy industry. Major mining companies…are having to reevaluate the economics of some of their operations due to excessive pollu- tion systems now required.” Don and Ted … The Early Years The November 1975 issue highlighted Rep. Don Young’s opposition to a proposal in the House to in- clude 32 million acres of Alaska land in the National Park System. And Sen. Ted Stevens, speaking to the Ameri- can Mining Congress in San Francisco, was quoted as warning that section D-2 of the Alaska Native .WLTX^>P__WPXPY_,N_NZ`WONWZ^PZʬSLWQZQ,WL^ - VLɪ^NZLWMPL]TYRWLYOɭ8LYd^TRYTʭNLY_,WL^VLY mineral area will be islands surrounded by a sea of parks and wildlife refuges.”
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_Z]SZb_ZʭYORZWOM`_XLdMP4NLYRTaPdZ`^ZXP techniques that you may be able to use.”
“Equal Treatment” In January 1980, acting executive director How- ard Grey warned in a Miner editorial of the threats posed by “The California Wilderness Act of 1979.” But it was Alaska, not California, most impacted by that legislation, he wrote. “The proposed with- drawals will be somewhere between 32% and 41% of our land area…with no access except by aircraft. Very simply, this means the populace…will never obtain any real use or enjoyment from the with- drawals. More importantly, the proposed withdraw- als contain abundant oil, gas, coal and metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits, which our nation is now critically in need of.” Grey had taken over the reins of AMA upon the resignation of Chuck Hawley to spend more time on his family business and at the request of then president J.P. Tangen. New Technology The May 1981 Miner included details from Dr. Jan Cannon of the University of Alaska Anchorage School of Mineral Industry on using new technolo- gy—aerial photography—to improve mineral pros- pecting and exploration. In addition to traditional MWLNVLYObST_P[SZ_Z^SPZʬP]POMZ_SNZWZ]LYO TYQ]L]PO [SZ_ZR]L[Sd L^ XZ]P PʬPN_TaP _ZZW^ QZ] prospectors. “I am not so naïve as to tell a prospec-
Watt Watt The September 1981 cover featured a full-page photo of a grinning Secretary of the Interior, hold- ing a bumper sticker with the slogan: “WATT—An Answer, Not a Question”. Will he? Many Miner covers in the 1980s included art- work or political cartoons, often drawn by Rosalyn Stowell. The cover of the April 1986, for example, featured a toddler sifting through a pan of gravel, under the headline “Will He Have A Future In Min- ing?” That same cover announced: “90% Growth in U.S. Gold Mine Production Expected.” Coeur and Kensington The December 1991 issue featured recognition ZQ .ZP`] Oɪ,WPYP 8TYP^ L^ _SP ʭ]^_ bTYYP] ZQ _SP Dupont/Conoco Environmental Leadership Award, based on company-wide attitude regarding envi- ronmental awareness. That story also mentioned Coeur was in the permitting process for the Kens- ington Joint Venture Gold Project in Southeast Alas- ka. After decades of opposition, that mine opened in June 2009 — 18 years later.
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July 2019
The Alaska Miner
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from Minnesota I met the mayor of my town once in 18 years of living there so I thought that was neat. John Shively was the guest speaker, and well as we all know, he hit that presen- tation out of the park. I knew then that I wanted to be a part of AMA. Seeing John speak so passionate- ly and seeing how everyone there wanted to help make a positive outcome was encouraging. What do you love most about this business? I love the importance of the industry. I love how fast paced it can get. I love the people in this in- dustry Where do you see mining in Alaska in 50 years? I hope to see quite a few more mines in operation. I hope to see the majority of people of Alaska learn and conform to the idea that we can develop mines safely and responsibly, That Alaska and the US can lead the way in new technology and sustainability. I hope to see a thriving economy. I would like to see the politics stagnate quite a bit on resource de- velopment. I’m afraid resource development is be- coming a guinea pig for negativity in policy mak- ing when really it shouldn’t matter what side of the line you stand on but to just know in today’s day in age it is necessary, and it can be done responsibly. Getting away from the “not in my back yard” antics and taking on any challenges and innovating ways to succeed, That’s the American way. What do you see as our biggest challenges? And opportunities? I see our biggest challenges are educating people on the correct science behind mining. The biggest opportunity is to keep up the amaz- ing track record the Alaska mining industry has had for a while now, this will be the best way to prove to the people what the modern-day mining industry is really like and will continue to be. ,QHDFKLVVXHRI7KH$ODVND0LQHUZHSURÀOHRQHRIRXU member miners active in the industry and AMA. This month we talk with Nome AMA chairman Blake Bogart. FK LVVXH RI 7KH $ODVND 0LQHU ZH SURÀOH RQH RI RXU ü ď 8±ÏåžƐŇüƐaĞĻĞĻď
Blake Bogart Graphite One Project
BY LEE LESCHPER Blake Bogart helps with logistics and planning, and prepping for exploration projects. He keeps things running smoothly and expediting supplies _Z_SPʭPWO-ZRL]_OZP^bL_P]^LX[WTYR^`]aPdTYR GIS and mineral processing, among other responsi- bilities. He has worked on the Graphite One project since 2013. Bogart, 33, grew up in Minnesota but has lived in Alaska since 2004, and moved to Nome in 2007. He married his wife Kelly in 2013 and they have two daughters Kourtney, 5, and Kyla, 2. His hobbies in- NW`OP ʮd ʭ^STYR SZNVPd LYO ^bTXXTYR bT_S ST^ children. Who was your mentor in this industry and what did they teach you that remains true today? I don’t think I can point out just one mentor in this industry because there have been so many. It is safe to say there are a lot of great people in this industry and that has impacted my life. I have to say that I look up to the AMA board, over these past four years of being on the board I have learned so much. I can honestly say that is was extremely in- timidating for me being on the board and being so young, but I have never felt out of place and felt LNNP[_PO]TRS_Zʬ_SPML_?SP]PL]P^ZXP]PLWRPX^ of leaders on that board and I appreciate all of them. What lessons have you learned that you want to share with new miners? Be willing to learn and strive to do your best. Many times, miners come from all over, so don’t be scared to embrace the community you have come to. Sometimes learning things from the community can be better than anything you can read about.
BSL_bZ`WOdZ`OZOTʬP]PY_Wd* Go to school earlier.
What was one experience you will never forget? 8d aP]d ʭ]^_ ,8, M]PLVQL^_ 4_ bL^ _SP QLWW ZQ 2010. I was in school at UAF and a fellow Nomeite invited me to the Fairbanks chapter breakfast. I showed up and my friend waved me over, I sat down, and he introduced me to the table. I sat in between two Alaskan Senators, coming
What keeps you awake at night? How important domestic mining really is.
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Contributed Photos
Blake is a rabid hockey fan and player, here with his daughter on the ice.
for the industry in Alaska.
What does AMA mean to you? I always explain to people that AMA to me is a big group of awesome people that are all into the ^LXPVTYOZQ^_`ʬ4LXTY_Z,8,M]LYNSXPP_TYR^ are pretty much just having lunch with some of my best buddies. The convention in November is a major highlight for me every year as well. AMA to me means a voice, a guardian of over-regulation and standard-setter
Anything else you want to share? I really enjoy getting involved with AMA, I hope that I can help create positive change in Alaska’s mining industry. Also, I just want to say Alaska Re- source Education Rocks! They do such an important job and they are really good at it. Keep up the hard work!
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(DFKVXPPHULQ7KH$ODVND0LQHUZHSXEOLVK3URÀOHVLQ0LQLQJWHOOLQJWKHVWRULHVRIVRPH of our most active Alaska mining companies and AMA members. On the following pages you’ll hear their stories, in their own words, of facing and overcoming the challenges of our great state and industry.
Millrock geologists prepare to spot a drill hole. Contributed Photo
Profiles in Mining: Millrock Resources Inc. g
In business of building projects
the next say $5 million to earn into the project. By operating this way, we are giving up a big chunk of each project but are able to operate four to six proj- ects at one time, and thereby increase our chance of success four to six times, and not have to raise money so often by selling shares.” Major mining companies are attracted to Millrock because we not only generate great geological ideas, M`_LW^ZMPNL`^PbPSLaPL^_]ZYR^_Lʬ_ZPcPN`_P responsible, technically sound and innovative ex- ploration programs on the project developed”, he said. “That’s how our business has evolved, and we’ve stuck to that model. Some other companies operate this way, primarily in regions where they have local geological and operational expertise. “Alaska is home turf for us, and that’s why we are the best there is at generating new projects here.” The challenge is in convincing investor compa- nies to share the risk. Although several of the executives are based in Anchorage, Millrock is a British Columbia company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Millrock has developed a number of Alaska projects. “We developed the Alaska Range Project, then ^ZWOT_Zʬ_Z;ZWL]C]P_LTYTYRL]ZdLW_dTY_P]P^_ ɭ:YPZQZ`]XLTYRZLW^T^_ZN]PL_PNL^SʮZbTYR ]ZdLW_TP^?SL_T^_SPVPd_ZʭYLYNTLW^`^_LTYLMTWT_d for our exploration business. But also, if there is a huge discovery, worth billions Millrock shareholders bTWWR]PL_WdMPYPʭ_MdTYN]PL^PO^SL]P[]TNPLYONL^S ʮZb “That’s a good example of developing a very good large-scale project. PolarX has put over $10 million into that project in the state. We worked with them to prove that there is even better mineral potential than we thought. It’s a good success story.” Alaska has an endless supply of potential projects like that, he said. “The next big one is the Goodpaster District around Pogo. We recently staked over 660 square kilometers of claims there. We had proprietary data that we purchased from companies leaving the state. This data is a great competitive advantage LYOSPW[PO`^ʭYP_`YP_SP^_LVTYRPaPY__ZNZaP] the most prospective ground. The next step is to
SPECIAL TO THE ALASKA MINER Millrock Resources Inc. is building a new business model for discovering new mines in Alaska. Millrock is a project generator company focused on discovery and development of high value gold and copper and other metallic deposits in Alaska, British Columbia, the Southwest United States, and Mexico. “Phil St. George and I started this company in 2007,” said Gregory Beischer, President and CEO of Millrock. “Phil’s biggest claim to fame was that he discovered the Pebble deposit as a young geolo- gist working for Cominco. But he also was key with NovaGold at the start. He added a lot of gold to the gold deposit at Donlin Creek. Phil has a lot of pounds of copper and ounces of gold to his credit!” Beischer is a seasoned “explorationist” previous- ly with Inco Ltd., and the Bristol Bay Native Cor- poration. He is a geologist and mining engineering _PNSYZWZRT^_LNP]_TʭPO[]ZQP^^TZYLWRPZWZRT^_[L^_ president of the Alaska Miners Association and he serves on the Alaska Minerals Commission. Explorationist is another word for exploration ge- ologist, he laughs. “There is a lot more to mineral exploration than just geology.” “I came up through ranks of Inco, an internation- al nickel mining company,” Beischer said. “They moved me here in 1995 and it’s been my home ever since. I Love Alaska!” 8TWW]ZNVɪ^ M`^TYP^^ XZOPW T^ OTʬP]PY_ Q]ZX _SP industry norm. Only a couple of handfuls of compa- nies operate the way we do,” he said. “Most mineral exploration companies raise mon- ey by selling shares of company. The Geologists get a bright idea, need to drill holes and they raise mon- ey by selling shares. “The reality is that in the early stages, the geol- ogist is almost always wrong. He or she might get a couple of shots at making the discovery, but more often than not the company goes defunct. It’s not sustainable. ɭ8TWW]ZNVbLY_PO_ZʭYOLbLd_ZLaZTO_SL__Z build a sustainable exploration company. We adopt- ed a business model called the Project Generator. In a nutshell we identify prospective areas for miner- als. We acquire mineral rights at low cost by staking claims and put together a geological picture before we spend any serious money for drilling. “We bring in a partner company and they spend
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Profiles in Mining: CONAM Construction Co. g Leading the way in innovation
SPECIAL TO THE ALASKA MINER CONAM Construction Co. has been in busi- ness for 35 years and was founded in 1984 by the owners of HC Price at that time. Today, CONAM is owned by and one of the many operating units within Quanta Services, Inc., a S&P 500 company (PWR). For the past 35 years, CONAM has been providing innovative services to the state of Alas- ka from the furthest reaches of the North to the capitol in Juneau. CONAM is headed by president, Dale Kissee who supports Ben Eaton, Mining Di- vision Manager, who is responsible for all opera- tions serving the mining industry. Eaton has extensive time working with Alaska’s XTYTYRNZX[LYTP^ʭ]^_NZXTYR_Z,WL^VL_ZbZ]V for a drilling company, then working on the con- struction of the Pogo mine beginning in 2004 and SL^ʭWWPO[]ZUPN_XLYLRP][Z^T_TZY^QZ]Z_SP]NZY - tractors at several mines across the state before coming to CONAM. Kissee and Eaton took time to explain CONAM’s focus on mining in the state and expansion opportunities in the Lower 48. How has the company and your business evolved? “CONAM was initially formed to meet the open shop opportunities available from the oil companies on the North Slope of Alaska. Our primary business activity is to provide heavy industrial construction and maintenance services to the oil and gas indus- try, the mining industry and remote village infra- structure projects. We are a general contractor with construction capabilities to include building oil and gas process facilities, pipelines, power plants, mine facility process and civil work. “As a natural progression from our heavy indus- trial experience in the oil and gas industry, CONAM opened a Mining Division in 2013 to provide con- struction services to mines across the state. Since 2013, CONAM has performed work for Pogo Mine, Fort Knox, Red Dog Mine and Kensington Mine. “In 2018, CONAM became licensed in Nevada and Arizona and began pursuing work in the L-48. Since then, we have landed work at Robinson Mine, Cortez Mine and Florida Canyon Mine in Nevada. “In response to our success in supporting the mining industry, CONAM has recently expand- PO Z`] ʮPP_ ZQ NZY^_]`N_TZY P\`T[XPY_ _Z TYNW`OP heavy civil components in both Alaska and the L-48
_Z ^`[[WPXPY_ Z`] Pc_PY^TaP ʮPP_ ZQ NZY^_]`N_TZY equipment that we currently own. ɭ:`] SZXP ZʯNP T^ WZNL_PO TY ,YNSZ]LRP bT_S ZʯNPLYOP\`T[XPY_XLTY_PYLYNP^`[[Z]_QLNTWT - ties located in Deadhorse on the North Slope and in Nikiski on the Kenai Peninsula.” “Our management adheres to strict ethic guide- lines with the safety and wellbeing of our em- ployees being our top priority. Regardless of how challenging, remote or harsh of an environment a project may be located, our experience and per- formance speak for themselves. We have provided TYYZaL_TaPLYONZ^_PʬPN_TaP^ZW`_TZY^_Z^ZXPZQ _SPXZ^_OTʯN`W_[]ZUPN_^[P]QZ]XPOTY,WL^VLɮ What are you goals for your company, your clients and your employees? What organizations do you support? “CONAM supports United Way, American Red Cross, Alaska Resource Education, Keep Alaska Competitive, Kenai Peninsula Economic Develop- ment District and the Tigara Educational Founda- tion along with several other charitable organiza- tions and can be found at attendance as a sponsor at numerous events throughout the year. In addi- tion, we are members of the Alaska Miners Asso- ciation, the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, the Resource Development Council and the Associated Builders and Contractors.” “CONAM views the advocacy provided by the Alaska Miners Association as an important part contributing to responsible resource development of mines in Alaska. They bring producers and in- dustry support organization together providing a united front to lobby for development of projects and ultimately jobs for Alaskans.” Why is AMA important to your company? And to Alaska mining? What opportunities do you see for the future, for your company and for mining? “We see great potential and a bright outlook for opportunities in both Alaska and the Lower 48. We see a bright future for Alaska with numerous new
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Repairs to the conveyor at Pogo Mine. Contributed Photo
Soloy Helicopters was founded by Jan and Chris Soloy in 1979 with a desire to provide innovation in the Alaska utility helicopter market. Their son Sam Soloy is now director of operations for the company. Contributed Photo
The Alaska Miner
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Profiles in Mining: Soloy Helicopters g y p Supporting mining since day 1
SPECIAL TO THE ALASKA MINER The Soloy family has been providing helicopter services in Alaska for more than 30 years. Soloy Helicopters is an Alaskan-owned and operated he- licopter charter company, based in Wasilla and op- P]L_TYRLʮPP_ZQ $`_TWT_dP\`T[[POSPWTNZ[_P]^ Soloy Helicopters was founded by Jan and Chris Soloy in 1979 with a desire to provide innovation in the Alaska utility helicopter market, and they continue to lead the company. Their son Sam is now director of operations for the company. Sam’s grandfather was an entrepreneur in Alaska, with several companies serving the min- ing industry. “We still do some of what Grandpa did,” Sam said. “Dad always knew he wanted to come back to ,WL^VL3P^_L]_POTYLT][WLYP^LYOʮPb_SPXQZ] LbSTWP,YOSPOPNTOPOSL`WTYRʭ^SbT_SLSPWT - copter was something to get into. One job led to another and pretty soon he made a business of it. “But mining has always been our mainstay in the summer,” Sam said. “We’ve been in the mineral industry and sup- porting those companies basically from day one, and that holds true today. “We are still at the point where everybody does PaP]d_STYRBPL]PʮdTYR $SPWTNZ[_P]^_ST^dPL] \`T_P L OTʬP]PY_ ʮPP_ _SLY bSL_ _SPd SLO MLNV then.” Sam for example is both pilot and mechanic, LYO LW^Z ʮTP^ L .P^^YL ! ^`[[Z]_ LT][WLYP _Z get into camps quickly. “We save our customers time and money by reducing their down time.” That mission drives everything the company does, from management systems to a focus on safety. “We have not worked too hard on mission statements. We provide good quality and safe ser- vice to our clients. We make sure we do what we can to provide reliable service, so when they’re on the job, they can count on us.” >ZWZdVPP[^LQ`WW^_LʬZQXPNSLYTN^LYO[TWZ_^ able to adapt to whatever work needs to be done. ɭBPʮd_SPbLd_SL__SPN`^_ZXP]bLY_^_ZMP ʮZbYɮ
Their year includes some interesting other jobs, like helping the Alaska Department of Fish & Game capture animals including polar bears, brown bears and black bears. “I have to applaud a lot of the companies we work for. They spend money on helicopters be- cause that’s the only way to get to their work. But they also leave no trace that they’ve been there.” The ability to use helicopters to minimize im- pact on remote areas is often overlooked, he said. “They’re able to do a job with low harm to the PYaT]ZYXPY_ BSPY dZ`ɪ]P ʮdTYR Zʬ dZ` NLYɪ_ see that anyone has ever been there. You’re not having to bulldoze trails to get there. It’s pretty environmentally friendly.” Soloy expanded in 2018, moving to the Wasilla Airport. “That allowed us to have a larger hangar and move our helicopters inside for the winter. That speeds up our annuals. From the day we are done with the mineral industry in September, we are tearing these helicopters apart for next year. We spend all winter long working on helicopters, so we’re available every single day in summer.” It’s important that support industries actively support mining, he said. “We like to support AMA. They give us the op- portunity to get our name out there in the local community, to get together with everybody, and obviously the convention is a big part of that. “But they also advocate for the mineral indus- try in Alaska. They play a big part of doing busi- ness in Alaska, to keep us attractive for investors in Alaska. Doing the right thing for the environ- ment for local people, and also for the people and companies that invest in Alaska, is always a del- icate balance. “I think AMA does a good job of that.” 3PLY_TNT[L_P^ʮPcTMTWT_dLYOPʯNTPYNdbTWWMP the necessary future of everyone working in Alas- ka. “In Alaska there is only so much work, so in- stead of expanding what we want to do is run XZ]PPʯNTPY_WdLYOMPʮPcTMWPbT_SbSL__SPTY - dustry is doing. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
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