State Issues of Concern for the Alaska Mining Industry g y These key issues must be kept in focus in 2020
E ach year, AMA leadership and the AMA State Oversight Committee TOPY_TQdVPdT^^`P^LʬPN_TYR_SPTY - dustry for the Alaska Legislature and Gov- ernor to use in developing legislation and regulatory focus during the coming year. Mineral Tenure Support needed statutory amendments to mining rights law, followed by coordinated regulatory revisions, that resolve the signif- icant problems that include loss of land ten- ure, from minor mistakes and clerical errors ]PWL_TYR_ZLʯOLaT_^ZQWLMZ]\`LWTʭNL_TZY^ requirements and abandonment procedures. Permitting System Ensure that State agencies understand the role of OPMP to lead and coordinate all state agency permitting activity for each project. Strengthen Alaska’s permitting system by exploring innovative approaches to attract LYO]P_LTY\`LWTʭPO[P]^ZYYPWLYOLOSP]TYR to timelines. Promote and defend the strin- gent permitting process that protects Alas- ka’s environment, and uphold this process to demonstrate that Alaska is again open for business. Water Policy Require that designation of Tier 3 waters can only be made by a vote of the Legisla- ture. Ensure the State of Alaska does not re- linquish its permitting authority to private entities, such as delegating management of the state’s water resources by approving TY^_]PLXʮZbbL_P]]P^P]aL_TZY^_Z[]TaL_P [L]_TP^ ,ʯ]X _SL_ PcT^_TYR bL_P] \`LWT_d
*).847ƶ348* &2&ƶW.WWYIWSJ (SRGIVRHSGYQIRXGERFIJSYRHEX [[[EPEWOEQMRIVWSVKWXEXIMWWYIW
]PR`WL_TZY^PY^`]PPYaT]ZYXPY_LWʭ^SLYO wildlife, and human health protections. Equitable Local Taxation Ensure local taxes are broad based and equitable by amending state statutes to pre- clude severance taxes on the metal mining industry. Permitting Process Require that water quality standards NZY_TY`P_ZMP^NTPY_TʭNLWWd^`[[Z]_LMWPLYO OPaPWZ[PO `^TYR ^T_P^[PNTʭN N]T_P]TL LYO ongoing evaluation as needed due to chang- ing natural conditions. Ensure continued availability of mixing zones. Ensure State coordination with federal regulatory agencies over Section 404 wet- lands permitting, mitigation, and manage- ment to ensure that projects have access to reasonable wetlands mitigation tools. Adamantly oppose federal encroach- ment on States’ rights, such as the use of preemptive federal actions and unnecessary permitting requirements. Oppose unwarranted Endangered Spe- cies Act listings and critical habitat desig- nations in Alaska and ensure such decisions are based on sound science. Oppose any policies that are designed to elevate one resource over another and recognize that existing policies have prov- en that Alaska mining projects successfully
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The Alaska Miner
January 2020
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