Alaska Miner Journal, May 2020

THE ALASKA MINER JOURNAL: The publication is member-only news mailed to AMA members, eight times a year, in months when the Magazine is not published. The Alaska Miner Journal is dedicated to those who work in and support the mining industry in Alaska, its commitment to the people, and the resources of our state. Our goal is to disseminate information on responsible mineral development, educating the public about the value of mining, providing information for our membership and the general public, providing policymakers the information they need to understand the mining industry and monitor political and regulatory processes affecting mining in Alaska.

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May 2020 Volume 48, Number 5

Journal of the Alaska Miners Association

Hecla Mining Company’s Mike Satre presents a $20,000 check to the Southeast Food Bank, part of Hecla’s commitment to provide at least $125,000 to Southeast Alaska charities in need. More on Page 4. Alaska Miners Respond to COVID-19

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www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I May 2020

Hecla Mining Supports Local Communities

Hecla Mining Company is working with Southeast Alaska communities to identify immediate needs to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company, through its Charitable Foundation, will provide as much as $125,000 in financial assistance to support community needs around its Greens Creek Mine. “While we have implemented aggressive measures at Greens Creek to make our workers as safe as possible, we are also concerned about the communities of Southeast Alaska,” said Phil Baker, President and CEO of Hecla Mining Company. “The social-distancing requirements are important for human health but put pressure on all aspects of the economy. Hecla is helping meet basic needs during this time of crisis.”

Initial contributions will go toward providing food supplies at food banks and other providers of basic necessities for those impacted by the pandemic. The first commitment has been a $20,000 matching grant to the Southeast Alaska Food Bank. Additional funds are expected to be deployed over the next several weeks and months in Southeast and the communities around the Greens Creek Mine as the company works with local authorities to evaluate the immediate needs caused by the pandemic. For additional information, please contact: Mike Satre msatre@hecla-mining.com. The Greens Creek Mine is located on Admiralty Island, approximately 18 miles south of Juneau, and produces silver, zinc, lead and gold. The mine is 100% owned and operated by Hecla Mining Company.

See more amazing stories of the good work AMA members are doing now beginning on Page 11.

ALASKAMINERS.ORG DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE RECENTLY REDESIGNED ALASKAMINERS.ORG!

There is a lot of great mining information available such as:

• ADVOCACY: The most recent mining issues at both state and federal levels • EVENTS: Check branch meeting schedules, look for convention updates, and more! • MEMBERSHIP: Download an application or find direct links to apply and/or renew online

• PUBLICATIONS: Digital of AMA’s most recent journals and magazines are available for you to read anytime or anywhere!

QUESTIONS? Contact laci@alaskaminers.org

May 2020 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org

A Message from the Executive Director

Dear Members, Like many of you, I am finding myself in the position of talking, writing and planning around a topic I would have never imagined even thinking about. But the reality of not just our industry, or state or country, but that of our entire world, is that we are amid a pandemic that has changed the way we do every single thing. COVID-19 has affected everyone a little differently, but the fact is, we are all navigating how to carefully and successfully resume as normal a life as possible. For Alaska’s miners, normal can mean many things. Since quarantines and hunker-downs began in early to mid-March, we found ourselves in separate categories of the operations that run 365 days per year to those looking toward the 2020 field season — placer miners and explorers. Because things are changing not by the day, but by the hour, I hesitate to cite any information that can become obsolete a moment later (and for good reason). Therefore, we have created a COVID-19 section on the AMA website that links to current State of Alaska health mandates and guidance, but also that of neighboring jurisdictions, and that of which we compile information generated by our own members. Please visit alaskaminers.org for this and keep us informed of your questions, ideas, experiences and anything else that helps us all get through these challenging times together, and at the highest standard. I know not all of us use the Internet for our news. This is a good time to remind you of alternative ways to contact AMA Staff. Like so many other unknowns, at this time I do not know when we will be back in the Statewide office full time. But I assure you we are at ready to assist. At this time, our direct office lines are forwarded to our cellular phones so that you may reach us directly to help with anything you might need:

n For accounting related inquiries, call Darlene Strickland at 907-270- 9231. n For membership, fundraising, and event inquiries call Jennifer Luiten at 907-270-9232. n And for mining issues and advocacy, contact me at 907-270-9234.

n If you have news items for the Alaska Miner Magazine or Journal, call Lee Leschper at 907-957- 6025. Back to what the actual miners are doing. This month, we asked our members to share updates in their business or operations, and also the “beyond the workday” information. What we got in response was what they are doing to take care of their employees and their customer, and what they are doing to take care of their communities. As you turn the pages of this issue, I know your heart will melt just as mine did. Alaska’s miners are the kind of resilient and compassionate that our world needs right now. Please, take care of yourselves and your loved ones, wash those hands, and keep up the pursuit of a normal work, life, and play lifestyle. Many thanks,

Deantha Crockett Executive Director

Executive Board Bill Jeffress, President SRK Consulting, Anchorage Bartly Kleven, First Vice President Kinross-Fort Knox, Fairbanks Lorali Simon, Second Vice President Kim Aasand, Treasurer Aasand & Glore LLC, Anchorage Branch Chairmen Ted Hawley, Anchorage Lorali Simon, Denali Mark Huffington, Fairbanks

Committee Chairmen Kevin Adler, Convention Howard Grey and JP Tangen, Federal Oversight Steve Grabacki, Fisheries Meg Smith, HR/Workforce Development Paul Glavinovich, State Oversight Follow us anytime: Online at AlaskaMiners.org Like us on Facebook at Alaska Miners Association Follow us on Twitter @alaskaminers On The Cover: Hecla Mining Company’s Mike Satre presents a check to the Southeast Food Bank, part of Hecla’s commitment to provide funds to Southeast Alaska charities in need. Read more inside about how AMA members are helping their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Alaska Miner is the official journal of the Alaska Miners Association, published eight times a year exclusively to our members.

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 Crockett, Executive Director Jennifer Luiten, Membership and Fundraising Director Darlene Strickland, Bookkeeper/Membership

Liz Cornejo, Haines Jim Clark, Juneau

Houston Morris, Kenai Blake Bogart, Nome Andrew Spokely, Ketchikan/Prince of Wales

www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I May 2020

Court Says EPA Correct to End Preemptive Veto

A Federal District Court on April 18 in Anchorage ruled to grant a motion to dismiss a case brought by multiple groups opposed to Pebble that had contested a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw the preemptive veto of the Pebble Project. Pebble CEO Tom Collier hailed the decision as a major victory for Pebble, the State of Alaska and the rule of law. Collier issued the following statement about the decision: “For years, we have sought basic fairness for the Pebble Project to be fully vetted under the regular permitting process and to block attempts to preempt that fundamental right. Once again, a coalition of anti-Pebble groups including national environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council have been proven wrong in their ad hominem attacks on Pebble. “This time a Federal District Judge in Alaska has ruled that their most recent attack did not even state a cause of action that required review by the court. Therefore, their lawsuit against EPA was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. “We have long held that the preemptive veto against Pebble was poor public policy and that decisions about the merits of developing a mine at the Pebble Prospect should be made through the traditional permitting process. The preemptive veto was brought against the project by the Obama era EPA and before a single permit to develop had been filed with a regulatory agency. “The current administration made the correct decision to withdraw the preemptive veto and allow the project to be reviewed in the normal state and federal permitting process. The Federal District Court correctly recognized the validity of this decision. “The EPA, in their decision to withdraw the preemptive veto, noted that a detailed plan of development had been submitted for review allowing the agency and other regulators to fully vet the project. “This decision moves Pebble one step closer to completing its federal permitting process. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers current schedule calls for the Final Environmental Impact Statement and the Record of Decision for the project to be issued by mid-year. We see no reason why this schedule will not be met, especially now that this meritless litigation has been dismissed. “We firmly believe the project can be developed without harm to the Bristol Bay fishery and for the benefit of the region, especially the communities around Iliamna Lake. Preliminary reports from the Corps of Engineers indicate it can be done responsibly and we look forward their final report this summer.” See more updates at www.PebblePartnership.com

May 2020 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org

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What COVID-19 May Mean for This Exploration Season

BY CURT FREEMAN EDITOR’S NOTE: Curt Freeman recently retired after many decades working in and writing about Alaska mining. He offered his insight into what the pandemic shutdown will mean for Alaska Miners. I write this from my home office here in Fairbanks, where I have worked for more than a month. I have a daughter who is a nurse who told me to take the COVID virus seriously, so I did. I am supposed to be retired but I have found plenty of colleagues and business associates that want to keep me busy, for which I am grateful. One surprise that has grown from the fact that many in our industry are working from home is the collective realization that “the office” is always accessible. Having started my consulting career working from home, I quickly realized this and moved into a standalone office at the earliest economic opportunity. Back then (sometime in the Jurassic), I had a land line phone. No computer, modem, wireless, cell phone, etc. Now, I have found myself spending long hours on video conferences, sometimes at 2 a.m., sometimes at 8 a.m. and sometimes at 9 p.m., depending on who is on the video link and who is being inconvenienced the least. While we can’t do boots on the outcrop that way, we can do almost everything else including 3-D virtual tours from drones, surface and underground mine tours with a Go-cam and similar applications. Life goes on and I suspect, when things return to “normal” (whatever that is), many of the practices we are utilizing and become comfortable with now will continue to be utilized because they are the new normal. One other observation I can offer. Being a nosy Parker by genetics, I speak often with colleagues and friends involved in the Alaskan mining industry. The question always comes up: “What do you think is going to happen this year to the exploration industry here in Alaska?” In early March, I would have said, get your boots on and grab your hammer, our exploration season will be little affected, if at all. Now, six weeks later, I realize that was whistling past the cemetery. I now use the analogy posited by DocRx, a regular contributor to the website Seeking Alpha, who felt a recovery of our general economy will be equivalent to an airplane that loses an engine and goes into a steep dive. While it is possible to recover from the lost engine,

the pullout and climb back to altitude will not be anywhere as steep and the dive down, it will be a long slow rise back to altitude. I think that is the recovery the Alaska mining industry is facing. Looking back through the five market crashes and resurrections my career has spanned, I can recognize that

steep, rapid downward plunge (the crash) and the shallow prolonged upward trajectory (the recovery), even though each crash was caused by something different and the recovery tools used to regain altitude were also different. So I do not expect a rapid recovery from the COVID crash, but I do expect a recovery, and being the naked capitalist that I am, I, like a few others I know, are looking to follow the advice “Buy your straw hats in the winter.” In other words, when the market turns down, think about the future, when (not if) the markets are back up and the insatiable demand for mined products resumes. Act accordingly. Enough from my vantage point overlooking the Tanana Valley; got a video conference shortly. Hope you and your family are well and safe and remain that way! Curt is a registered professional geologist who has lived and worked in Alaska and other parts of the world since 1980. From 1985 until his retirement in February of this year, he managed Avalon Development Corp., a Fairbanks-based mineral consulting company. Although officially retired from the consulting business, Curt remains active in the industry in Alaska and elsewhere.

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www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I May 2020

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COVID-19: How Alaska Miners Are Working Together Through the Pandemic

EDITOR’S NOTE: For this COVID-19 issue of the Alaska Miner Journal, we asked AMA member companies what they were doing to take care of customers and employees while dealing with the impacts of the ongoing global pandemic. Below and on the following pages are updates provided by a number of our members.

Lynden employees keep the freight moving Lynden employees are stepping forward to meet the needs of customers, keeping the freight moving as Lynden companies have always done during difficult times. Lynden has maintained regular business operations since the COVID-19 situation arose in late February with no disruption to global shipments or supply chains. “The safety of our people and serving our customers are our priorities during these challenging times. We’ve been keeping freight moving to Alaska since 1954, and we’re not planning to stop now,” said Chairman Jim Jansen. “Lynden companies provide critical cargo services throughout Alaska and beyond, and we are committed to delivering essential supplies and services to our customers and communities.” Lynden barges, trucks and planes deliver cargo to all points in Alaska, including providing a supply lifeline to much of the state whose only surface supply line is Lynden and its dedicated people. “Our customers need our support to keep their businesses operating during this time and we are also supporting state and federal agencies. Keeping delivery routes open and supplies moving is our main focus and goal,” said Lynden President Jon Burdick. “We have dealt with earthquakes, oil spills, floods and other obstacles. This situation is no different.”

According to Alaska Marine Trucking President Scott Hicks, employees are demonstrating the Lynden can-do attitude each day. “I have been so proud of our teams in Alaska,” he said. “They are a shining example of the personal commitment required to keep businesses open and the economy moving. I know Lynden employees are doing the same in all locations.” Safety is one of Lynden’s core values and many protocols have been implemented to ensure employees are operating in a safe and secure manner throughout all Lynden areas. Lynden’s safety teams maintain active communication with local and federal agencies and comply with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “No transportation company in Alaska has a more essential and critical responsibility than we do,” Jansen said. “Without our service, many Alaskans would not have food and the other items essential to life. We can only meet their needs if our people are healthy, which is our No. 1 priority.” “As this situation unfolds, we are striving to offer a calm port in the storm by continuing to do our jobs as usual,” Burdick said. “Lynden has always responded in times of need and this is, unfortunately, one of those times. We are grateful for our dedicated employees who are dealing with additional challenges in their everyday work. They are the ones who allow us to serve our customers with minimal disruption.”

www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I May 2020

Redpath USA Corporation Donates to City and Borough of Juneau

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Redpath USA Corporation donated and delivered new shower facilities to the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center for the COVID-19 quarantine and isolation facility prepared in Juneau. The facility will provide Alaska residents arriving in Juneau unable to affordhotel or other housing during the mandated 14-day quarantine period and health care workers potentially exposed to the virus. Photo courtesy Redpath USA. Hecla Greens Creek Marks 365 Days Without Injury On a regular basis we will recognize safety milestones by our AMA member companies. Safety is the No. 1 priority at Hecla Greens Creek Mine and the week of April 15, Greens Creek marked 365 days with no reportable injuries. “This is a true milestone, and we are proud of our entire team for making it happen. Thank you to the men and women of Hecla Greens Creek for caring about one another day in and day out to ensure every one of us goes home safe and healthy to our family.”

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Coeur Alaska – Kensington Mine Adopts COVID-19 Response Measures

Here at Coeur Alaska’s Kensington Mine, we realize that COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented time. With the Department of Homeland Security explicitly including mining as one of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors, we are focused on supporting a dependable supply chain with other sectors to provide the United States with security, national economic security, national public health, and safety. In communication with our mining colleagues across Alaska and the country, we began an adaptive process to design and implement proactive safety measures in response to the COVID-19 reality which include screening, education and modifications to work procedures to limit exposure and transmission. Coeur Alaska has implemented procedures to uphold our health and safety standards, and ensure compliance with federal, state, local and global authorities as we navigate this crisis. Key initiatives taken include the following: n Each worker must complete a 14-day quarantine, health and travel questionnaire and temperature check, and must be illness/symptom-free before accessing the mine site. n Restricted travel and mine site access to business- critical needs. n Social distancing is required onsite including in meetings and in the dining hall, as well as during transportation to site.

n Implemented extended rotational schedule to reduce travel to and from site. n Increased routine disinfecting of facilities and equipment. n All Coeur Alaska employees who can complete work off-site are now working remotely Coeur Alaska is working with our communities to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are modifying policies as needed to align with health recommendations and to comply with local mandates and resolutions. In addition, some of the donations Coeur Alaska has recently made including: n a car wash to be utilized at the quarantine and isolation facility at Centennial Hall; n supplies for the City and Borough of Juneau Volunteer & Community Collaboration Task Force; and n funding for Juneau School District Food Service Program, The Glory Hall, Southeast Alaska Food Bank, and Southeast Regional Resource Center Learning Connection. We are thankful for the leadership being shown at both the state and local levels to navigate through this difficult time and for the sacrifices made by our workforce that have enabled Kensington to continue producing while we protect our families, our fellow workers and the communities where we live.

www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I May 2020

Kinross Fort Knox Mine Supporting Our Community in Crisis

Fort Knox is providing essential assistance to our community during this challenging time: n We partnered with the two other local large mines to provide food boxes to homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels n Donated much needed N95 masks to the hospital for front-line medical providers to use. n Have purchased gift cards from local businesses to help them during this time of businesses closures. We are then giving the gift cards to medical providers as well as volunteers and staff at the local food bank, who are working overtime at the front lines to combat spread of the disease and provide food for a hurting community. For the Food Bank, we straightaway put out a call to our employees asking them to support the nonprofit as people lose jobs and start to run out of food. The response was immediate and impactful. Our SOS teams were inspired to also donate the proceeds of a participation-based drawing. In total, thousands of dollars were collected by employees and given to the food bank.

From the director of the food bank: “Well, you’ve made me cry. This has been a very hectic day, and this was just the note we needed to bring a smile. THANK YOU to you and the other members of the SOS groups. Both the employees of Fort Knox Kinross, and the corporation of Kinross really take care of this community, and the Fairbanks Community Food Bank. I am constantly amazed by the care and concern you all have for those in this community who struggle. THANK YOU! You are a blessing in more ways than you may know!”

May 2020 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org

Kinross Fort Knox Mine Supporting Our Community in Crisis

n Also, we have purchased lunches for the emergency responders who are coordinating drive through testing sites. n In partnership with the Resource Center for Parents and Children, we have underwritten a families-in- crisis community hotline. In times of crisis and stress, unfortunately child abuse and neglect increases. Alaska already has the highest percentage per capita of abuse in the U.S. This hotline is a way for families to reach out now to find ways to address the stress before things escalate. It also provides a whole host of resources for families to find help with all aspects of the crisis. Lastly, for this week, nearly 100 homeless citizens (many families members) are isolated at our regional Rescue Mission. While the cook is able to do a lot with a little food, it is often very bland food consisting or rice, etc. So, we have teamed up with a local small pizza business to provide weekly pizza nights for the homeless who are staying there. From the director: “I’m more concerned about the mental health, cabin fever from being stuck inside, disconnection with the community and just lack of morale right now. It easy to believe that our people are here with their friends, but in reality, they are here with strangers and can’t connect with friends and family at this time. I really believe hosting a pizza night will help bridge part of that disconnection with the community and lift the heaviness off our guests as well as help out a local business who is hurting too. I know for certain our children have absolutely loved pizza nights in the past and it’s something they could use right now and the parents as well. I know it sounds weird that pizza can have this kind of impact, but its more about the community that’s built around it, and they need that right now.”

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May 2020 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org

NovaGold, Donlin Gold Address Risk, Supporting Partners

NovaGold and Donlin Gold have provided these updates on their work to protect the health of employees and supporting companies, while also helping neighbor communities affected by the crisis. Minimizing risk of exposure We are committed to providing an environment in which all our people make it home safe each and every day. We focus on health and safety, where we adopt and implement a high level of protection for our employees and contractors as well as invest in safety programs throughout the Y-K region. Employees take their safety practices back to their communities NOVAGOLD has strong and collaborative relationships with our Native Corporation partners that have been in place for more than 25 years. We respect the values, the culture, and the language of the people in the Y-K region, including helping to maintain their subsistence way of life. It is only possible through an atmosphere of openness, transparency, constructive dialogue, and mutual respect on the part of all stakeholders. NOVAGOLD’s most important objective during this period is to secure the health and safety of its employees, partners, and contractors. In recognition of the major threat posed by COVID-19, NOVAGOLD has implemented a wide-ranging set of policies at its offices in Salt Lake City and Vancouver, as well as at the Donlin Gold LLC office in Anchorage and Donlin Gold site, designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all employees and the people associated with them. In that regard, to reduce risk, our office employees have been asked to work from home, avoid all non-essential travel, adhere to good hygiene practices, and, if they must visit the office, engage in social distancing. NOVAGOLD and its partner Barrick Gold through Donlin Gold LLC have implemented a wide-ranging set of policies consistent with the State of Alaska’s requirements, recommendations, and precautions for State activities and aimed at achieving the same objectives at the Donlin Gold project site: n Screening all employees and contractors visiting the Donlin Gold project site prior to their departure for site and periodically during their stay. n Should any individual exhibit any symptoms of illness, they will be evaluated to determine if they need to be isolated and evacuated from site. n Increased housekeeping staff and implementing more frequent sanitization practices. n Regularly conducting safety meetings designed to

address sound hygiene and sanitization practices; and n Requesting all employees to monitor their health and consult the site medic if feeling any symptoms of illness.

Donlin Gold supporting local communities Food deliveries to middle Kuskokwim villages

commenced in mid-April. Donlin Gold partnered with The Kuskokwim Corporation and Tribal councils to coordinate and deliver food and supplies to communities now without regular air carrier service. This is particularly important as the primary airline servicing western Alaska ceased operations soon after travel restrictions were put in place in Alaska. Donlin Gold has partnered with Aniak Traditional Council that acts as a regional center to establish a food distribution center/food bank. Food and supplies are delivered by the tribe to residents homebound due to medical/health issues, quarantine requirements, or other reasons. Food and supplies are acquired through a local Alaska Native-owned grocery store by Donlin Gold. By purchasing locally, Donlin Gold supports an Alaska Native owned business that employees locally and provides needed food items during a time when there is no longer scheduled and reliable transportation. Assembled and shipped 1,400 face mask making kits to 56 YK villages. Coordinated with Tribal administrators to identify volunteer sewers to make the masks for Elders and COVID-susceptible people. Working with Bethel Community Services Foundation on Bethel needs and potential partnerships. When we temporarily closed Donlin Gold project camp in early April, we donated thousands of pounds of food to local children’s lunchbox and homeless shelters. Donlin Gold government relationships: n Tribal engagement with McGrath, Nikolai, Scammon Bay, Tunak, Chevak, Marshall, Kwigillingok and Pilot Station for village protocol and approvals to help support the return of Donlin Gold employees back to their home village. n Ongoing coordination and engagement with Governor’s office, Alaska Congressional delegation, and state and local leaders to identify needs and solutions for growing and dynamic COVID-19 circumstances. n Participating in regional and statewide COVID-19 task forces to lend industry input during dynamic situation.

www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I May 2020

AMA Member Companies Respond to Pandemic

Oxford Assaying & Refining Corp. continues taking orders We will be available by telephone or email during regular business hours, and most operations will continue without interruptions. We are limiting customer interactions at our locations in regulation with local and federal orders and CDC guidelines. Our Anchorage and Fairbanks locations will be closed to the public and open by appointment only. We look forward to opening our doors to the public as soon as it is safe to do so. First and foremost, the health and well-being of our employees and customers remain top of mind and our highest priority. Oxford has taken several precautionary measures to minimize the risk to the health and safety of our employees and customers. This includes limiting customer interactions in our showrooms as well as additional sanitation procedures for all shared surfaces between customers. We are currently taking orders via telephone and have waived the shipping fees for most shipments. We are also crediting shipping costs incurred to our miners for all placer shipments sent to us for refining. This allows us to provide valued services to our communities while limiting our exposure to keep everyone safe & healthy. We are all in this together! — Gene Pool, 907-561-5237, gene@oxfordmetals.com, www.oxfordmetals.com Industrial Pumps of Alaska finding creative solutions This has been crazy times working through all the issues associated with COVID-19. Not only from a business standpoint but on a personal level as well. At Industrial Pumps of Alaska, we have tried to be mindful of our customers and employees. I think overall we have come up with some pretty cool ways to help out both. We were fortunate, there were no layoffs or production stoppages. However, the shutdown of restaurants and bars impacted our team’s moral (especially on Friday nights). We thought it would be good for our team’s mood and overall mental state to stop work at 4 p.m. on Fridays and order takeout, get some beverages and just hangout. We have had some great nights and it was something we all looked forward to at the end of the week! Also, some of our staff have children in childcare service that shut down. We had to be conscious of this. One

of IPA’s core values is family. So, to help we turned our break room into a pretty cool area for the kids and allowed our staff members to bring them to work if need be. For our customers, it was a hard disconnect. IPA is very hands on, and we are on-site doing installs and giving technical assistance all the time. Furthermore, our customers do like to come in our shop and inspect some of the higher-end equipment before we send it out. It was hard not being able to have that contact. So we started to do FaceTime installs with them and zoom meetings in the shop to go over jobs. It was awesome. Most of the time they turned to long discussions about fishing and hunting. Although this has been a tough time, I think overall we have been able to find the positives in it, and largely, it has brought our team and their families together. — Houston Morris, houston@ipa907.com, 907-252- 8373 Fountainhead: This Alaskan hotel group has your back Your safety and comfort are always our top priority at Sophie Station Suites and Wedgewood Resort. Rest assured, we are aligned with all state and national health mandates and have detailed sanitation protocols in place, so your stay is as comfortable as possible. Also, if you have upcoming business reservations on the books, or need to make travel plans, we have relaxed our cancelation policy to 24-hours prior to check-in for the most flexibility possible. We want your business, of course, but want you to feel ready to travel. If traveling just is not in the cards for the next few months, we can assist you with worry-free reservation postponements or cancelations. We understand - this is an unprecedented time. Since early March, we’ve had in place a fluid COVID-19 response and preparation. We have completely revamped our treatment of sanitation and have become the leader in the Fairbanks area with prepping rooms for guests. We have retrained staff on how to approach cleanliness and implemented completely renewed sanitation practices in all areas of our hotels, from guest rooms to back offices. We are keeping you safe all the time. Each room gets a full disinfectant before and after guest check-in and check-out.

May 2020 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org

AMA Member Companies Respond to Pandemic

After disinfecting, suites are left vacant 24-72 hours between guests.

www.fountainheadhotels.com Worry-free Reservations Hotline: 1-800-528-4916

We have adopted careful attention to the handling of towels and linens from our laundry to your room. All staff, from drivers to front desk to housekeeping and maintenance are trained regularly on preventing the spread of COVID-19. There are plentiful sanitation stations for both guests and staff. Our in-house restaurant, Zach’s at Sophie Station, is operating under the new Alaska health mandates, serving in-suite food & alcohol deliveries and limited restaurant seating for our in-house guests only. We have offered Curbside pick-up since March 16. We have in place all the state-mandated, necessary travel restrictions and self-quarantine procedures for guests and employees. We adhere to all restrictions and guidance of our state government, local health organizations, and the CDC. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us directly for reservations help, corporate rates or extended stay, or any questions about our sanitation procedures.

Beacon OHSS supporting remote medical Beacon OHSS has been very active with many of the major industries in Alaska including mining. Our role through this pandemic has included facilitating industry specific calls/video session to lead education and discussion on best paths forward, as well as facilitating direct communication with Commissioner Crum and others at the State. This has been going on for more than a month and services we are supporting clients with include: n Travel Screening- Beacon has established screening sites at Ted Stevens Airport (both pre and post TSA), Fairbanks Int’l Airport, Fairbanks-Fox Scale to support transportation heading up the haul road, and in Deadhorse. This has resulted in more

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BO NU IEL DO IUNNGC AE LAATS AK AT I M E CONAM’s track record of succesful projects has proven that resource development can be done responsibly while protecting Alaska’s fragile environment. Our firm understanding of Alaska’s unique challenges and commitment to HSSE and planning have translated into satisfied mining clients across the state. We get dirty so you get the pay dirt.

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AMA Member Companies Respond to Pandemic

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n Beacon operates remote medical clinics throughout Alaska, and specifically 10 year around sites on the North Slope. The efforts in these sites has been remarkable to ensure preparedness, supplies and quarantine procedures are well thought out. During the past several weeks our teams have managed the care of COVID-19 positive patients, quarantine flights off the North Slope for folks who were in known contact and on-going quarantine screenings of these individuals while in quarantine in Anchorage. State DHHS is sending Beacon one of the 50 rapid testing machines they received from Abbott labs. This will allow us to provide rapid testing across the slope which will greatly speed up the turnaround time, which is currently 4-5 days for lab testing. Our folks in remote clinics are absolutely amazing in their passion for medicine. As one client recently put it “You’ve always been a trusted, talented partner in what we do. During this pandemic, you’ve gone beyond amazing.” — Mike Wyne, 907-375-4383 or 907-231-3949

than 6,000 screens being completed for folks going to remote work locations supporting OG, Mining, Fishing, and some communities (i.e. North Slope Borough). Screenings continue to be modified based on our medical directors’ direction but includes travel exposure, signs and symptoms intake and temperature check with infrared thermometers. n Facility Screening- Going on location for employers that have requested screening of all employees on a daily basis as they come on shift. n Hospitality Program- This service is supporting clients that are needing to meet the state travel mandate, as well as contractual requirements for 14-day in-state quarantine. The service includes us facilitating the reservations, meal program and daily on-site health screening to document the 14-day quarantine. n COVID-19 Consulting has included a template action plan that was sent to all members of the Alliance, AGC and State Chamber. This allowed companies to have a starting point on how to respond to the State requirement for essential work.

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www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I May 2020

Pandemic Updates From Our Members

We have asked AMA member companies and agencies to provide updates on how, where and when they are doing business and serving customers during the shutdown. Here are updates, provided by members, and included as a public service to all Alaska miners and mining companies. Alaska Industrial Hardware, Inc. Eight Alaska locations (three in Anchorage) - 2192 Viking Drive, 5655 Old Seward Hwy, and 2716 Commercial Drive New or different operating hours: same hours New safety rules: Social distancing, employees wearing face coverings, some staff working remotely, contact sanitizing and disinfecting. Offering curb-side service through will call, limited personnel in the store, scheduled sanitizing and disinfecting of high touch or traffic areas. Contact: Clint Winzenburg; 907-263-2421; clintw@aih.com; www.aih.com

New safety rules if any: Separate Offices and Floors with six (6) feet between at all times Anything special you’re doing for customers: Have checked all Vendors. They are all up and running. Contact: Scott A. Stewart; 907-277-7555; SStewart@ arcticcontrols.com; www.arcticcontrols.com Ferguson Enterprises LLC / Wolseley Industrial Group Anchorage, Fairbanks, Soldotna, Wasilla Standard business hours in place as an essential need supplier. We have successfully implemented having 10,000+ associates nation-wide to work remote from home. This allows for no current delays in fulfilling orders from the largest inventory network in the nation for the type of products we provide. Daily updates to COVID-19 safety procedures to keep our customers and associates as safe as possible during the pandemic to meet or exceed local and state government mandates. Contactless deliveries being made by our Ferguson fleet to local businesses.

Arctic Controls, Inc. Anchorage New or different operating hours: Same

PROVIDE PROTECTION TO ALASKANS ON THE FRONTLINE IN THE WAR AGAINST COVID-19 Bidding wars have begun across the United States for essential protective gear. The time to act is now to fill the dire need in Alaska.

ADOPT A FIRST RESPONDER!

Join the Alaska Safety Advisory Council in providing our first responders with high quality re-useable ENVO respirators, including 25 sealed, N-95 filters.

SPONSOR NOW! ALL funds collected will go to the First Responders of Alaska! Go to the website: www.AKsafetyadvisory.com or call 907.465.6002

Choose to adopt a responder from: - Health Care Services or - Fire/ EMS Services - City (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Wasilla) or - Rural (places like Ketchikan, Sitka, Kenai) No preference, just where it is needed most!

Donors receive a receipt for the amount contributed, along with a thank you letter. Stories and letters we receive from departments / personnel receiving the protective gear will be added to the website. Let our responders know, we stand with them! AKsafetyadvisory.com | 907.465.6002 | dol.asac@alaska.gov

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