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.
Spring 2022 Volume 50, Number 4 AlaskaMiners.org
Full Speed Ahead! New projects, strong market, critical need bodes well for summer 2022
INSIDE THIS ISSUE n Mining Day 2022: Fairbanks Celebration! n Don Young: Remembering an Alaska Legend n Focus: Critical Issues 2022 n Bartly Kleven: Meet Our President
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Executive Director’s Report
Dear AMA Members and Friends, The photo you see on this page is me with my new friend, Fritz Ward. We met at a recent Resource De- velopment Council breakfast featuring Ambler Metals and AIDEA. RDC typically starts each meeting with self-introductions where attendees state their name and company, and Fritz jumped up enthusiastically and said, “Fritz Ward. Mining Fan.” (Shout out to Ja- son and Sarah Erkmann Ward for raising a great kid!) Fritz’s personality is especially endearing to me be- cause he reminded me of what it was like to be raised as an Alaska kid. My parents were and oil and gas and transportation, and our dinner table conversations were frequently centered around what was responsi- ble for the food on our table. Many a time, I sat in the back of an RDC meeting my mom was participating in and listened to conversations about Alaska’s resource economy. I am sure I complained about it as a young child (I was much brattier than Fritz). But as I got older, I realized the immense benefit of that education, as I had direct contacts to help with research and Carl Portman to proof my final college papers on ANWR and the Roadless Rule (some issues never go away). We frequently talk about the need to get young people involved in our industry, a common goal among us because there are so many benefits to doing so. We can set our young people up for success by highlighting their opportunities to work in mining, ranging from a high-paying skilled trade job right out of high school to degrees in geology, engineering, and more. We can bring young people into our discussions and use their ideas to do things differently, more effi - ciently, and probably more fun. After two years of generally not seeing each other, AMA is approaching its events this year with a mind- frame of making them full of content that newcomers will want to see, and making them accessible to those outside of mining companies and agencies. We’re starting with the 10th Annual Alaska Mining Day event in Fairbanks on May 10. As many of you know, but there are lots of new people that you should tell, Alaska Mining Day was created through legislation in 2013 sponsored by Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, “to recognize and honor the intrepid individuals and industry that played an enormous role in settling and developing the territory and the state and that continue to contribute to the economy of the state.” On May 10, 1872, the General Mining Act of the United States was approved — it governs mineral de- velopment on federal lands. This law has been amended more than 50 times, but its essential principles remain in place: If a citizen explores and with their own energy, intellect, finances and hard work finds a valuable min - eral deposit, that citizen, after obtaining the required environmental and operating permits, has the right to
develop that deposit. The Act has served as a founda- tion of our industry, and of course, since its passage we have seen dozens of environmental laws that govern our industry’s development, operation, and closure standards and provide for the environmental and safety excellence we see at Alaska’s miners every day. We’d like to share stores of that excellence at Alaska Mining Day and all of our events this year. Peek at the Events Calendar at the back of this issue, and visit our website alaskaminers.org to learn what we have in store and how you can help bring new faces in to learn and share our story. Please consid- er bringing in your child, your niece or nephew, the neighbor kids, and your young employees, and start them on a path to knowing Alaska’s mining industry. We will all be better for it.
Deantha Skibinski AMA Executive Director
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 Executive
Director’s Report
4 Letter from
Our President
10 Meet AMA’s
New President 16 Faces of Mining: Alycia Thomas 20 Remembering Don Young 22 Alaska Mining’s
Economic Potential
34 Donlin Moves Forward 46 Mining Business and Service Directory 56 Durability Project 2022
ON THE COVER: LaVerne Bryant is a haul truck operator at Kinross Alaska’s Fort Knox Mine and is one of thousands of Alaska women working in our mining industry. Photo courtesy Kinross Fort Knox THIS PAGE: Alaska lost a true statesman and a great friend of mining March 18 when Congressman Don Young died suddenly. Beginning on Page 20 we take a look back at the life of this amazing Alaskan. Photo courtesy Office of Don Young
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
Summer 2022 People in Mining
Executive Director
Deantha Skibinski Jennifer Luiten Darlene Strickland
Fall 2022 Annual Anchorage Convention Winter 2022 Legislative and Season Preview Spring 2023 Project Updates
Membership and Fundraising Director
Bookkeeping and Membership
EXECUTIVE BOARD
BRANCH CHAIRMEN
Bartly Kleven President, Kinross Alaska, Fairbanks Lorali Simon First Vice President, Usibelli Coal Mine, Healy Blake Bogart Second Vice President, Graphite One Inc., Nome Kim Aasand Treasurer, Aasand & Glore LLC., Anchorage
Ted Hawley Anchorage Richard Sivils Denali Ken Hall Fairbanks Liz Cornejo Haines Jim Clark Juneau
Houston Morris Kenai Ken Hughes Nome Robert Fithian Ketchikan/
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.
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President’s Message From Bartly Kleven
On Alaska Mining Day, we celebrate our efforts
“Today, almost 10,000 Alaskans work in mining, earning an average wage of more than $115,000 a year — even more than three years ago.”
H appy Mining Day 2022! As we gather in Fairbanks and celebrate Alaska Mining Day on May 10, I am reminded again how thankful I am to work in this amazing industry. On the Mining Day Celebration on May 10, 2019 Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued an Executive Proclamation. I have summarized it here: “Mining was the primary driving force for early development of Alaska and has continued to play a vital role in our economy. From the Alaska Natives who historically mined and traded jade to today’s mining professionals who produce rare- earth critical minerals for advanced-technology products, mining has provided precious resources and desirable jobs. “A secondary result of mining has been the establishment of infrastructure including roads, airports, and harbors; power generation and transmission systems and telecommunications. On May 10, we recognize the importance of the mining industry and the individuals who played a role in the development of the state and the ongoing contribution to the economy of Alaska.” Since then, there have been many world events that bring mining into even sharper focus: n Regulatory standards have only increased since 2019 — and Alaska mining continues to be the most precise, monitored, careful, clean, and responsible mining in the world. n Mining payed millions of dollars annually to state and local governments three years ago — and now we pay even more.
n Today, almost 10,000 Alaskans work in mining, earning an average wage of more than $115,000 a year — even more than three years ago. There has been an increased focus on reducing greenhouse gas — Alaska can produce the critical minerals needed for every renewable technology source planned for the future. And, sadly, we are buying more energy and critical minerals from countries who do not share our values of basic human rights and environmental protection. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum this should be a call to action. That energy and those minerals are available in abundance in Alaska where we protect our workforce and environment and where we contribute to our communities. While we may not hear about it in the traditional media, the truth is, there is a lot to be proud of about mining and mining in Alaska, in particular. In this issue of our magazine read Bob Loeffler’s research into both the economic power and future potential for Alaska mining — and the way we give back to our state by a factor of 10.We do mining better than anyone in the world. Cleaner. Safer. With respect for the land and culture and rights of those upon whose land we mine. Bartly Kleven became president of the Alaska Miners As- sociation in November. See Page 10 for a profile on Bartly and her perspective on Alaska mining and her goals for AMA.
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Sign up and share the Alaska Miner The Alaska Miner is mailed statewide to Alaska business, government and Native leaders. Subscriptions are complimentary — to sign up just email address and contact information to admin@FireweedStrategies.com. And if you’re already receiving the Miner, sign up your team members and clients who also need to be reading the latest good news about Alaska mining!
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January 2021
The Alaska Miner
Optimism vital to success AMA President Profile: Bartly Kleven
in his tenure at the mine, I had to go to him with some bad news we had recent- ly discovered. There are times the Envi- ronmental Manager will need to give the General Manager bad news but not this bad and on his second week of work! It crossed my mind I might be looking for work soon — but as painful as it was, I needed to let him know ASAP. Instead of blaming and being angry, Jeremy thanked me for telling him as soon as I discovered the issue. He then immedi- ately jumped into action, breaking down the problem and looking at potential solutions. We looked at all the options as a group and picked the best solution. We then set that solution as our first priority at the mine — over everything else — and executed. The problem was solved, and we all learned a tremendous amount. The lesson I learned from Jere- my is to be an intelligent receiver of in- formation. In mining we work with very complex models. We need to have some simple checks to make sure these mod- els are telling us the truth, so we don’t discover an error down the line. You’ve been a leader in AMA for a while … what does AMA mean to you? Interesting question: when I think of what AMA means to me, I see the faces of all the miners I’ve worked with over the years. These are faces of people who have worked all night fixing a dewa - tering system in -40F weather with a windchill of -55F. Or the welders and mechanics who worked all night out in the same weather to get a shovel re- paired. Or the blasters down on the pat- tern working outside all day every day. Or the safety coordinator who spent the weekend escorting MSHA on an unan- nounced inspection, instead of camp- ing with his family. Or the consultant outperforming wetland delineations in a cloud of mosquitos. Or the geolo- gist hiking through thick brush licking rocks. And I see the face of the placer miner who single-handedly handles the permitting, geology, safety, engi- neering, operating and maintaining! The faces of strong, tough people with incredible dedication are what I see. AMA’s role is to work just as hard, if not harder to defend and promote the right for these miners to continue to do their excellent work.
Bartly Kleven became president of the Alaska Miners Association in November. We took time to talk with her about her perspective on Alaska mining and her goals for AMA. How did you get started in mining, what do you do in your current job? I had an interest in the Environ- mental Field when I was in college. At that time, my university (Montana State University in Bozeman) did not offer a degree in Environmental Engineer- ing, so I studied Civil Engineering with an emphasis in environmental. (Yes, I was environment before environment was cool!) I returned to Alaska after re- ceiving my degree and went to work at Eielson Air Force base cleaning up con- taminated sites. My next job was as the Environmental Coordinator for the City of Fairbanks Municipal Utilities System where I set up the environmental pro- grams for the power plant, water plant, wastewater plant, public works facility and electric distribution system. When the city privatized the utilities, Usibelli Coal Mine bought the power plant. They offered me a job to look after the per - mits for the power plant and to learn about mining. I worked for Usibelli for 13 years where I had responsibility for the en- vironmental compliance work for the Aurora Energy Power Plant, the mine, and the port facility in Seward. Beyond environmental, I also got to put up new prill towers UCM and expand the district heat system for Aurora Energy. From there I was offered a job at Kinross Fort Knox as the Environmental Superinten - dent where I stayed for a year. I left for a three-year stint where I permitted an oil exploration project on BLM land (Umiat) in the Arctic. We found oil but there was not adequate pressure on the reservoir and by that time there was an opening for the Environmental Manager position at Fort Knox. I am now the Director of Environ- mental Affairs for Kinross Alaska. My primary responsibility is to ensure we are in strict environmental compliance with our existing permits. My second- ary responsibility is to permit expansion projects the company is proposing to undertake in Alaska.
Photo Courtesy Bartly Kleven
Bartly with her children, Carson and Shayne at Mount Rushmore.
Where did you grow up? I was born in Montana, but my fami- ly moved to Chugiak, Alaska in the early seventies when I was a small child. My father was an engineer who worked on the pipeline and my mom was a teacher. My mom still lives in the same house I grew up in to this day. My brother and his family live in Anchorage. Who was your mentor in this industry and what did they teach you that remains true today? My first boss in mining was Steve Denton at UCM. He taught me that if you have a big project to complete to set a date and stick to it no matter what. I put this lesson into action when I per- mitted the Gilmore and Gil expansions for Fort Knox. I recently completed an - other large permitting project where I had to lead about forty internal and for- ty external (consultants) to complete a complex, multi-disciplinary project on a very expedited schedule by a date cer- tain. I advertised that date early and of- ten, and then we checked in as a group on a scheduled basis. We met the due date with six hours to spare! My most recent supervisor has been Jeremy Brans at Kinross. Very early on
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at employment and advancement, and being strong supporters of our commu- nities. We have many examples of all of the above — and we need to do a better job of sharing those. What lessons have you learned that you want to share with new miners? Pay close attention to the values of the company you work for. Make sure that your work is more than just a pay- check. What you do should improve people’s lives — whether that is provid- ing strategic minerals for our nation’s defense, ensuring affordable energy, protecting, and improving the environ- ment or supporting your community. What was one experience you will never forget? The first two years in my mining ca - reer, I had a series of tragic things hap- pen in my personal life — if it could go wrong, it did! As if moving to a new town and starting a new job in a new indus- try wasn’t hard enough (I knew noth- ing about mining), life decided to start throwing me curveballs! My dad had terminal cancer and died at 56 over an
What is your vision for AMA in the next two years? I recently attended the first in-per - son AMA meeting in Fairbanks. Deantha and Jennifer also came up which was great! However, it was striking to me how quiet folks were. After two years of pandemic, I think we really need to re- build and get our membership engaged. It also reinforced a vision I have of ex- panding our membership to younger folks already working in or interested in mining. We had so much knowledge and experience sitting in that room at our first in person AMA meeting, it struck me how critical it is we get that intel- ligence, passion and history passed on. Where do you see mining in Alaska in 50 years? My crystal ball says the USA will be providing its own energy and minerals in 50 years — and that means Alaska will be a mining powerhouse. I strong- ly believe it will become untenable for Americans to fund other countries who do not share our values of basic human rights and protection of the environ- ment by buying their energy and min- erals. That is exactly what we are doing now.
What do you see as our biggest challeng- es? And opportunities? We have a lot of challenges — too many to list here. Alaska, in particular, also has an abundance of opportunity. A huge challenge (and opportunity) is to keep an optimistic outlook. It is really quite easy to devolve into pessimism, righteous indignation and pontifica - tion. I fight that fight every single day. It is a lot harder to maintain hope and optimism — and that is really where the grit and perseverance of the miner comes into play. We can’t accomplish anything focusing on all the things that have and can go wrong. Another challenge and opportunity is technology and knowledge that will continue to advance. We need to keep right on top of those advances and in- corporate them into our work. Equally important, we need to not be blind to the changing values of society and attitudes about mining. We have a great story to tell! An opportunity we have is to present our industry in the very best light we can. That means go- ing over and above to ensure employee safety and compliance with our envi- ronmental permits, ensuring women and minorities are given an equal chance
CONTINUED on PAGE 12
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PRESIDENT, CONTINUED from PAGE 11
excruciating two-year period. During this two years, my then-husband was terribly injured in an accident and we didn’t know if he’d ever be able to work again; I caused tens of thousands of dollars of damage to my house by leaving the washing machine on when I was gone; our home in Fairbanks was robbed twice, and that is isn’t all — but you get the idea! It was a tough couple of years for sure. This was before the days of working from home. I was embarrassed about needing to be away from the mine to take care of my family — I felt like a new- bie shirker. I was on my last nerve and was often ready to throw in the towel, move back to Fairbanks and quit trying to learn about mining. However, I received a lot of grace from Steve Denton and Joe Usibelli, Jr. and I stuck it out. Things turned around and I have never experienced a time in my life quite that dark again (fingers crossed). There is a silver lining: through those two years, I developed into a much more empa- thetic person. When possible, I pass on the grace and kindness that was shown to me in my first job in mining. What do you love most about this business? Mining is just fun! The teamwork is what makes it incredibly fun for me. The energy you get working with a team of experts and meeting goals is extremely gratifying and energizing. Overcoming obstacles and navigating hazards togeth- er just makes it exciting! Miners at all levels have a tremendous level of experi- ence, expertise, and skill. Miners are very accomplished people who have worked hard to learn their craft. I learn some- thing new every day. In order to produce that ounce of gold, zinc, silver or ton of coal, everyone needs to do their part to support the team. If the operations folks can’t operate, it doesn’t matter how good your maintenance is. If your engineers can’t put together a good mine plan, it doesn’t matter how good your operators are. Everyone has to pull together for the team to succeed – and that is what makes it really fun. What do you do for fun? In the summer I love to garden, fish, berry pick, pan for gold and camp with friends. I am hoping to take up kayak- ing this summer. In the winter I like to paint (watercolors) and do a little travel- ing. I have two kids (Carson and Shayne) who have brought a lot of fun and joy to my life and continue do so as they begin “adulting.”
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lieve every part of the path I have taken to where I am now has shaped me into the per- son I am. I hope that I never stop learning and growing. I started my career in securi- ty, moved into the nonprofit field and am now in natural resources. Having that range of experience woven through diverse industries gave me opportunities and insight to connect with my community in ways that I couldn’t have predicted, and I am grateful for. What was one experience you will never forget? There are many! I’ll share two of my favorite experi- ences in Alaska. The first was hiking the Crow Pass Trail, starting from the Girdwood side over to Eagle River. I hiked it with friends over two days and it was amazing. The scenery here in Alaska is like nowhere else on earth. The second was skydiving over Matanuska-Susitna Valley. You just can’t beat those views! What do you love most about this business? The mining industry is diverse and is always evolving. The objective is to see what potential is out there — what is possible? The world has always needed mining, and there must a balance between processing minerals and being responsible stewards of the environment, which the mining industry as a whole is embracing. There is also a level of camaraderie that I have not often seen in oth- er industries. And the innovations and technological ad- vances that have come about and are being implemented for mining are a reflection of the diligence and integrity of the process of exploring, developing and producing the mineral resources that are such an integral part of Alas- ka’s economy. Where do you see mining in Alaska in 50 years? I feel that will depend on a lot of factors, but here is what I hope: That Alaska will be recognized and appreci- ated for the abundant resources we have and there would be acknowledgment of our ability to responsibly mine here. Alaska is rich in potential and there is so much that we have to offer that would benefit our country. What do you see as our biggest challenges? And opportuni- ties? I feel the biggest challenges are the misconceptions that are out there and assumptions that are made, both for mining in general and specifically mining in Alaska. Our biggest opportunities would be expanding our communication with our communities, government and In each issue of The Alaska Miner, we interview an outstanding leader in and member of our industry. This time we are talking with Alycia Thomas, Program Im- plementation & Marketing Manager, Camp Services for NMS. Faces of Mining
Who was your mentor in this industry and what did they teach you that remains true today? I work for NMS, so my experience had been specific to Red Dog Mine, as our company has a partnership with Teck for camp services there. The NMS Vice President of Camp Services, Jason Carlson, has been my mentor in this industry. He encouraged me to take a closer look at how vital mining is for not just the state of Alaska, but globally. We have amazing resources here in Alaska and there are many benefits for multiple industries when we can help grow and support the mining industry. We should always be looking to the future — it’s part of our state motto, right? — and mining is so pivotal in not only the history of Alaska, but what is still to come. What lessons have you learned that you want to share with new miners? Find your own mentors. There is such a wealth of knowledge in those who work in mining here in Alaska, and my experience has been that those who have been in the industry awhile are passionate about the next genera- tion coming into this industry and taking on the new chal- lenges that arise to make things better and better. It really is a community that wants the collective to thrive. And don’t be afraid to speak up—initiative is a good thing and the chance to give and receive feedback is another chance to learn. Alycia Thomas Program Implementation & Marketing Manager, Camp Services for NMS
What would you do differently? I honestly can’t say what I would do differently. I be -
CONTINUED on PAGE 18
Alycia hiking Crow Pass.
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have on people or situations until far into the future. I think of the quote by Martin Luther, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to piec- es, I would still plant my apple tree.” My husband and I do our best to teach our kids about integrity, respect, and hard work. I volunteer at their schools and at community events and do my best to stay involved in chamber of commerce events in my hometown as well. The more connected we are as a community, the more we can help each other and see positive change. You are one of our newest board members … what attracted you to join the board? And what does AMA mean to you? Part of what I do for my job is to search for growth opportunities. Min- ing in Alaska has advanced so much and is such a vital industry for Alas- ka’s economy, and it creates a variety of opportunities for so many people across our state. When I started to dig into more detailed information about mining in Alaska, the Alaska Miners Association was one of the first re - sources I explored. I started attending the branch meetings, and the infor- mation that is shared and the present- ers that speak are a wealth of insight Remote Locations Mineral Exploration Grade Control Monitoring and Piezometer wells Dewatering Wells Geotechnical
into the Alaska mining industry. AMA does such a good job of relaying in- formation on the role mining plays in Alaska’s growth and gives insightful ways to advocate for mining in Alaska. What do you do for fun? Alaskan summers are the best! I try to be outside as much as possible. I enjoy hiking and exploring this awe- some state. Our family enjoys taking road trips and exploring new places. Camping and fishing are a must, and it’s always great to find “new” places that you fall in love with. I am also slowly teaching myself how to garden, and I have started gathering seeds in preparation for planting this summer. I love to cook and bake, so any chance our family has to have people over and share a great meal we try to do so. And in the winter, I love reading by the fire, catching up on movies and tv shows and spending time with family and friends. Anything else you want to share? Thank you for letting me share my story! I am excited to see what the future holds for the mining industry and am glad to be a part of helping advocate for mining in our great state.
FACES, CONTINUED from PAGE 16
our interactions with those outside the industry. If we can utilize op- portunities to showcase the rigorous processes of accountability that are in place for this industry and the current and future possibilities of mining and the positive impact that it can have throughout our economy, it will be beneficial to us. What keeps you awake at night? I have two kids, so for me it’s how fast things change in our world and how many things that they must con- tend with that I never even had to think about. Sometimes it’s hard to not get discouraged. I want a better world for my kids than I had, and I know my parents felt the same way for me. It can be overwhelming to look at things where you want to see change and wonder how you can make a difference. But every person is capable of making an impact and sometimes what we see as something small can turn into something much bigger down the line. We often won’t know the affects our actions will
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The Alaska Miner
Don Young: Remembering an Alaska Legend
Photo Courtesy Gene Pool
Gene Pool and Don Young.
Champion for Alaskans remembered for service
the most senior member of either par- ty, and was reelected in 2020 to serve his 25th term. He was running for a 26th. Asked how long he planned to serve, Young told the New York Times: “The only time I’ll retire is when peo- ple want to retire me,” Young said in 2014. “The people decide I can’t serve them any more, they’ll get rid of me. It’s that simple.” He served on the House Natural Resources and House Transportation and Infrastructure committees during the current Congress. His office described him as a “fierce defender of Alaska,” adding, “from the Trans-Alaska pipeline, to the Ketchikan Shipyard, to the Magnuson Stevens Act, which transformed the
American fishing industry, to the nu - merous land exchanges he fought for, Don Young’s legacy cannot be over- stated.” Young first entered politics when he was elected mayor of Fort Yukon, Alaska in 1964. He later served four years in the Alaska House and three years in the state Senate. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in 1973. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in a statement: “Alaskans are dev- astated by this shocking and sad news and I am saddened beyond belief about the loss of my friend. We have lost a gi- ant who we loved dearly and who held Alaska in his heart — always.”
Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the lon- gest-serving member of the current Congress, passed away March 18 at age 88. On the following pages are tributes from his colleagues and friends, as well as more information about Don’s career serving Alaska. “It’s with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we announce Congress- man Don Young (R-Alaska), the Dean of the House and revered champion for Alaska, passed away today while traveling home to Alaska to be with the state and people that he loved,” the statement said. “His beloved wife Anne was by his side.” Young was the dean of the House,
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AMA is grateful for Don Young
Congressman Don Young was elected to our state’s U.S. House seat in 1973 and from that day, he was a staunch defender and promoter of Alaska’s miners. Some notable statements from him along the years include: “Alaska has a long history of placer mining operations beginning in 1800. Alaska is one of the few places left that has this unique and beneficial industry. Most are small, but is a robust industry that provides hundreds of jobs and benefits to ru - ral Alaska and it must be defended.” “Despite the creation of meddle- some federal agencies like the EPA, safe and responsible mining in Alas- ka has occurred for well over 120 years, and it is my intention to see that activity continues as the time honored Alaskan tradition that it is.” “We are in the midst of a contin- ued global supply chain crisis that has seriously constrained the avail- ability of critical minerals. “Frankly, we can and should be
responsibly developing critical min- erals here in Alaska instead of con- tinuing to be reliant on adversarial nations and the whims of geopoliti- cal faceoffs.” “Alaskans can continue counting on me to stand up for our state, and working to ensure that activist forc- es from Outside do not lock away our lands forever.” We will miss the Congressman for all Alaskans, and certainly Alaska’s miners, immensely. We would like to ask AMA mem- bers for help in compiling a tribute to this legend. Please share with us your stories, your photos and your communications with the Congress- man from his nearly 50 years of supporting mining in Alaska. Send them to the staff at ama@alaska - miners.org. But first, go outside and do some - thing that makes you thankful to be in this great state we live in, and be thankful for Congressman Don Young, who helped make it that way.
Photos Courtesy Office of Don Young
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Alaska colleagues pay tribute
Sen. Lisa Murkowski @lisamurkowski
Alaskans are devastated by this shock- ing and sad news and I am saddened be- yond belief about the loss of my friend. We have lost a giant who we loved dearly and who held Alaska in his heart — always.
Sen. Dan Sullivan @SenDanSullivan
Like all Alaskans, Julie & I are sad- dened, shocked & devastated by the sud- den passing of @RepDonYoung. His spir- it—authentic, tenacious, indomitable, a man of the people—epitomized our state to such a degree that there was a sense he’d always be with us, that he’d live for- ever. Congressman Don Young has been a great friend and colleague of mine for many years. I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of this amazing man who, in many ways, formed Alaska into the great state it is today. Gov. Mike Dunleavy @GovDunleavy
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The Alaska Miner
Murkowski, Sullivan lead resolution honoring Don Young
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, March 29 thanked the Senate for unanimously cosponsoring and passing their resolution honoring the life and legacy of Congressman Don Young, who served Alaska in the House of Rep- resentatives for the last 49 years. Con- gressman Young passed away on March 18, 2022. “Congressman Don Young was larger than life, as is the legacy he leaves be- hind. He devoted 49 years to the service of Alaska and the nation. In that time, he shepherded critical, generational leg- islation into law and became Dean of the House—the longest-serving Republican of all time. He became a close friend to law- makers on both sides of the aisle, but was always best known for his steadfast loyalty to his home state,” said Senator Murkow- ski. “This resolution is one of the many ways we will honor Congressman Young, to ensure that the life and leadership of the Congressman for all Alaska, one of the most effective legislators of our time, will be remembered always.” “Don Young was so authentic in an age of overly-coached politicians. He was a throwback to a time and a place where people were respected, not so much for how they talked or how they looked, but for what they could do. And boy did he do a lot in life and for Alaska. He was a teacher, a tugboat captain, a gold miner, a mayor and, of course, he was a relentless fighter in the House for the great state of Alaska,” said Senator Sullivan. “Don’s sudden death leaves a major void in Congress, in Alaska, in the hearts of his family, and in all of us who knew and loved him. It leaves a very real void in our small but mighty Alaska delegation. But his tenacious, indomitable spirit lives on. Rest in peace, Don Young.” Murkowski and Sullivan introduced S. Res. 565 yesterday and asked unanimous consent to pass it as Congressman Young lay in state in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall. Every member of the Senate cospon- sored the resolution. Its full text is below. Resolution Honoring and Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Representative Don Young Whereas Donald Edwin Young was born on June 9, 1933, to James Young and Nora (Bucy) Young in Meridian, Califor - nia; Whereas Don Young earned an associ- ate degree from Yuba Junior College and a bachelor’s degree in teaching from Chico State University; Whereas Don Young began what would be decades of service to the United States
when he served in the Army as part of the 41st Tank Battalion from 1955 to 1957; Whereas Don Young moved to Alaska in 1959 and found his true home in the village of Fort Yukon, which is located 7 miles above the Arctic Circle; Whereas Don Young met and married the first love of his life, Lula “Lu” Young, in Fort Yukon; Whereas Don Young and Lu had two wonderful daughters, Dawn and Joni, and later 14 grandchildren; Whereas Don Young taught fifth grade at a school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the winter and worked in construction, mining, fishing, and trap - ping, and as a tugboat captain in the warmer months; Whereas Don Young was elected mayor of Fort Yukon in 1964 and served in that role until 1967; Whereas Don Young was elected to and served in the Alaska House of Represen- tatives from 1967 to 1970 and the Alaska State Senate from 1970 to 1973; Whereas Don Young was elected to the House of Representatives in 1973 in a spe- cial election and served 24 additional and consecutive terms; Whereas Representative Young served as Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007; Whereas Representative Young was a champion for Alaska Native peoples, in - cluding as Chairman of the Subcommit- tee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the Committee on Natural Re - sources of the House of Representatives; Whereas Representative Young fiercely defended Alaska and Alaskans as the sole Representative for the largest State in the United States and devoted himself to ful- filling the immense promise of his home State; Whereas Representative Young was a leader in strengthening the role of Alas- ka in providing for the national defense of the United States through his support for the Coast Guard, the Alaskan Command, and the ballistic missile defense and his steadfast commitment to the leadership of the United States in the Arctic; Whereas Representative Young spon- sored at least 85 bills that were enacted into Federal law and sponsored and co- sponsored many more measures that were part of broader legislation; Whereas legislative achievements by Representative Young span the policy
spectrum, from authorizing the construc- tion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to important amendments and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); Whereas Representative Young au- thored and advocated for generational laws, including the Indian Self-Determi- nation and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) in 1975, the Magnu- son-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Public Law 94-265;90 Stat. 331) in 1976, the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–57; 111 Stat. 1252) in 1997, SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109–59; 119 Stat. 1144) in 2005, Multinational Spe- cies Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-132; 121 Stat. 1360) in 2007, and the Infrastructure In- vestment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58; 135 Stat. 429) in 2021; Whereas Representative Young formed strong relationships and friendships with members on both sides of the aisle and proudly worked with 10 different presi - dents; Whereas Representative Young mar- ried his second love, Anne Garland Wal- ton, in 2015, in the United States Capitol; Whereas, on December 5, 2017, Repre- sentative Young became the 45th Dean of the House of Representatives, reflecting his status as its most senior member; Whereas Representative Young was the longest-serving Republican in the history of Congress; and Whereas Representative Young ulti- mately served the 49th State with dedi- cation and distinction for 49 years and 13 days, which is more than three quarters of the period in which Alaska has been a State: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) mourns the death of Don Young, congressman for all Alaska and the 45th Dean of the House of Representatives; (2) honors Representative Young for his lifetime of service to Alaska and the United States, his spirited bipartisanship, and his enduring respect for and devotion to the House of Representatives; (3) respectfully requests that the Sec- retary of the Senate— (A) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and (B) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Don Young; and (4) at the time that the Senate adjourns or recesses today, the Senate stands ad- journed as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Don Young.
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Mining continues to be a major provider of jobs in Alaska.
The economic potential of Alaska’s mining industry
ple will it employ? What minerals will it produce? Predictions about future events in- volve significant uncertainty, and the course of the mining industry will depend on mineral prices and a host of unpredictable events. Rather than trying to forecast these unpredictable events, we projected three possible fu- tures: n one with industry-favorable economic and policy conditions, n one where status quo conditions prevail, and n one with unfavorable conditions. We reviewed active mineral prop- erties in Alaska: those operating, in permitting, and being explored. Our report assigned probabilities that these
would be operating in 20 years based on their exploration stage. The report assigned probabilities to each group of projects but does not venture an opin- ion about the prospects for any partic- ular property. Probabilities for projects in the same exploration stage were as- signed based on a review of probabili- ties in the academic literature, the ex- ploration stage for that project group. Hard rock, coal and placer mines were assigned probabilities separately. Different probabilities were assigned to a future with industry-favorable economic and policy conditions, to a status quo scenario, and to an unfa- vorable-condition scenario. These three scenarios — favorable, status quo, and unfavorable — do not
This report was prepared by the authors listed and does not neces- sarily reflect the views of ISER or the University of Alaska. The report and its findings should be attributed to the authors, rather than to ISER, the University of Alaska Anchorage, or the sponsors of the research. BY BOB LOEFFLER AND BRETT WATSON INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC RESEARCH, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
What will Alaska’s mining industry look like in 20 years? How many peo-
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