The Bureau of Land Management recently gave its approval for a Canadian company, Constantine Metals Resources Ltd., to expand its search for copper, zinc and gold upstream from the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines. The federal agency says many of the comments it received on the expansion were “without justification or facts to back up the statement.”
If the BLM didn’t see the justification for the many concerns that go with mining activities in an area along a prolific salmon stream and next door to an eagle preserve, then they aren’t looking very hard. This decision also clearly illustrates why our state and federal mine permitting system is seriously flawed.
Constantine’s expanded activities include extending a road closer to the company’s drilling sites. In this type of deposit, the underground disturbance that goes along with extending the road runs a high probability of exposing rock that could create acid mine drainage.
Because of these concerns, many of the comments submitted in response to Constantine’s proposal urged the BLM to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. An EIS would allow the BLM to consider the entire scope of exploration activities contemplated by Constantine so the public could be fully informed of all potential impacts associated with the ongoing project.
BLM found that some harm would occur in the tributaries of the Klehini and Chilkat rivers, but concluded the activity was “not expected” to harm fish. But without taking the hard look an Environment Impact Statement would provide, BLM lacks enough facts to either justify or deny the proposal. It’s even more difficult to assure the people of Klukwan, Haines and all of Southeast Alaska that BLM believes that an important regional fishery will not be harmed by this additional activity. “Not expecting” harm will occur based on conjecture is very different than determining fish will be protected against adverse affects of Constantine’s operations based on clear and thorough scientific study.
To make matters worse, while BLM is responsible for making sure exploration and mining activities on federal lands do not harm the public’s interest in clean water and healthy fish populations, it contracted out the environmental analysis to a private corporation with no such obligation. The Environmental Assessment was produced by HDR Inc., whose website claims: “Our integrated services approach leads project applicants through environmental compliance and permitting processes seamlessly while minimizing unpredictability that can delay schedules and increase costs.” HDR’s mandate is to advance mines, not to protect the public interest.
We could do well to learn from the example set forth by the Niblack Project on Prince of Wales Island. The Forest Service allowed that project to drive thousands of feet of underground exploration tunnels under the guise of a similar Finding of No Significant Impact and no environmental impact analysis. Now the site, which never produced an ounce of metal or the promised jobs, sits mothballed with a large pile of acid-producing waste rock. Contaminated water from the rock and tunnels drains into Niblack Bay without any formal water treatment. There is an existing on-site water treatment plant, but the Department of Environmental Conservation even refused to require its use because it would place an “undue financial burden” on the company. What about the burden on the people, fish and wildlife of the area?
Constantine should not be let off the hook so easily. The community of Haines and Klukwan and the citizens of Alaska deserve better from federal authorities charged with protecting our water and fish. Being loose and lazy with scientific analysis only threatens our communities, our cultures and our way of life.
• Guy Archibald is the Mining and Clean Water Coordinator of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council.
