Congressional Delegation Voices Renewed Concern Over Transboundary Mines
Alaska’s congressional delegation is raising renewed concern with the Biden administration over environmental pollution issues from existing and planned British Columbia mines along the Taku, Stikine and Unuk rivers flowing into Southeast Alaska and Tongass National Forest.
In an Aug. 16 letter to President Joe Biden, the delegation renewed its plea for action in the wake of the recent heap leach pad failure at the Eagle Gold Mine in central Yukon. The facility uses a cyanide solution to percolate through ore to dissolve the gold.
The delegation, consisting of Republican U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola, noted that it has been advocating for years for binding protections and financial assurances to protect these salmon rich rivers. With...