Vendors pack mining industry convention
Published Thursday, March 20, 2008
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Stumble It!The Alaska Miners Association’s 21st Biennial Conference and Arctic International Mining Symposium is witnessing record attendance this week at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel.
The mining industry is pulling together to battle initiatives many of the conference attendees see as a threat to their livelihood.
“Miners have to stick together or they will sink,” said Steven Borell, the executive director of the AMA.
Borell said the clean water initiative could be the end of the Alaska’s mining industry, leaving many Alaskans out of work.
The initiative is the third version brought forward and sponsored by members of the Renewable Resource Coalition. Called the Alaska Clean Water Initiative, it includes preventing discharge of certain toxic chemicals and ensuring waterways are not adversely impacted by new mining operations.
“We call it the Mining Shutdown Initiative,” said Lorna Shaw of the Council of Alaska Producers. Shaw said the initiative gained support by being promoted as a way to prevent the Pebble Mine project but could easily stop all mining in the state, depending on its interpretation.
Also contributing to the meeting’s popularity is the soaring price of metals due to worldwide demand. Demand for base metals, such as iron, copper and zinc, for manufacturing purposes in China and India are causing their value to increase. Borell said lack of confidence in the U.S. dollar is causing an increase in their demand domestically as well, exemplified by the price of gold recently topping $1,000 per ounce.
This demand has increased the amount of funding companies are investing in exploration and development, according to Richard Hughes, a minerals development specialist with the State of Alaska’s Office of Economic Development. Alaska’s mining industry had an estimated value of $3.9 billion in 2007, Hughes said.
The week’s events began on Tuesday with a field trip to Pogo gold mine and will conclude Saturday with a tour of Fort Knox gold mine. Several speakers are scheduled for the days in between, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski; Tom Albanese, the CEO of Rio Tinto, one of the world's largest mining corporations; and Patrick Michaels, a climatologist and senior fellow with the Cato Institute.
The symposium is designed to bring people together who are involved with all aspects of the mining industry, according to Dana Novak, the conference committee’s publicist and an employee of the Nalco Company.
Additional information on the week’s events can be found at www.alaskaminers.org.
Community Discussion
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"Lorna Shaw of the Council of Alaska Producers"--- A.K.A. Lorna Shaw of "I don't really understand the issue, but know that my job depends on it." I'm a miner myself and know better than to listen to someone who parrots what she's told and doesn't understand a thing about the science behind the issue. But then again, that's the job of a PR woman. Development of mines can and does take place responsibly, but sadly, there are some incidents of extreme irresponsiblity by mining companies (and small mines) in Alaska. The only way to make sure that mining takes place responsibly, cleanly, and safely is to watch and hold them accountable. That is the role of the Renewable Resource Coalition. They may "spin" the facts to get their point across, but you'd better believe large mining companies do the same in order to make it look like: "See, it's not that bad that we broke the rules. We did it because we're on YOUR side." (Lorna- you have my permission to paraphrase that in your next press release-- you might be running out of angles by now.)
The only role the Renewable Resource Coalition has adopted is to do whatever Bob Gillam tells them to do. Bob Gillam, who has millions apon millions, is not "spinning" he is decieving and pays handsome salaries to anyone who will do the decieving for him. And, he'll do whatever it takes to keep everything he objects to out of his percieved 500,000 square mile back yard even if he has to kill all of Alaska to do it.
Nobody wants dirty water. Nobody wants salmon to be harmed. But, for what ever reasons, that only an old, fat, bitter, rich man could possibly understand, the Renewable Resource Coalition can only come up with is a ill-concieved Clean Water Initiative that will not only stop mining altogether but could very well cost the intire State as well.
Last I checked, the State of Alaska doesn't have $500,000,000,000.00 to pay back Northern Dynasty for taking their deposit away, or for whatever Donlin Creek is worth, or the expansion of any existing mine, or any other deposit that has yet to be discovered on all the tens of thousands of mining claims that already exist.
Article 8, paragraph 16, The Constitution of the State of Alaska, Protection of Rights; No person shall be involuntarily divested of his right to the use of waters, HIS INTERESTS IN LANDS, or improvements affecting either, except for a superior beneficial use or public purpose and then only with JUST COMPENSATION and by operation of law.
Nobody, who truly cares about this State or it's future, could in good faith vote for such a bone-headly, stupid initiative as the ones for 'Clean Water'.
How did the state take anybody's (I'm guessing you mean) mineral deposit away? Why would you be concerned about paying Northern Dynasty back? It's not an Alaskan, nor a U.S. company. How would that benefit Alaskans? Donlin Creek is still in play, isn't it? Again, not Alaskan companies. If we are going to allow out of state and foreign companies to develop some of our resources, we should expect that they do it without harming others.
Dear Imusuallyright... Be real! Most of the people who have lived in this great state for very long have very strong historical ties to the mining industry. What positive things can we say about the Renewable Resource Coalition? How many jobs have they created? Nobody wants to see any of Alaska's natural resources damaged, especially the mining industry and the bonding companies that insure them. The current permitting process already allows for responsible development all over the state... why do you believe that it won't continue to work? As a last thought, the reason that companies like Northern Dynasty are not Alaskan (nor from the U.S) is simply that in other countries they are not treated as felons and they've earned the right to do business worldwide. Why don't you give them the same chance. Thank God these mining companies are willing to take a risk and invest in OUR state.
Be prepared for when the State is sued for collecting fees from mining claims that are revoked for clean water and the money for the lawsuit payoff comes from the PFD. That will really help destroy the Alaskan mining industry economy. Oil companies are also affected by the Clean Water Initiative; doubtfull those big interests will let this happen.
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