U.S. State Department officials are in Southeast Alaska this week to talk about transboundary mines. The Environmental Protection Agency also has sent representatives.
They’ll visit Ketchikan and Juneau at the invitation of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
Council President Richard Peterson said the officials will meet with tribal governments, Native corporations and state officials.
“They’re basically here to hear and see our concerns with mining activities in the transboundary area of the British Columbia and Yukon … that threaten our boundary waters ecosystem and its four great rivers, which are the Alsek, Taku, Stikine and Unuk,” Peterson said.
The council is among regional and statewide groups worried about the impacts of mines and exploration projects in British Columbia.
They say polluted water could end up in B.C. rivers that flow through Southeast Alaska. That could damage salmon and other fisheries.
The State Department has refused to become involved, saying it’s a local issue that can be worked out by Alaska and B.C. governments.
Central Council Executive Committee member Rob Sanderson Jr. said he hopes that attitude will change after the meetings. Officials will also fly over the Unuk River, a transboundary waterway north of Ketchikan.
“The biggest thing that I’m hoping for is to bring awareness to the national level and to the international level,” Sanderson said.
In addition to tribal organizations, visiting officials are scheduled to meet with Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott. Mallott oversees the state’s transboundary mining efforts.
B.C. mine owners and environmental officials say they are already protecting transboundary rivers.
Ed Schoenfeld is Regional News Director for CoastAlaska, a consortium of public radio stations in Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg and Wrangell.
He primarily covers Southeast Alaska regional topics, including the state ferry system, transboundary mining, the Tongass National Forest and Native corporations and issues.
He has also worked as a manager, editor and reporter for the Juneau Empire newspaper and Juneau public radio station KTOO. He’s also reported for commercial station KINY in Juneau and public stations KPFA in Berkley, WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and WUHY in Philadelphia. He’s lived in Alaska since 1979 and is a contributor to Alaska Public Radio Network newscasts, the Northwest (Public Radio) News Network and National Native News. He is a board member of the Alaska Press Club. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he lives in Douglas.
