However, the site is not NI 43-101 compliant which leaves it wide open for exaggerated claims. NI 43-101 is a mineral resource classification scheme used for public disclosure relating to minerals properties in Canada.  NI 43-101, a guideline for how public companies disclose scientific and technical information about mineral projects, does not apply to Bokan.  The purpose  of NI 43-101 is to ensure that misleading, erroneous or fraudulent information relating to mineral properties is not published or promoted to investors on the stock exchange overseen by the Canadian Securities Authority.  Since the mine is in the US, Ucore is not subject to Canadian regulations.

Ucore is downplaying the fact that Kendrick Creek is listed as high priority by the State of Alaska Contamination Sites Program because of heavy metals and radioactive isotopes left by the Ross-Adams mine.  Kendrick Creek, a stream used for subsistence salmon and shellfish harvest, in addition to a significant commercial salmon harvest, is again under threat.

The proposed action , Alternative 2, would harvest the greatest amount of timber, using conventional and helicopter yarding systems.  There would be 9.3 miles of new road construction, extending the existing road system. There is extensive controversy over the log staging area in the Pothole, a protected cove on the east coast of Woewodski.  Log rafts have been shown to damage productive marine habitat.  However, barging the logs to their destination is preferable as a means of protecting the personal, subsistence and commercial crab harvest in the Pothole.

Comments are due mid-December.

Tongass Conservation Society opposes S 730 and HR 1408, cited as “Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Acts”.  These bills propose to transfer publicly owned lands in the Tongass National Forest to a private corporation, Sealaska Corporation. Sealaska Corporation already selected its remaining lands from the agreed upon withdrawal areas in accordance with The Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act on June 10, 2008.  We oppose allowing Sealaska Corporation to select lands other than those already selected within the boundaries established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.  These outside selections would significantly compromise the unique values of the Tongass National Forest for wildlife habitat, fish propagation and recreational opportunities now available to all Americans. Passage would undermine the Tongass Land Management Plan and the Tongass Transition Framework being developed by the USDA.  S 730 and HR 1408 would authorize an exchange of low value timberland for some of the best fish and wildlife habitat in the United States, if not the world, so Sealaska Corporation can log these areas and ship the unprocessed logs overseas.

Our concern about this threat to the ecological integrity of the Tongass National Forest comes from direct observation of Sealaska’s intensive logging practices (practices that would be illegal on National Forest land) including: clearcutting timber from the alpine edge all the way to the beach without leaving any remnant old-growth stands of trees and leaving inadequate timber buffers along waterways to protect resident and anadromous fish stream habitat. Many of our members make their livelihood from fishing on the waters of the Tongass National Forest.  Still others are in visitor, tourism and outdoor recreation businesses.  S730 and HR 1408 would privatize dozens of undeveloped coves, bays and streams currently publicly accessible for recreational use.  The “enterprise/native futures” sites are poorly defined in these bills, leaving valuable archeological sites of interest to all of humanity at risk of unrestricted eventual development.  For example:  The oldest human remains yet found in North America have been found in the Prince of Wales Island Archipelago, the site of most of Sealaska Corporation’s selections in these bills, and these human remains are not genetically related to the Alaska Native peoples currently residing in Southeast Alaska.

Additional Congressional action is not necessary for the Bureau of Land Management to complete conveyance of Sealaska Corporation land entitlements under ANCSA.  Finalization of these entitlements should be a priority, but TCS does not agree with any proposal that extends beyond the withdrawal areas agreed upon under ANCSA and strongly opposes S730 and HR 1408.

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After Brent Murphy of Seabridge gave his hour and a half introduction, the floor was opened to questions.  None spoke in favor of the mine, and Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members testified about the danger posed to their salmon and hooligan fisheries. Since all tribes are sovereign nations, negotiations between the tribes and the Canadian government will be necessary. The state of Alaska will work with the company in the permitting process but the DEC official said the State would grant permits if environmental regulations were considered.

Interested persons can call locally to our three representatives in D.C.   Lisa Murkowski’s office is 907 225 6880, Mark Begich’s office is 907 225 3000, and Don Young’s is 907 225 6880. Call Scott Walker of the Ketchikan ADFG (907 225 5195) commercial fish division if you are concerned about fish runs in southern Southeast. Joe Hitselberger of the Habitat Division in Juneau (541-563-2347)has a seat at the table with the Canadian mining companies.  The Habitat Division can be encouraged to monitor water quality that is already being impacted by melting glaciers. 

Since Seabridge is only doing feasability studies, now is the time to ask qestions and stay informed. 

For more information, go to UnukRiverPost.org and SeaBridgeGold.net
Also a link to the Project Summary: click here…

Take Action:
Contact The Ministry of British Columbia, Environmental Protection Division at: (250) 387-1288, or email: envprotdiv@victoria1.gov.bc.ca

Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Office of the Commissioner at: 907-269-8431, or email: daniel.sullivan@alaska.gov