Red Dog breaking ground on new zinc ore site

May 20, 2010|by Ted Land

Some groups are still appealing permits that allow the mine to dump treated water into streams. (File/KTUU-DT)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Red Dog Mine is breaking ground on a new deposit, which could guarantee jobs and money for nearby villages.

The new deposit is called Aqqaluk, and without it there is really no future for the mine.

There are two main deposits of zinc ore at Red Dog Mine; the current one has provided enough material to keep workers busy for the past 20 years, but it's running out.

"We don't have very much left to mine. Without moving into the Aqqaluk deposit, we were looking at a shutdown in October of this year," said Rosie Barr with NANA Regional Corp., which owns the land the mine is on.

Aqqaluk is an untouched section of earth just yards away, and it could guarantee enough ore for another 20 years.

Mine operator Teck Cominco is now moving equipment in to break ground immediately.

"It's huge. The mood in the NANA region right now is of elation. There's a lot of people just walking around saying, ‘Have you heard? Red Dog's going to stay open for another 20 years.' It's very positive; it's a very joyous time for people in our region," Barr said.

NANA says developing Aqqaluk means secure jobs, money for local schools and robust dividend checks.

But the site was never guaranteed. The permit process took several years. Plus, there have been legal challenges from a few Native and environmental groups like Trustees for Alaska.

They are still appealing the permits that allow Red Dog to discharge treated water into a nearby stream.

The groups say they're not trying to stop mining; they're just not satisfied with the water discharge, which Red Dog says is safe to drink.

"The appeal is still there but we don't feel that the appeal inhibits our ability to mine. The appeal is something that will be resolved in the background," Jim Kulas with Teck Cominco Alaska said.

In the meantime, there is a sense of relief among the families who rely on Red Dog.

Teck Cominco says they've been having lengthy discussions with the Environmental Protection Agency, and that they've also conducted an extensive review of their own plans. Their conclusion is that Red Dog is taking all the necessary steps to proceed with mining in the new deposit.

Contact Ted Land at tland@ktuu.com

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