Rivers Without Borders, Takshanuk Watershed Council, Lynn Canal Conservation, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, and Audubon Alaska joined Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan in challenging a state of Alaska issued permit authorizing the Palmer project’s underground mineral exploration in Chilkat headwaters. The exploration activity, as proposed, would be upstream of Klukwan and the renowned Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, site of the largest seasonal eagle gathering in the world. The appeal was filed by Earthjustice on November 3.
The specific point of contention is a State waste water management approval, and the appeal requests a formal review and rescinding of that decision. The wastewater – likely to be acidic and laden with metals – would be discharged from underground works. Appellants contend the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has failed to consider the likelihood of that wastewater finding its way to the Klehini River, the main tributary of the Chilkat.
A November 7 press release about the appeal is here.
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