The following is an open letter from Alaskan US Senator Lisa Murkowski to Secretary of State John Kerry.
Dear Secretary Kerry,
I am writing to reiterate my concerns about large-scale mining in British Columbia, which has the potential to adversely affect downstream fisheries and communities in Southeast Alaska.
The tailings pond breach at the Mount Polley Mine on August 4th has renewed the specter of environmental impacts from large-scale hardrock mineral developments in Canada that are located near transboundary rivers. While it is encouraging that Canadian officials are publicly stating that preliminary test results show contaminant levels remain below both drinking water and aquatic life guidelines, this incident should compel the State Department to evaluate additional steps that may be warranted to safeguard U.S. interests.
One such step would be to encourage Canada’s federal government to undertake a Panel Review of the Kerr-Sulphurcts-Mitchell (KSM) mine in British Columbia. While the project has already undergone extensive assessment, a rigorous final review would help ensure that its potential impacts on trans boundary waters – and Alaska – are fully minimized. A Panel Review would help guard against a similar breach of wastewater and tailings, which in the case of the KSM mine could be released into the Unuk River, just 19 miles north of the Alaskan border.
Thousands of Alaska Natives, commercial fishermen, and tourism industry stakeholders have legitimate concerns about the potential impacts that large-scale mining in Canada could hold for them. I therefore urge you to accelerate your work with your Canadian counterparts to confirm that new mining activities are subject to proper review and continued oversight.
I appreciate your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Lisa Murkowski
United States Senator
art1, US Senator Lisa Murkowski is doing what she is being paid to do, looking out for her constituents. doesn’t seem that the bc liberals have any concern for theirs or our neighbors.
This is good news although disappointing that our own politicians fail so badly. Good to see that someone is sensible and taking the well being of the environment and therefore human life seriously.
The provincial government should be ashamed and some people in it should be seriously reprimanded and expelled for their neglect and total disregard for this province. They have shown total disrespect and cowardly leadership and it is my hope that this will be the beginning of there demise.
Well who trusts the American government anyhow on anything they say…, hell their own citizen’s don’t trust their own US government these days, after all they bankrupted their own country…clean up your own mess before you shoot your mouths off about Canada. .
art l….we as canadians don’t trust our own government these days! Be careful art the devil you know is better than the one you don’t.
We share borders meaning waterways, habitat, and air with them and they have a right to be concerned if we through incompetence destroy.
All the best!