Alaskan Fishing and Tourism Businesses, Trade Groups, and Tribes Urge Governor Dunleavy to Ensure B.C. Cleans Up

Abandoned and Polluting Tulsequah Chief Mine

(JUNEAU) Alaskan fishing groups and businesses, tourism businesses, and tribes representing thousands of Alaskans today signed a letter to Governor Dunleavy urging him to seize “the best opportunity in 20 years to obtain real action from British Columbia to clean up and close down” the Tulsequah Chief mine.

“For 20 years Alaskans have been worried about the Tulsequah Chief and its impacts on the Taku River Watershed. B.C. is finally taking this problem seriously and is taking steps to clean up and close down the mine. Today it is clear that thousands of Alaskans want our governor to keep the pressure up on B.C. and to ensure the province honors its responsibilities and cleans up this abandoned and polluting mine,” said Chris Zimmer of Rivers Without Borders.

Toxic acid mine drainage from the Tulsequah Chief mine has been flowing into the Taku River Watershed since the mine was abandoned in 1957. Despite numerous calls for cleanup over the past two decades the pollution has been allowed to continue unabated by previous B.C. governments. But this situation is now changing. The current New Democratic party-led B.C. government appears to realize the Tulsequah Chief is not a viable mine and previous B.C. strategies of hoping a company will reopen and eventually clean up the mine aren’t realistic. B.C. has accepted a joint proposal for mine cleanup from consulting firms SRK Consulting and SNC-Lavalin. But there could be much latitude as to what constitutes proper remediation, and Alaska’s continued involvement will be crucial.

The Taku is the traditional territory of the Tlingit people on both sides of the border. The Douglas Indian Association is a federally-recognized Tribe in Alaska and the Taku River Tlingit First Nation is based in Atlin, B.C. Both have recently called for the cleanup and closure of the Tulsequah Chief.

“It is good to see B.C. recognize the widespread opposition to the Tulsequah Chief on both sides of the border and increasing demands for both an end to the long-standing acid mine drainage and a full closure of the abandoned mine. But this is by no means a done deal, and we urge Governor Dunleavy to help protect Taku salmon by ensuring B.C. conducts a full cleanup and closure,” said John Morris, Sr., Vice President of the Douglas Indian Association.

Today’s letter noted, “Cleaning up and closing down the Tulsequah Chief mine is currently the best, relatively easiest, and timeliest opportunity to protect a valuable Southeast Alaska transboundary salmon watershed from the effects of mining in B.C.” However, the Tulsequah Chief is a relatively small mine, previous B.C. governments did little to stop the acid mine drainage pollution and there is significant mining activity across the B.C. side of the transboundary region. Alaskans are worried about the track record of provincial enforcement of mining regulations.

"As large scale mining projects increase on transboundary rivers flowing into Southeast, we should look at the Tulsequah as an example of the level of responsibility Canada will provide in cleanup to Alaska," said Chris Guggenbickler, President of the United Southeast Alaska Gillnetters.

Today’s letter concluded by asking the governor for his “help to continue the engagement with B.C. and Canada, Alaska legislators, our Congressional delegation, and the U.S. federal government that has over the last several years made significant progress in addressing the Tulsequah Chief issue” and to “work with those leaders, businesses, organizations, and individuals whose involvement in the Tulsequah Chief issue over the last many years is now achieving significant progress with the B.C. provincial and Canadian federal governments.”

“After 20 years we are finally seeing the B.C. government begin to address the Tulsequah Chief problem. Alaskans need our new governor to keep the pressure on B.C. to ensure the province follows through with its commitment to clean up and close down this polluting mine,” said Zimmer.