OPINION: What must Alaskans do to combat misguided government decisions?

I have compiled some research regarding the Kinross-Contango/Black Gold Transport ore trucking scheme from Tetlin to Fort Knox Gold Mine in the Interior, which will use heavy ore trucks with tandem trailers, purported to weigh 164,000 pounds. Current information touts 60 trucks per day headed north and 60 trucks making the return south. This amounts to close to 10 million pounds of trucks and ore on the roadways daily. They will be on the highways for years, running 24/7/365 with a duration between five and 25 years for the life of the project.

I’ve pondered how an international mining company can just show up and announce its “Kinross Alaska Strategy.” Their trucking plan is not just for the Tetlin to Fort Knox operation. They have their sights set on other mining locations in Alaska. The “strategy” is to haul the ore from additional sites to Fort Knox for processing and ore waste disposal. Which will mean more B-train trucks on Alaska highways. They have sites at the Lucky Shot, War Baby and Coleman mines in the Willow area, as well as Shamrock and other properties along Alaska highways. They desire Manh Choh to set the precedent for private ore hauling on the highways.

So, in lieu of processing ore on-site, they plan to haul ore to Fort Knox. In essence, the Alaska road system will be commandeered and hijacked for private industrial ore hauling. This “sleight of hand” maneuver has a massive benefit to the mining consortium. No further permitting for waste disposal, no EIS implications, no need for mine infrastructure (i.e., building processing mills or tailing piles and environmental maintenance), and minimized Department of Environmental Conservation or Environmental Protection Agency permit encumbrances. It eliminates the company’s need and expense of building infrastructure for industrial ore processing. Just take over the instate road system and let the state deal with snow, bridge and pavement maintenance, and the deteriorating highway safety conditions from private trucking. Haul everything to Fort Knox. The corporate savings will be immense. What a brilliant corporate plan — if they can pull it off.

After reviewing the Kinross/Contango Alaska Strategy, concerned residents have noticed flaws in this hauling plan. We presented the issues to our elected representatives to express our concerns. We have contacted the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and mayor, the city of Fairbanks council and mayor, and the Interior delegation representatives to the Legislature, as well as the governor’s office. I have met with the governor’s local representative and Department of Transportation and Public Facilities commissioner, with the borough mayor and numerous Interior delegation representatives in Fairbanks. The city mayor has not returned phone calls.

To date, the response from most officials has been discreet stall tactics, “waiting for some more information” excuses or no response at all. Few have come forward with a definitive response to our concerns or provided an explanation of reasoning to condone the ore-hauling scheme. Correspondence and phone inquiries have fallen on deaf ears. Some elected officials have been cordial and professional; others, not so much. I have provided my research (including direct specifics from the mining company’s information) about future plans for Alaska. Most officials have refused to get serious or offer the courtesy of a reply.

In essence, we are locked out of the democratic process, due to our representatives’ refusal to respond to citizen concerns. This is a despicable condition when they will not consider our thoughts, suggestions or potential solutions for the betterment of our community, way of life and standard of living. They have forgotten who truly elected them. It was not the state, the federal government or the corporations that elected them. It was us, the people, the citizens, the residents. They should be looking out for us first.

The major problem is the proposed ore trucking. This plan is fraught with problems. Overall road safety, additional traffic in our communities, school bus stops along the route, road and bridge deterioration, additional road maintenance, the lack of quiet enjoyment of our properties, air quality, etc. Few elected officials are listening or caring a whit about these issues. Is there something else in the background? Could it be the state’s investment in Contango through the Permanent Fund? Is it because our governor wants to say yes for all big business? Have our elected officials thought this through? It appears our government is spiraling out of control and is making more poor decisions.

I must call out certain elected officials for their inactions and non-responsive demeanor towards the electorate. I’ve met with Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office (no follow-up response), Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Bryce Ward’s office (no follow-up response), and DOT Commissioner Ryan Anderson (no follow-up response). I have contacted all Borough Assembly members, with only five out of nine willing to respond. I’ve contacted all Interior delegation representatives, and Reps. Maxine Dibert and Mike Cronk refused to reply. Nothing. I’ve left messages with both of them for a return call at least five times. And these people claim they are in office to represent us? I’ll offer a suggestion for those who cannot reply to the constituency: Please just resign. You are not doing your job.

Here’s the challenge: Many people in our state are unaware of what is trying to take place with the Kinross/Contango/Black Gold round-the-clock trucking scheme. If you don’t live in the Interior, you are probably unaware of what the international mining industry has planned. But they have plans, and they have their sights set on adding more trucking to our highways, especially the Willow area and Hatcher Pass with their Lucky Shot, Coleman and War Baby mine sites. So, the residents of Southcentral Alaska, I suggest you start asking questions, contact your legislators and demand transparent and comprehensive responses about what our state government is allowing to happen on the roadways. It appears to be a free ride, no holds barred, an international company hijacking the highways for private ore hauling — possibly for decades.

I’m for mining in Alaska. Our state has a massive potential for responsible mining. But, not by hijacking our roads. Leave our roads to the traveling public and actual true freight commerce. Our roads are not to be commandeered for private industrial ore hauling by a company extracting a non-renewable resource for which the state gets minimal (or nothing) in royalties. Why should the state have to pay to clean up the damaged roads, or build new bridges and passing lanes, and potentially deal with damaged lives, during and after the ore-hauling barrage? Ladies and gentlemen who represent us, private ore hauling on our highways will prove to be a bad decision and set a dangerous precedent. To the mining consortium, the lack of a responsible mining plan on your part does not constitute an emergency just to move private ore. Let’s get this right: Find a better alternative that serves everyone’s best interests. If our state is expanding mineral exploration, then now might be the time to develop our railroad.

Richard Tilly is a retired contractor who has lived in Fairbanks for 60 years.

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