Several Native American tribes in Alaska are fighting to overturn a permit granted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a controversial gold-dredging project in the state. The tribes argue that the project, known as the Donlin Gold mine, would have detrimental impacts on their ancestral lands and waters.
The permit, issued in November 2018, allows developers to dredge for gold along a 315-mile stretch of the Kuskokwim River. The project is a joint venture between two mining companies, Barrick Gold Corp and NovaGold Resources Inc, and is expected to produce over 33 million ounces of gold over the next several decades.
However, the tribes are concerned about the potential environmental impacts of the project, including pollution of the river, destruction of fish habitats, and impacts on subsistence fishing and hunting practices. The tribes argue that the Corps did not adequately consider these impacts when issuing the permit.
In their legal challenge, the tribes are seeking to have the permit overturned and are calling for a more extensive environmental review of the project. They argue that the Corps violated the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act when issuing the permit.
The tribes have garnered support from environmental groups and have filed a lawsuit in federal court to challenge the permit. They are also calling on the mining companies to engage in meaningful consultation with the tribes to address their concerns.
The outcome of the legal challenge remains uncertain, but the tribes are determined to protect their ancestral lands and waters from the impacts of the Donlin Gold mine project. The controversy surrounding the project highlights the ongoing tension between development interests and tribal rights in Alaska.
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Photo credit alaskabeacon.com
