ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Four groups including an Alaska Native tribe are suing the U.S. government over mining exploration permits granted near a major southeast Alaska salmon river and bald eagle preserve.
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The Chilkat Indian village of Klukwan (KLUK-wahn) and three environmental groups on Monday sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management over permits awarded to Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. above the Chilkat (CHIL-kat) River.
The Canadian company is spending millions exploring for copper, zinc, gold and silver and has said it’s too early to determine whether a mine will be built.
But tribal President Kimberly Strong says hard rock mining is a threat to salmon and the sustainability of her community.
The lawsuit says the bureau should review the consequences of a mine, not simply the effects of exploration, before awarding exploration permits.
