Twenty-two Alaska legislators, including Rep. Louise Statues, R-Kodiak, are urging continuation of the Transboundary Working Group established under a memorandum of understanding signed by former Gov. Bill Walker and former British Columbia Premier Christy Clark in 2015.
The legislators noted in an April 9 letter to Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Lt. gov. Kevin Meyer that the goal is to transparently share information and best practices, collaborate on data gathering and research, and to discuss draft permits and authorizations.
The Dunleavy administration has so far not responded to the correspondence.
With at least a dozen large-scale, open-pit and underground metal mines that are abandoned, permitted or operating on the British Columbia side of these transboundary rivers, it is important that Alaska engages in conversations about mine permitting, financial assurances, and potential cumulative effects of mining projects, legislators noted in the letter.
“It is critically important that we work with Canada to protect and encourage industry, particularly our maritime and aquaculture industries” said Rep. Dan Ortiz, of Ketchikan, who is not affiliated with any political party.
