Haines’ residents learned after-the-fact about Gov. Dunleavy’s recent visit to the Palmer Project with his chief of staff, Ben Stevens, and ADEC Commissioner Brune, via the Chilkat Valley News and KHNS. Neither the assembly, interested entities like the Klukwan community residing just downstream from the proposed mine site, nor other invested local folks had the opportunity to interact with these officials in the process or ask questions. Mayor Hill was included as an afterthought to see them off at the airport. We are simply appalled. The secretive visit showed one-sided support for a highly controversial development project. For many years, conservation groups, Native organizations, and citizens have expressed concerns about the mine proposal and its potential impacts on our productive Chilkat River. The nature and timing of the governor’s visit makes it clear that the state doesn’t care about our town and our concerns for the risks to the watershed that supports our fishing and tourism industries, or ancient, indigenous lifestyle. On the heels of many anti-environment actions and budget reversals taken by the governor during his short tenure, and ADEC’s failure to address nearby Kensington Mine’s numerous wastewater violations that recently came to light, this secret, single-perspective visit is even more questionable. How can we trust that the governor and the state’s regulatory bodies are willing and able to protect our river and our community?
Molly Sturdevant and Dave Nussbaumer