I’d like to address the subject of foreign mining companies operating in the Chilkat Valley. I am not an environmentalist, but imagine the traffic and road damage on the highway caused by ore trucks or the effect of even one spill in the Chilkat River. Imagine a mine on a glaciated mountain “NOT” leaching into the Chilkat River. Imagine this mine with containment ponds when the mountain decides to slide. Imagine ore trucks navigating Porcupine without ending up in the river. Imagine any spill in the river or inlet and the effect it will have on fishing and the livelihood of many. Think of all these trucks driving through town at all hours. Imagine thousands of containers stacked up at Lutak waiting to be loaded. Imagine the tourists who come back year after year when they see what was allowed to happen and decide this will be the last visit. In 10-20 years the residents will be left with the mess. Take a trip to Faro and see how well these mining companies care about the community. When they say it is a win-win, they mean they’ll contribute just enough to appease the policy makers while looking to line investors’ pockets. Does the Borough really “Need” more than the first two phases on Lutak dock? Is losing what makes this valley so special worth the risk for a temporary tax influx? Once you let them in, there’s no going back and the place that we know will be gone forever.
Mike Cooper