The long-running debate over resource development took a new turn this week when two Haines assembly members introduced a sweeping draft package aimed at regulating any future heavy industry in the borough. The proposal — described as a “safety belt” — lays out dozens of potential guardrails that could apply if projects like large-scale mining ever move forward.
The document, introduced by assembly members Kevin Forster and Gabe Thomas, pulls together regulatory ideas they say are used elsewhere in Alaska. Forster said the draft was compiled with help from his wife and “AI analytical tools,” and stressed that it’s meant to show the full range of options — not a finished ordinance.
Supporters say the goal is pragmatic: if major development ever arrives, the borough should already have rules in place to protect the community and ensure it benefits. Critics raised concerns about the process and the scope of the proposal, noting that parts of the package were revised shortly before the meeting.
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Efrén López answers questions about a Hurdy Gurdy that he played during a concert on Monday, March 9, 2026, at the Chilkat Center in Haines, Alaska. López was part of the trio Amour Courtois which plays jazz interpretations of medieval music. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)
After several weeks in renovation, the Bookstore has re-opened just in time for the next meeting of a community book club launched earlier this year. This month, we're reading The Open Veins of Latin America written by Uruguayan journalist Eduardo Galeano. If you'd like to join us on Sunday, March 29, for a discussion you can find a copy at the Haines borough library, or at the Bookstore.
