Gov. Defends State’s Mine Permitting Process
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-074
November 6, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today defended the state’s system of regulating and permitting mines, saying the misuse of the Endangered Species Act and proposed changes to federal mining laws threaten mineral exploration and development in the state.
In his speech to the annual convention of the Alaska Miners Association, the governor praised the state’s rigorous permitting process as a world-class system that protects the environment while providing jobs and services across Alaska.
“Our permitting standards start with many years of environmental baseline data collection,” Governor Parnell said. “Dozens of authorizations from state, federal and local agencies are required before a mine can begin operations, and denial of any one of these authorizations along the way can stop the project.
“We are well aware of increased opposition to specific mining projects in Alaska, as well as some outright opposition to any mining in the state. Unfortunately, this opposition is far removed from a reasonable conversation about environmental safety and standards but relies instead on media misconceptions and legal shenanigans. The state will vigorously defend the permits we issue and our permitting process.”
Audio from the governor’s speech to the Alaska Miners Association is available at:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/audio/GovParnell-RecAwards_Nov6-2009.mp3.
