TKC’s Board of Directors visits a working mine to gain insight for development on corporation lands.
PHOTO: TKC’s Board of Directors and management stand atop the tailings dam at Red Dog Mine.
When it comes to TKC’s land stewardship, everything must be in balance. Development must be carefully balanced with traditional use and conservation. That’s the framework upon which TKC’s Natural Resource Policy is built. TKC supports development of our resources when it can be done in a responsible way and with that in mind, TKC’s Board and management traveled to Red Dog Mine in August.
Red Dog is one of the world’s largest zinc mines. It is located about 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle in northwest Alaska, near Kotzebue. In 1989, Red Dog Operations were developed through an operating agreement between Teck and the land-owner NANA, the Alaska Native regional corporation owned by the Iñupiat people of northwest Alaska. Red Dog is an open-pit truck-and-loader operation, using drill and blast mining methods.
There is much we can learn from our neighbors to the north. The Donlin Gold Project, located on Calista and TKC lands near Crooked Creek, is one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in the world. TKC is the owner of most, but not all, surface lands that the potential mine would operate on. TKC has entered an agreement with Donlin Gold LLC, the company responsible for developing the mine, which is jointly owned by Barrick Gold and NOVAGOLD Resources. This agreement outlines the terms under which the mine can be developed and operated, including considerations for land use, environmental protection, and benefits to local communities. TKC has contractual agreements with Donlin Gold which provide TKC rights to participate in the planning of the project, and oversight in activities, adding a layer of protection beyond that of the state or federal regulatory agencies.
By being directly involved, TKC can hold Donlin Gold accountable to the agreements made, particularly in areas such as environmental protections and reclamation. That’s why TKC’s trip to the Red Dog Mine was so important. Nearly 30 years into operations, Red Dog has gained valuable insights into balancing mining development and traditional land use. Like at Red Dog, best practices for water treatment and reclamation have been worked into plans for the potential Donlin Mine. When writing our surface use agreement in 2014, TKC’s Board of Directors based the Donlin Advisory Technical Review and Oversight Committee (DATROC) on best practices used at other modern mines. Now, the DATROC’s Subsistence Community Advisory Committee is also based on Red Dog Mine’s Subsistence Committee framework. TKC knew giving local voices a platform to be heard would not only be vital to the development of the project, but also the long-term health of the Kuskokwim watershed.
PHOTOS: (LEFT) Members of TKC’s Board stand on the banks of Red Dog Creek, where water from the Red Dog Mine is released after being treated. (MIDDLE) A Teck employee explains the multi-phased water treatment facility at Red Dog Mine. Red Dog spends $6 million every year on water treatment and management. (RIGHT) TKC board members tour the Red Dog Mine’s operations during their August 7, 2024 trip to the mine site.
While Red Dog is an operating mine, Donlin is years away from a construction decision. But before any mining starts Donlin and the landowners are working on the plan for closing the mine and reclaiming the land. Reclamation at Donlin is planned to occur in phases, beginning while mining operations are still ongoing. Restoring the lands as soon as possible minimizes environmental impact by allowing habitat to recover more quickly.
Another significant aspect of the Donlin waste management and reclamation plans involves the management of tailings, which is the crushed rock mixed with water that remain after the extraction of the gold. The plan includes the construction of a tailings storage facility with a dam designed to prevent contamination of local water sources. The tailings dam is being engineered to handle extreme weather events and climate change, potential seismic activity, and ensure long-term stability to prevent environmental disasters. Unlike other modern mining operations in Alaska, Donlin’s tailings impoundment will be lined with a thick layer of plastic, which adds additional environmental protection. Once mining ends, this facility will be dewatered, capped, revegetated and monitored to ensure protection of surrounding environment.
After mining is completed, the land will be reshaped to more natural contours, and vegetation will be re-established. Native plant species will be used to rehabilitate the landscape, aiming to restore it to a condition that supports wildlife and other natural processes.
Reclamation doesn’t end once the physical work is done. Long-term monitoring and maintenance is a required part of the plan to guarantee that reclamation efforts are successful. This includes ongoing water quality testing, monitoring of dams, and inspections of reclaimed areas to ensure they remain stable and environmentally sound.
Above the Arctic Circle, these concepts are already in action at Red Dog. TKC appreciates their willingness to share what has worked, and what hasn’t in their 30-year operation. For now, TKC will continue the conversations vital to responsible development, both with industry leaders and our communities. Any development of our lands must be balanced with many voices at the decision table.
Quyanaqpak to Red Dog for their generous hospitality! Our common values of preparedness and sharing were exemplary during our visit north.
