Alaska Inter-Tribal Council : Advocating for Alaska Tribal Governments

ALASKA INTER-TRIBAL COUNCIL

Resolution #2006-11

ENTITLED: A resolution to support traditional land uses and oppose proposed expansion of Red Dog Mine port.

WHEREAS, the Native Village of Point Hope, IRA is a federally recognized tribal government organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 as amended for Alaska Natives in 1936; and

WHEREAS, the Native Village of Point Hope is responsible for the well being of its members; and

WHEREAS, in 1992 we the Inupiat of Point Hope have adopted the Code of Offenses Against the Peace and Security of the Inupiat People of Point Hope; and

WHEREAS, we adopted this code in order to better protect ourselves from policies of the United States which have historically disregarded the well being of the indigenous peoples; and

WHEREAS, we recommend to all Traditional Native Governments and IRAs, that they adopt, by their own majority, this Code of Offenses Against the Peace and Security of Mankind (an international code); and

WHEREAS, the caribou, marine mammals, migratory birds, and fish migrate through our oceans and land and continued development and exploitation of our land and sea poses eminent and long-term cumulative threat to our well being; and

WHEREAS, Point Hope suffers from major impacts from global warming to our community and future oil, gas, and coal mining on the North Slope and Arctic Ocean would contribute to this problem yet have not been adequately addressed by the federal government and would be worsened by expansion of the Red Dog port; and

WHEREAS, there are existing impacts to the lands and waters upon which our community depends from existing operations of the Red Dog port and mine that have gone unaddressed despite our repeated comments and expressions of concern by our community members and tribal government; and

WHEREAS, the permitting process is underway for a major port expansion at Red Dog mine port but there has been little consultation by government agencies with our tribal government; and

WHEREAS, recently the U.S. Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, issued a Public Notice calling for comments on a draft Environmental Impact Statement that proposes a significant expansion of the existing port for the Red Dog mine. The Corps has chosen as the proposed preferred alternative for the proposed port expansion a trestle and channel. The 1450-foot trestle would have an overhead conveyor system to carry ore from the mine. A deep-draft channel with a turning area offshore of the loading dock would extend 3.5 miles offshore.

WHEREAS, some, but not all, of the adverse impacts from the proposed project are as follows:
1.The Red Dog is the largest Lead Zinc mine in the world, and the 10th worst polluter in the U.S.
2.The expanded port’s cumulative effects to the rich land and waters upon which we depend would alter the habitat, migratory behavior and health of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd and increased pressure for offshore oil and gas development as well as direct effects of the port would disturb the migraine and alter the habitats of the bowhead whale, beluga whale, birds and other marine life.
3.The proposed project will have a disproportionate adverse environmental impact on Point Hope and other Alaska Native communities, implicating environmental justice concerns.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that AI-TC does hereby…that we the Native Village of Point Hope oppose the currently proposed plans for expansion of the port at Red Dog mine due to our concern about continued sustenance from land and sea and our traditional hunting, fishing and other cultural activities that depend on the living resources of these lands and waters.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that a health impact assessment be requested.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that this resolution shall be the policy of AI-TC until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.

CERTIFICATION

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2006 Annual Convention of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, held at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel, in Anchorage, Alaska on December 19, 2006 with a quorum present.