Red Dog Mine takes environmental protection seriously

JIM KULAS

May 15, 2008 at 10:02AM AKST

As the environmental superintendent at the Red Dog Mine, I cannot in good conscience ignore the inaccurate comments made by Bruce Switzer, former environmental affairs director of Cominco, recently in the media.

During my 20 years working at the mine, Red Dog has demonstrated a commitment to environmental stewardship and continuous improvement. We have proven that we respond to challenges as they arise and that Red Dog can co-exist with the land, clean water and our neighbors.

Switzer is a spokesman for the anti-Pebble campaign. By attacking Red Dog, he is making numerous allegations that are wrong and misleading Alaskans.
For example, let’s examine the issue of water quality, important to both Alaskans and Red Dog Mine. The facts show the Red Dog Mine is protecting the stream and has improved the downstream water quality.

Before the first exploration hole was drilled in 1980, and before production began in 1989, environmental baseline studies were completed that were more than adequate to characterize natural conditions.

Contrary to Switzer’s assertions, these studies document that the water quality in Red Dog Creek was impaired due to the natural weathering of mineralized rock in its valley.

As early as 1978, Ward and Olson conducted a baseline aquatic investigation of fish and water quality in the Kivalina and Wulik river drainages.

Independent governmental studies further support the improvement of downstream water quality compared to the pre-mining conditions.

“Post-mining concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc in the water of the main stem of Red Dog Creek are lower than pre-mining conditions,” said the Environmental Protection Agency’s Red Dog Environmental Assessment in January 2006.

Ten years of aquatic surveys have demonstrated that aquatic productivity in the main stem has increased from pre-mining conditions due to effective water management practices and treatment, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in March 2006.

The fact is Red Dog does co-exist with a healthy stream.
To be sure, operating in a remote, frozen, environmentally sensitive and pristine ecosystem poses challenges. In the first year of operation, water flow out of the mine area was more than anticipated.

In response, we built a diversion structure, which isolates the creek from mining activity. The project was completed the following year under a compliance order by consent with the state, not EPA.

This solution was effective and has worked to protect the downstream water quality for the last 15 years.

In addition, on our own initiative, we extended the structure further upstream to mitigate natural impacts from an area untouched by mining.

We’ve met the challenges and learned from experience. Most important, we are committed to continuous improvement of our environmental performance by using the latest in environmental best practices, technology and equipment.

Red Dog Mine operates under some of the world’s most stringent regulations and actively and regularly complies with 110 permits, regulations, agreements and environmental plans.

We work with more than 23 different state and federal agencies. Together, we ensure the mine operation is safe and environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.
The 475 employees at the Red Dog Mine are proud of our accomplishments under some of the most difficult and challenging circumstances.

Switzer has thrown a bucket of allegations at Red Dog that don’t hold water.
Don’t be misled. We invite Alaskans to get to know the facts about Red Dog and the benefits it provides to the NANA region and the state of Alaska by visiting www.reddogalaska.com.

Jim Kulas is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with 34 years of experience in the mining industry. He joined Red Dog as chief geologist in 1988; in 1996, he was given the responsibility for all environmental matters for the mine as the environmental superintendent.