RIVERS WITHOUT BORDERS

Tulsequah Chief hoverbarge plan - the sequel! 

The state of Alaska has halted - for the second time – a permitting process key to Redcorp Ventures’ Tulsequah Chief mine proposal for the lower Taku.  The company’s latest ‘hoverbarge’ plan was deemed to be far too lacking in essential details, according to Alaska government agencies.  Since Redcorp’s latest submission was not complete, the 30-day public comment period clock was stopped as of December 17th, 2008.  The clock will not restart until Redcorp submits the information agencies require in order to undertake a full and thorough evaluation of the plan.  

The Taku is southeast Alaska’s most important wild salmon producer. The lower Taku is also shallow, ever changing, and notoriously challenging to navigate.  Commercial and sport fishermen do not want to see its prime salmon rearing habitat jeopardized by daily, year round barging to and from the Tulsequah Chief Mine.  State biologists share that concern, and are insisting that Redcorp provide more information about how it will use untested barge towing vehicles (in and out of the water) along the river corridor, avoid or mitigate mishaps and spills, monitor habitat degradation, and other critical details. 

See Alaska DNR’s comprehensive Tulsequah Chief page for specifics

Submit your written comments to Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources:

See RWB’s public comment submissions tip sheet to craft an effective letter for Alaska DNR.

DOWNLOAD RWB’s HOVERBARGE REPORT - a review of Redcorp’s first proposal

British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Office’s (BC EAO) website

See documents already posted to BC’s EAO website on their Tulsequah-Barging page. 

Although BC EAO’s comment period has come to a close, inquiries can still be directed to:

Garry Alexander
Project Assessment Director
BC Environmental Assessment Office
PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9V1
(250) 387-9675; 1-800-663-7867
email: garry.alexander@gov.bc.ca

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