This editorial first appeared in the Ketchikan Daily News:
The House voted for economic recovery in Alaska when it passed the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act recently.
The act, amended by Congressman Don Young, exempts some mining activities in national forests from the 2001 Forest Service Roadless Rule.
This is the first step in allowing new mining-related activity in the Tongass National Forest. A year ago, a federal judge canceled the Tongass exemption to the rule.
But, Alaska, particularly southern Southeast, has at least two developing mine projects. Without the exemption, mining and economic development interests are fearful of costly delays as they pursue the projects. Young’s amendment would clear the road of delays affected by the Roadless Rule.
“It’s time for us to loosen China’s stranglehold on the world rare earths market,” Young says. “Whether it’s to build computers or build defense systems, rare earth minerals are the future, and with the right regulatory environment, Alaska has the potential to be a world leader in this arena.
“My amendment is straightforward. It simply brings back a decade-old Roadless Rule exemption for several of Alaska’s highly mineralized areas, such as the Bokan Mountain project.”
The Bokan project, located near Ketchikan, would extract rare earth minerals.
The Senate should follow the House’s example, passing this act, and President Obama, if he wants to improve the economy and create jobs, ought to sign off on it.
Comments (6)
Add commentHere's another 'rare earth'
I agree with Don Young.
But the bill almost certainly includes a whole bunch of other extreme, corporate giveaway stuff in it since it came from this republican House, so I expect it's DOA, like all of their other bills. It's an election year after all, so those clowns have no interest in producing legislation that benefits Americans. It's all about the political cage match.
I wonder if Young will show up to vote for his own bill?
The Tongass National Forest
The Tongass National Forest belongs to the public and so our public assets are going to Corporations for 1% of their real value . Alaskans the general public are being sold out
Republicans are selling out our public lands to corporations.
“It’s time for us to loosen
“It’s time for us to loosen China’s stranglehold on the world rare earths market,” Young says.
As an Alaskan I say our duty is to Alaskans and protecting our resources for future Alaskans. I think Don Youngs head is getting too big for his britches. He certainly is not impressing Alaskans.
From what I've read, Bokan
From what I've read, Bokan Mountain is already a mess from previous uranium mining. I'd be in favor of reopening if clean up provisions were included...
Roadless Rule
Just repeal the whole thing and start over; the Wilderness Act is another place to start over.