Assessing the proposal to remove redundant processes from the City and Borough of Juneau’s mining ordinance by considering the environmental effectiveness of the regulatory processes and requirements at Greens Creek and Kensington makes a lot of sense. While their environmental records may not be “spotless,” the general public has not complained and indeed supported their environmental records. No mine will have a spotless environmental record even with four processes and four sets of requirements rather than two.
It’s true that Greens Creek and Kensington are not in downtown Juneau. Wouldn’t the fact that reopening the Alaska-Juneau Mine would require a lease approved by the Assembly and then a conditional use permit issued by the Planning Commission adequately address this point? Doesn’t this provide adequate local control?
The Assembly should seriously consider this proposal.
Naomi Hobbs
Juneau