The local chapter of the Alaska Mining Association has just begun regular Friday morning meetings. We spoke with Chairman Jim Duffield, who said their first meeting was last week, where the hot topic was the Borough’s Anadromous Streams Ordinance…

Duffield: “It was of great concern to a lot of folks around here, and especially in the mining community, what it means, and not only for mining and industry and resource development, but personal – individuals. Anybody who owns property on a lake or stream where there might be salmon, you’re in jeopardy of not even being able to use your own land how you see fit. So we are going to try to get an effort with some other local groups and approach our assembly people and try to let them know that this is not a good idea, it is not a good ordinance, and it can affect our community.”

The AMA is also applauding legislation introduced this week by State Senator Lesil McGuire(R-Anchorage) to support the development of rare earth elements…

Duffield: “Look, 98 per cent of these elements are being mined now and processed now in China, and China has done a dramatic reduction in what they will allow to leave that country that is not in a finished product. So they’ve cut off, pretty much, the world’s supply of rare earth elements.”

Filed under: News by Catie Quinn