Mining Resources and Contacts



Abandoned Mines in Alaska

Federal and State agencies recognize that there are a number of safety and pollution problems left behind from old mines on their lands. Through various Abandoned Mines Land Programs, progress is being made on the cleanup of old mines and mitigation safety hazards. See these websites for information on programs on lands managed by the various agencies and entities.

Bureau of Land Management

http://www.blm.gov/ak/ak940/aml/amlindex.html
Current AML Projects in Alaska (http://www.blm.gov/ak/ak940/aml/amlbusiness.html

Forest Service & BLM joint report “Abandoned Mine Lands: A Decade of Progress Reclaiming Hardrock Mines” (September 2007, 4 MB))

http://www.fs.fed.us/geology/final_10_year.pdf

Forest Service

Forest Service Minerals & Geology Management Abandoned Mines Program (http://www.fs.fed.us/geology/aml-index.htm ) Forest Service Region 10 (Alaska) contact http://www.fs.fed.us/geology/aml-projects.htm

National Park Service Abandoned Mine Lands Program

http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/aml/about_aml.cfm

US Environmental Protection Agency Abandoned Mine Lands National Priority List

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/aml/amlsite/npl.htm
http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/webpage/Alaska+Cleanup+Sites

State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Abandoned Mine Lands Program

http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/mining/aml/

State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Contaminated Sites Program

http://www.dec.state.ak.us/spar/csp/list.htm

US Geological Service Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative

http://amli.usgs.gov/index.html

ANCSA Regional or Village Corporation Lands

http://www.nunat.net/ANCSA_corp_list.pdf

Resources on Mining in Alaska

The following links are geared towards individuals and companies who want to establish mining claims or to develop them. Knowing the laws and rules that they must follow will help you to know your rights and their rights.

State of Alaska Statutes: mining laws (AS 38.05.185-275) and regulations (11 AAC 86.100-600)

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/folhome.htm
http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title27.htm

Information about the Federal Mining Law of 1872 and Possible Reform of this Law

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mining_Act_of_1872
http://www.modrall.com/articles/article_22.html
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2262
http://aprn.org/2007/10/02/mining-reforms-debated-in-congress/
http://www.earthworksaction.org/pubs/MiningReform2007.pdf


State of Alaska Division of Commerce, Office of Economic Development

http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/oed/minerals/mining.htm

Alaska Miners Association

http://www.alaskaminers.org/
This paper from the AMA website discusses regulatory and business changes that have improved the mining climate in Alaska. http://www.alaskaminers.org/ME200423.pdf

AKGeology.info

(Minerals Data Information Rescue in Alaska—MDIRA) Land Records, Payments & Compliance information, maps/publications (including Guide to Alaska Geologic and Mineral Information (13 MB)), Geology/Geochemical data, and Libraries/Archives resources.
http://www.akgeology.info/

DNR’s Public Notices site

http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/pic/pubnotfrm.htm

Alaska Mining and Diving Supply

http://www.akmining.com/mine/mcalaska.htm

AK Resource Development Council (promotes mining)

http://www.akrdc.org/issues/mining/overview.html

Northern Alaska Environmental Center Mining Section

http://www.northern.org/artman/publish/mining.shtml

Alaskans for Responsible Mining

http://www.reformakmines.org/

Alaska Community Actions on Toxics

http://www.akaction.org/Mining.htm

Kuskokwim River Watershed Council

http://kuskokwimcouncil.org/mining.html

Nunat Message Board

http://members.boardhost.com/nunat/

Other Good Resources (Not Alaska-specific)


USGS Water Resources Streaming Video Archive (& educational courses)

http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/wrdseminar/pastseminarsonvideo.htm

The Mining News: News on Mining’s Impacts from Communities and Activists Worldwide

http://www.theminingnews.org/home.cfm

Mines and Communities Links

http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Links/links.htm

Save the Wild UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan)

http://www.savethewildup.org/facts/

Mine-Aid.org

http://www.mine-aid.org/predictions/

Framework for Responsible Mining

http://www.frameworkforresponsiblemining.org/index.html

List of Videos Pertaining to Mining

http://www.nunat.net/video_list.pdf

Funding Sources

This is the main funding source available to Tribes for community education on mining issues.

Western Mining Action Network--Minigrants for Mining projects.

IEN attn:
Mining Mini-grants, PO Box 485, Bemidji, MN 56619
Contact Sarah Keeney, WMAN
Network Coordinator at
(503) 327-8625 or sarahekeeney@comcast.net
or Simone Senogles, Indigenous
Environmental Network, (218) 751-4967 or simone@ienearth.org.

http://www.wman-info.org/resources/minigrantsprogram/

(Website has last year’s mini-grant information, but they are accepting proposals for 2007-2008. Deadline is 10/1)

Legal Resources

This section is intended to help your community find out about mines and mining that may affect you. But, like most laws that affect Tribes, there can be numerous exceptions and complications to the general rule. Alaska Tribes can face additional layers of complexity with ANSCA and other issues. If you are unsure whether you might be an exception, it is always best to get legal advice before taking a Tribal action that could have unintended consequences.

There are a number of free legal services available to Tribes.

To get a referral or advice, try contacting:



If you are a non-profit or low-income community group and do not have a lawyer, there are a number of low-cost or no-cost options. The American Bar Association has established a policy of increasing pro bono assistance to rural areas. Try contacting their Pro Bono Center at (312) 988-5759, http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/home.html

Also see the Alaska State Department of Community and Economic Development's webpage on Contractual Agreements Between Municipal and Tribal Governments or Non-profits at http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/LOGON/admin/admin-moa.htm

If you are in the situation where you can ask for a legal opinion from your regional non- profit corporation, they are likely to have lawyers there that can assist you.