Groups Urge Alaska DNR to Reject Flawed Johnson Tract Mine Reclamation Plan

Synopsis:
A coalition of Alaska Native Tribes, fishermen, local businesses, community members, and conservation organizations is calling on the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to deny Contango/JT Mining’s proposed reclamation plan amendment for the Johnson Tract exploration project near Lake Clark National Park. The comment letter argues that the plan contains major technical flaws, missing information, faulty assumptions, and inadequate financial assurances, leaving the Johnson River watershed, Cook Inlet coastline, salmon streams, razor clam beds, brown bears, and endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales at risk.

The coalition urges DNR to require Contango to correct and resubmit the plan, with a new public review period, before any approval is considered. Concerns include underestimated groundwater flows, unsupported assumptions about tunnel closure, inadequate water-quality monitoring, risks from acid mine drainage, questionable rapid infiltration basin design, missing ventilation-shaft reclamation details, and a reclamation schedule that could allow closure obligations to be delayed indefinitely.