ACTION ALERT

Background:  The Greens Creek Mine is currently in the permitting process for the Greens Creek North Expansion Project #57306.  This project will expand current tailings operations and extend production beyond 2031.  The Greens Creek Mine has been in operation since 1989. The Forest Service has previously conducted four NEPA reviews for the existing Greens Creek Mine facilities. The Greens Creek Mine is located on private lands and public lands administered and managed by the Tongass National Forest, including a portion of the Admiralty Island National Monument. Greens Creek is the largest private sector employer in Juneau, supporting about 494 jobs and $76 million in total wages. The mine purchases approximately $65 million in goods and services from more than 350 Alaska businesses each year. Greens Creek has the highest taxable assessed property value in Juneau and pays $2.5 million a year in property and sales taxes.

Permitting for the extension has entered the public comment period, and we need your support to move this project forward. For more information including talking points, a sample support letter, and how to submit comments, please visit www.greenscreekpermitting.com.

Action:  Please consider submitting written comments in support of Alternative D: B Road West Relocation 2 proposed in the DSEIS. This alternative has only 6.8 acres of new disturbance, has minimal impact on the Admiralty Island National Monument, and eliminates the need for a new tailings facility. In addition, Alternative D would support the mine for up to 40 more years and impacts less than 1/100th of 1% of the monument.

RDC members and supporters are urged to review and offer your support by the May 23rd deadline.

Written comments can be submitted:

• online at the U.S. Forest Service public comment page for this project https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=57306, or
• faxed to (907) 586-8808, or
• or by mail to the Juneau Ranger District (“Attention: North Extension Project”), 8510 Mendenhall Loop Road, Juneau, AK, 99801.

For additional project information, including Project Documents and the DSEIS, you can visit the U.S. Forest Service webpage for Project Documents here.

Additional Points to Consider:

• The requested expansion will have minimal impact on Admiralty Island National Monument by eliminating the need for a new tailings disposal facility.
• Avoids any disturbance to fish-bearing reaches of Tributary Creek.
• Impacts less than 1/100th of 1% of the Monument.
• Utilizing a dry stack tailings facility minimizes surface footprint, reduces environmental exposure, and eliminates the need for a dam.
• Further, the dry stack tailings facility currently in use actually reduced the original tailings footprint of 150 acres to less than 30 acres.
• Green Creek has been operated for decades while complying with regulations and laws set by state and federal agencies.
• The mine is inspected frequently by the Forest Service, conducts ongoing monitoring, and extensive environmental audits.
• Greens Creek's strong environmental record supports significant economic impact for the region.
• Greens Creek is the largest private sector employer in Juneau, supporting 494 jobs and $76 million total wages.
• The mine purchases approximately $65 million in goods and services from Alaskan business annually.
• The company supports community involvement, including more than 167 volunteer hours per employee and charitable support of more than 60 organizations.

If you have questions in addition to this information, you can reach out to Mike Satre at Hecla.